The St Arnold Janssen Chapel and the Marsfield community grounds were a kaleidoscope of colour and multicultural prayer, song, dance and food recently for the annual Multicultural Sunday celebrations.

Friends of the SVD from various ethnic chaplaincy groups, Bible groups, breakfast groups and communities who worship at the chapel in Marsfield came together in national dress under the theme of ‘Being Neighbour’.

In the SVD Australian Province, attempts at being prophetic about Christ present in the people who have been pushed aside have taken various forms over the years. Prophetic indeed, when Divine Word Missionaries are trying to recognise the face of Christ in caring for asylum seekers and refugees (Melbourne & Bangkok), advocating for people living with AIDS (Thailand), ongoing support for the plight of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (Central Australia) and constantly raising funds to assist the many needed projects around the world (AUS Mission Office and MissionNZ).

Many have also dared to reach out in friendship to people at CANA communities in Sydney, who are suffering from loneliness, mental illness and addictions. The Missionaries also work in faith communities in more than 60 countries, with people of all faiths and none.

After nearly a decade holding the purse-strings of the SVD across the world, Fr Stephan Gerdes SVD has arrived in the AUS Province, ready for God to reveal his new mission assignment.

Fr Stephan, who was born and raised in Germany, has been Treasurer-General of the Society of the Divine Word, based in Rome since 2010 and before that was a missionary to Papua New Guinea.

The SVD Lay Partners group in Marsfield is continuing its journey of growth and formation in SVD life and spirituality, with a recent presentation on the life of founder, St Arnold Janssen.

The presentation was delivered by Fr Frank Gerry SVD, who has rich experience in SVD formation, and Fr Dom Flores SVD, who is accompanying the Lay Partners group.

It’s a long way from Fr Prakash Menezes SVD’s home in India to his parish of Santa Teresa in the Central Australian desert country, but it is exactly the kind of Christ-led and people-centred life he hoped for when he signed up to be a missionary priest.

Fr Prakash joined the Divine Word Missionaries in India and undertook his theological studies and formation in Melbourne, where he made his final vows and was ordained to the priesthood in 2014.

Terry Davies (SVD Marburg class of 1969-70) organized a wonderful 50th anniversary gathering at the former SVD seminary, Marburg, Queensland, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing. Unfortunately, Terry himself landed in hospital just before the ‘touch-down’ and was unable to join us – but he is on the mend! Terry worked on this project for several years, tracing as many former SVD students as he could, and resulting in a gathering of 19 men, on the 20-21 July 2019.

A very special guest was Fr Frank Gerry SVD, who had been novice master to many of those present. Particular tribute was paid to Frank for his role in awakening us to our potential to be the best we could be, in the SVD tradition, each in our own different way. Many of us had spent much of our working lives in the helping professions, especially in social action and social justice activities, often with a connection to Australia’s indigenous people.

There is no second-guessing, the current life-style of many Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is a battle ground for people who care. Who else in the world is suffering from dispossession, relocation and separation without having to leave their country? You don’t need to visit off-shore detention centres to feel the misery of a people longing for full liberation.

The massive challenges facing the first peoples of this land are far from over. Like everyone else on this planet, the needs are real because the people are real. The ministry today is absolutely hard yakka for anyone willing to have a crack at it.

Indigenous spirituality was one of the key themes explored when the newer members of the SVD AUS Province gathered together recently for ongoing ministry formation in the Australian context.

The three-day gathering at Boronia in suburban Melbourne, was for confreres who are either newly arrived in the Province or are under five years in final vows.

Once in a while I run across a social media post or a graphic that says “Proud to be Catholic”, writes Fr Anthony Le Duc SVD. When reflecting on the phrase, I think I understand what the poster is trying to communicate through these words. Perhaps it’s the feeling of joy to feel that one was created by a loving and gracious God who not only grants life to us but continually invites us to enter into a deeper relationship with God.

Perhaps it’s also the feeling of having a mission and purpose because all Catholics are called by God to collaborate in the redemptive work that God is carrying out for the sake of all humanity. It’s also perhaps the feeling of jubilance knowing that we have been saved through the actions of Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. God has given us Jesus Christ as our Savior and Teacher who guides and calls us into a new life of selfless love and service.

Divine Word Missionaries confreres around the AUS Province have been taking time out for spiritual renewal this month, with a series of retreats being held around Australia and Thailand.

The retreats took place in Sydney, Melbourne and Alice Springs during July and another will be held in Bangkok for members of the Thai District in early August.