Dear Friends,

Happy Easter! As you receive this edition of In the Word, we are midway through the Easter season, with our Sunday gospel readings highlighting the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus and the joy this brings to his followers.

The empty tomb reminds us that God’s power brings new life and endless hope and, here in the SVD Australia Province, we are experiencing this with a range of new missionary assignments and new initiatives to support confreres in their missionary life.

The Provincial Council has advised a number of missionaries in the Province of new assignments, meaning that they must say farewell to their parishes and ministries and begin again in another faith community. This cycle of leaving and beginning anew is an intrinsic part of missionary life as confreres willingly accept being assigned for the greater good of the Province and of the Society of the Divine Word. It can be a difficult time for both priests and parishioners, but, if carried out in union with the resurrected Lord, we can be sure that this time of renewal brings new life.

This year, the Provincial Council is also introducing an initiative aimed at supporting SVD missionaries in their brotherhood with one another.

Each year, religious missionaries usually have either a Province retreat or a private retreat.

This year, however, the Provincial Council has been reflecting more deeply on the importance of strengthening our unity and consolidation as a Province. Our focus is not only on enriching our mission spirituality but also on deepening the relationships among the confreres.

In light of this we have decided that this year, instead of a retreat, each SVD district or community within the Province will organise a week-long social gathering.

It is our hope that this will create opportunities for all members to come together, share stories, joys and challenges in mission life. At the same time, these gatherings should foster stronger relationships, connections, and a deeper sense of fraternity among the confreres.

Easter draws us into new life and a new way of being. It revives our soul and, with the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, it strengthens us for the mission we have been given.

May we all remain open and alert for the ‘new things’ that Jesus has in store for us in this resurrection season.

Yours in the Word,

Fr Boni Buahendri SVD,

Provincial.