SVD members who have been ordained or ministering in Australia for fewer than five years gathered in Townsville recently for a week of ongoing formation and fellowship.

The confreres, who come from all around the world, and are assigned to various parts of the country, gathered over the first week of April and said they returned to their respective parishes happy, refreshed and re-energised.

This year, the Under-5 Group working within Australia were Fathers: Long Nguyen, Gideon Awudi, Francois Andrianihantana, Niran Veigas, Jun Perez, Clement Baffoe, Hung Quoc, Joe Jacob, Rius Salu, Paulo Vatunitu, and Daniel Polla. Seven of these attended the Townsville meeting face-to-face, while four members sent their apologies.

Those 11 members come from countries including Fiji, Indonesia, Madagascar, Vietnam, Ghana, the Philippines and India. Some have been ordained for fewer than five years, while others have been engaged in missionary ministry in other provinces for some time but have only recently arrived in the Australia Province.

Fr Francois said the Under-5 gathering was a helpful experience as confreres sought to settle into life in the Province.

“Initially, we did not know each other well and our experiences in the mission fields of the Australia Province are still limited,” he said.

“Therefore, regular Zoom meetings and a yearly face-to-face gathering have taken place in order for us to get to know one another, strengthen the relationship among us, learn from one another and support each other.

“The Gathering is also a great opportunity for the Under-5s to enrich our knowledge and mission experience in Australia with the insights and experience of the speakers and confreres who are more experienced in mission and ministry within the Province.”

The first day of the Gathering featured guest speakers, starting with Dr Lyn Moresi who gave insights on ‘Being Effective in Pastoral Ministry’, followed by Fr Anthony Le Duc SVD, who spoke about ‘Communicating the Gospel on Social Media’. Later in the afternoon, the group enjoyed some sightseeing and time together around Townsville.

On Day Two, there was Group Sharing, where the those present shared with their confreres the mission, ministry and activities happening in their various parishes in the Tiwi Islands, Daly River, Alice Springs, Inala, Emerald and Townsville.

“It was quality time for us as we all had the opportunity to talk to our group members about our joys and excitements in mission and our challenges and the struggles we face as we dive into new territories and cultures. It was a great time to listen and learn from one another, to encourage and support one another,” Fr Francois said.

Later, they heard from Fr Gregory Pinto SVD who spoke via Zoom from India on the theme, ‘Growing to be a Good and Effective Religious Missionary’. This was followed by evening Mass, recreation and dinner with the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters who work in Townsville.

Fr Manh Le SVD, a missionary on nearby Palm Island, was guest speaker on Thursday morning, on the theme, ‘Growing in Pastoral Ministry’.

“This was followed by group sharing and discussion on ‘Becoming more effective in giving a homily’,” said Fr Francois.

“It was a time to listen and learn from one another’s experiences on how each member in the group gives homilies.”

In the afternoon, Fr Jan Sweda SVD shared his knowledge, wisdom and experiences in Papua New Guinea and his experiences in the mission fields of Australia.

“These sharings were a great source of learning for all of us,” Fr Francois said.

On the final day, the group travelled to nearby Magnetic Island for a picnic and a time of fellowship together.

“We went around the island to enjoy its beautiful scenery,” Fr Francois said. “The beach, and also the local food that people sell on the island are fantastic. We also went to visit some of the church buildings where our SVD confreres are serving in Townsville and on Magnetic Island.”

Fr Francois said at the end of the week together, he felt the experience of the Under-5 gathering had been positive.

“I really feel that our sense of unity and togetherness as an Under-5 group was strengthened, our ministry and mission experiences in the Australian context were enriched, our spiritual lives were nourished, and our intellectual capacities were stimulated,” he said.

“We were all refreshed, excited and joyful to go back to our various parishes to implement what we have learnt and experienced.”

Fr Rius, who is working in Daly River in the Northern Territory said he also found the experience a positive one.

"There is something that remains from the five days I have spent in Townsville, namely a new mission spirit renewed by a combination of various meaningful mission experiences from the confreres and important input from the speakers,” he said.

Fr Daniel, who is also assigned to Daly River, said the meeting of Under-5s was a time to get to know both his confreres and their mission context.

“The different places of mission help us to know how our confreres are serving the needs of other people,” he said.

Fr Yon Wiryono SVD, Vice Rector at Dorish Maru College and Director of the Overseas Training Program for the SVD AUS Province, who played a key role in organising the program, said he found the Gathering helped form a strong bond among those taking part.

“Hopefully, it is the opportunity to connect to one another, as we live far away from each another,” he said. 

“I felt a strong sense of brotherhood, and the joy of being SVD in the Australian context. Something that I treasure the most is that this gathering is a very special time for each one of us to share our stories, joys and challenges of mission, and offer support and solidarity. 

“Sometimes we can’t fix or find any solutions for everyone’s mission’s challenges and struggles, but by listening to one another’s stories, we can offer support, appreciate some advice and learn from each other’s mission challenges as well.”

On behalf of the Under-5s, Fr Francois thanked the Provincial and Provincial Council members for giving them the opportunity to gather together. They also thanked the Townsville-based SVD Fathers Joseph Reddy, Joe Jacob, Gideon Awudi and Jan Sweda for hosting the gathering, and Fr Albano Da Costa SVD who attended the gathering on behalf of the Provincial. They also expressed their appreciation to Fr Yon Wiryono SVD who organised the timetable of the gathering on behalf of Fr Sunil Nagothu SVD and organised the guest speakers who shared their knowledge and experiences with the group.

PHOTOS

TOP RIGHT: The SVD Under-5 group celebrating the Eucharist with the Holy Spirit Sisters located in Townsville.

MIDDLE  LEFT: The Gathering offered opportunities for fellowship and connection among the confreres whose ministries are spread across Australia.

MIDDLE RIGHT: The group visited beautiful Magnetic Island off the coast of Townsville.

MIDDLE LEFT: The Under-5 group were welcomed by parishioners of the Ministerial Region of the Good Shepherd Parish in Kirwan, Townsville.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Among those attending were Fathers Jun Perez SVD, Francois Andrianihantana SVD, Rius Salu SVD, Hung Quoc SVD, and Gideon Awudi SVD.