The Divine Word Missionary community at Marsfield in Sydney hosted a day of intercultural hospitality when a group of students from a SVD school in Japan paid a visit.

The students, from Nanzan Primary School, located in the heart of Japan, in and around the city of Nagoya, are in Australia on a cultural visit, staying with Australian families and practising the English language.

One of the ways in which the SVD AUS Province has celebrated the Year of Consecrated Life has been to share on social media short videos of our confreres answering the question: “What do you love about being a Divine Word Missionary?”

The answers have, of course, been varied, but what has been even more interesting is that many common themes emerged, which included: sharing the Good News with others, living in a multicultural community and being open to God’s will in their life.

It was an occasion of great joy when Chanthavong (Toub) Anisong took his first vows as a Divine Word Missionary, becoming the first person from Laos ever to do so.

Toub, who is joining the SVD AUS Province, took his vows in the Philippines, where he has been in the Novitiate. He is due to arrive in Australia next month for further studies and formation.

Papua New Guinea has long been home to Christian missionaries from all around the world, but now two young SVD missionaries from PNG are being sent out to Argentina – a development they say shows the growth and maturity of Christianity in their country.

Fr Vincent Guawi SVD and OTP student John Sine SVD will join nine other PNG-born SVD missionaries who are already on missionary assignments in far-off lands.

Internationality, or interculturality, is an essential element of the SVD charism, and a principal goal of mission should be the promotion of a truly multicultural Church, says former SVD Superior General, Fr Antonio Pernia.

Fr Antonio (Tony) made these points when addressing the SVD AUS Provincial Chapter held in Sydney this month.

The 2015 Provincial Chapter affirmed and confirmed the Province’s commitment to its current mission priorities, as well as a desire to strengthen and further enrich SVD community life.

AUS Provincial, Fr Henry Adler SVD, says the Chapter also highlighted a growing sensitivity and commitment towards living interculturally, both within the Society and in its outward mission.

A group of outstanding missiologists and theologians will gather in Melbourne later this year for a symposium entitled ‘Mission Beyond Ad Gentes’ – to mark the golden jubilee of the Second Vatican Council’s decree on Mission.

The International Mission Symposium is a joint initiative of the Divine Word Missionaries, the Yarra Theological Union and the Australian Association of Mission Studies. It will take place on October 2-3 at Box Hill, Melbourne.

It was a joyous occasion in Thailand recently when members of the SVD Thai District joined Bishop Joseph Luechai Thatwisai of Udon Thani Diocese to celebrate the restoration of the Thai Martyrs church in Thuan Kham.

After 10 years of neglect, without a priest, Fr Vinh The Tran SVD, who is pastor at a larger parish in the Ban Dung area took an interest in bringing the sacraments back to the almost 60 families who had been active parishioners at the little church.

Those of us involved with mission in Australia and elsewhere are gearing up for what is sure to be a wonderful few days of reflection, inspiration and fellowship at the Mission: One Heart, Many Voices conference in Sydney next week.

The inaugural Mission: One Heart, Many Voices conference, held a couple of years ago, was a huge success, both because of the outstanding speakers, but also the rich diversity of people engaged in Mission who attended over the three days.

Fr Liam Horsfall SVD has been farewelled from his longstanding chaplaincy duties at St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe and Mercy Aged Care, Nudgee, with warm tributes and thanksgiving from both communities.

Fr Liam, who is 89 this year, has been chaplain for the two communities for 20 years, but some current health challenges have prompted him to ease back on his regular commitments.