American biblical scholar, Fr vănThanh Nguyễn, SVD will lead the Divine Word Missionaries AUS Province members in their annual retreat this year, despite not being able to travel from the US because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fr vănThanh, who is Professor of New Testament Studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, will deliver the retreat online on the topic, ‘The Love of Christ Impels Us: A Retreat with Saint Paul and the 18^th General Chapter’, to confreres from Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Myanmar during July.

He says, that having enjoyed visits to Australia previously, he is sorry that international border closures will prevent him delivering the retreat in person, but he is looking forward to the online experience nonetheless.

“I have done many online talks and seminars but never online retreats,” he says. “So the dynamics are going to be different and interesting, to say the least.

“I regret missing this wonderful opportunity to visit some of my favourite places in the world though.”

Fr vănThanh says the title of this year’s Province Retreat was a joint project between him and the Provincial Council. It is taken from the theme of the Society of the Divine Word’s 18^th General Chapter, which drew from St Paul’s words, “the love of Christ impels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14): Rooted in the Word, Committed to His Mission”.

“For me, it is a great title and theme,” he says.

However, Fr vănThanh says he felt the Chapter did not focus adequately on the Apostle “whose missionary life can be the source of our inspiration and renewal”.

“Examining his life from the perspective of the SVD and how he is our model of mission would be a very good resource for our members,” he says.

The retreat will have three focus areas. They are:

• On transformation: How is his life to be a source of inspiration and transformation for us SVDs today?
• On rooted in the word: How was Paul rooted in the Word that impelled him to mission to the margins and to the ends of the earth?
• On committed to His mission: What made Paul so committed to Jesus and the missio Dei, to run to the ‘finish line’ as it were, and what was that mission that Paul was so committed and passionate about?

“This will be my first virtual retreat via Zoom. It will definitely be interesting. I hope that this will be my first and last time directing a virtual retreat. But who knows when the pandemic will be completely over. For now, we just have to make the best of the circumstance,” he says.

Fr vănThanh says the format of this retreat will be a little different but there are also similar components. There will be two shorter talks each day. Participants will be allowed to see through a shared screen. Each talk consists of input, usually an aspect of St Paul’s life or spirituality, how St Paul can be a source of inspiration and transformation for us missionaries today, and a visual image. There will also be Scripture passages for private and personal meditation and some suggested points for contemplation.

Fr vănThanh has just released a new book, called What Does the Bible Say About Strangers, Migrants, and Refugees? (New City Press).

He says the topic of migration is one that has captured his attention for a long time.

“Having been an immigrant and refugee myself, I know what it’s like to traverse borders and to survive,” he says. “Seeking shelter and means to stay afloat were part of every day’s lived experience.

“Knowing what it’s like to be a refugee and an asylum seeker helps me to be in solidarity with the millions of immigrants across the globe.

“But the problem is that most people, particularly Christians, are unaware of this global phenomenon and crisis. Perhaps people are aware of the situation but refuse to do something about it or simply because they don’t know how to respond.

“They don’t know what or if the Bible has anything to offer or say about these issues. The fact is that the Bible in general and the Church in particular, have a lot to say to teach us how to respond to today’s migration crisis.

“So what prompted me to write this book? To help Christians see that our biblical tradition has always been on the side of the vulnerable, strangers and immigrants. God, Jesus, and most biblical characters are portrayed as migrants, strangers or refugees. Those who treat them favourably are welcoming angels unawares.”

The book is available at  www.newcitypress.com or Amazon.