This month, as you read your edition of “In the Word”, we at the Divine Word Missionaries are preparing to take part in one of the biggest Mission events in Australia in recent years.

The “Mission: One Heart, Many Voices” conference will bring together up to 400 people, from across the Church community and beyond, to explore the reality of Mission in the world today and its implications for those us working to build the reign of God.

Those attending will be teachers and nurses, religious and priests, youth and seniors, those working in the welfare and aged care sectors as well as folk ministering with refugees and asylum seekers.

As a divine word missionary, it probably comes as no surprise that I’m passionate about promoting the mission of God in the world and in the lives of each and every one of us. Mission isn’t just for those who minister in a foreign country but something all Christians are called to by virtue of our baptism. It is the task of every Christian to be missionary in our own lives, to be the love of Christ and to share the love of Christ with those we meet.

“Mission: One Heart, Many Voices” features an outstanding list of key-note speakers including Gemma Tulud-Cruz, a prominent theologian in the area of migration, and a presentation by video link from Nobel Peace Laureate Dr Jose Ramos Horta.

I am delighted that one of our confreres, Fr Stephen Bevans SVD will also be a keynote speaker.

Fr Stephen is the Louis J. Luzbetak SVD, Professor of Mission and Culture at Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union and is a renowned teacher and author on Mission. For part of his missionary life Stephen served with the people of the Philippines.

There will be 40 workshops for the participants to choose from. They add to the many and diverse voices that are an expression of the one heart of mission, and include topics such as: Prayer and Spirituality – their importance for Mission, New Evangelisation in Practise, Leadership for Mission, The Royal Commission and the Mission of the Church, Migrant Spirituality and Mission Today.

This is a conversation I look forward to being a part of. There are many gifts in the spirit, but it’s always one spirit, and the many voices that will gather will bring with them new, exciting and challenging ways to open hearts and minds to God.

I hope to see you in Sydney for Mission: One heart, many voices from April 29 to May 1. For more details, visit www.mohmv.com.au. 

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this edition of “In the Word”, as we share with you some of our life in Mission.

Yours in the Word,
Fr Tim Norton SVD
Provincial Superior