SAN DIEGO — The Society of the Divine Word is celebrating its 150th jubilee anniversary in 2025.
One of the largest missionary congregations in the Catholic Church, it was founded in 1875 by St. Arnold Janssen in Steyl, Netherlands. Since then, it has grown to include over 6,000 members working in more than 80 countries across six continents.
Priests of the society, who are also known as Divine Word Missionaries, are active at four parishes in the Diocese of San Diego: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, St. John the Evangelist, Blessed Sacrament and St. Kateri Tekakwitha.
“For a century and a half, the Society of the Divine Word has been dedicated to spreading the Word of God and serving communities worldwide,” said Father Soney Sebastian, a Divine Word Missionary who serves as director of the San Diego Diocese’s Office for the Missions. “From building churches and schools to advocating for social justice and human rights, the society’s missionaries have made significant contributions to the spiritual and social well-being of countless individuals.”
The Society of the Divine Word’s international headquarters is in Rome. Its U.S. Western Province is based in Riverside, California.
To commemorate its 150th anniversary, the congregation has planned special events and initiatives. The theme is “Witnessing to the Light from Everywhere for Everyone.” These celebrations will include:
–Special Masses and ceremonies held in various locations worldwide to honor the founding generation and give thanks for the blessings received over the years;
–Community outreach programs aimed at continuing the Society’s mission of promoting peace, justice and reconciliation;
–Historical exhibitions showcasing the rich history and important contributions of Divine Word Missionaries over the past 150 years; and
–Fundraising campaigns to support ongoing and future missionary work.
“This historic and spiritually fertile event unites us as (members of the Society of the Divine Word) and summons us to come together as one family to joyfully celebrate our common identity as brother Divine Word Missionaries,” said Father Jon Kirby, provincial of the U.S. Western Province.
In an address to all the members of the society, the newly elected Superior General Father Anselmo Ricardo Ribeiro said, “We celebrate the joy of being who we are: men consecrated to the mission, gathered in intercultural communities. We announce the Divine Word and assume His life and mission as ours. We pitch our tent in places where the Gospel has not been known or is not yet lived. We seek to dialogue with everyone, becoming one with people and putting the vulnerable, poor and those who suffer first.
“There must be room for everyone at this party,” he said. “We cannot make distinctions, and no one should be left out.”
