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Catholic Social Communication as Witnessing to the Light in a Wounded World
Pope Leo XIV, in the homily at his installation Mass on May 18, 2025, observed, “In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest.” The words of the Church’s newly elected leader reminded me of the theme of the 19th General Chapter of the Society of the Divine Word: Your Light Must Shine Before Others: Faithful and Creative D
“Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone” from a Social Communication Perspective
When using the term “Witnessing to the Light,” we understand that this Light is Christ in the world. Witnessing to the Light or endeavoring to communicate Christ’s presence in our world is the work of every baptized Christian and involves all our efforts whether they are individual or collective, verbal or non-verbal, active or passive.
Reading the Jubilee Theme of SVD, “Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone” in the Light of Evangelii Gaudium
Rooted in the charism of St. Arnold Janssen, the Society of the Divine Word known as SVD has always emphasized bringing the Word of God with joy to those who have not yet heard it, especially among the poor and marginalized. In today’s rapidly changing world, the mission of evangelization faces both new challenges and new opportunities. Cultural shifts, religious indifference, and growing social inequalities call for a renewed approach to proclaiming the Gospel—one that is not only rooted in tra
Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone—Mission Perspective
Paul VI wrote, “the first means of evangelization is witness of an authentically Christian life” (EN 41). His often-quoted sentence is, contemporary men and women listen more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if they listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses (see EN 41). The underlining aspect is the authenticity of Christian life. To continue God’s mission both witness and proclamation are significant; mission is carried out by word and deed. There is no witness without pr
A Meditation on the Light to Whom We Witness
“Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone.” Our first reflection on this week of retreat will be on the Light to Whom we witness. This Light provides the foundation for all we are and do as Divine Word Missionaries. It is a rich, multi-faceted and multi-valent image, and so needs careful and reverent reflection. Because of this our reflection this morning will not be simply a communication of a lot of data or information. It will be a prayerful consideration that will take us deep i
“Witnessing to the Light: From Every-where for Everyone”—The SVD Jubilee Theme from a Biblical Perspective
The recently concluded XIX General Chapter of the Society of the Divine Word drew its biblical inspiration from Matthew 5:16: “Your light must shine before others.” This selection resonates profoundly with the theme chosen for the Society’s sesquicentennial celebration (1875-2025), which likewise centers on the metaphor of light. This convergence—the metaphor of light appearing in both contexts—underscores a cohesive theological vision and demonstrates the metaphor’s enduring relevance to both t
SVD Mission in Contexts (Introduction)
This book project emerged from my role as coordinator of the Mission, Education, and Research (MER) initiative for the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) in the Australia Province. While MER also serves as a broader collaborative platform across the SVD provinces in the Asia-Pacific (ASPAC) Zone, its specific focus in Australia is to foster deeper reflection and scholarly engagement with the Society’s missionary charism through activities such as webinars, conferences, and publications.
SVD Mission in Contexts (Foreword)
I am truly honoured to have been asked to write a Foreword for this book, SVD Mission in Context: Creative Responses in a Wounded World, celebrating the 150th Jubilee of the Society of the Divine Word. The book emphasises the Jubilee theme, “Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone,” which embodies a thorough missiological, sociological, and pastoral perspective on the Church’s mission in a diverse and wounded world, extending beyond the jubi-lee year into a lifelong dedi
Eco-Spirituality in Papua New Guinea’s Traditional Beliefs and Christian Teachings: Response to the Contemporary Ecological Crisis
Tuan Viet Cao, CM In Religion, Culture, and Ecological Flourishing in Asian Contexts. Edited by Anthony Le Duc. Bangkok: ARC, 2025 pp. 106–125 DOI: 10.62461/TVC100124 This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Inter-Creationality among the Community of Beings: An Interreligious and Cosmological Perspective
Anthony Le Duc In Religion, Culture, and Ecological Flourishing in Asian Contexts. Edited by Anthony Le Duc. Bangkok: ARC, 2025 pp. 324–346 DOI: 10.62461/ASVD110125 This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Laudato Si’ E-Trading Network: Innovation and Sustainability on a Planet in Peril
Benigno P. Beltran, SVD In Religion, Culture, and Ecological Flourishing in Asian Contexts. Edited by Anthony Le Duc. Bangkok: ARC, 2025 pp. 290–323 DOI: 10.62461/BPB110125 This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Communicating Ecological Safeguarding Across Asia: Strategies and Challenges
Roderick Evans Bartolome In Religion, Culture, and Ecological Flourishing in Asian Contexts. Edited by Anthony Le Duc. Bangkok: ARC, 2025 pp. 262–289 DOI: 10.62461/REB110125 This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).