SVD - Celebrating 100 Years

8 T he house called ‘Arnoldy’ remained the sole SVD establishment in Australia until after WWII as a place for rest and recuperation, the Epping foundation was a success. In 1921 plans were drawn up to build a house suitable for missionaries arriving from PNG. By January 1922 the first sick missionaries arrived from PNG. In July 1922 Fr Superior General made a visitation to the Epping community and was satisfied with the service the house offered and hence transferred the responsibility of the house from the Generalate to the Regional Superior of PNG. In July 1924 Fr Klein decided to enlarge the house so that there would always be enough room for his guests. Support Centre for PNG Missions By adding a section to the back of the building, Fr Klein made provisions for the Holy Spirit Sisters to have their own quarters. In the early 1920s Archbishop Kelly welcomed the Sisters into the diocese and asked if they would open a home for the aged. Later they acquired their own property next door to ‘Arnoldy’, the gift of a parishioner, but a home for the aged would have to wait till after WWII when they settled in Brisbane. The relationship between SVDs in PNG and in Australia has endured and is still a vital link. Most of the Australian’ ordained SVDs have worked in PNG for some time. Some have died there, some are still working there and PNG students and priests have come to Australia for higher education.