A few years ago a friend of mine,  a fellow priest,  shared this story with me: He and his brother were the joint heirs to their father’s estate. Several months before their father died, he called his son, the priest, saying he wanted to talk about something very important.

Who is Jesus Christ? This has been an age-old question that many people particularly theologians have tried to answer.

After years serving the sick and the poor through his vocation as a nurse, a doctor and an SVD brother, Br Ruel Bancoro SVD is about to begin a new chapter as he takes up Theology studies for the priesthood.

Br Ruel will undertake his studies through the University of Divinity in Melbourne – although due to COVID border closures, he will begin the first semester online from the Philippines.

Brother John Alting SVD has been a missionary in Papua New Guinea, Angola, Central Australia and Timor Leste and says while his experiences have been different in each place, there has been one common thread – the joy of being with the people.

Born and raised in Sydney, Br John says he was attracted to  the life of a religious from when he was a young man.

What is a vocation? 

In this video to mark Vocations Awareness Week, Fr Bosco Son SVD and Fr Henry Adler SVD explore the different vocations of marriage, single life, and religious life.

“I’m a man of action,” says Br Hermann Hempen SVD. “I like keeping active and that’s why I love my job.”

Br Hermann’s job is to care for senior SVD confreres at the St Wendel home for the aged, in his home country of Germany. He is also well known and loved in the AUS Province for his years of hard work, care and dedication in Brisbane and Marsfield following his time as a missionary in Papua New Guinea.

As he farewells Thailand and the AUS Province to take up work with refugees in the German Province, Br Bernd Ruffing SVD recalls his ministry in Thailand as being a journey of friendship and relationship with the people.

“I tried to be a brother to those who needed someone who’d walk with them for some time,” he says.