SVD Provincials from around the Asia-Pacific (ASPAC) region gathered in Sydney recently for a meeting in which they mapped out joint priorities and areas of focus for future new missions in the area.

AUS Provincial, Fr Henry Adler says the meeting considered future growth in missions in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia and other parts of South East Asia.

“It’s very exciting, to be looking at mission growth in these areas,” says Fr Henry.

“The importance of getting together for these regional meetings is to reinforce our shared priorities as Divine Word Missionaries, according to the overall focus which came out of the last General Chapter meeting in Rome.

“And then as a region, we can look more closely at how each of us are working towards those priorities and we can share that vision and discuss ways in which we can work together.”

While the visiting Provincials were in Sydney, they experienced the hospitality of the Marsfield community, where the meeting was held, but also travelled further afield to spend time with the people of Macquarie Fields parish.

“We wanted to give them an experience of the Australian Church,” Fr Henry says.

“So we went to our parish at Macquarie Fields, where they met with the people after Mass and then had a meeting with some of the lay people there, to give them a real insight into the collaboration that exists between the laity and the SVDs here.”

The ASPAC Provincials were also treated to a wonderful slice of Australian/Vietnamese family life when they enjoyed dinner with a local family at their home.

“All in all, it was a successful and fruitful meeting of shared mission priorities and shared culture,” says Fr Henry.