Dear Friends,
One of the many things that we as Divine Word Missionaries like to do is contribute to thought, study and discussion about how mission intersects with the pressing issues facing humanity in our world today.
As part of this discussion, it is my pleasure on behalf of our Province to invite you to attend an online event we are hosting which will explore the topic of "Integral Human Development in a Fragmented World: Perspectives on Ecology and Digital Technology”, to take place on September 18.
It is the third session to be held on this theme of Integral Human Development in a Fragmented World this year and the speakers will be Fr Alexander Rodlach SVD and Fr Anthony Le Duc SVD.
Alexander Rodlach SVD was born in Innsbruck, Austria and has a PhD in Anthropology and a Certificate in African Studies. After graduating with his PhD, he worked at the Anthropos Institute, St Augustine, in the editorial department of Anthropos. From 2007 to 2025, he taught medical anthropology courses on public and global health as well as assessment and evaluation. His research tends to be conducted in collaboration with organisations and community groups, and focuses on themes at the intersection of health, volunteerism, and religion. He is currently the coordinator for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation for the SVD Chicago Province.
Anthony Le Duc SVD is a member of our own SVD Australia Province. Although based in Thailand for nearly 20 years, his academic and pastoral work engages both regional and global contexts, particularly at the intersection of religion and contemporary concerns such as ecology, migration, social communication, and technological development. He is currently Assistant Professor of Moral Theology at Lux Mundi National Seminary of Thailand. He also serves as Executive Director of the Asian Research Center for Religion and Social Communication at St John's University, Bangkok, where he is Chief Editor of the Center's peer-reviewed journal. In addition, Fr Anthony is a member of the editorial boards of several academic journals and was recently appointed Research Fellow at the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, University of the Western Cape, South Africa.
This series of online seminars is the initiative of the SVD AUS Province’s Mission, Education and Research team, of which Fr Anthony is a member.
The latest instalment is sure to be a great discussion, and all are welcome to join us.
In a world which is beset with so much division and fragmentation, it is more important than ever to refocus our hearts and minds on how to re-integrate our humanity according to the Kingdom of God.
The topics of ecology and digital technology have captured the attention of Pope Francis and Pope Leo in their encyclicals Laudato Si and Magnifica Humanitas and both of those documents have much to teach us as they explore some of the pressing questions facing the world today.
More information about how to take part in the seminar is available below and on the flyer (above, right). I’ll look forward to seeing you there.
Yours in the Word,
Fr Boni Buahendri SVD,
Provincial.
Information for joining the seminar: