The birthday of our Mother Mary, 8th September, also marked the Foundation Day of the Society of the Divine Word.
In 2024 it also marked the opening of the SVD Sesquicentenary Jubilee (the year of celebrations leading up to their 150th anniversary in 2025), with the theme “Witnessing to the Light: from Everywhere for Everyone”, writes Fr Peter Bang SVD.
The Rockhampton Diocese's Central West cluster of parishes, under the care of Fr Van Bang Nguyen SVD, has celebrated the opening of the SVD's 150th anniversary celebrations.
The Diocesan Newsletter reported that the anniversary celebration included a procession of key symbols – a bible (for the Divine Word), a globe and the SVD banner (representing the entire world and the SVD priests and brothers who are currently ministering in 79 countries), and a candle (representing Christ’s light that they are guided by and try to share with others).
Divine Word Missionaries are present in the Brisbane Archdiocese, the Rockhampton Diocese and the Townsville Diocese in Queensland.
The Queensland parishes have strong multicultural communities and there is also a strong emphasis on ministry with Aboriginal communities.