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News & Events

Renewal of vows 2023 250Eight young Divine Word Missionaries who are students at Dorish Maru College in Melbourne renewed their temporary vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience recently.

The renewal of vows is a significant annual step in their formative years and a time for reflection and recommitment to their vocational journey.

Viet in Noumea 2023 250Vietnamese Catholics in Noumea, New Caledonia, were treated to Masses and pastoral care in their own language during Holy Week and Easter, thanks to a visit by Fr Viet Nguyen SVD.

Fr Viet is the Mission Secretary for the SVD Australia Province, and his visit to Noumea was part of a pastoral outreach begun in 2015 by former Mission Secretary, Fr Truc Phan SVD.

Elmer Catholic Biblical Federation Argentina 250Fr Elmer Ibarra SVD travelled to Argentina this month to attend the 10th plenary assembly of the Catholic Biblical Federation, an experience he says which reaffirmed and gave fresh energy to his commitment to proclaiming the Word of God in a fragile world.

Fr Elmer, who is Rector of the SVD formation house, Dorish Maru College, in Melbourne, attended the assembly in his capacity as coordinator of the Bible apostolate for the SVD Australia Province.

Fr Asaeli Rass SVD profile pic 250He is Risen! Happy Easter to you!

As we make our way through the joy of the Easter season, I have been reflecting on the resurrection experience of my visit to the Tiwi Islands during Holy Week and Easter, writes Provincial, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD.

Provincial Chapter 2023 group photo 250The Provincial Chapter was a positive, hopeful time of deliberation on the future priorities of the SVD Australia Province, with a focus on personal and communal renewal for mission, says Provincial, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD.

The outcomes included a reaffirmation of the priority given to ministry in indigenous communities, as well as a renewed commitment to multicultural parish ministry and interfaith dialogue.

Tim Norton SVD Brisbane Archdiocese Facebook 250Recently we marked the one year anniversary of my presence in the Archdiocese of Brisbane as an auxiliary bishop – a good time to reflect on the year that was, writes Bishop Tim Norton SVD.

Over that time I’ve come to know a lot more about life and ministry here as I have taken up opportunities to visit some of our parishes, schools and communities. Time has gone quickly, however there are many memorable moments that I savour.

Fr Asaeli Rass SVD profile pic 250We are about to head into Holy Week, which culminates in the Paschal Triduum, those holy days where we enter into the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Christians are a resurrection people, but all of us in our life can expect to walk the road of Calvary in some way on our road to Easter joy.

Australia and aboriginal flags side by side with strong sun flairsFr Asaeli Rass SVD and Sr Philippa Murphy FDNSC, both members of the Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) Council and leaders of religious congregations in ministry with indigenous communities, have outlined their support for the Voice to Parliament.

CRA has long been a vocal supporter of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and an advocate for a constitutionally protected voice, truth-telling and treaty and last year made a submission to the Indigenous Voice Co-Design Process calling for enshrinement of the Voice in the Australian Constitution through a referendum.

Visitators 250The official visitators to the SVD Australia Province have given positive and constructive feedback on the ministries being undertaken across the Province, while also encouraging confreres to continually return to their foundation of Trinitarian spirituality.

Fr Jose Antunes da Silva SVD, who is Vice Superior General of the Society of the Divine Word and was previously the provincial superior of Portugal was one of the visitators appointed by the General Council. He was joined by Fr Yosef Masan Toron SVD, who is currently serving as the General Chairperson of the Indonesian Biblical Institute.

Bp Vincent Long2 250Religious are uniquely placed to lead the way on Pope Francis’ path of synodality, because they are already living a synodal life within their religious communities, Parramatta Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv told the SVD Provincial Chapter.

Bishop Vincent was the keynote speaker at the Chapter, and he said that despite religious life being “fundamentally at a critical point in our country” due to many ageing Congregations, there was still scope for Religious to have a prophetic voice leading into the future.

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