This month, we have been celebrating the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Divine Word Missionaries in Epping, Sydney, which marks the beginning of our mission in Australia.
SVD Superior-General, Fr Paul Budi Kleden, has sent a message of congratulations for our confreres, sisters, friends and partners in mission, which I would like to share with you below.
Fr Asaeli Rass SVD, AUS Provincial.
100 Years of Divine Word Missionaries' presence in Epping, NSW, Australia.
Dear confreres, sisters, friends, benefactors, and lay partners,
First of all, I would like to congratulate you 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. 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.
The presence of the SVD in Australia started as a transit to support our mission in Papua New Guinea. It was only about 20 years later, in 1920 that a plot of land was bought, and our house was constructed. These milestone events marked the permanent presence of our Society in the continent.
Since then, a lot has been happening, including the recruitment of the local vocations, the training of young international members, and the expansion of territory and ministries of the Province. With the four countries covered by the Province, it is one of the vastest provinces in the whole Society. You also have a wide range of ministries: attending to traditional and multicultural parishes and different national groups, formation and education, mission awareness building, social outreach to the homeless, the care for the AIDS-infected people, etc. Thank you for all these commitments and dedication.
Taking a comprehensive look at the past and present journey of your Province, I would like to underline three aspects which are and continue to be essential for us in the future: The first is the openness to the challenges that paves the way towards transformation and renewal. The initiative to move from a missionaries' transit place to a permanent mission station was taken 100 years ago. It responded to the growing need and opportunities for mission. Then, facing new and more challenges, the territory and ministries of the Province have been extended . All this is possible because of the Province's openness to concrete situations. Such exposure to the signs of times is the motor of transformation and renewal of our life and mission. In times of crisis, such openness helps us overcome fear and be creative in finding the right ways to live and do our mission.
Secondly, collaboration and networking are the keys to the mission. Since the beginning, our presence here is marked by a good partnership with the bishops and their priests, the Sisters and other religious congregations, and the laypeople. The mission is the task God has given to all of us. Therefore, we have to promote and improve collaboration with everyone. I want to underline the importance of cooperation with the laity in sharing the responsibility for the mission. I hope you continue to walk and work together with our friends and benefactors, our former members, and mission partners.
Lastly, taking to mind responsibly the promotion of an inclusive community. The first SVDs to work in this continent were Fr Jacob Fey SVD, Br Theodulph SVD, Fr. Joseph Fischer, SVD, and Bro. Josef (Robertus) Goossen. Two other confreres, Bro. Leo A Schmitt, SVD and Fr. Peter Klein, SVD, followed. They worked tirelessly over the next forty years to develop the outstation. It is essential to note that at the early stage of the mission there was a collaborative presence of Brothers and priests. In the last decades, we are facing the challenge of the dwindling number of Brothers. And yet, we need to keep in mind that we are first of all religious. I stress this because of the danger of clericalism with all its consequences. There should be no space for clericalism in the
SVD. The other aspect of the SVD community is interculturality. As brothers of different national, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, we commit ourselves to live and work together. We consider our intercultural life and mission as a witness of the Triune God and the Church's richness. This is very actual in multicultural societies like in the countries covered by your Province. In this time, our intercultural life and mission is our critical and prophetic response to the increasing racism and nationalism.
Dear confreres, sisters, friends, benefactors, and lay partners,
You are modestly celebrating this centennial due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And yet, your hearts are overflowing with joy and gratitude. Once again, I wish you a happy centennial celebration! Through the intercessions of Saints Arnold and Joseph, Blessed Maria Helena, and Josepha and our blessed martyrs, may the Lord bless you all to be faithful to the Word and one with the people.
May the love of Christ impel you to be rooted in the Word and committed to his Mission!
Fraternally in the Divine Word,
Paulus Budi Kleden,
SVD Superior General
and the Leadership Team