By EMMALEE ITALIA
Contributing Editor
A celebration of joy, faith and God’s mission marked the 150th anniversary of the Society of the Divine Word Sept. 8 at the Convent of Divine Love, Philadelphia – an occasion that was “a profound moment of reflection and gratitude,” said Divine Word Father Guilherme Andrino.
Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters and Divine Word priests assemble after the 150th anniversary Mass for a photo. Courtesy photo
“[It] highlights the strong bonds we share as a community dedicated to spreading the Word of God,” said the pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Lakewood, pointing out that St. Arnold Janssen founded not only the SVDs, but, also, the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (Blue Sisters) and Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (Pink Sisters). “It serves as a reminder of our mission and the legacy we continue to build together.”
Divine Word Father Pierre Claver Lunimbu Fleury, pastor of St. Ann Parish, Browns Mills, called the milestone celebration “an opportunity to reconnect with our founding vision and spiritual roots. It gave us a framework to examine and renew our missionary commitment through the theme: ‘Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone,’” which was established by the SVD General Council.
Marking a Century and a Half
The clergy and sisters were joined by some 150 parishioners from the parish communities of St. Ann, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Mother of Mercy, Asbury Park – all of which benefit from the service of Divine Word priests.
The Mass took place in the Chapel of Divine Love, Philadelphia, on the grounds of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters – affectionately called the “Pink Sisters” for their rose-colored habits. As hosts of the event, for the first time, the cloistered sisters opened their private garden after the Mass, sharing a catered meal and entertainment with their grateful guests.
“Our acceptance of their invitation to host … in our convent and grounds was our way of showing that we are happy and honored to belong to the bigger Arnoldus Family,” said Holy Spirit Adoration Sister Mary Amatrix, superior of the Convent of Divine Love. “We feel privileged to have shared in the joy and pride of our SVD Brothers in celebrating 150 years of their service to God and to the Church and in their mission assignments.”
Concelebrating the SVD 150th Anniversary Mass Sept. 8 were Divine Word Fathers Fluery from St. Ann Parish, Browns Mills; Steven Michael from Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park; Pedro Bou and Guilherme Andrino from Our Lady of Guadalupe, Lakewood; assisting at the altar, Deacon Chike Egbufoama, and main celebrant Bishop Christopher Cooke, both from St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Philadelphia. Courtesy photo
Some 13 Divine Word priests concelebrated Mass alongside the main celebrant, Bishop Christopher Cooke, auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Divine Word Father Stephen Michael, pastor of Mother of Mercy Parish, was homilist for the Mass.
“This anniversary is … a living testimony to God’s Spirit at work through the SVD’s charism of bringing the Word to the margins,” said Divine Word Deacon Chike Egbufoama, a transitional deacon serving in St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Philadelphia, who proclaimed the Gospel and helped organize the liturgy.
“Celebrating it in this way allowed us not only to honor their history, but also to renew our own sense of mission as Church,” he said, “a reminder that evangelization is relational, rooted in encounter and service.”
A Community Rejoices
“The day was a glorious combination of priests, dressed in their special [chasubles], the bishop [of Philadelphia] who celebrated the Mass, and the nuns who were so gracious and warm with their hospitality with the use of their facility,” said Josette Peterson, member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.
“Of course, there was good food [and] fellowship all around, the very pleasant weather which was a wonderful surprise,” said Sister Mary Amatrix. “There was the beauty of nature … and the special kinship among the Arnoldus family. … But what we enjoyed most of all was … celebrating the Holy Eucharist.”
Members of Grupo Cariany de Oaxaca from Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park, perform at the luncheon. Courtesy photo
Deacon Egbufoama said he was most moved by “the joy and faith of the community gathered – the sense that this is God’s mission, not just our work. Seeing so many lives touched by the SVD presence reminded me why I said ‘yes’ to ministry in the first place.”
Peterson said she believes “our knowledge of the world is expanded through the presence of the SVDs in our parishes, as they come from a variety of countries and bring their culture to share with us.”
“The celebration made visible the intercultural and inclusive heart of the SVD family,” Deacon Egbufoama continued. “You could see it in the languages spoken, the music chosen and their hospitality. Their spirituality shows that mission is not about imposing, but about walking with people and letting the Word take flesh in diverse cultures.”
Father Fleury said his greatest joy “was seeing our parishioners and friends – the extended SVD family – gather with us to celebrate this milestone. It was also very meaningful to be joined by our sister congregations … Their presence reminded us that our mission is never done alone; we are always sent together, with and among the people we serve.”
Event organizers Cori Scotti and Divine Word Father Guilherme Andrino, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Lakewood, celebrated the occasion with Barbara Scotti, Cori’s mother, and some 150 guests. Courtesy photo
Who are the Divine Word Missionaries?
Inspired and founded by St. Arnold Janssen, a German diocesan priest, the Society of the Divine Word – SVD, from the Latin, Societas Verbi Divini – is an international community of more than 5,700 priests and brothers that was designed to be a society for missionaries.
“Since our foundation, the primary mission of the Divine Word order has been to proclaim the Gospel and serve marginalized communities, emphasizing intercultural understanding and outreach,” said Father Andrino.
Father Fleury said that when St. Arnold founded the Society 150 years ago, “one bishop told him, ‘If what you begin today survives, you are a saint. If not, you are a crazy man.’”
After recognizing a need for women to share in the mission, St. Arnold founded the Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit, followed by the Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters) to further the mission through prayer and sacrifice.
The theme “Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone,” said Father Fleury, “expresses the essence of our mission: to spread the light of Christ universally, across cultures and social boundaries, embodying the enduring power of God’s Word.”’
That mission, he said, is lived through four characteristic dimensions: biblical apostolate, communication, mission animation, and justice and peace initiatives. The three central goals are: to preach and witness to the Word of God in word and action; to bring the Eucharist and Sacraments to communities that otherwise lack access to them; and to build bridges of understanding between people of different cultures and faiths, fostering peace and mutual respect.
“These goals guide all of our work,” Father Fleury said, pointing out the SVDs work among the poor, migrants and prisoners, providing education and healthcare to those in need, building mission chapels, distributing food and medicine and supporting children living on the streets.
“The anniversary also highlighted our commitment to interculturality, which is at the very heart of the SVD,” Father Fleury explained. “Today, we are present in 79 countries and represent nearly 75 nationalities – over 5,700 living witnesses that the Gospel can unite people from everywhere, for everyone.”
“SVD missionaries are bridge-builders,” said Deacon Egbufoama. “They listen, learn and bring the Gospel to places and peoples often overlooked. Anyone can share in this mission: through prayer, support of their ministries, volunteering or simply by living a missionary spirit in their daily lives – welcoming the stranger, seeking justice and proclaiming Christ’s word.”
Sister Mary Amatrix noted that their mission seeks to overcome “barriers of every race, culture, creed, social status or lack of it, so that ‘The darkness of sin and the night of unbelief, may banish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace.’”
Inspired by their witness, she continued, “others may ask to join as Arnoldus Family affiliates, sharing in mission work if possible, helping to advance the mission through their prayers, sharing their resources and paving the way for the advance of evangelization in mission lands and even in local mission places. I think, no matter what their state or condition of life, they can take part of the work of our SVD brothers.”