The Arnoldus Family across the Australia Province celebrated the SVD’s 148th Foundation Day this month, with confreres, Holy Spirit Sisters and lay partners coming together in prayer and thanksgiving.
SVD Foundation Day falls on September 8, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the date on which St Arnold Janssen founded the Society of the Divine Word in Steyl, Holland in 1875. St Arnold also went on to found the Holy Spirit Sisters and the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters.
Among the celebrations across the Province was a morning tea at Marsfield in Sydney, hosted by the SVD Lay Partners after Sunday Mass in the St Arnold Janssen Chapel.
“We had a cake which we cut and shared together with parishioners and the SVD seniors community,” said lay partner Mervyn Rodrigues.
“We were joined by the Indonesian community who came in their traditional costumes to be part of the day.
“It was a lovely occasion to celebrate the SVD’s foundation and birthday, especially for the senior confreres, giving them an opportunity to come outside and meet with the chapel community.”
In Townsville, on September 8, the five confreres living and working in the Townsville Diocese came together to celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary as well as SVD Foundation Day.
“We began in the morning with a recollection which focused on the 19th General Chapter reflections, and the theme, “Your light must shine before others” (Mt 5:16): Faithful and creative disciples in a wounded world,” said Fr Clement Baffoe SVD.
“We discussed some of the wounds in our own mission here in far North Queensland. Some of the wounds include racism, injustices, youth crimes, inequality, clergy/sexual abuse, domestic violence among others. We further looked at ways by which we can faithfully and creatively be disciples in our wounded world and particular context. We discerned that Jesus is the true and primordial light and our lights can shine if they’re in tune with the true light. Hence the need to be grounded and rooted in Jesus.”
In the evening, the group reconvened and were joined by locally-based Holy Spirit Sisters as well as men and women of other religious congregations for a Eucharistic celebration, said Fr Clement.
Fr Clement was the main celebrant and the other SVD confreres joined in concelebration, in an expression of their brotherhood. In the homily, Fr Clement read a short history of the commencement of the Society of the Divine Word. He reflected on the fact that the founding fathers and mothers relied always on divine providence even when they didn’t know where their resources would come from. By this, he encouraged all present at the Mass to continue to rely on divine providence.
“God will certainly provide our mission needs,” he said.
The Mass was followed by a sumptuous meal cooked by the confreres themselves.
“The day was successful as confreres could leave their busy schedules to come to spend the day together in prayer and reflection. Our brotherhood was expressed, lived and strengthened,” he said.
“The following weekend, we continued to share the SVD Foundation story in our parish Masses. Since we are new in our various parishes and the diocese, this was a wonderful opportunity to tell our SVD story to the wider community which up to now didn’t know or knew little about our beginnings.
“May the Divine Word continue to bless our mission as we, his disciples, faithfully and creatively seek to bring the light to our wounded world.”
Meanwhile, in a video message to confreres, sisters, lay mission partners, benefactors, relatives and friends, SVD Superior-General, Fr Paul Budi Kleden SVD, sent his prayers and best wishes to all on the occasion of Foundation Day.
“The dedication and generosity of the confreres in giving themselves to people, in sharing with them the joys and challenges of life, in faithfully and creatively giving witness to the Word of God, in their perseverance to be with people going through difficult situations due to political, economic or environmental reasons, have earned overflowing gratitude from the people,” he said.
“This has been evident during the general visitations and my visits to our different missions worldwide.
“Indeed, by the grace of God and the support of the Sisters and lay partners of the Arnoldus family and of many other people, the humble beginnings in Steyl with Arnold Janssen and a handful of companions have been a blessing for millions of people on the five continents in these 148 years.”
Fr Budi said that despite this, it is also challenging knowing that living out the SVD charism is a lifetime commitment as faithful and creative disciples of the Lord.
“The celebration of the Foundation Day of our congregation, compels us to recall and at the same time, renew our commitment to embody the charism God has given to our congregation, that is, as missionaries, to proclaim the Word of God in this wounded world.”
He urged confreres to focus on the three areas of Belongingness, Collaboration and Perseverance.
“As we celebrate our Foundation Day, I am moved by the resonance between our journey as a Congregation and the Nativity of Mary, Mother of the Divine Word,” Fr Budi said.
“Just as her birth marked a significant beginning, our small start in Steyl has grown into a blessing of countless missions worldwide over 148 years. Just as Mary played a crucial role in bringing Christ to the world, we, too, as creative disciples, have a profound impact on our wounded world. Let us embrace belongingness, collaboration, and perseverance, echoing her spirit as we continue to bring hope and healing to the communities we serve.
“I wish us all a blessed celebration of the Nativity of our Mother Mary, and a meaningful and joyful Foundation Day of our congregation.”
PHOTOS
TOP RIGHT: Liturgical display to honour St Arnold Janssen SVD at the Marsfield Foundation Day celebration.
MIDDLE LEFT: SVD confreres were joined by SSpS Sisters and other Religious from the Townsville Diocese for their Foundation Day celebration.
MIDDLE RIGHT: The SVDs based in Townsville Diocese cut the Foundation Day cake.
BOTTOM LEFT: Superior-General Fr Paul Budi Kleden SVD delivers his video message to mark the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and SVD Foundation Day.