SVD
Generalate

In just a few days, we will enter the Holy Year proclaimed by Pope Francis, where all of us are invited to rekindle hope. In his bull announcing the ordinary jubilee of 2025, Francis reminds us that “hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5) and that “the Holy Spirit, through His constant presence in the life of the Church, radiates the light of hope in the hearts of believers.” 

On this same journey, we continue celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of our beloved Congregation. From diverse realities and cultures, we are called and sent to all people. On this vocational and missionary path, we become the People of God on the move, as highlighted by the Synod of Bishops on Synodality. It is precisely along the way, and in communion with others, that we fulfill our mission. 

“You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8) 

According to the understanding of the 19th General Chapter, a Divine Word Missionary identifies himself with the light of God sent into chaotic and dark situations (19th GC, 20). Christ, the Light of the Nations, shines through us. Wherever we are sent, we must reflect this light to dispel the darkness of indifference, intolerance, and sin. 

Our witness takes many forms. In the various contexts where we serve, we respond to the needs that arise, which, in turn, communicate something of God’s will to us. This witness is communal, as we are not sent alone. We bear witness as Church, journeying together as disciples. To ensure that our words and actions are credible, we must undergo a process of conversion. 

Conversion is a powerful word that resonates in this jubilee and synodal time and must reach each one of us. It is an ongoing process, born from listening to the Gospel. We cannot speak of conversion without being aware of our personal and communal histories, and even less without recognizing our missteps and seeking repentance. The synodal assembly affirms that the call to mission is simultaneously a call to the conversion of the entire Church. 

The mission of radiating the light of Christ, and becoming light ourselves, will only be possible if we wholeheartedly embrace this process of conversion, which leads us to renew our relationships. In this way, we revitalize our missionary approach. This is the synodal proposal to which we committed ourselves during the last General Chapter (19th GC, #41).

In other words, bearing witness to the light of Christ involves how we live and relate to one another, to those around us, and to creation. Witnessing is much more than preaching; it is listening and allowing ourselves to be transformed by God’s voice, which speaks to us through the signs of the times and the contexts in which we live. “We are bearers of the light, and at the same time, seekers of the light of Christ shining in people, cultures, and all of creation where we serve” (19th GC, #33). 

“Be Hopeful and Joyful”  (Rom 12:12) 

The signs the Lord offers us are also opportunities to rediscover hope. “We, the Missionaries of the Divine Word, are living witnesses of God’s will to choose vulnerable people, empower them, and transform them into signs of hope for other vulnerable people” (19th GC, #30). 

Hope is the central message of the Church’s Jubilee, and for us, it must become an occasion to rekindle it. We have journeyed through deep reflection on the wounds of the world, which are, in part, also our own. We have recognized that God has sent us as witnesses. In a world marked by divisions and conflicts, hope is more urgent than ever. More than a feeling, it is a virtue that reflects trust in God. “Hope sets the direction, points the way, and defines the purpose of Christian life,” says Pope Francis in his bull announcing the Holy Year. 

To be a bearer of hope means to be deeply imbued with it. We are moving into deeper waters, and time is advancing. The 150 years we are celebrating must propel us toward the future. Ecclesial models we have experienced, convictions we have built, and paths we have chosen are all subject to the test of time. But hope “does not yield to difficulties: because it is rooted in faith, nourished by charity, and thus enables us to move forward in life” (Spes non Confundit, #3). We are committed to hope, and for that reason, we must look to the future with enthusiasm. 

Pope Francis, in his Jubilee proclamation, urges us to focus on the good in the world and not fall into the temptation of being overcome by evil and violence. Throughout our 150-year history, we have witnessed God’s love in difficult times—during wars, conflicts, and persecutions. In the present moment, we are continually called to place our hope in God and sow seeds for the future. We remain committed to hope and must look ahead with a renewed sense of purpose. 

“For I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”  (Isaiah 43:19) 

Living the Jubilee Year is a time of grace that leads us back to the source of our life and mission: the Divine Word. In Him, we believe in hope, and love. 

“Everyone hopes. In the heart of every person, hope resides as a longing and expectation for good, even without knowing what tomorrow will bring,” the Pope writes in Spes non Confundit. We are all invited to rediscover the living experience of God’s love, which stirs hope in our hearts. Finally, we are all called to renew our faith in God’s loving guidance over the history of creation and humanity. 

The future is not built simply by repeating the past. We learn from what has been, but our task is to create something new, firmly grounded in the present, with our eyes set on the horizon where we have yet to arrive.

Fr. Anselmo Ribeiro, SVD
and the Leadership Team