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Divine Word Missionaries

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25.01.2022 In honouring All Saints Day, reflects Fr Frank Gerry SVD, let us rejoice with and be grateful to those of the large number impossible to count, among whom are dear ones who were close to us, to whom we owe a lot and who have gone on before us, showing us the way. Finally, let us give praise to God in honouring our God-given humanity and the open, unlimited dimensions of our human hearts, our own irrepressible desires, the ordinariness of our days, the simple joy of living the blessings that Jesus so generously honours in his sermon on the mount. Read more of Fr Frank's reflection: http://ow.ly/NMqb50C6ODr

25.01.2022 This Sunday's parable of the two brothers who are asked by their father to go and work in the vineyard shows us that simply abiding by, or even worse, giving lip-service to, the 'rules' means nothing if we don't have the change of heart that will allow us to know and do God's will. Read Fr Larry Nemer SVD's reflection: http://ow.ly/smUb50BAYDm

25.01.2022 We can use these first weeks of Advent to follow Jesus’ instruction to watch to remember that our life in this world can come to an end at any time even when we least expect it, reflects Fr Larry Nemer SVD. But our watching need not be filled with anxiety. We firmly believe, as we say in the Mass for the dead, life is changed, not ended. Advent can be a time when we look back over our life in this world and can give thanks for all the blessings that have come our way. And we can look forward to our future life, knowing that the best is yet to come. Read more of Fr Larry's reflection: http://ow.ly/Xdq850Cw2Y6

24.01.2022 A small church renovation project in Thailand’s rural Buengkan Province, has been the backdrop for a rejuvenation in parish and community life as well as an opportunity for interfaith dialogue and friendship. Fr Truong Le SVD arrived at his new parish in Northeast Thailand, near the Mekong River at short notice and with few plans in place, but says that by listening and getting to know the people, a strong community is beginning to grow. Read more: https://divineword.org.au//1108-willing-hearts-help-renova

24.01.2022 Please join us at 5pm (AEDT) as we celebrate the jubilees of several SVD confreres and give thanks to God for their lives of missionary service.

24.01.2022 The SVD AUS Province is delighted to introduce to you our first ever Vietnamese-language edition of our Society Matters mission magazine. Our Province has a long-standing involvement in chaplaincy to the Vietnamese community in various parts of our Province and we hope this initiative will help our Vietnamese-speaking friends and partners in mission to read all about the missionary works of the SVD. Click through to check out the flip-book version of Society Matters in either English or Vietnamese: https://divineword.org.au/society-matters

23.01.2022 Centenary Celebrations at Epping

23.01.2022 We are live now. Join us in this wonderful celebration!!

23.01.2022 Loving our neighbours is not an add-on to what it means to be a good Catholic, reflects Fr Larry Nemer SVD. Together with loving God, it is at the core of who we are. Read Fr Larry's reflection on this Sunday's Gospel: http://ow.ly/9hjE50C0wH7

23.01.2022 This week we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. But the gospel shows us what kind of king Jesus is and it shows us how best we can serve Him. Fr Larry Nemer SVD says we should avoid sanitising the gospel reading and instead, respond to the "shocking" aspects of the story, including when the people ask: "When did I give you food or drink, when did I clothe you or visit you in prison", and Jesus will say: "As long as you did it to one of the least of my brothers or sisters, you did it to me". Read more of Fr Larry's reflection here: http://ow.ly/7hnr50CqPKC

23.01.2022 Congratulations to our Svd Deacons...for saying yes to God's invitation to be Missionaries around the world.

22.01.2022 The Parable of the Wedding Feast in the Gospel this Sunday puts before us the choice to enter the reign of God, reflects Fr Prakash Menezes SVD. Do I accept or reject? Do I choose to wear the wedding garment or refuse? The choice is ours. It always a struggle when it comes to accept the invitation of God. We want to do many things and we feel we have the freedom to do so. And God respects that freedom. We are free to choose what is set before us. But all the choices do come with their own demand. The demand for choosing to enter the reign of God is doing God’s will. And God’s will is nothing but to follow how Jesus lived. And to live as Jesus lived can be hard but not impossible. Read more of Fr Prakash's reflection: http://ow.ly/sNIB50BOWCs

21.01.2022 It’s been a time of farewells and new beginnings for some of the SVD missionaries in the Thailand District of the AUS Province, with the Bishop of Udon Thani reassigning them to take on new challenges in a different area of the diocese. The SVDs had been working in the area of Ban Dung in northern Thailand for some time, taking care of large parishes as well as small, deserted churches in different villages. Their new assignments will take three of the confreres to another pr...ovince, BuengKan, which borders Laos. The diocese is revamping its organisation and structure to serve the people better, Fr Truong Le SVD says. Fr Truong says the change came upon them quickly, but they were encouraged by the words from the SVD Prologue: ‘Sent by Jesus, we leave. Led by the Spirit, we enter’. With that in mind, the Thailand District believes that with change and transition come transformation and new ways of mission, he says. Read more of the SVD's current mission in Thailand from the latest edition of our mission magazine Society Matters: https://divineword.org.au/societymatters/202009/ See more

