Three young SVD seminarians professed their final vows as Divine Word Missionaries this month and were ordained as deacons as they continue their journey towards the priesthood.

Agustinus Buu Araujo Siga, SVD (Gusty), Antonius Kristanto Papalesa, SVD (Krisna), and Anthony Khanh Ngoc Nguyen, SVD (Khanh) made their final profession at St Paschal’s Chapel, Box Hill, in Melbourne on Saturday, March 21, before being ordained to the diaconate in the same chapel the following day.

The three made their final vows, as nine of their fellow SVD students professed their temporary vows for one more year.

In his opening remarks, Provincial, Fr Boni Buhaendri SVD, thanked each of them for their generosity in responding to the Lord’s calling to a consecrated life.

He welcomed those family and friends gathered in the chapel as well as watching overseas via livestream, saying that in making their vows, the seminarians would “give yourself entirely to Jesus, vowing poverty, chastity and obedience”.

Later, in his homily, Fr Boni, commenting on the Gospel reading from John’s Gospel, “I give you a new commandment, love one another just as I have loved you”, said that Jesus’ inexhaustible love for us is the love we draw from when answering the commandment to love others.

“The nature of God is love, and therefore, we are challenged today to show that kind of love to one another without limit,” he said.

“In times of difficulty, brothers, always remember the one who calls you today.”

Fr Boni said that along with loving God and loving others, the foundations of religious life also include a firm commitment to prayer and to community life.

At the conclusion of the Perpetual Vows Ceremony and the celebration of the Eucharist, Gusty spoke on behalf of himself, Krisna and Khanh, thanking everyone for being present, including Gusty’s parents who made the journey from Indonesia to Melbourne, and Krisna’s father, also from Indonesia, with Khanh’s family watching the ceremony online from Vietnam.

“Today we have made our perpetual vows. That means we have promised our lives to God and to the Society of the Divine Word forever,” Gusty said.

“When people hear the word ‘forever’, they sometimes look at us with a mixture of admiration and a little concern, like, ‘Are you sure about this?’

“But standing here today, surrounded by our families, friends, formators, community, we can honestly say, ‘Yes, we are sure’.

“But we did not arrive here alone. It’s because of so many helping hands, so many supports that we’ve experienced throughout these years.”

Gusty said that first, they wanted to thank God for calling them to religious life. He also gave thanks for the support of their families in supporting their vocation to be missionary priests, far from home. He thanked their formators, the SVD provincial leaders and community, and the Holy Spirit Sisters, lecturers, spiritual directors, English tutor and all who supported them on their journey. They also thanked those who made the final vows ceremony so beautiful, including the Indonesian choir, to which both Gusty and Krisna have belonged. At the conclusion of his remarks, Gusty spoke in Bahasa for the benefit of his and Krisna’s families and friends, while Khanh made some brief comments in Vietnamese.

The following day, Gusty, Krisna and Khanh were ordained deacons during a Eucharistic celebration at St Paschal’s Chapel, presided over by Melbourne Auxiliary Bishop Thinh Xuan Nguyen.

“Today is a joyful day for the Divine Word Missionaries in Australia and for us gathered here this morning,” Bishop Thinh said.

“The Church calls this Sunday Laetare Sunday because it is a Sunday of rejoicing in the middle of Lent, although our joy today is even greater because we are here to witness something sacred and beautiful, the ordination of our three brothers, Gusty Siga, Krisna Papalesa and Khanh Nguyen to the diaconate.

“This is more than a ceremony. It is a sign that God is still calling people today, just as he called David in the first reading and God continues to call people to serve his people with faith, with compassion and with love.”

Bishop Thinh told the three young men that deacons are called to serve people and to proclaim the Word.

“And today, Gusty, Krisna and Khanh, you are not simply receiving a title of deacon, you are receiving a mission, a mission to serve,” he said.

“So, Gusty, Krisna and Khanh, always remember this, you are not ordained to be important. You are ordained to serve. And you are ordained not simply to speak about Christ, but you are ordained to show Christ to the world. So, serve with humility, proclaiming the Word with courage, and love the people with the heart of Jesus. May Mary, the humble servant of the Lord, guide you always, and may your lives proclaim the Gospel. And may you never forget the one whom you follow, Jesus Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve. And that is your mission.”

Gusty, Krisna and Khanh have now received their first missionary assignments, which they will take up after their ordination to the priesthood in November. Gusty has been assigned to the Australia Province, Krisna to Ghana and Khanh to Slovakia.

Gusty said he was surprised when he first heard about his assignment to the Australia Province.

“However, I trust that this decision comes from the needs of the province and from the discernment of the Congregation,” he said.

“Having spent four years in Melbourne during my formation as a student, I had the opportunity to learn the culture, experience the life of the Church here, and feel welcomed by the people. Because of this, I feel very grateful and happy to now begin my first mission in the Australia Province. I look forward to walking and working together with my fellow confreres, offering what I can in service to God and to the people entrusted to our care.”

Krisna said that when he received news of his first assignment to Ghana, he had mixed feelings.

“I felt happy, worried, grateful, and wondering,” he said. “However, as time went by, I gradually thanked God for another opportunity in my life. I know and believe that as a Divine Word Missionary, I have to be ready to be sent everywhere. It is not merely about me but God's mission through the Divine Word Missionaries. I am really grateful to be sent to Ghana, and I am looking forward to seeing some surprises there and God's presence in Ghana.”

And Khanh said he is “very excited” to take up his mission to Slovakia.

“This is a country where I will learn a new language, a new culture, and a new missionary environment with new people,” he said. “That is the spirit of SVD.”

“I experience the spirit of readiness to go wherever SVD needs me. I am always ready for that. I will prepare myself well, both mentally and physically, for my mission in Slovakia. I will place everything in the providence of God, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary.”