Volume 35 No. 2 | Winter 2025 2 Society Matters Message from the Provincial Superior Dear Friends, As I write this message, we are celebrating the election of a new pope, Pope Leo XIV, following the death at Easter time of Pope Francis. It is wonderful to note that Pope Leo is a missionary, from the Augustinian order, and in his first address to the crowds in St Peter’s Square he called for a missionary Church. It was also wonderful to hear the new pope giving thanks for the legacy of Pope Francis, especially in the areas of synodality and peace-building. I was blessed to meet Pope Francis personally twice and I remember him for his warmth and kindness on those occasions. He is remembered also as someone who started the ball rolling towards a healthy, inclusive and merciful Catholic Church, through the process of synodality, as well as for his Papal Encyclicals, especially Laudato Si’, which showed us that he was not only the Pope of the People, but also the Pope of all Creation. Pope Francis loved humanity, and he made the point often that we are all interconnected and through his focus on synodality, he wanted every baptised Catholic to stand up and work towards the Kingdom of God and the good of all. I pray for Pope Leo XIV as he embarks on his pontificate. Encouraged by his first words in which he spoke of peace, bridge-building, dialogue and encounter, let us join together with him in his missionary outlook. In this edition of Society Matters you will read the story of our SVD mission in Myanmar, where our confreres are not only building up the Bible Apostolate and providing parish pastoral care, but also helping to provide basic housing for those in great need and providing music lessons and computer lessons for the children. We hope you also enjoy our stories on the SVD Jubilee Year, the final vows and ordination to the diaconate of Peter Wang SVD, and the missionary profile on Fr Jan Szweda SVD. Yours in the Word, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD Provincial Superior Cover Story: The SVD mission in Myanmar continues to steadily grow, with the recent opening of a new parish, along with the Bible apostolate and providing practical assistance to those in need, including the building of basic housing. Read more on Pages 4-5. Appeal Office: 199 Epping Road, Marsfield NSW Locked Bag 3, Epping NSW 1710 Australia Telephone: +61 2 9868 2666 Victoria: 100 Albion Road, Box Hill, Vic 3128 Tel: +61 3 9890 0065 Queensland: 96 Lilac Street Inala QLD 4077 Tel: +61 7 3372 5658 New Zealand: 41 Britannia Street, Petone, 5046 Tel: +64 4 971 7885 Published by Divine Word Missionaries Incorporated, ABN 51 885 667 646
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