SVD
Generalate

As the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) celebrates its Jubilee Year, Superior General Fr. Anselmo Ricardo Ribeiro, SVD, calls for a deep reflection on its true meaning: forgiveness, restoration, and the restitution of dignity. More than a mere celebration, this Jubilee is a sacred opportunity for both personal and communal conversion and healing.

True reconciliation begins with an honest acknowledgment of both the light and shadows of our past. Fr. Ribeiro reminds us that embracing our own wounds enables us to be more compassionate toward the wounds of others. This is not merely about remembering history but about taking responsibility for past shortcomings—particularly in areas such as power dynamics, the misuse of authority, and relationships within our communities and missions.

Truth is the foundation of restorative justice. Healing requires us to listen to those who have suffered, recognize their pain, and commit to reconciliation. The letter challenges us to reflect: “What kind of relationships have we built throughout our existence? Were they relationships of service or power? Empowerment or submission? Collaboration or exploitation?”

We cannot approach the 150th anniversary of our congregation without this life review. Fr. Ribeiro invites every confrere to engage in a sincere process of self-examination as we prepare for this milestone. He outlines concrete steps to authentically live out the Jubilee Year:

• Identify specific instances where we have failed and where seeking forgiveness is necessary—whether among ourselves as brothers and priests, within our communities, within the Arnoldus family, or in our interactions with mission partners and collaborators.
• Listen to the testimonies of those directly affected by our failures, including abuses of power, authority, and affective and sexual misconduct.
• Promote penitential liturgies, especially during Lent, while also extending this practice throughout the duration of the SVD Jubilee Year.
• Celebrate reconciliation as an act of thanksgiving, expressed through concrete gestures and actions that affirm our commitment to justice and healing.

As Pope Francis reminds us, the Jubilee Year calls us to be “tangible signs of hope for many brothers and sisters living in difficult conditions.” Let this milestone be more than just a celebration—let it stand as a legacy of justice, healing, and renewal.

To fully embrace this call, we encourage all confreres to read the full message of the General Superior and reflect on how each of us can actively contribute to this journey of reconciliation and transformation.

GMD