The Janssen Spirituality Centre in Boronia on Melbourne’s outskirts is inviting individuals and groups to a range of activities and opportunities for reflection to help promote both inner peace and world peace at a grassroots level.
From spiritual direction to interfaith dinners, Bible studies and retreat days, the Centre aims to be a tranquil space of peace and reflection within easy reach of the city.
As you receive this edition of In the Word, the universal Church has just celebrated the 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees.
Taking the theme, ‘Even just one of these children’, inspired by Matthew 18:10, Pope Leo XIV’s message for the day focused on the vulnerability of minors on the move who are forced to flee due to war, poverty, violence and environmental disasters.
One night, when I was about to go to bed, it was already 11:30pm. Suddenly, my phone rang. At first, I thought, “Maybe it is a scammer.” So I didn't want to answer. But then I thought, “Maybe it is from a nursing home or a hospital.” So I picked up.
I’d like to borrow a very good story from Miguel de Umanumo, a Spanish philosopher and novelist from the 20th century about the origin of hell. The setting was at the gates of heaven.
The Gospel on this 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time presents us with Jesus’ beautiful teaching on forgiveness and an encouragement for us to forgive one another, as God forgives all our wrongdoings.
On behalf of the leadership team of the AUS Province, with a grateful heart I greet each one of you on this special day, as we celebrate the Foundation Day of the Society of the Divine Word.
When I was a seminarian, we had an evaluation system called “Fraternal Correction”. My classmates would write positive things about me and also things to be improved about me. And I did the same for them.
Arnold Janssen, the founder of the SVD struggled with the idea of founding a religious congregation in a very challenging historical situation, writes Fr James Areechira SVD, in a reflection ahead of SVD Foundation Day on September 8.
Our constitutions characterise Arnold Janssen as a man of prayer, of unshakeable trust in God– a man of deep faith. He was ever open to God’s plans, offering unconditional surrender to his will. An open-minded man of great apostolic zeal, Arnold responded to the call of the Holy Spirit and the needs of people.
Fr Truong Le SVD cares for three rural parishes in different villages of the Isan region of northeastern Thailand – All Saints Church in Ban Muang, The Epiphany Church in Ban Chad, and St Lucia in Namphong.
And while each of those communities in Khon Kaen Province are small and located in an area known as being the poorest region in the country, Fr Truong says the friendship and support from locals, both Catholics and Buddhists alike, and an enduring love for the Eucharist, form the foundations of his parish ministry.
Queensland’s five Catholic bishops visited Palm Island recently, spending time with parishioners, school students, staff and religious, while prayerfully acknowledging both the troubled history of the island for Indigenous peoples as well as the hope that is alive there today.
Parish Priest Fr Manh Le SVD said the visit was an occasion for what he has termed an “Indigenous conversion” of heart for the bishops.
