The Society of the Divine Word (Societas Verbi Divini – SVD) is an international Catholic missionary congregation founded by St. Arnold Janssen in 1875. Inspired by the Word of God and guided by the Holy Spirit, Divine Word Missionaries proclaim the Gospel through pastoral ministry, education, social outreach, media, and missionary service across the world.
Today, the Society serves in more than 79 countries, bringing the love of Christ to people of every culture and language through Biblical Apostolate, Mission Animation, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation and Communication.
St. Arnold Janssen founded the Society of the Divine Word in 1875 with a deep desire to bring the Gospel to all peoples. Trusting completely in God's providence, he established a missionary congregation that continues to proclaim the Word of God throughout the world.
"May the Triune God live in our hearts and in the hearts of all people."
Founder of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), St. Arnold Janssen established the missionary congregation in 1875. alongside two women's congregations for active and cloistered missionary work. Operating out of Steyl, Netherlands, he established a massive print publishing house to fund international missions, successfully deploying thousands of religious brothers and sisters to regions like China, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. His immense global impact and lifelong dedication to spreading the Gospel led to his official canonization as a Catholic saint by Pope John Paul II in 2003..
The first SVD missionary to China, St. Joseph Freinademetz embraced the people and culture with deep love. His life of humility, prayer and missionary zeal continues to inspire missionaries around the world. Freinademetz is famous for his profound "inculturation". He immersed himself in the Chinese language, customs, and daily life, famously stating that "the language of love is the only one that everyone understands."
Co-foundress of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, Blessed Maria Helena dedicated her life to prayer and supporting the Church's missionary mission throughout the world. She was a German Catholic religious sister who co-founded the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) alongside Saint Arnold Janssen. She is remembered for her humility, her deep commitment to mission work, and her willingness to sacrifice her own personal desires for the sake of the church.
Co-foundress of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, Blessed Josepha is remembered for her kindness, humility, joyful service, and unwavering trust in God. In 1898, after Maria Helena Stollenwerk transitioned to the cloistered branch of the order, Mother Josepha became the Superior General. She oversaw the formation of young sisters and organized the global expansion of the congregation until her untimely death from asthma in 1903. Her life of simple, practical holiness led to her beatification by Pope Benedict XVI on June 29, 2008.
(Prayer traditionally prayed by members of the Society of the Divine Word.)
May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief, vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace.
And may the Heart of Jesus live in the hearts of everyone.