Volume 35 No. 1 | Autumn 2025 2 Society Matters Message from the Provincial Superior Dear Friends, Welcome to the Autumn edition of Society Matters. In this edition you will read about how the Divine Word Missionaries have embarked upon a Jubilee Year as we move towards the 150th anniversary of our founding by St Arnold Janssen on September 8, 1875. The theme of our Jubilee is ‘Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere, for Everyone’. At the same time, the Universal Church is celebrating the Jubilee of Hope, proclaimed by Pope Francis and inaugurated when he opened the Jubilee Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve. I think the two Jubilees have much in common, because St Arnold’s decision to start a new missionary society in the troubled times in Europe in the late 1800s and against much opposition, was certainly an endeavour built on Hope, the Hope of Jesus Christ. As he opened the Holy Door at St Peter’s Pope Francis invited us all to make a pilgrimage of the heart this year. “Dear sister, dear brother, on this night, the ‘holy door’ of God’s heart lies open before you. Jesus, God-with-us, is born for you, for us, for every man and woman. With him, joy flourishes; with Him, life changes; with Him, hope does not disappoint,” he said. In this edition of Society Matters you will read several accounts of Divine Word Missionaries who are being ‘Witnesses to the Light’ in their own local context. We have a profile story on Fr Daniel Polla SVD, whose missionary life has taken him from his home country of Indonesia to Paraguay and now to remote Daly River in the Northern Territory. You will also read about the priestly ordination of Cuong Dang SVD. Having received his formation in Australia, Fr Cuong has now embarked on his first missionary assignment to Angola. And our feature story highlights the work of the SVD in the Philippines, providing education and formation for the Indigenous Mangyan youth in Mindoro, a wonderful ministry I have visited myself. In all of these missionary stories it is clear that not only are our missionaries being witnesses to Christ’s light, but are also embracing and encouraging the light of Christ already present in those they meet. Thank you for your steadfast support of the work of the Divine Word Missionaries. May this year of Jubilees open our hearts to be people of Hope and Witnesses to the Light. Yours in the Word, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD Provincial Superior Cover Story: The SVD in the Philippines is helping to empower Indigenous Mangyan communities by providing education and formation for youth to equip them for a stronger future. Pictured are Br Willy Vincent Iopam SVD with some of the Mangyan scholars. Read more on pages 4-5. Appeal Office: 199 Epping Road, Marsfield NSW Locked Bag 3, Epping NSW 1710 Australia Telephone: +61 2 9868 2666 Victoria: 100 Albion Road, Box Hill, Vic 3128 Tel: +61 3 9890 0065 Queensland: 96 Lilac Street Inala QLD 4077 Tel: +61 7 3372 5658 New Zealand: 41 Britannia Street, Petone, 5046 Tel: +64 4 971 7885 Published by Divine Word Missionaries Incorporated, ABN 51 885 667 646
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