OTP In Australian Province

Over the past two decades, a program of practical preparation for mission - commonly known as OTP, (Overseas Training Program) - has been developed in different provinces of the Society as a part of basic formation. It has begun as an experience of "Overseas," i.e. of a country and often a continent other than one's own. The important elements of the OTP program are the learning of a new language, experience of a new culture and supervised ministry. The program lasts for some 2 years. There has been a growing realisation that future missionaries will above all profit from the experience of learning to enter into one or more areas of the four-fold dialogue.

This program of supervised ministry and cross-cultural experience is offered to confreres in formation, both brothers and seminarians, after two or three years in temporary vows.

The Australian Province stretches from the northern part of Thailand , through the whole Australian continent - metropolitan cities of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with Alice Springs , the hot desert centre of the country - down to the North Island of New Zealand.

The ministries of the SVD in the Province vary from working in multicultural parishes; caring for the homeless and underprivileged, whether in a metropolitan city of the East Coast of Australia or in the north of Thailand ; or ministering to the aboriginal people of Alice Springs or Santa Teresa.

Given the complexity of the geographical and cultural spectrum of our Province, with the help of M.E.R. we have recently developed our own unique Australian OTP program.

Are you ready to take up the challenge and apply for OTP in the Australian Province ?