1 Volume 35 No. 1 | Autumn 2025 Society Matters A NEWSLETTER OF THE DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES INC - AUSTRALIA PROVINCE Volume 36 No. 1 | Autumn 2026 Society Matters Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
Volume 35 No. 1 | Autumn 2025 2 Society Matters Message from the Provincial Superior Dear Friends, I am delighted to be here sharing my first Provincial’s Message for Society Matters magazine since my appointment took effect on January 1. Having spent the last several years as parish priest of St Mark’s Parish, Inala, in Brisbane, and before that, being assigned to formation ministry at Dorish Maru College in Melbourne, I am aware that my first task in these early days as Provincial, is to listen and learn as I make my way around the Province. I am looking forward to working together as a team with the Provincial Council, the members of the Province, the communities that they serve, lay collaborators and friends. Society Matters has a long and proud tradition in the SVD Australia Province as a point of connection between our benefactors and partners in mission and the many wonderful overseas aid projects which are supported through their generosity. The stories in Society Matters help put human faces to the missionary work being undertaken by the Society of the Divine Word all around the world. Whether it be women’s empowerment projects in India or education for youth in African villages, AIDS education, support for the elderly or those with disability, the SVD is hard at work to lift up those in need and help communities build a better future. We are so grateful for your continued support, whether it be for those overseas aid projects, which are tax-deductible, or for our pastoral missionary work (not tax deductible). As I take up my duties as Provincial, I wish to extend to you my personal thanks for your generosity. I ask for your prayers as I begin this new journey and please be assured that I am praying for you too. Yours in the Word, Fr Boni Buahendri SVD Provincial Superior Cover Story: The SVD in Vietnam and the Philippines have been helping people who had their homes and livelihoods damaged by typhoons late last year to recover and move forward, thanks in part to donations from a special appeal established by the Mission Office of the SVD Australia Province. Read more on Pages 6-7. Appeal Office: 199 Epping Road, Marsfield NSW Locked Bag 3, Epping NSW 1710 Australia Telephone: +61 2 9868 2666 Victoria: 100 Albion Road, Box Hill, Vic 3128 Tel: +61 3 9890 0065 Queensland: 96 Lilac Street Inala QLD 4077 Tel: +61 7 3372 5658 New Zealand: 41 Britannia Street, Petone, 5046 Tel: +64 4 971 7885 Published by Divine Word Missionaries Incorporated, ABN 51 885 667 646 Volume 36 No. 1 | Autumn 2026
3 Volume 35 No. 1 | Autumn 2025 Society Matters New missionary priest urged to ‘love unceasingly’ and serve all The SVD Australia Province rang out with joy last year when Peter Wang SVD was ordained to the priesthood in Melbourne in a celebration filled with faith, culture, love, family and mission. Peter, who was born and raised in China, was ordained by Broome Bishop Tim Norton SVD on November 22, in a Mass marked by poignant moments, including Peter being clothed in his priestly vestments by his parents and his brother Andrew, also an SVD priest, and the inspiration for Peter’s vocation. The first reading was read by Peter’s sister, who is also a religious sister, and the order of service was shown on the screen in two languages, to include all of those present as well as people watching from overseas. In his homily, Bishop Tim emphasised the theme of second chances and true leadership being rooted in love and service. The Gospel reading chosen by Peter was from John 21, where Jesus forgives Peter for denying Him and restores their relationship, highlighting God’s continuous forgiveness. Bishop Tim urged Peter to look to the people of God to learn from them about humility, faith, love and service. “Peter, today, as we ordain you a priest, we pray that you will be a ‘Second-Chancer’, who, whatever ministry you are in, you will just love unceasingly.” At the end of the Ordination Mass, in his thanksgiving speech, Peter said that many people had told him that his ordination would be an emotional occasion. “It is. It’s true, overwhelming and beautiful,” he said. Peter began by giving thanks to God for the gift of his vocation, as well as to Bishop Tim for his example “to serve God’s people with humility and love”. He thanked his parents and siblings for their unconditional love, especially throughout his vocation journey, paying special tribute to their efforts in coming from China to be present at the Ordination Mass. “To my brother, Andrew, who vested me today, that moment will stay in my heart forever. My vocation began through my brother and now to stand beside you as a brother priest is one of God’s greatest surprises and gifts. I thank you for guiding me in my vocation. I would not be here without your encouragement,” he said. Peter thanked both the outgoing Provincial, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD and the incoming Provincial, Fr Boni Buahendri SVD, along with their respective provincial councils, his formators and the many people who helped in his academic studies and missionary formation. He paid special tribute to the parish of St Anthony’s Noble Park, where he has been serving as deacon for the past eight months. Finally, Peter, who has been assigned to the Australia Province, concluded his remarks, speaking in Mandarin to his parents, family and friends. The Ordination Mass was followed by a celebration in the parish hall. Meanwhile, three young men from the SVD’s Dorish Maru College – Gusty Siga, Krisna Papalesa, and Khanh Ngoc Nguyen - will take their perpetual vows and be ordained deacons in Melbourne in March. Volume 36 No. 1 | Autumn 2026