20.01.2022 We know many schools, Parishes and organisations were unable to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday in July this year, so why not take the op...portunity that NAIDOC provides to celebrate the contributions of Australia's First peoples to the Catholic Church in Australia? We have produced a resource booklet to assist in the planning of your celebrations this Sunday - https://www.natsicc.org.au/2020-atsi-sunday.html NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. The theme for 2020 is Always Was, Always Will Be. and it recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. We are spiritually and culturally connected to this country.This country was criss-crossed by generations of brilliant Nations. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were Australia’s first explorers, first navigators, first engineers, first farmers, first botanists, first scientists, first diplomats, first astronomers and first artists.

20.01.2022 There'll be celebrations at St Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Marsden, Qld, this weekend as the parish marks its 40th anniversary. Thanks to The Catholic Leader and Parish Priest Fr Sunil Nagothu SVD for this great story: https://catholicleader.com.au//st-maximilian-kolbe-parish-

19.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/DorishMaru/videos/716160549003380/

18.01.2022 The St Maximilian Kolbe Parish Youth Group in Marsden, Brisbane is famous for its annual winter sleep-out fundraiser, but when COVID-19 restrictions meant it couldn’t go ahead this year, the young people, and the whole parish, decided to put their walking shoes on for mission instead. The youth group came up with the idea of holding a We Are the World Winter Appeal, which aimed to raise funds for people in India who are struggling to provide the necessities because of the impact of the pandemic. Parish Priest, Fr Sunil Paul Nagothu SVD, who was born in India, said the parish council and parishioners immediately got on board with the youth group’s fundraising effort which brings to life St Mary MacKillop's saying to "Never see a need without doing something about it". Read more: https://divineword.org.au//1094-parish-youth-hit-the-road-

17.01.2022 Today we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the canonisation of Australia's first saint, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. St Mary of the Cross, pray for us.

16.01.2022 The Divine Word Missionaries is one of the most multicultural religious congregations in the world, and we are also dedicated to ministry with multicultural parish communities and also migrant chaplaincy. Today, with the universal Church, we celebrate Refugee and Migrant Sunday and we give thanks for all the different people from different countries and cultures who make up the Body of Christ. Read more about Refugee and Migrant Sunday: https://www.catholicreligious.org.au//like-jesus-christ-fo

15.01.2022 The SVD is taking up a new missionary assignment in Townsville Diocese, with a particular focus on indigenous ministry, including on Palm Island. Provincial, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD, says the move comes at the request of Townsville Bishop Timothy Harris. One of the reasons why we decided to respond positively to his request is that we recognise the strength of the indigenous people on Palm Island and in Townsville and the complexity and the privilege of working with the First Peo...ples of this land, which is a priority for this Province, he says. Another factor was that we will be working with the Holy Spirit Sisters (sister congregation to the SVD, also founded by St Arnold Janssen) who are already there on Palm Island. So we see it very much as a partnership with the Townsville Diocese and the Bishop, the Holy Spirit Sisters and the local people. Read more about the SVD's new ministry: https://divineword.org.au//1119-svd-excited-to-take-up-new See more

14.01.2022 Please join us on 25th October at 9 am (AEDT) as we celebrate the Beginning of the Centenary Year of SVD's Foundation in Epping Area, to give thanks to God for Everyone who walked with Us in our Missionary Journey.

12.01.2022 This weekend, the Catholic Church in Australia marks Child Protection Sunday, on which we pray for those who have been abused, their families and supporters. We recognise and apologise for the harm done by priests, religious and lay people in Church settings. The Church takes a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse. We recommit to practices that support survivors and make the Catholic Church and its ministries the safest possible place for children and people at risk. Find out more at: www.catholic.org.au/childprotectionsunday and www.catholicreligious.org.au/safeguarding

12.01.2022 The parable in today's Gospel reading of the workers in the vineyard teaches us a lot about having gratitude for God's great mercy to all, reflects Fr Elmer Ibarra SVD. Instead of being envious of others, let us just be grateful that we have a gracious God. We should treat everyone as family - even though in a family not everybody is perfect and we have the occasional black sheep, let us rejoice for everyone who gets admitted to the kingdom of heaven because if we let envy overcome us, we might find ourselves outside the awesome party thrown by Jesus himself. Read more of Fr Elmer's reflection: http://ow.ly/tZL250BulTX

11.01.2022 The Gospel on this 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time presents us with Jesus’ beautiful teaching on forgiveness and an encouragement for us to forgive one another, as God forgives all our wrongdoings, reflects Fr Yon Wiryono SVD. "For us, the lesson is clear here. To be forgiven is to forgive others. When we pray the Our Father prayer, 'forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sins against us', it is clear that God’s forgiveness needs our response and willingness to forgive others who hurt us as well. This is the challenge of being Christian." Read more of Fr Yon's reflection: http://ow.ly/dZHJ50BnSjv

11.01.2022 The Divine Word Missionaries AUS Province will this Saturday, November 28, joyfully celebrate the ordination to the priesthood of three of our young missionaries. Please keep them in your prayer and join us at 10am AEDT for the livestream of the ordination Mass.

