The SVD AUS Province is heading into a year of transition in 2019 with the election of the new Provincial and Provincial Council.

Fr Henry Adler SVD has served his two terms as Provincial and the process will soon get underway to elect his successor.

“Early this year, members of the Province will enter the first phase of the election process by making suggestions for confreres they think would make a good Provincial,” Fr Henry says.

“From there, a short-list is made for the election and members choose their candidate and the results of that vote are sent to Rome, where the decision is made by the SVD Generalate.

“The Superior-General makes the appointment based on the results of the ballots sent.”

Fr Henry says one of the characteristics of the Provincial election is that the field is wide open.

“All members of the Province, and indeed SVD members from elsewhere, are potential candidates. Any member in final vows are eligible for leadership,” he says.

“And our Province has always encouraged younger members to take up leadership, so we hope this will show through in the coming election.”

The Provincial Council and the leadership of communities and districts throughout the Province will also be up for election this year.

“So, it’s a year of looking forward to the next triennium and implementing new insights from both the General Chapter in Rome and from our own Provincial Chapter,” Fr Henry says.

Fr Henry says he hopes 2019 will also be a year of spiritual renewal for the Province.

“The annual retreat is always a priority and this year it will continue on the themes from the General Chapter about spiritual renewal and commitment to continuing the congregational directions and priorities,” he says.

“The development of the new mission in Myanmar will continue to be an important matter for the Province, as well as maintaining our current diverse ministries in Australia, New Zealand and Thailand.”

PHOTO: Provincial, Fr Henry Adler SVD (centre) with members of the Provincial Council, from left to right, Fr Viet Nguyen, Fr Nick de Groot, Fr Asaeli Raass, and Fr Sunil Nagothu.