Volume 35 No. 1 | Autumn 2025 4 Society Matters New Provincial and Provincial Council appointed to lead Province for next triennium The SVD Australia Province has a new Provincial and Provincial Council to provide collaborative leadership over the next three years. Fr Boni Buahendri SVD has been appointed as the new Provincial Superior of the SVD Australia Province for the next triennium, succeeding Fr Asaeli Rass SVD. He took up his new role in January. Fr Boni, who was parish priest of St Mark’s Parish, Inala, when he learned of his new appointment, said that while the role of Provincial has many challenges, he accepted it with humility and hope and looked forward to working together as a team with members of the Province, the communities that they serve, lay collaborators and friends. Fr Boni was born and raised on the island of Flores in Indonesia and joined the SVD after high school, making his final vows in 1997. He was ordained a priest on October 10,1998 in Flores and arrived in Sydney on July 6, 1999, having been assigned to the SVD Australia Province. Since then he has worked in parish ministry as well as in missionary formation. Fr Boni has also served a total of eight years on the Provincial Council at different times, under the leadership of provincials Tim Norton, Henry Adler and Asaeli Rass, giving him broad experience over a significant period of time. “It has given me experience in terms of leadership and governance, and insights into how the Province is growing and changing,” he said. Overall, Fr Boni said he saw the role of Provincial as one of “listening and learning and working together”. “I am not working alone. I am a team player,” he said. “I would like us to move forward working as a team, whether that be in the Provincial Council, with the Coordinators of the Four Characteristic Dimensions, the rectors of our houses, those in Indigenous ministry, parish ministry, chaplaincy, formation – to work together. “My job is to empower people and to support them because when we stand together, we are united. “I have my limitations, but I hope that whatever small gifts I have can be used as part of the team, all working together to promote the vision and mission of our Province and the life of the Gospel.” The new Provincial Councillors who will be assisting and supporting Fr Boni in leadership are Fr Prakash Menezes SVD (Vice-Provincial), Fr Elmer Ibarra SVD and Fr Bill Burt SVD. Fr Anthony Le Duc SVD (Admonitor) will serve a second term on the Council. Fr Boni said he was delighted with the composition of the Provincial Council, and he was looking forward to collaborating with them in the leadership of the Province. Fr Prakash is from India, and, after completing his formation at Dorish Maru College in Melbourne, has been assigned to Central Australia since his ordination more than a decade ago and also holds leadership roles Volume 36 No. 1 | Autumn 2026
5 Volume 35 No. 1 | Autumn 2025 Society Matters in the Darwin Diocese. Fr Elmer is from the Philippines and was assigned to the Australia Province following his ordination in 2007. He has since worked in parishes in New Zealand, Central Australia and is currently the Rector at Dorish Maru College and the Provincial Coordinator of the Bible Apostolate. Fr Bill Burt SVD was born and raised in Australia. He joined the SVD in 1966 and was ordained a priest in 1973. Over the years he has been assigned to Indonesia and held various roles in Australia, Tonga and New Zealand, including youth ministry, Indonesian chaplaincy, formation and parish work. Fr Bill also served as Provincial of the AUS Province. And Fr Anthony Le Duc SVD was born in Vietnam, grew up in the United States and joined the SVD in 1999. Since being ordained in 2006, he has been assigned to Thailand, working in parish ministry, chaplaincy to Vietnamese migrants, and in academia. He is currently Executive Director of the Asian Research Center for Religion and Social Communication. Fr Prakash said he was looking forward to the new opportunity of being part of the provincial leadership team. “I see this as a ministry and not a work or a job,” he said. “It’s a ministry where together we care for our brothers and their well-being and make sure they are heard. That will be a big focus for us. “We are a good team, made up of confreres from different cultures with different experiences and from different age groups. “For me personally, this will be a learning experience, learning how things are around the Province, keeping up-to-date on everything that is going on and hopefully being able to offer support to our brothers before things become a problem. “But overall, the Mission of God will be our focus and how we can further that mission as a Province.” Fr Bill said he hopes his experiences as a missionary in the Australia Province and beyond would be of assistance for the ministry of the Provincial Council. “Since joining the SVD way back in 1966, I have been blessed with many amazing experiences, mainly connected with the people who have come into my life, people of so many different cultural backgrounds,” he said. “Also, for a number of years I was the Zonal Coordinator for the SVD Asia-Pacific Zone. This meant that I was constantly meeting confreres from all over Asia and beyond. “Taking up the role of a Provincial Councillor, a position that I have held several times before, I hope that my years of mixing, mingling, serving and learning, will enable me to contribute to this particular aspect of mission.” Volume 36 No. 1 | Autumn 2026 Fr Prakash Menezes SVD Vice-Provincial Fr Anthony Le Duc SVD Admonitor Fr Bill Burt SVD Councillor Fr Elmer Ibarra SVD Councillor
