Displaying items by tag: training

The OTP programme is an integral part of the initial formation programme of the Divine Word Missionaries Australian Province.

The ordinary length of the programme varies from eighteen months to three years. Two years, however, would be average.

The first stage of the programme in the host country involves language and cultural studies. Such studies should normally take no more than half of the total time spent in the country. The language learned is the one used in pastoral ministry in that country or area where the student will undertake his supervised pastoral ministry.

The second stage consists of an in-depth, supervised pastoral experience. As such, it is something lived and not only learned. OTP is not an exposure programme. The activity should be a genuine religious ministry and so serve as an introduction to the specific pastoral role of ordained priests or brothers in final vows. To become an effective learning situation the ministry must be supervised. This involves a personal learning relationship with an experienced missionary. The activity must be such that it involves the student with the people of the area.

Dorish Maru College is the Divine Word Residence for seminarians who are pursuing their theological training in preparation for ordination and for SVD priests who come to do post-graduate work in Melbourne. The principle tasks of the College are to prepare Divine Word seminarians for the service of the local Church and the Church overseas and provide a supportive community for those doing post-graduate studies.
The College is under the patronage of St. Joseph Freinademetz, one of the first SVD to serve in China.

Dorish Maru College is located on the campus of Yarra Theological Union. In 2013 we have five seminarians preparing for ordination and three seminarians preparing to do their Overseas Training Program in Australia. We also have two SVD priests doing ;ost-graduate studies

Besides studying the required courses for ordination and for the awards of Bachelor of Theology and Master of Theological Studies, every student is involved in pastoral ministry in the city, mainly with the poor, homeless and marginalized people. They also carry out active music ministry in three parishes on the weekends. The students are also responsible for preparing the liturgy, including daily Mass and morning and evening prayer, in the College.

The seminarians do their education and training in the MCD University of Divinity and attend most of their courses at Yarra Theological Union (YTU), one of the Recognized Teaching Institutions of the MCD University. YTU is known in the University for its community spirit and its hospitality. Thanks to the SVD, Yarra Theological Union has always had a reputation for offering a strong program in Mission Studies; they have provided full-time lecturers in this field for the staff as well as visiting lecturers with mission experience. Currently Jacob Kavunkal is the coordinator of this program for YTU.