After three years in Italy and the United Kingdom undertaking higher studies in missiology, Fr Albano Da Costa SVD is headed back to the AUS Province, to place his new knowledge and experience at the service of Christ’s mission in this part of the world.

Originally from Goa in India, Fr Albano,  took his final vows and was ordained in 2011. He was assigned to the AUS Province, and took up his first mission appointment in the Archdiocese of Wellington, New Zealand, where he was part of a new form of collaborative ministry for three-and-a-half-years.

“After a fruitful pastoral ministry in New Zealand, I was given the wonderful opportunity to do higher studies in Missiology (mission studies) Licentiate at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome,” he says.

Fr Albano, who also holds a Master’s in Philosophy, spent the first five months in Rome learning to speak Italian, followed by two years of missiological studies from September 2015 to July 2017.

“During those first months, I spent a few weeks in the SVD community at Vicenza, which is in the northeast of Italy, practicing my Italian in a pastoral context,” Fr Albano says.

“This also gave me the opportunity to visit the city if Venice and also the Basilica of St Anthony of Padua.

”Following Fr Albano’s completion of the Licentiate degree in missiology, he was given the further opportunity to do a one year foundation course in the United Kingdom at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.The course of post-graduate studies included components such as Comparative Studies in Cultures, Studies in European Society, training in academic English, research methods, and an independent study research project.

Fr Albano says he is grateful to the SVD AUS Province for giving him the chance to do higher studies in the area of Catholic mission as well as training in research methods.

“Being in Rome, which is the heart of Catholic Christianity is itself an enriching experience,” he says.

“As a student in Rome, I got the opportunity to interact, share and reflect about the foundations of Catholic mission and what this would imply for the current state of Catholic mission and what it means to preach the Good News in today’s world.

“Moreover, interacting with brother priests, sisters and the laity has enriched me to broaden my horizons and discover new insights in communal reflections and personal research.”

Fr Albano says one of the highlights of his time overseas was the opportunity during his time as a student in London, to study at Oxford.

“This was a real confidence-booster and one of the greatest highlights during the course of my higher studies,” he says.

Provincial, Fr Henry Adler SVD says that upon Fr Albano’s return to Australia, there are plans for him to be a part of the SVD commitment to mission studies at Yarra Theological Union in Melbourne.

“The Divine Word Missionaries have been committed to teaching mission studies at YTU for many years, both for our academic formation needs and also other students who want to study courses in missiology and culture,” he says.

“We therefore make sure we have people who can provide that academic experience.

“So Fr Albano will take up this role at YTU and will be part of our formation team in Melbourne in years to come, sharing the fruits of both his pastoral experience and his missiology studies with young missionaries in training."

Fr Albano says he is looking forward to his return and is open to any plans the AUS Province leadership may have for him.

“The reason behind taking up higher studies in the area of missiology and culture studies is to serve the need of the Australia Province,” he says.

“I was given this rare opportunity to do higher studies and now, I wish to use this resource and experience to serve the needs of the local community.”

Fr Albano will return to Australia following a period of home leave in India.

PHOTOS

TOP RIGHT: Fr Albano Da Costa SVD in Venice during his Italian studies.

MIDDLE LEFT: Fr Albano with classmates at St Paul's Outside the Walls, one of the Papal Basilicas in Rome.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Fr Albano with former AUS Provincial, Fr Tim Norton SVD and Fr Jose Syriac SVD at the Collegio Del Verbo Divino in Rome.