Volume 34 No. 2 | Winter 2024 8 Society Matters SVD General Chapter calls for faithful and creative disciples in a wounded world Two members of the SVD Australia Province will take part in the 19th SVD General Chapter getting underway in Nemi, near Rome in June. Provincial, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD, will be joined by Fr Prakash Menezes SVD who is currently assigned as parish priest in Alice Springs. The theme for the General Chapter is: “Your light must shine before others: Faithful and creative disciples in a wounded world.” Each SVD province and mission around the world was asked to reflect on a range of questions on various aspects of the Chapter theme and provide responses within their own local missionary context. Fr Prakash was appointed to the Second International Preparatory Commission, which met in Rome in April and had the task of synthesising the reports from around the world into a working document, or Instrumentum Laboris, for the Chapter. The method was modelled on that used for Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality. Fr Rass said he was inspired by the theme of the General Chapter and by the synodal approach to its preparation and procedure. “I ask our confreres, friends and partners in mission to pray for us and with us as we participate in the Chapter and pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide the SVD so that we can indeed let our God-given light shine and be faithful and creative disciples in an increasingly wounded world,” he said. www.divineword.org.au A Newsletter of the Divine Word Missionaries Inc - Australia Province Donations to the SVD AUS Province Overseas Aid Fund can be made online at www.divineword.org.au or by mailing to Divine Word Missionary Appeal Office, Locked Bag 3, Epping NSW, 1710, Australia. +61 2 9868 9015 @svdaus Society Matters Mission Mass League - let us pray for you and your family Have you heard of The Mission Mass League? It is the prayer association of the Society of the Divine Word and it has been in operation around the world for more than 100 years. The Mission Mass League was canonically established by the Divine Word Missionaries in 1910. Its purpose is to help serve your spiritual needs and support the ministry of the Divine Word Missionaries. We invite our faithful mission partners to participate in the Mission Mass League by enrolling their loved ones, living or deceased, and their special needs. “Enrolment in the League is a spiritual gift,” says SVD AUS Province Mission Secretary, Fr Viet Nguyen SVD. “It expresses the donor’s thoughtfulness or their condolences. Enrolments are appropriate in illness or for a death. Enrolments may also be sent to Divine Word Missionaries in recognition of birthdays and anniversaries or other notable occasions. “In that way they are linked spiritually to the masses and prayers of more than 6,000 Divine Word priests, brothers and seminarians around the world, ensuring that your special intentions will be remembered.” Five masses in seven different countries are expressly celebrated each day for Mission Mass League members. The donor will receive a special membership certificate. Membership enrolments are available in four categories: One year or Perpetual for Individuals and One year or Perpetual for Families. Papal approval was given for the Mission Mass League by Pope Pius XII and has been confirmed by all succeeding pontiffs. “We highly recommend the Mission Mass League. It is our ardent desire and hope that it will be a source of support for the Church in her missionary work. To all who are enrolled and to those who spread the Mission Mass League I give my Apostolic Blessing” (Vatican, 3/11/1979) Prayer for the 19th General Chapter We thank You, O Triune God, You give light, you are light, you inspire light We contemplate with our Founder St. Arnold Janssen: “How merciful is God’s love that has opened the light of my eyes and now I should enlighten others as well.” Illumine us to recognize the wounds that need healing, inspire us to be faithful in our vocation and creative disciples in our mission. As we prepare for the next General Chapter, accompany us in our journey together. Bless every member of our Arnoldus family. Blessed Mary, Mother of the Word, help us to deepen our commitment to Jesus your Son who asks us: Your light must shine before others. Amen.
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