Volume 35 No. 1 | Autumn 2025 6 Society Matters Emergency appeal donations help typhoon victims get back on their feet Money raised from Emergency Appeals organised by the Mission Office of the SVD Australia Province, with the help of the SVD Lay Partners, is helping to support Divine Word Missionaries in Vietnam and the Philippines as they help families get back on their feet following a string of destructive typhoons. The typhoons moved across south-east Asia from September to November last year, killing hundreds and leaving many thousands homeless and without livelihoods. Mission Secretary, Fr Viet Nguyen SVD said that donations for Vietnam from within the Australia Province totalled $14,698, with $1750 of the funds raised by collections at the Marsfield Carols by Candlelight and the rest by direct donations to the special appeal. About $2100 was raised for the Philippines through collections at the Marsfield Carols event. Fr Kim Huong SVD, who has been working on the typhoon recovery program in Vietnam said Typhoons Kajiki, Nongfa, Ragasa, Bualoi, Matmo, and Kalmaegi moved across the central provinces of the country, severely affecting people in Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Hue, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, and Khanh Hoa provinces. “Among the affected areas, Nghe An, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, and Khanh Hoa suffered the most damage,” he said. “Our SVD Vietnam Province has tried to provide medicine, food, clean water, clothing, etc to the people affected by the recent storms and floods which caused a great deal of damage, both in terms of lives and property. “Many people have died. Houses collapsed. Livestock and household property were swept away. Fields and gardens were buried.” Fr Huong said that after the immediate rescue efforts, the SVD is now helping people rebuild or repair their houses, restore their fields and gardens, provide cattle, pigs, chickens, various types of seeds, fertilisers to help them stabilise their lives. “For children of school age, we are helping them with textbooks, school bags, pens, bicycles, clothes, and tuition fees,” he said. He thanked all those who donated to the SVD Australia Province’s emergency typhoon appeals and said the funds were directly helping people to rebuild their lives. “May God bless you and bestow many of His blessings upon you,” he said. The devastation in Vietnam followed that which occurred in the Philippines. Two typhoons battered the Philippines in November, with the devastating Kalmaegi, known locally as ‘Tino’, which killed 224 people across the country being closely followed by Typhoon Fung-wong, known locally as ‘Uwan’, which left at least eight people dead and saw Volume 36 No. 1 | Autumn 2026
7 Volume 35 No. 1 | Autumn 2025 Society Matters around 1.4 million people evacuated from their homes. The damage was mostly felt on the islands of Cebu and Negros. Br Carlos Ferrada SVD of the SVD Central Philippines Province, was appointed by the Provincial, Fr Roger Bagao SVD, to coordinate the SVD Task Force to bring relief to the victims of Typhoon Tino. “We have conducted several relief missions,” Br Carlos said. “Currently, we are planning to bring help to 163 families living in tents. Their houses were destroyed by the Typhoon. So, this donation from Australia is very timely.” The Task Force brings together the concerted efforts of the SVD Philippines Southern Province, Word Broadcasting Corporation, and the University of San Carlos. It continues to respond to the various needs of the local communities that were damaged by typhoon Tino, including by distributing relief packs, rice, fuel for generators, potable drinking water and offering psychosocial support. In February, the Taskforce spent time with the families living in the tent city of Sitio Dauis, Barangay San Roque, Talisay City. “After losing their homes due to Typhoon Tino, these families continue to face many challenges. In response, Volume 36 No. 1 | Autumn 2026 the SVD Task Force came to support them and help improve their living conditions,” a report on the Taskforce’s Facebook page said. “The activity began with the blessing of the residents and the tents as their temporary dwelling places, followed by the introduction of the Task Force members and municipal officials. “Games for children and adults brought joy and laughter to the community. This was followed by the distribution of gifts: toys and stationery for children and youth, and mats for each family. The distribution of plastic pallets also began, which will help keep families dry inside their tents despite the rain and mud. “The activity concluded with a delicious lunch shared by everyone distributed by our volunteers. We hope that this activity brought relief to the families, though momentary, and renewed their hope for a better future. Indeed, it was a celebration of ‘Paglaum sa Kinabuhi’. “Our heartfelt thanks to our benefactors who made this act of love possible.”
