Melbourne - Box Hill

Dorish Maru College

1. Our Name Dorish Maru College is our main home in Melbourne. Our name was chosen to commemorate our priests, brothers, sisters and lay missionaries who lost their lives on a ship in Papua New Guinea. On 6 February 1944, the Japanese ship “Dorish Maru” was strafed by American planes off Wewak, PNG, killing 7 Divine Word Missionary brothers and 27 Holy Spirit sisters. We hope that by our lives we can pay worthy tribute to those who died and were wounded on the “Dorish Maru”. (Plaque at Dorish Mary College entrance).

 

2. Our Beginning: Our residence, Dorish Maru College, was solemnly blessed and dedicated on 15 November 1988 by the Most Reverend Sir Thomas Francis Little, DD, Archbishop of Melbourne.

3. Students and Professed: Since then, it has become our formation house for students who study for the priesthood and brotherhood of our Society. Our students fulfill the requirements in philosophical, theological and pastoral studies at the nearby Yarra Theological Union (YTU). But aside from the students, there is also resident and non-resident staff, composed of professed members. The staff teaches at the YTU on their expertise, e.g. Missiology, Scripture, Anthropology, History, etc.

4. Our Ministries: Other professed members serve the formation community and help out in pastoral supply work in nearby parishes. They celebrate Masses, give biblical sermons/homilies; administer the sacrament of reconciliation, giving retreats, chaplaincy, engage in inter-religious dialogue, and administer other sacraments when requested. Our students engage in various kinds of ministries, for instance, visit the sick in the hospitals and listen to their stories; help give food to the poor and attend to homeless people in the city; help migrants to improve their English or assist refugees solve their problems; provide spiritual assistance to seafarers who pass by Melbourne’s harbor....

Provide lively liturgical music (with the students’ choir) in neighboring parishes.

5. Our Shared Life In the spirit of the early Christian community, we devote ourselves to apostolic teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42). Though we come from diverse cultural and various national backgrounds, we strive to be of one heart and soul (Acts 4:32a). Our spirituality is rooted in the communion of the Triune God and is a participation in Christ’s mission (In Dialogue with the Word, No. 6, Sept. 1906, p. 24).

We gain inner strength from our daily Mass. For this reason the Eucharist is the heart of our common life.

As for common prayer, we pray together the morning and evening prayers of the liturgy of the hours. Our spirituality embraces more and other devotions proper to the Society.

We try to develop personal relationships with one another so that all feel accepted and at home in our community (c.3003). Together we build a home, one that is faith-filled, fraternal, international/ multicultural and welcoming.

Working together

Meals together

Playing together

Or just being together

Visit our website: www.svd.org.au/about.html