Society
Of The Divine Word

From the start, the missionaries were faced with serious limitations. Financial support from abroad was almost non-existent, and both priests and faithful had to rely on endurance, creativity, and local self-reliance. Many wondered: “Can this mission survive without money?”

Ten years later, as we celebrate a decade of presence in Unaaha in the same year as the SVD’s 150th Jubilee, that question has transformed into a testimony: the mission not only survived but grew—rooted in one key word: self-reliance.

Mission and Economy Hand in Hand
Pastoral ministry in Unaaha has shown that spiritual and economic life cannot be separated. To sustain the celebration of the sacraments, catechesis, youth ministry, and social outreach, there must also be resources. This reality is particularly visible in faith education, where only two Catholic religion teachers serve an entire district. Priests themselves often step in to teach children at the parish house, proving that faith and sustainability must walk together.

The SVD mission draws strength from its four characteristic dimensions—the Biblical Apostolate, Mission Animation, Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC), and Social Communication. Each of these requires human and material support, from teaching resources and youth formation to ecological initiatives and the use of media. A mission without economic creativity cannot last.

The Mission of Rice Farmers
The heart of Unaaha’s faithful lies in the rice fields. Most are Balinese and Javanese transmigrants who began cultivating the land in the 1970s. Their culture of hard work and solidarity—gotong royong—has become a foundation for both livelihood and faith.

The missionaries realized that to strengthen the Church, they must also help strengthen family farming economies. This has meant encouraging diversification of harvests, developing small cooperatives, and fostering parish-based solidarity enterprises. Such efforts allow families not only to improve their lives but also to contribute to the mission of the Church.

From Minimalist to Creative Missionaries
During his visitation in September 2025, SVD Timor Provincial Br. Salomon Leki, SVD, recalled the words of the Archbishop of Makassar: “The pioneering missionary, Fr. Simon Bata, SVD, laid a strong foundation. His successors must not remain minimalist pastors, but be courageous witnesses, creative and zealous.”

In Unaaha, five SVD priests have successively taken up this challenge in the past decade. Beyond the sacraments, they have accompanied the faithful through economic hardships, promoted children’s education, and built solidarity within the community.

Faith Education Amid Limitations
Children still walk long distances to the rectory for religious instruction. With limited teachers, the mission relies on local families’ support and creativity. When families improve their livelihood through farming, they are also able to invest in their children’s education. In Unaaha, faith and daily life are inseparable.

Hope for the Future
Looking ahead, the mission in Unaaha stands on three hopes:

• Strengthening the farmers’ economy through sustainable agriculture and parish cooperatives.
• Integrating pastoral and economic programs so that faith activities also empower livelihoods.
• Transparency and solidarity in parish life, ensuring that resources are shared and used responsibly.

The story of Unaaha affirms that a mission does not need to be wealthy to thrive. What is needed is a community of faith that shares, collaborates, and builds hope together. Amid the green rice fields, the flame of the SVD mission continues to shine, simple yet strong, poor yet empowered, a minority community yet full of hope.

Like grains of rice planted in the soil, this mission has taken root and will bear fruit—not only for the Church but also for the wider society.