When I look back on the months I have spent in Rome, I often find myself caught between wonder and disbelief, writes Fr Clement Baffoe SVD. Rome, with all its centuries of whispers and layers of history, now forms part of my own personal story — a story I never imagined would unfold in such depth and colour.

I share this as a friendly journey through the corners of my life in the Eternal City. It is a story of grace, vulnerability, laughter, study, growth, and a fair share of unexpected moments.

Preparations are underway for celebrations to mark the 40^th anniversary of St John Paul II’s historic speech to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Alice Springs.

Fr Prakash Menezes SVD, Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Alice Springs said the parish is delighted to be involved with the celebration of an event which has so much meaning for both First Nations people and the broader Catholic Church.

The SVD mission in Thailand and Myanmar has been split into two Districts, a move which confreres say will help overcome challenges of distance and enhance unity, collaboration and effectiveness in ministry.

The two new Districts, which are part of the Australia Province, will be known as the Bangkok-Myanmar District and the Udon Thani District, and it is hoped the new arrangement will also provide further support for vocations and early formation for those discerning missionary life in the region.

Fr Shiju Paul SVD has arrived to take up ministry in the Australia Province after almost 30 years as a missionary in India, various parts of Africa and the United States.

Fr Shiju said he is open to working wherever he is assigned in the Province, but has a special interest in living and working with Australia’s First Nations peoples and providing presence, deep listening and accompaniment.

Fr Boni Buahendri SVD has embarked on the first of many visits to SVD ministries around the Province, with a recent trip to North Queensland.

The new Provincial’s visit to Townsville and Palm Island coincided with celebrations for the 10^th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Fr Joseph Reddy SVD.

We have once again entered into the season of Lent, bringing with it a fresh invitation to return to God and allow our hearts to once again be transformed.

Traditionally, the Church asks three things of us in Lent: Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. All of those things are deeply intertwined with Mission.

SVD seminarians at Melbourne’s Dorish Maru College swapped their academic books for some ‘on the ground’ experience over the summer break, with some spending time in parishes, while others undertook work or clinical pastoral experience, lived with a local family, or headed home on leave.

The students, who come from a range of different countries, said the hands-on experiences of pastoral and working life in Australia had a big impact on their formation to become missionary priests.

Reflecting on my journey as a Divine Word Missionary, I do so in the spirit of ongoing formation that lies at the heart of the Society of the Divine Word. My life and vocation have unfolded across diverse contexts—Vietnam under communism, migration to Australia, formation within SVD communities, mission experience in the Amazon, and pastoral ministry on Palm Island.

Each stage has become a formative space where the Word of God, mission, and community have shaped one’s identity. Throughout this journey, three attitudes have consistently sustained my vocation: hope, humility, and humour.

The Society of the Divine Word has this month celebrated the feast days of its two SVD saints, St Arnold Janssen and St Joseph Freinademetz.

The Australian Province of the SVD celebrated the feast days with special Masses and social gatherings of confreres, SSpS Sisters, parishioners, lay partners and partners in mission, while in Rome, St Arnold’s feast day was marked as part of the Third SVD Caucus, with former Australian Provincial, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD as one of the guest speakers.

Fr Paul Dogba SVD’s recent arrival at Dorish Maru College in Melbourne has fulfilled a long-held desire to work in the SVD Australia Province.

Fr Paul, who is from Ghana, has been assigned to work in theological formation in the AUS Province, teaching theology, missiology and homiletics at Yarra Theological Union.