Charlie Carpio Bardaje

The Society of the Divine Word (SVD) celebrates 150 years of existence. Founded by St. Arnold Janssen in the river bank of Maas river in Steyl, Netherlands in 1875, now the Society found its home to 79 countries over 5 continents with about 6, 000 members. The theme of the jubilee celebration is “Witnessing to the Light: from everywhere for everyone.” This highlights the identity and mission of the congregation that is an international and intercultural community of brothers and priests witnessing to the Light of the Gospel working in diverse ministries and apostolates.

Its story began in a small and humble tavern bought by Fr. Arnold Janssen in Steyl. The impossibility of founding a religious missionary congregation in Germany, due to Bismark’s Kulturkampft, pushed Fr. Arnold to look for alternative which he found a small village not far from the borders of Germany. Beginning everything from scratch, he put his hands and heart to work in realizing his dream to build a Mission House that will prepare missionaries that will bring and proclaim the Gospel in far distant countries, especially where it is yet been heard. Four years later, Fr. Arnold sent the first two missionaries to China in the person of Joseph Freinademetz and Johann Baptist von Anzer. Since then the SVD grew in numbers and has established mission stations all over the world.

Its beginning is not that all sweet. The congregation had to deal with numerous difficulties in mission. Especially during World War I and II, the congregation’s German origin raised suspicion to many countries where missionaries were present which led to persecution that made Fr. Arnold recall or transfer his missionaries. These political persecution led to death of many missionaries in Poland, Philippines and Papua New Guinea. Nevertheless, these martyrs of SVD mission ignited more the Society’s passion and dedication for mission.

The SVD also had its share of joy in the mission. As it grew in numbers and mission stations, the vision of Fr. Arnold slowly turned into reality: an international and intercultural missionary community. In the span of 25 years, the congregation had more than 1, 000 members which later doubled into 2, 000, years before reaching its golden jubilee. The congregation’s openness in accepting local vocations has an active role in shaping its identity and mission today.

As it completes 150 years, the SVD has 5,800 members from 76 nationalities working in 79 countries. Thus the theme Witnessing to the Light: from everywhere for everyone. The year-long jubilee celebration began last September 8, 2024, in Steyl where it all began. Fr. Anselmo Ricardo Ribeiro, SVD, the General Superior, led the opening ceremony. In his homily, he invited all members to actively participate in a retrospective and prospective jubilee celebrations. In this year of grace, the congregation must enter into spiritual renewal to discover our path in the years to come.

International festivities includes the launching of the commemorative book entitled Treasures of the Past and Experiences of the Present last January 15, feast day of the founder St. Arnold Janssen, in the SVD Generalate in Rome. The Book is a collection of significant events and contribution of the Society of the Divine Word in the mission of the Church. Another jubilee event was the recently concluded International Conference on Mission held in Pontifical Gregoriana University where missionaries from all over the world gathered to discuss Missio Dei in Today’s Word. On September 8, 2025, the day the Society of the Divine Word completes 150 years, the congregation projects to inaugurate a Permanent Mission Exposition that will display the artifacts that show the growth of SVD mission and its history.

In the opening celebration, Fr. Anselmo said “I invite you to kindness and discernment during this time. Every celebration, every event, every action throughout this year must be guided by the Holy Spirit.” The celebration must not be that of feeling great but of recognizing the movement of the Holy Spirit in every moment of the 150 years of the Society, both in the time of trials and difficulties, and also in the time of joys and grace. The SVD reaches another jubilee but the mission goes on.