The Society of the Divine Word, founded by Arnold Janssen in Steyl, Holland, on September 8, 1875 commences the year-long celebration of the Sesquicentennial founding anniversary with the theme Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere For Everyone. The official opening of the Jubilee Year took place in St. Michael Mission House in Steyl on 8 September with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Father General, Fr Anselmo Ricardo Ribeiro, SVD.

 Throughout the year, various religious, cultural, and spiritual programs will be showcased in the different SVD provinces, regions, and missions. The following activities will take place in Rome:
 • December 8: Blessing and installation of the Statues of Mary, Mother of the Divine Word from the ASPAC, AFRAM, EUROPE, and PANAM zones in Collegio del Verbo Divino.
 • January 15, 2025: Celebration of the Feast of St. Arnold Janssen and at the same time the launch of the SVD 150 Years Jubilee Book – “Treasures of the Past and Experiences of the Present.”
 • March 27-29: International Conference on Mission at the Pontifical Gregorian University with the theme: “Missio Dei Today: Healing Wounds, Challenged 
by Postmodernity, Learning from Cultures, Inspired by Religions.”
 • September 8, 2025: Inauguration of Permanent Mission Exposition at the Generalate. Various artifacts from the missions will be displayed together with indication of the growth of the Society in graphic forms. 

The closing of the Jubilee Year will be celebrated in Rome on September 8, 2025 with a solemn Mass.

 The Society of the Divine Word is the sixth largest male congregation in the Church. 
At present, it has 5,754 members present on five continents and in 79 countries, organized in 59 provinces, regions and missions, in addition to the Generalate in Rome. Most members are involved in parish ministry, education, biblical apostolates, communication, justice and peace, integrity of creation, formation, and other ministries.

 For more information:

 Fr. Modeste Munimi, SVD
 General Coordinator for Communications

 communications@svdcuria.org
 Tel: +39 351 025 9545
 www.svdcuria.org
 Facebook and Instagram: SVD-Witness to the Word
 YouTube: SVD Mission TV