Friends of the Divine Word Missionaries in Sydney are invited to bring the family to what promises to be a multicultural spectacular Christmas Carols celebration, on December 13, filled with prayer, song and cultural sharing.

The theme for the evening is: “From Every Nation, People, Language – Together Come Let Us Adore Him”.

Mission Secretary and Provincial-Elect, Fr Henry Adler SVD, says the Carols evening has become a much-loved tradition at the St Arnold Janssen Chapel in Marsfield.

Students and staff at Dorish Maru College have celebrated the end of the academic year with a Mass and Thanksgiving Party, but rather than head to the beach for the summer, the students are continuing their formation with challenging pastoral work and cultural immersion.

Celebrations to mark the end of the academic year began with Mass, followed by the Thanksgiving Party in which the students expressed their gratitude to all who have helped them with their studies through the year.

November is the month that we remember those who have gone before us, and parishioners at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Alice Springs celebrated the Feast of All Souls with a prayerful Memorial Walk from the parish to the Old Telegraph Station, just outside of town.

Parish Priest Fr Jan Szweda SVD, Indigenous Chaplain and Acting District Superior Fr Mikhael Loke SVD and OTP Seminarian Paul Aquino joined the parishioners on the Memorial Walk, during which the whole group prayed for those who have died.

The Divine Word Missionaries, who have a strong presence in the Philippines, have been on the ground in the areas worst hit by devastating Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), spearheading a massive relief effort to help the injured, homeless, starving and bereaved.

To support this effort, the SVD AUS Province set up a special Philippines Disaster Appeal, to direct donations straight to the relief teams and to the people in desperate need.

Last month I reflected with you on the impact of the bushfires in New South Wales. This month our attention is focused on the aftermath of devastating Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Of course, severe weather events such as these have always been a part of human history, but scientists are telling us that they will increase in regularity and intensity as climate change continues to affect our planet.

SVD Superior General, Fr Heinz Kulueke gives an update on the "Bangon Igsuon" (Stand UP Brothers and Sisters) relief operation in the Philippines:

"After a series of careful planning meetings by the relief operations team, assessment of the damage and the needs of the affected families in Bantayan Island, careful repacking of relief goods, and contacts with concerned citizens and leaders of the affected areas, the relief operation was ready..."

When Yolanda’s (Haiyan's) hours of rage subsided, images of grief, chaos and destruction in the Central Philippines emerged. The international community saw how the once thriving city of Tacloban was devastated; its people overwhelmed by fear, grief and loss.

The SVD Disaster Team of PHS immediately responded to the call for a massive humanitarian effort to aid the victims. 

Relief operations are in full swing. Relief food packs are expected to be allocated to 10,000 families, many of whom are still starving. 

Dear Friends, confreres, benefactors, donors and volunteers,

Preparation for large relief operation has begun full blast. Hundreds of volunteers, mostly our students are the University of San Carlos, came to help in the repacking.

We have ordered many tons of rice, many boxes of noodles, purified water, coffee, milk, kitchen utensils, blankets and others. 

The Divine Word Missionary relief effort for the people of the Philippines devastated by Taiphoon Haiyan is well underway, with teams on the ground helping to get relief to those most in need, according to Superior General Fr Heinz Kuluke SVD.

Fr Heinz has written to confreres around the world, including the Australian Province, to thank them and their communities and supporters for sending donations to make the relief operations possible.

“The SVD Disaster Team is in place and working zealously,” Fr Heinz said.

Divine Word Missionaries, who are on the ground in the worst affected areas of the Philippines, say they are “racing against time” to reach all those who are dying of hunger, thirst and illness in the wake of Taiphoon Haiyan.

And to help the SVD Disaster relief team to quickly assist those in most need, the SVD AUS Province has established a special Appeal to which people can donate from today.