Parish Corner - Sacred Heart Preston on the journey towards being a missionary parish
When Fr Aloysius Nato SVD first arrived in Melbourne in July 2010, he spotted a beautiful church from his car window and was told it was Sacred Heart Preston, an SVD parish. Ten years later, he was appointed to serve in that parish – only it was during the Covid lockdown period and there were no parishioners in the pews.
Four years down the track, the parish has returned to full life again and is putting in place action plans to realise its ambition of becoming a vibrant faith community and a missionary parish.
Divine Word Missionaries inaugurate 150th anniversary year celebrations
The Divine Word Missionaries Australia Province launched the Jubilee Year for the 150th anniversary of the Society of the Divine Word this month, the first of many Sesquicentenary events to be held throughout the year.
The occasion in Melbourne was a double celebration, also featuring the priestly ordination of Cuong Quoc Dang SVD, who will continue the missionary legacy when he takes up his first assignment to Angola.
Communications Congress looks at new ways of sharing missionary message
The Divine Word Missionaries were well-represented at the recent Australian Catholic Communications Congress, which took the theme, ‘Missionary Message for the Modern World’.
The SVD also came away from the Congress with an Australasian Catholic Press Association award for an article on confreres growing their own gardens – an activity which contributes to both spirituality and sustainability.
Join with us as we approach opening of SVD's 150th anniversary year
We are very close to the opening of celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Society of the Divine Word.
In the Australia Province the opening of the anniversary year on the SVD Foundation Day, September 8, will take place on the same day that we witness the ordination to the priesthood of Deacon Cuong Quoc Dang SVD in Melbourne.
Building a better future together with migrant workers - reflection
The movement of people from one place to another is not something new that has occurred only in our life time. It happened already thousands of years ago for apparent reasons. It became a global concern because the world we are living in became a global village due to the rapid movement in our midst, reflects Fr Jun Perez SVD.
A conference on seasonal workers/migrant workers which I attended recently presented the reality on the ground regarding the situation they are facing. All the stakeholders are responsible for the success in their temporary sojourn in a foreign land.
Warm celebrations in Tiwi Islands for OLSH Sisters' anniversary
The ‘Our Lady of Peace and St Therese’ community in Wurrumiyanga (Bathurst Island) celebrated the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) congregation recently, writes Fr Niran Veigas SVD.
The Wurrumiyanga community gathered to thank God for the countless blessings bestowed upon them through the tireless service of the OLSH sisters, who have faithfully served the Tiwi Islands for over 112 years.
Palm Island community gives thanks for 100 years of the Eucharist
The Palm Island community marked the 100th anniversary of the first Mass on the island recently, in a joyful celebration of culture and faith.
Townsville Bishop Timothy Harris was chief celebrant at the anniversary Mass, celebrated on the Feast of Sts Joachim and Anne, and marking 100 years since the first Mass was said in a classroom by Dr Kelly, the Parish Priest of Ingham, North Queensland, in 1924.
Students' winter trip to heart of Australia a 'transformational' pilgrimage
The Divine Word Missionary seminarians took a break from Dorish Maru College in Melbourne over winter and embarked on an epic pilgrimage to the spiritual heart of Australia – an experience which had a big impact on their hearts and their formation as missionary priests.
The pilgrimage took the students from Melbourne to Adelaide, Coober Pedy, Uluru, Alice Springs, Santa Teresa and Port Augusta. They were accompanied by Formator of Scholastics, Fr Linh Nguyen SVD and Vice-Rector of Dorish Maru College and OTP Director, Fr Yon Wiryono SVD.
Big turnout as multicultural celebration returns to Marsfield
The St Arnold Janssen Chapel and the surrounding grounds of the SVD Marsfield Community took on a vibrant and colourful character earlier this month with the celebration of Multicultural Sunday.
More than 400 people gathered for the popular event, which returned after four years disruption due to the COVID pandemic.
SVD General Chapter elects new leadership, sets directions for coming years
The 19th General Chapter of the Society of the Divine Word concluded on Sunday, July 14, with a Thanksgiving Liturgy featuring the installation and commissioning of the new Superior General, Father Anselmo Ricardo Ribeiro SVD, and his General Councillors, marking a significant leadership transition.
Australian Provincial Fr Asaeli Rass SVD and Provincial delegate Fr Prakash Menezes SVD both said the month-long Chapter had been hard work, but was a positive experience of the global life and mission of the Society of the Divine Word.