Two day workshop on Leadership and Intercultural Living for SVDs under 50 years of age followed the National Mission Conference “One Heart Many Voices” in Sydney in the first week of May 2013.  

In his opening address the AUS provincial Fr. Tim Norton emphasised the importance of developing leadership skills in the light of the upcoming elections for a new AUS provincial and a new provincial council.

From a career in banking to a life as a Missionary – it’s been a long and winding road for Paulo Vatunitu SVD, and as he celebrates the Profession of Final Vows, Paulo is aware of both the blessings and the challenges that lie ahead.

“I’m a bit nervous about it,” he said, before taking his Vows on Saturday, March 9 at St Paschal’s Chapel, Box Hill.

The launch of the e-news is part of a new digital era for the Australian Province of the Divine Word Missionaries, which includes a new website as well as a Facebook and Twitter presence.

As Divine Word Missionaries, our vocation calls us to continually be in dialogue with the world around us and with the people we serve. This e-news is just one more way of doing that.

Published each month, the e-news will drop straight into the inbox of all who choose to subscribe.

We invite you to be a part of our Mission by subscribing to our monthly e-news 'in the Word'.

Each month you will receive an email news bulletin with inspiring stories about our ministries, profiles of our missionaries, and all the latest news and information from the Australia Province of the Divine Word Missionaries.

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Twenty-six year old Liezel Casio spent her childhood living near a dumpsite, with her family scavenging to make a living. Today, thanks to an SVD mission project, she lives in newly built housing, is studying at university and says she is blessed.

The poverty of her childhood is still very much present, but Liezel can finally see some hope for a better life because of her education.

The Mission Office of the SVD Australian Province is supporting a magnificent program in The Philippines which helps to move families off rubbish dumps and into housing and sustainable development. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the AUS Mission Office has been able to provide the financial resources to build 40 houses for homeless Filipino families in Cebu. The AUS Province Mission Secretary, Fr Henry Adler SVD recently visited the project, and explains the hope he found there.

The Mission Office of the SVD Australian Province recently responded to a request from the SVD missionaries of Central India Province to send some much-needed financial assistance to support the Mahatma Gandhi High School in Khurda - a school which helps educate the poorest of the poor from India’s Tribal peoples. This school, run by SVD missionaries, not only educates those who would otherwise remain uneducated, but also promotes their human dignity as people made in God’s image.

A key focus of the Mission Office is to support the mission projects of the SVD around the world. To this end, the Mission Secretary for the Province and a small but dedicated staff, work hard to raise and distribute funds for mission activities in overseas countries. An important part of raising funds is in sharing the stories of how people’s lives are being transformed by these projects and by the love of God as present in and through the SVD missionaries.

Being a missionary, immersed in a new culture, learning a new language, and being far from home, religious community or family, can sometimes have its challenging and lonely times. The AUS Mission Secretary and the Mission Office keep in touch with missionaries working abroad, to help support them and care for them, especially those who completed their formation in Australia.

Through the Mission Office, the SVD Australian Province fosters mission awareness in a variety of ways. These include the annual celebration of Mission Day at Dorish Maru College in Melbourne. The day consists of a public lecture, followed by a Eucharistic celebration and then a multicultural meal with members of the local church community and guests.