3 / 8
3
Volume 25 No. 2 | Winter 2015
Five young SVDs sent
out from Australia to be
missionaries for the world
Five young men took their Perpetual Vows as Divine Word
Missionaries in March this year and all five will be sent out
from Australia to take up missionary assignments in other
countries.
Anthony Li, Marianus Supardi, Michael Wu, Laurensisus
Woda and Uili Uvea took their vows before a packed
congregation in St Paschal’s Chapel, Box Hill, Victoria.
The following day, Marianus and Uili were ordained to the
Diaconate.
Uili has been assigned to the Philippines, Marianus to The
Netherlands, Laurens to Indonesia, Anthony to Chile and
Michael to the Central America Region.
SVD AUS Provincial, Fr Henry Adler SVD, says the sending
out of the young missionaries is a significant expression
of the important role the Province plays in forming
missionaries to be at the service of the Divine Word
Missionaries and the universal Church.
“These men have come to us from their country of origin
for their final formation as SVDs and now, having played
a role in forming them, we are sending them back out as
missionaries to the wider world,” Fr Henry says.
“We see formation of missionaries as a very important part
of what we do in this Province. It is a commitment we take
seriously, and to see them now embarking on their first
overseas missionary assignments brings us great joy.”
In his homily at the final vows ceremony, Fr Henry
emphasised the call of Pope Francis that to live
consecrated life is to live a life of joy.
“Your vows, your commitments are not about you only,
but they are about God’s Kingdom; they are about
Witness, Service and Mission, and, as our Pope Francis
often reminds us, consecrated life needs to be lived
prophetically and authentically,” he said.
In personal reflections prepared ahead of their vows
ceremony, the five men spoke of having heard God’s call
many years ago, and putting their trust in God.
Michael spoke of his desire to share with others the love
that he has found in Jesus.
“It is from this knowing God’s love and friendship that I can
now witness to others as a missionary,” he said. I’ve always
been touched and attracted by Jesus’ compassionate love
for all and it is this love that I want to share for the rest of
my life.”
Marianus, reflecting on the readings chosen for the vows
ceremony (Jeremiah 1:4-10 and John 15:9-17), said he had
come to realise that God is everything for him.
“Like the prophet Jeremiah, I believe my vocation is quite
unique. God has chosen me, not because I am the best
person or worthy to answer God’s calling or to do God’s
mission, but simply because God loves me so much and
wants to form my life according to what God wants me to
be. God has called me and made me worth to be sent out
as a missionary, especially when I feel unworthy.”
Uili too said he was convinced that God had a plan for him
long before he was born.
“I fully trust God and God’s amazing plan in my life. It is
this God who has been protecting me and looking after
me over the years. It is this God who sends me, Uili, from
an unknown place (Tonga) to the people of the Philippines.
This gives me mighty strength and courage to say YES to
God for the rest of my life and leave the rest to God.”
In his personal reflection, Laurensius (Laurens) said he was
overwhelmed by God’s love for him.
“God, with his great faithfulness, has truly loved me ever
since I was even very young to realise his call. His loving
mercy encourages me to say YES to Him and to fully give
myself for His mission; abiding in his love and then sharing
his love with others. So, I’m ready to set up permanent
camp in God’s love, and be stuck there forever. I strongly
believe that His love is my safest home. All I need to do
now is to abide in his love.”
And, like his four companions, for Anthony, God’s call is an
invitation to a love-relationship with the Lord, which then
leads to mission.
“Mission is a joyful experience, even if life is difficult at
times. Knowing that God loves me and invites me to
mission gives me tremendous joy and confidence to
commit myself for life to the God who loves me, living my
missionary life in religious vows of chastity, poverty and
obedience.”