SVD student Tin Trinh professed his final vows as a Divine Word Missionary this month and was ordained to the Diaconate, as three of his confreres renewed their temporary vows.

With the nation’s borders open once more, Tin’s parents were able to join him for the special occasion, travelling from Vietnam to be part of the occasion.

After being ordained a deacon in Melbourne in March, Duc Le SVD eagerly arrived at Mary, Mother of the Church parish in Macquarie Fields for his pastoral placement in June, only to find that a few days after his arrival Sydney was plunged into COVID lockdown and the churches were closed.

A short time later, while Duc was undertaking a retreat at the SVD Provincial Centre in Marsfield, the restrictions were tightened and residents of greater Sydney were prevented from travelling more than 10km. Duc has been at Marsfield ever since, and says his diaconate, while unusual, has still been fruitful.

The Divine Word Missionaries AUS Province had cause for great celebration earlier this month when five young confreres from three different countries made their Final Profession of Vows and were ordained to the Diaconate.

The profession of vows and ordination to the Diaconate took place over the weekend of March 13-14 at St Paschal’s Chapel, Box Hill.

This month, the SVD Australia province had three young men take their final vows.  A week after that, nine young SVD temporary professed renewed their vows.  And the SVD final professed are continuing with their vows in their ministries.  These vows highlight our spiritual love and commitment for God during the coronavirus crisis around the world. The SVD constitution says, “By taking the public vows of consecrated chastity, evangelical poverty and apostolic obedience, we respond to his call and follow him along the way of evangelical counsel”. (Cons 201)

The power of love is making us free to worship God and exercise our mission.

Three young Divine Word Missionaries took their final vows earlier this month and were also ordained to the diaconate, marking a significant point on their vocational journey.

Yosef Meda and Adrianus Mai from Indonesia joined Clement Baffoe from Ghana in professing their vows before Provincial, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD on Saturday, March 15 at St Paschal’s Chapel, Box Hill.

The SVD AUS Province recently celebrated  as two of its students took their final vows as Divine Word Missionaries and were ordained to the Diaconate.

The two events were significant milestones on the missionary journey of Toub Anisong Chanthavong, the first person from Laos to become an SVD, and Simon Dominguez Prospero from Mexico.

It was a joyous time in Japan recently when two young men took their final vows as Divine Word Missionaries.

Joseph Hy SVD and Keiji Arata SVD both spent some time in the AUS Province during their formation, an experience they say had a big impact on their understanding of missionary life.