SVD seminarians at Melbourne’s Dorish Maru College swapped their academic books for some ‘on the ground’ experience over the summer break, with some spending time in parishes, while others undertook work or clinical pastoral experience, lived with a local family, or headed home on leave.

The students, who come from a range of different countries, said the hands-on experiences of pastoral and working life in Australia had a big impact on their formation to become missionary priests.

Reflecting on my journey as a Divine Word Missionary, I do so in the spirit of ongoing formation that lies at the heart of the Society of the Divine Word. My life and vocation have unfolded across diverse contexts—Vietnam under communism, migration to Australia, formation within SVD communities, mission experience in the Amazon, and pastoral ministry on Palm Island.

Each stage has become a formative space where the Word of God, mission, and community have shaped one’s identity. Throughout this journey, three attitudes have consistently sustained my vocation: hope, humility, and humour.

The Society of the Divine Word has this month celebrated the feast days of its two SVD saints, St Arnold Janssen and St Joseph Freinademetz.

The Australian Province of the SVD celebrated the feast days with special Masses and social gatherings of confreres, SSpS Sisters, parishioners, lay partners and partners in mission, while in Rome, St Arnold’s feast day was marked as part of the Third SVD Caucus, with former Australian Provincial, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD as one of the guest speakers.

Fr Paul Dogba SVD’s recent arrival at Dorish Maru College in Melbourne has fulfilled a long-held desire to work in the SVD Australia Province.

Fr Paul, who is from Ghana, has been assigned to work in theological formation in the AUS Province, teaching theology, missiology and homiletics at Yarra Theological Union.

The Emerald Catholic Parish in Queensland’s Central Highlands district is reaching out to welcome seasonal labourers from Pacific nations who have arrived in the rural area to work.

This month, Parish Priest Fr Truc Quoc Phan SVD, offered St Patrick’s Church in Emerald as the venue for the induction session for a group of 69 seasonal migrant workers from Tonga. Previously, the parish has offered a welcoming hand to workers from Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Samoa.

Happy New Year to all! I am delighted to be here sharing my first Provincial’s Message for our ‘In the Word’ e-news publication since my appointment took effect on January 1.

Having spent the last several years as parish priest of St Mark’s Parish, Inala, in Brisbane, and before that, being assigned to formation ministry at Dorish Maru College in Melbourne, I am aware that my first task in these early days as Provincial, is to listen and learn as I make my way around the Province.

As the Vatican Christmas tree and Nativity Scene adorned a St Peter’s Square filled with faithful this week, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the importance of Advent as a time of preparation to welcome the birth of Christ.

He offered the encouragement in his various greetings to pilgrims from different language groups during the Wednesday General Audience on December 17.

Advent and Christmas have been celebrated in a variety of different ways across the SVD Australia Province, from multicultural carols to Christmas lights, concerts to shared meals and gifts – all with the common theme of highlighting the nativity of Jesus Christ.

From the Indigenous communities in the Tiwi Islands, Central Australia, and Balgo to city suburbs in Australia and New Zealand and across to villages in Thailand and Myanmar, the Province has expressed a range of different cultural celebrations of Christmas.

The SVD Queensland District gathered recently for its annual five-day retreat — described as a precious time of spiritual renewal, reflection, and fraternity.

The retreat took place at the Santa Teresa Retreat Centre in Brisbane last month under the theme, ‘SVD Mission Collaboration’.

The Divine Word Missionaries played an active role in the recent Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne by sharing the SVD missionary charism with young Catholics, promoting vocations, and gaining inspiration from them, as well.

Province Vocations Director Fr Yon Wiryono SVD attended with seminarians from Dorish Maru College and for the first time, the SVD collaborated with the Indonesian Catholic Community in Melbourne, highlighting the value in lay people and Religious working together to promote vocations.