In this centennial year of the approbation of our Society by the Holy See (January 25, 1901), I am pleased to present this revised edition of our 1983 Constitutions which incorporates all the changes adopted by the XV General Chapter of 2000.

Many of the more substantive changes come from the definitive adoption of the ad-experimentum changes introduced by the General Chapter of 1994. The other changes concern adjustments made of some constitutions and directories in order to harmonize better with the actual practice that has developed in the Society in recent years. A number of these changes needed the approval of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life, including the one remaining ad-experimentum change which was introduced by the last general chapter itself, i.e. the term of office of the Superior General (c. 618.1). We received this approval on 30th August 2000. Subsequently, on 8th September 2000, these changes to our constitutions were officially promulgated for the whole Society, along with the other resolutions, recommendations and statements of the XV General Chapter (cf. DW 1, Sept 2000, p. 7).

May this revised edition of our Constitutions help “to interpret for us the call of the Divine Word and to prepare us for our missionary service” (cf. Prologue to the Constitutions).

Antonio M. Pernia, SVD Superior General
Rome, January 25, 2001