Recently I caught-up with an ordination class-mate, Father Agus Watu, who is a spiritual director at the SVD seminary-high school in Kuwu, western Flores. 

We talked about the growth of the Church here in eastern Indonesia, which has been truly amazing over the past 100 years. 

The first anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated parts of the Philippines last November, has been marked with thanksgiving for all those who donated money, goods, skills and expertise to help the Divine Word Missionaries mount one of their biggest ever disaster relief efforts in the country.

A report prepared for the anniversary by the Provincial, Fr Eduardo Rocha SVD and the team, outlines how the SVD helped people to get back on their feet after their homes, livelihoods and communities were wiped out by the super typhoon.

For the first year of his mission assignment to Papua New Guinea, Fr Paul Trong Nguyen SVD faced so many challenges that he just wanted to go home.

Now, a few years down the track, Fr Paul says he is happy in PNG, and both the experiences he has had and the people he has met, have helped him to build his confidence and stay to face the challenges and joys of missionary life.

Brother Bernd Ruffing SVD, a registered nurse and nursing educator, loves his life as a Brother in the Divine Word Missionaries, saying he never saw himself preaching the Gospel from a pulpit, but rather, with his hands and actions.

Br Bernd, who is originally from Germany, is assigned as a missionary in Thailand, part of the AUS Province, where he works both in parish life and caring for people living with AIDS. 

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Fr. Gerard Mulholland.

After being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease some months ago, Gerard finally succumbed to the disease at 9.45am this morning, with Mary, his sister, Arturo Barrios and myself at his bedside.

Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) proudly unveils a logo to celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life, which begins on the 29th of November, the first weekend of Advent.

The logo reflects Pope Francis’ exhortation for religious women and men to awaken the world in a spirit of joy and hope when he announced the year 2015 to be dedicated to consecrated life. The celebration culminates on the World Day of Consecrated Life, the 2nd of February 2016.

Corporate donors, religious congregations and laypeople are drawing their resources together to pack shipping containers of much-needed goods and send them to missionaries and communities in Papua New Guinea.

The project is an initiative of the St Michael Mission Society, established in Sydney more than 20 years ago in support of the Michaelite Fathers who have been missionaries in PNG for about 40 years. In recent times, the Divine Word Missionaries have also been involved in the project, sending requested goods to SVD missionaries in PNG.

Christianity in Africa is growing fast, but this growth, together with unique cultural factors, presents both challenges and opportunities if the African people are to transform a ‘Sunday Christianity’ into an ongoing personal relationship with Jesus Christ, an SVD Mission Day gathering has heard.

Missionary, academic and educator, Fr Erasmus Norviewu-Mortty SVD was born in Ghana, and continues to be deeply involved in education there.

When Fr Gerard Mulholland SVD found out a few months ago that he had late-stage Motor Neurone Disease, he was angry with God. Now, with his faith to sustain him, Fr Gerard says he is looking forward to heaven, but, with the loving care of family, confreres and friends, is still enjoying every day on earth as much as he can.

“I was very angry with God for a couple of weeks,” he says.

When Indonesian-born Fr Boni Buahendri SVD was assigned to Australia as a missionary priest, he dreamed of working with indigenous people in a remote location. Instead, he found himself first in parish ministry and now in formation of young missionaries, and he says he could not be happier.

“I love working with these young people,” he says. “In our society today, only a few people want to become missionary brothers and priests, so to see these young people so enthusiastic to become missionaries makes my day.