The Divine Word Missionaries have celebrated 100 years of missionary presence in Epping, New South Wales, with a special Mass in which they shared with friends and partners in mission the story of the SVD’s arrival in Australia.
The Mass was celebrated by Vice-Provincial, Fr Nick De Groot SVD in the St Arnold Janssen Chapel at Epping on Sunday, October 25.
For the homily, Fr Nick shared a Power-Point presentation detailing the historical journey of the SVD in Australia.
It outlined how, in 1896, Fr Arnold Janssen, the Founder of the Society of the Divine Word, had appointed Fr Eberhard Limbrock SVD to head a six-man team of missionaries to German New Guinea.
It did not take Fr Limbrock long to realise that having a house of some kind in Australia would be a distinct advantage. It could serve as a source of financial support and would be a logical place from which to do business for the mission, be a port of call for missionaries coming to or going from New Guinea, as well as an excellent place for rest and recuperation for ailing missionaries.
In 1898, when Fr Limbrock was in Holland for a General Chapter of the Congregation, Fr Arnold agreed to his plan and the SVD presence in Australia was born. However, it would be another 20 years before the SVD was to find a place to settle permanently, in Epping.
Fr Peter Klein, Brothers Leo and Odoricus, named the house ‘Arnoldy’ and it remained until 1965 when, under the leadership of the Regional Superior Fr Lawrence Mack, the Society moved to 199 Epping Road, its current Provincial Centre. The Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit also began their ministry in Australia from ‘Arnoldy’, taking up residence in 1926 and establishing their foundation in 1933, before relocating to Brisbane after World War II.
The campus on Epping Road has continued to develop over the years as its purpose changed. The first demountable chapel was replaced with a modern new chapel and buildings were established to accommodate the Province’s administrative centre.
A number of different groups have been accommodated at Epping Road over the years, including postulants, novices, graduate students, immigrant chaplains, asylum seekers, ill or retired SVD members and confreres providing ministry to the laity.
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.
Superior-General of the Divine Word Missionaries, Fr Budi Kleden SVD sent a message to all confreres, collaborators and partners in mission, congratulating the Province on the centennial of the first SVD house in Epping, Australia.
“Together with the General Council members, I am united with you in thanking God for his abundant blessings,” he said.
“The Lord has been showering these graces to the Province through the Sisters and other religious congregations, the local bishops and their priests and parishioners, the former SVDs, our friends, benefactors, and lay partners.”
At the end of the Centenary Mass, the congregation joined in praying a prayer entitled ‘Precious is the life given to Mission’.
Fr Nick told those gathered that the SVD could not have grown and flourished without the constant support of its friends and partners in mission over the years.
“Everyone is imbued in Baptism with the love for Christ and love for the Holy Spirit, in your homes and in your workplaces,” he said.
Following Mass, a video was played, featuring messages from past provincials of the province, including Fr Kevin Cantwell, Fr Frank Gerry, Fr Bill Burt, Fr Tim Norton and Fr Henry Adler, as well as a message from the current provincial Fr Asaeli Rass.
Fr Nick then cut a commemorative cake which was distributed to those present, along with a gift for each family present, to mark the occasion.
Last month, the centenary was also marked by the burying of a time capsule in the grounds in front of the St Arnold Janssen Chapel, which had been undergoing significant repairs.
In a ceremony attended by confreres and office staff, the time capsule was placed in the ground which had been dug out due to the chapel repairs.
It contained a number of items including: The AUS Province Catalogus 2020; copies of Society Matters magazine and the SVD AUS Province Calendar 2020; a copy of the Sydney Morning Herald dated September 8, 2020 – the 145th anniversary of SVD Foundation Day; a Province newsletter, the Province Directory; a 100 years anniversary logo; a booklet of the SVD history in Australia; a $5 note; a St Arnold Janssen medal; a St Joseph Freinademetz keyring; rosary beads; and a coffee mug (minus its handle, to make it fit in the capsule!)
“We hope these contents will survive the test of time and shed some light on what life was like in 2020, mainly the history-making pandemic which changed lives around the world,” says AUS Provincial Secretary Lorraine Coutinho, who was part of the team organising the time capsule.
“Some historians or archaeologists may find the information fascinating and thank us for giving them this knowledge by leaving behind these vital clues.”
To read more about the pioneer SVDs in Epping, click here.
PHOTOS
TOP RIGHT: Fr Nick De Groot SVD shares the story of the SVD presence in Epping during the Centenary Mass.
MIDDLE LEFT: The SVD pioneers in Australia - Br Leodegard, Fr Klein, Fr Fey and Br Robert.
MIDDLE RIGHT: The Centenary Cake, shared after the Mass.
BOTTOM LEFT: Staff and confreres at Epping/Marsfield bury the time capsule.