The SVD mission in the predominantly Indigenous, remote parish of Balgo-Kutjungka in the Diocese of Broome, Western Australia, is widespread, taking in the main parish church and six outstations, with the furthest one being 10 hours drive away.

But despite the big distances involved, Parish Priest, Fr Paulo Vanuitu SVD, says the mission is clear – to accompany the people in the daily challenges and joys of their lives and to share in their rich cultural and faith life.

As you receive this edition of In the News we are preparing soon to celebrate NATSICC’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday and NAIDOC Week under the theme “Sent Forth in Strength and Hope’.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope it is wonderful to reflect on this theme, realising that it invites us to action in walking together with our Indigenous brothers and sisters anchored in the strength and the hope of Jesus Christ.

Happy Feast Day, everyone again—especially to those named Peter and Paul! We all carry certain identities. I am Peter. You may be Paul. He is Fr. Brian. But most of these names—we didn’t choose for ourselves. They were given to us. So how do we truly identify ourselves?

In almost all cultures, we show our hospitality by offering people food. For many of us, we see food as a way to connect, we see food as a way forge relationships.

Among the different doctrines of our faith, nothing is more mysterious than the dogma of the Trinity. Simply put, we have one God but in three distinct persons. It doesn’t mean that we have three gods but it also doesn’t mean that we have a God who is alone.

Justin Wejak is a former student of the Society of the Divine Word, who has had a long-standing association with the SVD since birth, which has helped shaped his life, he writes in this 150th Jubilee Year reflection.

"I have been away from the SVD for a while, but the profound influence of SVD spirituality—essentially a Trinitarian spirituality—remains active in my life. It emphasises communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, instilling a lasting sense of purpose rooted in mission, prayer, and service."

It is a moment of extreme Joy as Christians that we commemorate the Pentecost after 50 days of Easter, as the fulfilment of Jesus’ Mission on earth.

One summer I spent a few days in Darwin as part of my summer break. While I was walking on the streets of Darwin, I happen to pass by the Cathedral of the Diocese of Darwin. Outside the Cathedral, there was a statue of the crucifix mounted on the wall.

A personal testimony to a remarkable story of resilience, hope and community action among the impoverished people of Smokey Mountain in Manila, the Philippines, was the inspirational backdrop to the SVD Australia Province’s third Jubilee Year Online Presentation held recently.

Fr Benigno Beltran SVD was the keynote speaker, sharing his experience of being part of a movement which saw the residents of Smokey Mountain move from scavenging on the city garbage dump to living in basic housing, accessing education, learning computer skills, and starting up a farming cooperative and eco-sustainability initiatives.

The Divine Word Missionaries and Holy Spirit Sisters were well-represented at the Mission One Heart Many Voices conference in Sydney this month, with participants exploring the theme: Choosing Hope. Trust yourself to its leading.

Among the presenters at the conference was Bishop Tim Norton SVD, who led a workshop exploring the idea of being ‘Pilgrims of Hope in communities of diversity’, as well as being chief celebrant at the conference Mass and a panellist for a discussion forum.