Imagine if you felt God called you to explore the possibility of becoming a Divine Word Missionary, but then a global pandemic meant you had to wait more than a year to fulfill that calling?

That’s exactly what happened to Christopher (Boss) Hiranrattanajinda Bhumbodin from Thailand and Aaron Ong from Brunei, who were both poised to enter the SVD AUS Province postulancy program last year when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of international borders.

The SVD AUS Province has welcomed two new postulants, who have answered Jesus’ call to “come and see”.

Aaron Ong from Brunei and Shehan Fernando from Sri Lanka have taken the step to join the Divine Word Missionaries and test their vocation to religious missionary life.

The SVD AUS province has welcomed two young men into the Postulancy program in Thailand, with a view to them entering the Novitiate next year where they will begin their journey of training to be missionaries.

Chalerm Naruemankanthon and Cuong Quoc Dang have been walking with the SVDs in Thailand for some time and are now ready to deepen their commitment and discernment as Novices. Their Novitiate will take place in the Philippines, after which they will continue their formation in Australia.