SVD Mission in Contexts: Creative Responses in a Wounded World

SVD Mission in Contexts: Creative Responses in a Wounded World
Edited by Anthony Le Duc
Bangkok: ARC, 2025
ISBN 978-974-487-169-5
DOI 10.624261/SVDMERAUS2025

SVD Mission in Contexts commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Society of the Divine Word (1875-2025) with rich reflections on mission, culture, and faith in a world marked by woundedness yet sustained by hope. Grounded in the Jubilee theme, “Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone,” this volume brings together insights from SVD scholars, missionaries, and pastoral workers across the global SVD community.

Organized into two thematic parts, the book explores the mission of the SVD and the broader Church through the lens of the congregation’s four characteristic dimensions: Biblical Apostolate, Mission Animation, Communication, and Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC). These reflections engage pressing contemporary concerns, including care for creation, synodality, interculturality, and spiritual formation.

Featuring contributions from renowned theologians, emerging scholars, and missionaries deeply rooted in grassroots ministry, SVD Mission in Contexts offers a rich blend of theological insight and lived experience. It is a valuable resource not only for Divine Word Missionaries, but also for all engaged in intercultural mission, pastoral leadership, theological education, and the ongoing effort to bear light amid the shadows of our time.

Table of Contents

• Contributors ......................................................... vi

• Foreword — Iosefo A. Rass, SVD ......................... xii

• Introduction — Anthony Le Duc, SVD .................. xv

Part One: Perspectives on the Jubilee Theme — “Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone”

1. A Meditation on the Light to Whom We Witness
   Stephen Bevans, SVD .................................................... 2

2. “Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone”— The SVD Jubilee Theme from a Biblical Perspective
   Wojciech Szypuła, SVD ................................................ 12

3. Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone— Mission Perspective
   Lazar T. Stanislaus, SVD ................................................ 28

4. Reading the Jubilee Theme of the SVD in the Light of Evangelii Gaudium
   Herlina Hadia, SSpS .................................................... 43

5. “Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone” — A Social Communication Perspective
   Tim Norton, SVD ......................................................... 57

6. Catholic Social Communication as Witnessing to the Light in a Wounded World
   Anthony Le Duc, SVD .................................................. 70

7. Mission as Missio Inter Gentes: From Everywhere for Everyone
   Antonio M. Pernia, SVD ............................................... 91

8. Witnessing to the Light in the Australia Province: From Everywhere for Everyone
   Clement Baffoe, SVD .................................................. 106

9. Jubilee Reflections in Mission Contexts within the Australia Province
   Firminus Wiryono, SVD; Gusty Siga, SVD; Peter Wang, SVD;
   Elmer I. Ibarra, SVD; Niran Veigas, SVD; Jun Perez, SVD;
   Roger Kyaw Thu, SVD; Sunil Nagothu, SVD ..................... 117

Part Two: Perspectives in Mission, Education, and Research

10. Leadership in the SVD as an International Missionary Congregation and the Participation of the Indonesian Members
    Paulus Budi Kleden, SVD ............................................. 139

11. SVD Founding Generation, Anthropos Tradition, and Interculturality
    Roger Schroeder, SVD ................................................. 160

12. Walking Together: Embracing Synodality for a United and Inclusive Church
    Albano Da Costa, SVD .................................................. 178

13. Maximum Illud: Challenges Then, Challenges for the Church Today
    Stephen Bevans, SVD .................................................. 184

14. Faithful and Creative Disciples in a Wounded World: A Communicative Paradigm for Mission
    Kasmir Nema, SVD ..................................................... 201

15. Evangelization in Papua New Guinea: Essential Cultural Elements, Missionary Opportunities, Challenges, and Hopes
    Michael Nguyen, SVD ................................................ 217

16. “About Whom, May I Ask You?” (Acts 8:34): Isaiah’s Servant Songs in Luke–Acts
    VănThanh Nguyễn, SVD .............................................. 240

17. Nurturing Mental Health with Spiritual Direction
    S. Deva Savariyappan, SVD .......................................... 253

18. Laudato Si E-Trading Network: Innovation and Sustainability on a Planet in Peril
    Benigno P. Beltran, SVD .............................................. 267

19. Inter-Creationality among the Community of Beings: An Interreligious and Cosmological Perspective
    Anthony Le Duc, SVD .................................................. 307