Introduction
Hope is the power to believe in new beginnings, second chances, or even miracles. Synonyms like expect and look capture similar sentiments, yet hope implies confident anticipation, despite uncertainty. Though often unspoken, hope plays a vital role in human well-being, especially in times of struggle, offering a sense that recovery is possible.
In the 1960s, educator Paulo Freire developed a transformative approach to teaching called the Pedagogy of Hope. It fosters mutual learning between teacher and student, aiming to empower the oppressed and awaken the conscience of the oppressors. This method underscores hope as a relational and active force for change.
To be builders of hope Pope Francis said the Church must recognize that Jesus Christ, the “divine Missionary of hope,” wants to speak to the heart of every man and woman and offer them salvation through his followers. Further he said that “Christian communities can be harbingers of a new humanity in a world that, in the most ‘developed’ areas, shows serious symptoms of human crisis; in the most technologically advanced nations, ‘proximity’ is disappearing: We are all interconnected but not related.”
In Scripture, hope is not mere wishful thinking or vague optimism. Biblical hope is a confident expectation in the promises of God, rooted in His unchanging character and faithfulness. Hebrews 10:23 urges believers to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” This divine hope is inseparable from trust in God’s Word, as it assures us of a future based on His integrity (Titus 1:2).
Biblical hope sustains believers through suffering—not because they know the outcome, but because they trust the One who does. As Paul writes in Romans 5:3–5, suffering produces perseverance, character, and ultimately a hope that does not disappoint, “because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” Hebrews 6:19 further describes hope as “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” This active, enduring hope empowers believers to persevere and trust that God will fulfil His promises.
Today, we Divine Word Missionaries, face numerous challenges yet biblical hope remains a source of strength. It compels us to share the Word of God to those who have not heard it or who live in hopelessness. To be a Missionary of Hope is to rekindle dignity, orientation, and self-worth in those who have lost them. It is a calling to live among those in existential peripheries—just as Christ did in the Incarnation.
The mystery of Incarnation was not only a historical event but a profound act of hope—God dwelling among us to bring peace, love, liberation, forgiveness, and justice. As missionaries, we carry forward this legacy, spreading the hope rooted in Scripture through mission work, communication, and the promotion of justice, peace, and the integrity of creation (JPIC).
These four Characteristic Dimensions (CDs)—Mission, Scripture (Bible), JPIC, and Communications—are more than strategic pillars; they are the core expressions of our vocation. In various General Chapters, we have revisited these dimensions to reflect on how they enable us to bring hope to those at the margins of society.
The concept of “Characteristic Dimensions” is innovative in the SVD lexicon, and we are called to exhibit these in our SVD life and mission. Therefore, the first issue of the annual Generalate publication, In the Light of the Word, is dedicated to the four CDs. The articles written in this publication are based on the insights of our coordinators and secretaries at the Generalate, on hope from the perspective of the Characteristic Dimensions.
In this publication titled Missionaries of Hope, Fr. Wojciech Szypula SVD, Biblical Coordinator, explores hope as a biblical concept and proposes a framework for being missionaries of hope in the post-modern world. Drawing on Hebrew terms and the testimony of both Testaments, he highlights hope’s personal, transformative, and eschatological dimensionsreimagining missionary work as embodying hope in a wounded world.
Fr. Kasmir Nema SVD, Communications Coordinator, reflects on the Jubilee 2025 theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” He sees it not as a historical marker but as a kairos moment—a sacred time to realign with the Gospel and rekindle our identity as faithful and creative disciples. Communicating hope in today’s digital age is a vital ministry rooted in Scripture and responsive to modern needs.
Fr. Richard Quadros SVD, JPIC Coordinator, discusses how Jesus’ ministry addressed social injustices and systemic inequalities. Jesus defended the dignity of the poor and marginalized, calling for love, mercy, and justice. The Church, as the Mystical Body of Christ, continues this mission. He also warns that our planet, as echoed in Church teachings, is crying out from ecological degradation—highlighting the urgency of hope-filled action.
Fr. Marcelo Cattaneo SVD, Mission Secretary, reflects on the imagery of the anchor: “The Light of Christ is our Anchor of Hope in Life’s Storms.” Central to the 2025 Jubilee logo, this symbol urges us to root our hope in Christ rather than in our own illusions of security. He invites us to reflect on our shared vocation to bring healing and renewal in a world thirsting for faith.
Mrs. Susan Noronha, a SVD Lay Partner from India, contributes further to this common missionary reflection and commitment by highlighting the fundamental role of every baptized person in world transformation. She emphasizes the diversity of ministries our SVD Lay Partners are already involved in our mission worldwide, and the opportunities still lying ahead.
All five articles converge on the theme of hope—its endurance, biblical foundation, and urgent relevance. They call us to be wounded healers, bringing the Good News through Mission, Scripture, JPIC, and Communication. Promoting these four CDs is a sacred vocation deeply embedded in our identity as Missionaries of Hope.
Fr. Anselmo Ricardo Ribeiro, SVD
Superior General
