Fr Mike Knight SVD says he was determined not to cry when the community of the St Arnold Janssen Chapel in Marsfield farewelled him in early December, but the tears crept up on him anyway.

Up to 180 people gathered for Sunday Eucharist at the Chapel, followed by the blessing of the new “The Word Centre”, and the farewell gathering for Fr Mike, who is finishing his term as Rector of the SVD Marsfield community.

On Christmas Eve in Redfern Park, Sydney, a group of people – some of whom live with mental or physical illness or are at risk, with nowhere to go, and others who are volunteers - will gather to share the Eucharist and a meal together.

The Cana Communities Christmas Eve gathering brings people together in a celebration of shared humanity.

“The experience of the Eucharist in the group and the singing of carols all combine to remind us that there is something bigger than us in the world,” says Cana Communities coordinator, Sr Anne Jordan PBVM.

It was all engines revving when a group of motor cyclists rode into Thailand’s Mother of Perpetual Help Centre on their Harley Davidsons to spread some Christmas cheer among children and teenagers whose lives have been affected by the HIV virus.

The Mother of Perpetual Help Centre in Nong Bua Lamphu, Thailand, is a centre for the care and development of HIV infected people, as well as the poor, under the care of the Divine Word Missionaries Australian Province.

The relief distribution and operation continue in some parts of the affected areas, especially among those who are still in desperate or have no means to survive after the typhoon. In my last update, I mentioned that the affected areas of the city of Tacloban were the next target area for relief supplies to be distributed.

As the JPIC-IDC (Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation - Integrated Development Center), with its staff and volunteers, continues to extend help and to map out plans to effectively reach the victims of typhoon Yolanda, the challenge of helping and supporting them to recover and build up their lives remains a tremendous task.

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.

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.

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.

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.