Volume 35 No. 1 | Autumn 2025 8 Society Matters 2004 he did a tour of the Holy places of India and in 2008 opened the Janssen Spirituality and Interfaith Dialogue Centre for the AUS Province, in Boronia. After retiring in 2010 and returning home to Brisbane, Fr Frank helped out in the former SVD parish in Hamilton and giving spiritual direction. He later moved to Marsfield, where he lived in retirement before recently entering residential aged care. One of the many reasons the Province gives thanks for Fr Frank’s 75 years as a Divine Word Missionary is that he was the Provincial who signed off on the very first edition of Society Matters magazine in Spring, 1990 and he has been a great reader and supporter of it over the years. Fr Frank Gerry SVD celebrates 75 years in religious vows Fr Frank Gerry SVD marked a rare milestone recently when he celebrated 75 years in religious vows. Now living in residential aged care, Fr Frank made a visit back to the SVD’s Marsfield community to celebrate the special occasion with his confreres. He also celebrated his 94th birthday with confreres during the same week. Rector of the Marsfield Community, Fr Janusz Skotniczny SVD, said the celebrations were small but meaningful, with Fr Frank enjoying returning to the familiar surroundings of the SVD’s Sydney community. Fr Frank was born and bred in Brisbane and became entranced as a teenager by the story of the Dorish Maru, the ship on which more than 100 SVD missionaries, Holy Spirit Sisters and civilians were taken prisoner by the Japanese during WWII and then shot at by American air forces. “All through my young years I had an interest in the Missions. There was something enchanting and inviting about the mission fields,” Fr Frank said in a 2016 interview to mark his 65th anniversary in vows. Responding to his missionary call, the young Frank joined the SVD in 1948 and in 1951, he left Brisbane to undertake formation and theological study in the United States. Following his final vows and ordination, Fr Frank was appointed to the AUS Province as Vocations Director, and then Novice Master. In 1979 he undertook a Research Fellowship at Yale Divinity School, spending a year working with the renowned spiritual writer Henri Nouwen. He was then assigned to the Philippines, where he became Assistant Novice Master to 90 students at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay. In 1986 he returned to Sydney and was elected Provincial. Following his time as Provincial, Fr Frank was appointed Rector of Dorish Maru College in Box Hill, Melbourne and became a facilitator of the Siloam Program at the Heart of Life Centre. In 1999 he spent two months at an Interreligious Dialogue Centre in Japan and went to India with the Christian Meditation Community for a three-day conversation with the Dalai Lama and some of his Tibetan followers. In www.divineword.org.au A Newsletter of the Divine Word Missionaries Inc - Australia Province Donations to the SVD AUS Province Overseas Aid Fund can be made online at www.divineword.org.au or by mailing to Divine Word Missionary Appeal Office, Locked Bag 3, Epping NSW, 1710, Australia. +61 2 9868 9015 @svdaus Society Matters Supporting the SVD If you wish to support the missionary work of the Society of the Divine Word, we would welcome your donations. Simply scan the QR code below and it will take you directly to our secure online donations page. Or, visit divineword.org.au and select ‘Support Us’ at the top of the page, followed by ‘Make a Donation’. Donations to the SVD AUS Province Overseas Aid Fund can also be made by mailing to the address at the bottom of this page. SCAN TO DONATE
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