10.01.2022 Today is the feast day of St Therese of the Child Jesus - Patron Saint of Missionaries. St Therese is one of the patron saints of Missionaries, not because she ever went anywhere (she lived in an enclosed convent) but because of her special love of the missions, and the prayers and letters she gave in support of the missionaries. Her 'little way' of prayer and daily sacrifice remains a wonderful example to us all. St Therese, pray for us.

10.01.2022 A great initiative from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council ... The Palliative Care Packages Project. https://mailchi.mp//launching-our-new-palliative-care-pack

09.01.2022 We're celebrating Mission week here at the SVD and we're delighted to share with you this fabulous story from The Catholic Leader about the missionary life of Fr Elmer Ibarra SVD, parish priest of Santa Teresa in Central Australia: https://catholicleader.com.au//missionary-priest-from-mani

08.01.2022 Today we remember those who served for the cause of peace and freedom and who paid the ultimate cost. Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in Your peace. Amen.

08.01.2022 This Sunday's gospel readings prompt a couple of key questions for us, says Fr Frank Gerry SVD: "What have I done with my gifts, my talents, my opportunities, my personal challenges for growth and real achievement, not just for myself but for those in my life who matter? What kind of expectation would I sense my God would have of me for his goodness to me in every which way?" Read more of Fr Frank's reflection: http://ow.ly/Yu9050BHuQC

08.01.2022 Please join us for this morning's ordinations and keep our young missionaries in prayer.

07.01.2022 Centenary Celebrations at Epping...

07.01.2022 Today is All Souls' Day, where we are reminded of our unity with all who have died. They are our 'brothers and sisters' and we express our unity with them by praying for the eternal repose of their souls. Encouraged by the words of the prophet Isaiah, that God is preparing a banquet for all peoples, we pray on this day not only for our loved ones and the members of the Christian community who have died but for all the departed. (From the Daily Missal). So, today we pray for those we've loved and lost: Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen

06.01.2022 Fraternity and social friendship are the ways Pope Francis indicates to build a better, more just and peaceful world, with the contribution of all: people and institutions. With an emphatic confirmation of a ‘no’ to war and to globalised indifference. https://www.vaticannews.va//fratelli-tutti-pope-fraternity

06.01.2022 May the gospel for this Sunday be a reminder to us that God has been generous in giving us all different talents and skills, reflects Fr Elmer Ibarra SVD. We should not forget though that all these don’t belong to us. We are only stewards of these talents and skills, and when the day of accounting finally comes, we should be able to show to God our produce or at the very least, we should show God how much we tried. Read more of Fr Elmer's reflection: http://ow.ly/Ggv750CkllN

06.01.2022 "God is with us" - Fr Stephen Bevans SVD shares a beautiful reflection on mission during this time of pandemic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6hUCynqcCQ&feature=youtu.be

05.01.2022 Today the Church marks the World Day of the Poor. It is a day instituted by Pope Francis to pray for and stand with the poor, wherever we meet them. We invite you to take a moment today to join us in saying a prayer for the poor and being part of the SVD World Day of the Poor Prayer Bridge - an initiative of the Steyler Missionaries' Lay Partners.

03.01.2022 The Divine Word Missionaries are celebrating 100 years since arriving in Epping, Sydney, a significant development in the mission to Australia and Papua New Guinea, which was overseen by St Arnold Janssen himself. From its shaky start, the AUS Province now has a range of strong and vibrant ministries with multicultural parish communities, Indigenous communities, ethnic chaplaincy, prison ministry, hospital chaplaincy, formation for missionaries who have been sent out all around the world, and more. The Province has also grown to include New Zealand, Thailand and Myanmar. Read more about the beginnings of the SVD mission in Australia: https://divineword.org.au//1113-celebrating-a-century-of-m

03.01.2022 Thanks to our SVD students at Dorish Maru College in Melbourne for producing a series of short interviews where we get to know each of the students and hear something of their vocational journey so far. The first interview is with Deacon John Mai. Enjoy!

02.01.2022 Ordination to the Priesthood 2020 Update In a few minutes, our brothers John, Clement and Yosef will receive the Priestly Ordination. Follow our live streaming on the links below: Facebook: https://fb.me/e/1GGPFGVk7 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPXIzjumW90

01.01.2022 Congratulations to the five SVD seminarians who officially began their preparation journey towards final vows yesterday. May God continue to bless you in your missionary vocation.

01.01.2022 Calling all those who have a great story to tell about Pastoral Creativity amidst the Pandemic ...