The SVD AUS Province is reviewing its formation program to ensure that it is continuing to respond to the needs of the Church and Mission.
Formation of missionaries is a key priority for the Province, through its Dorish Maru College in Box Hill, Victoria, which is, at the moment, full to capacity with students from around the world.
Provincial, Fr Henry Adler SVD, says the review of the formation program comes as the result of a resolution of the last SVD General Chapter in Rome, and is also timely, given the focus on formation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
“The Last General Chapter resolved that all SVD Provinces would review their formation programs to ensure that they are responding to the current need of the Church and Mission,” says Fr Henry.
“Our Province, in our last Chapter, decided we would have our own Provincial evaluation of our formation program and we established an independent panel to perform that task.”
The panel is comprised of two SVDs from the AUS Province, one from PNG and one person who is not an SVD. That person is Sr Sue Richardson, an expert on formation and professional standards.
“One of the aspects of the formation program is that the professional standards requirements be up to date, forward-looking and effective,” Fr Henry says.
“This need for good formation in this area was identified on several occasions throughout the recent Royal Commission hearings.
“So, we have responded and are trying to very proactive in doing something about it and addressing this need in the best way we can.”
Apart from their theological and academic studies, the current formation program at Dorish Maru College includes a range of other experiences, including the Summer Orientation into the Australian Culture program for newly-arrived missionaries.
The three-week program is developed especially to help newly arrived missionaries come to better understand Australia and its people and culture. It covers topics including: the story of Australia as a nation, including the first and early migrants to Australia; the story of Catholicism in Australia; spirituality and pastoral ministry with the Indigenous peoples of Australia; plants and animals of Australia; how to behave in public; professional standards; women in Australian culture; and multicultural living in Australia.
PHOTOS
Top Right: Current students at Dorish Maru College, pictured during their Summer Orientation into the Australian Culture program.
Bottom Left: Many of the students in our formation program will be ordained to the priesthood and sent out as missionaries to the world.