AUS Achievements and Celebrations

Fr Anthony Le Duc chose a topic from Theravada Buddhist Environmental Spirituality for his Doctoral Thesis at Assumption University, Bangkok. He was hoping to go beyond theory and to help provide practical resources for local communities living in environmental crisis.

Theravada Buddhist Environmental Spirituality is completely congruent with SVD spirituality and charism. The topic crosses over into four key areas which align with SVD values: other cultures, other religions, to the poor and to creation. Fr Anthony says “Creation is something that human beings must enter into relationship with in such a way that promotes well-being for both ourselves as well as nature.”

Five young Divine Word Missionaries, who have undertaken their formation in the AUS Province, were Ordained for the Priesthood or Diaconate recently, and are now preparing to be sent out on their First Mission Assignments.

Marianus Supardi and Uili Uvea were ordained priests, during the Mass at St Paschal’s Chapel, Box Hill, while Michael (Peter) Pengfei Wu, Anthony Hong-zhou Li and Laurensius Wae Woda were ordained deacons.

When Fr Wim Valkx joined the SVDs in 1953 he observed “A visit to our minor seminary in Teteringen was decisive. I liked those priests who were working in overalls. …just like ordinary men.” Since his First Vows in 1955 Wim has worked tirelessly in PNG and AUS. To this day Wim continues to minister whilst living in the retirement community in Marsfield. He is greatly appreciated by all who benefit from his wisdom and compassion. His 60^th Anniversary of First Vows was celebrated by the Marsfield Community, lay partners and staff.

AIDS education and awareness remain a priority of the SVDsat Mother of Perpetual HelpCentrein Nong Bua Lamphuin Thailand. The staffis training teachers to continue AIDS education in the schools. Local nurses and police have also been trained.For a good part of 2015 the hospice had a lower intake of patients requiring extra care. As a consequence of this, Villa Marie has become more of a rehabilitation centre though the number of patients has risen of late.Due to the dedication and hard work of the confreresand staff many patients are now managing their own Antiretroviral Therapy and enjoying the benefits of a more fulfilling life.

To better prepare new confreres for ministry in Northern Territory District, Fr Jim Knight has just completed anIntroduction Course on Australian/ Aboriginal Culture that was taught through-out 2015. The new confreres also learnt the local Arrernte Language. The acculturation process is most beneficial for new confreres so they can be more effective in their various ministries. Interculturality is a priority of the SVDs and those who minister in the Northern Territory need to be very aware of the culture and language of our Australian indigenous people.(Written by Pia Haves, AUS Provincial Secretary, was published in SVD ASPAC JOURNAL 2015)

International Mission Symposium and AUS Ministry

Fr. Stef Bevans,SVD

About 150 mission scholars, practitioners and interested people gathered in Melbourne on

2nd-3rd October for the International Mission Symposium – an event aimed at celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s decree on Mission, Ad Gentes.

The Symposium explored the ways in which the understanding and practice of Mission has developed since Vatican II, but also looked to the future and considered some of the challenges of Mission in the world today.

Fr Jacob Kavunkal SVD, who was the key organiser of the event, says a highlight of the Symposium was the number and variety of people who attended.“The participants consisted not only of Divine Word Missionaries and Holy Spirit Sisters in sizeable numbers, but also other religious, laity, theologians, scripture scholars and even a bishop,” Fr Jacob says.

Key themes to emerge from the Symposium included: the idea that the Church is Mission, even as God, as the fountain of love is Mission; this Mission is expressed through the communication of love in different forms, like hospitality to the migrants and asylum seekers; care of those at the margins, including that of creation; equality and inclusiveness of all; a dialogue of rootedness and openness among the followers of religions; and the prophetic mission of the religious.

The speakers included prominent SVD/SSpS mission theologians from different parts of the world: Stephen Bevans (USA), Mary John SSpS (Rome), Lazar Stanislaus (India), Thomas Hughes (Brazil), Zenon Szablowinski (PNG), Jac Kuepers (Taiwan), Christian Tauchner (Austria), Martin Ueffing (Germany), Joseph Eilers (Philippines), Paul Steffen (Rome), Leo Kleden (Indonesia), Gabriel Afagbegge (Ghana),and Jacob Kavunkal (Australia).

The Symposium is also part of the SVD mission animation activity for the Church in Australia, as well as the SVD contribution to Missiological formation at the Yarra Theological Union and through it, to Melbourne’s University of Divinity.

AUS Provincial, Fr Henry Adler SVD,noted that the Symposium was an important event for the Divine Word Missionaries.  “The response is that the Church now truly sees itself as Missionary by its very nature and the Symposium also confirmed that we have moved even further and deeper in our understanding of that.As Fr Steve Bevans says: “The Mission has a Church” 

AUS Province holds special ceremonies and festivals to commemorate Mission Sunday every year. The International Mission Symposium was Melbourne’s commemoration this year. SVD Communities and parishes hold special liturgies, multi-cultural events and enjoy “feasts” which the lay partners and parishioners generously provide to honour the day.

A very important ministry of AUS Province is collecting donations for the Overseas Mission Projects.Our benefactors are very generous, especially when we appeal to them in an emergency situation like the Vanuatu Cyclone Appeal this year. The funds raised enabled the people of Tanna Island to buy much needed supplies after their island was devastated.( Pia Haves, AUS Provincial Secretary, was published on SVD ASPAC JOURNAL 2015)