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Volume 24 No. 1 | Autumn 2014
New Provincial for SVD
Australian Province
The new Provincial Superior of the SVD AUS Province,
Fr Henry Adler SVD says that as he begins his new
ministry of leadership, he is motivated by the example of
his predecessor, Fr Tim Norton SVD, whose “passion for
mission and service to the poor and less fortunate has
been inspiring and contagious”.
Fr Henry, who was previously Mission Secretary for the
Province, was elected to the position by his confreres,
with the SVD Generalate confirming the appointment in
August. The appointment is for a three year term, which
began on January 1.
“I am both honoured and humbled to be chosen to serve
my SVD confreres as the new Provincial of the Australia
Province, as together we strive to serve the people of
God,” Fr Henry says.
“The AUS Province has been blessed to have had Tim
Norton as the Provincial Leader for the past nine years.
Tim holds a vision of a Church that is all inclusive; a
multicultural community of people living and radiating
hope, love and equality. This kind of vision of the Church
is attractive and therefore inspires others to be passionate
about it too.
“As the Provincial, I would like to build on the rich legacy
left by my predecessor, but would also be open to the
guidance of the Holy Spirit beyond this legacy. I’m
looking forward to working with my newly elected and
very capable Provincial Council to continue our mission
here in Australia, New Zealand and Thailand, and beyond
the Australia Province.
“I am also looking forward to collaborating with our many
partners in mission; our friends and benefactors who
faithfully support us in our mission.”
After nine years as Provincial, Fr Tim is taking some well-
earned leave before embarking on his new missionary
assignment in March.
He has been assigned to be the Director of the Ad
Gentes Centre in Rome.
“It’s been a long term mission of the Society to hold
renewal and sabbatical programs for members and I’m
looking forward to being a part of that ministry,” he says.
“Essentially my role will be about providing people with
the opportunity to renew themselves for Mission and I
understand that role itself to be Mission.”
Fr Tim says he is also looking forward to brushing up on
his computer skills and re-learning the piano.
“I’m leaving the Province in very good hands,” he says.
“The Province has chosen well in Henry and he will
approach things in his own way, which is different, but
complementary to my approach. It will be a good change.”
Fr Tim says he is pleased with the diversity of SVD
ministry in the Province, and the ways in which the
Society is assisting the local Church in dioceses with
particular missionary challenges.
“Our initial formation program continues to thrive and the
ministry in Thailand is moving forward, with our ministries
to the poor and marginalised continuing to develop,
especially to people with HIV AIDS. The Province has
grown in number and diversity, both ethnically and
personality wise, which is great. There are challenges, but
the Province is, I think, well placed to meet them.”
Looking to the future, Fr Henry says the Province will
continue to give witness to its missionary charism through
living in international/multicultural fraternal communities.
“From this experience we reach out to the poor and
marginalised, to faith seekers and to people of varied
faiths and cultures. We do this with a desire to discern the
will of God in a spirit of prophetic dialogue.”
Fr Henry, who grew up with both German and Polish
cultures in post-war Poland, is the first non-Australian
born Provincial of the AUS Province. After joining the
Society of the Divine Word his vocation quickly led him to
the other side of the world. He completed his formation
in Melbourne, was ordained in New Zealand and then
worked in Papua New Guinea for seven years, before
coming back to Australia to work, first in formation of SVD
seminarians and most recently as the Mission Secretary.
