As a Divine Word Missionary, it is my profound privilege to share the Good News of God wherever I am called, writes Fr Niran Veigas SVD. For nine years, I was blessed to proclaim the Gospel in Russia, answering the Lord’s invitation to be His instrument of love and hope. Following this, I embraced another calling—to serve the Aboriginal community in Australia.

For the past two years, I have had the honour of ministering to a remote Aboriginal community in the northernmost part of Australia. It has been a journey of grace and growth, where I feel truly blessed to bring the Good News of Christ to those who long for His presence. Witnessing their faith, resilience, and openness to the Gospel has deepened my own commitment to this sacred mission.

The first words of God in the book of Genesis were [Then God said:] Let there be LIGHT, and there was light. For me as I reflect on the theme of our 150^th founding anniversary, as the biblical apostolate coordinator of the province, the Light is very powerful, writes Fr Elmer Ibarra. 

While we believe that the task of becoming a missionary is a call for everyone, I believe that as Divine Word Missionaries priests and brothers, we are specially called to testify to the light in the best way we know how by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The birthday of our Mother Mary, 8^th September, also marked the Foundation Day of the Society of the Divine Word.

In 2024 it also marked the opening of the SVD Sesquicentenary Jubilee (the year of celebrations leading up to their 150^th anniversary in 2025), with the theme “Witnessing to the Light: from Everywhere for Everyone”, writes Fr Peter Bang SVD.

If we want to achieve Peace, Justice must be served. If we want to live harmoniously with nature, we have to protect our environment, writes Fr Jun Perez SVD.

The theme of our Jubilee Year, “Witnessing to the Light, from Everywhere for Everyone,” has resonated deeply within my heart and mind as I am applying for Perpetual Vows and First Assignments, writes SVD student Peter Wang.

It reminds me this is a call to all of us in the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) with a renewed commitment to our core identity and mission.

One of the great gifts and important fields of study during my priestly formation was the study of “Cultural Anthropology”. It was seen as one of the foundation stones for our future missionary life as an SVD. The awareness of what it means to live in a particular culture, that it is ‘like an iceberg with only the tip showing but most of it being not visible’, made us aware of the complexities involved in knowing one’s own culture, let alone learning another culture.

And yet, as a missionary that is what we are meant to do. We not only learn another language when one goes overseas, but we make every effort to learn everything we can about the new people we are asked to serve. Their values, their social structure, their customs, their beliefs, their rituals, and yes, their light and darkness.

On September 8, Good Shepherd Parish in Kirwan came alive with joy and spiritual fervour as the community gathered for two significant events: The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the inauguration of the 150th Jubilee celebrations of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD).

This special day was a powerful reminder of our unity in faith, our love for Mary, and our gratitude for the Global Missionary work of the SVDs.

I’m Gideon Awudi SVD, originally from Ghana but assigned to the Australia Province and I’m working in Townsville Diocese, North Queensland, Australia.

The Townsville Diocese at present is considering a new model of parish ministry in relation to ‘Becoming New in Christ.’ In this new model, parishes have been reconfigured, and the goal is to bring parish mission renewal in the diocese.

On September 8, 2024, the Society of the Divine Word worldwide inaugurated the Jubilee Year celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding with the theme: "Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere, for Everyone." In the Australia Province, we marked this significant occasion with a simple yet profound opening ritual, featuring processions of the Bible, the globe, the Jubilee logo, and the Jubilee candle. Each symbol embodies the deep missionary spirituality of the SVD.

This ritual coincided with the priestly ordination of Cuong Quoc Dang, SVD, marking the beginning of his own journey as a missionary – a witness to the Light. My reflection on this Jubilee theme is deeply inspired by this event, particularly as it relates to our Australia Province. As Cuong Dang begins his journey of witnessing to the Light, it is worth considering several key principles that not only guide him but all of us, writes Fr Anthony Le Duc SVD.