The SVD Australia Province has appointed Fr Nick de Groot SVD to take up the role of Province Ministry and Performance Appraiser in a move aimed at providing ongoing formation and “stirring the embers” of missionary service among the members of the Province.
Provincial, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD said the appointment fulfills a recommendation of the 2017 Royal Commission “that each religious institute implement mandatory national standards and undergo regular performance appraisals.”.
“This recommendation was accepted by Catholic Religious Australia and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, and, as a Province, we hope to appraise all active confreres in ministry and leadership positions before the end of 2025,” he said.
“I see this effort as an opportunity for ongoing formation for priests to rekindle the gift of God that is within us as ordained ministers and professed brothers and stir the embers of our missionary priestly/brotherly life of service.
“It would be a great gift back to the triune God in honour of 150 Years of SVD life and mission worldwide.”
Fr Nick said he was happy to accept the appointment as Appraisor and felt it would be a great opportunity for ongoing formation and for active dialogue between the confreres and the Provincial Council.
“Basically, the way I understand the role, I will be checking in with the confreres on how they are going, how they are dealing with their community and their ministry. It really is about ongoing formation,” he said.
“There are formal guidelines I will need to follow and I will certainly do that.
“But essentially it is an appraisal where we ask, ‘How is the person doing in his ministry?’ Is it life-giving, satisfying? Does he need help in any way? And also, it is for us to say thank you.
“Because it is only when you have the satisfaction of serving, where you are making a difference, and when you have mutual hospitality and a life-giving dialogue with the community that ministry really thrives.”
Fr Nick said that having served nine years on the Provincial Council, he feels well prepared to take on the role of Appraisor.
“I am looking forward to it,” he said. “It will be a real gift to me, to be able to spend time with the confreres in this way.”
PHOTO: Fr Nick de Groot SVD is pictured with confreres in the Queensland District last year. He will spend time with confreres in all Districts of the Province during 2025.