The year 2026 marks the seventh observance of the Sunday of the Word of God. In biblical symbolism, seven represents completion and fullness—the days of creation, the gifts of the Spirit, the seals of Revelation. As this celebration approaches its seventh year, it has reached a certain maturity. It has become increasingly embraced in parishes, religious communities, and pastoral settings worldwide as a significant feature of the liturgical calendar. For Divine Word Missionaries, whose very name defines their mission, this milestone carries particular significance and invites renewed reflection on the centrality of Scripture in our vocation and mission.

Pope Francis instituted the Sunday of the Word of God through the Apostolic Letter Aperuit Illis, issued on September 30, 2019—the liturgical Memorial of Saint Jerome, commemorating the 1600th anniversary of his death. The title, which literally means “He opened (their minds),” is drawn from Luke 24:45 and recalls the moment when the Risen Lord opened the minds of his disciples to understand the Scriptures. Several key points from this document deserve our attention. First, the Holy Father designated the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time as a day devoted entirely to the celebration, study, and dissemination of the Word of God. Second, the timing is deliberate: this Sunday falls during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, underscoring the ecumenical dimension of Sacred Scripture as a path toward authentic unity among believers. Third, Pope Francis emphasized the performative and sacramental character of the Word of God, particularly within the liturgy, where Christ himself is present when the Scriptures are proclaimed. Fourth, Aperuit Illis offers practical suggestions for celebration: the sacred text should be enthroned in a prominent place to focus the assembly’s attention on the normative value of God’s Word; bishops are encouraged to celebrate the Rite of Installation of Lectors or a commissioning of readers; and homilists should give particular emphasis to the honor due to the proclamation of the Lord’s Word. Fifth, the document recalls the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, as expressed in Dei Verbum and Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini, both of which stress the importance of Scripture for the life of the Church.

The 19th General Chapter of the Society of the Divine Word embraced this initiative with clarity. Among the new recommendations, number 2.2.1 states: “Be it recommended that the Sunday of the Word of God be celebrated in a special way in the SVD communities, institutions, and parishes.” This recommendation flows naturally from the Society’s deepest identity. Today, an increasing number of SVD institutions, parishes, and communities around the world are embracing this celebration, with many combining it with the Feast of St. Arnold Janssen, thereby creating an extended period of reflection on the Word that animates our mission. The same Chapter’s final document affirms that the biblical apostolate is an intrinsic characteristic of every SVD confrere, regardless of specific ministry. It is not an exclusive responsibility of biblical apostolate coordinators or PRM leadership, but a commitment that should permeate every aspect of missionary life. The Sunday of the Word of God thus stands as a powerful annual reminder of this commitment and an inspiration to deepen ever further this vital dimension of our mission.

The theme for the Sunday of the Word of God 2026, to be celebrated on January 25th, is drawn from Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” This theme invites a movement beyond external observance toward interior transformation—allowing Scripture to take up residence in the heart, shaping thoughts, decisions, and actions. During this Jubilee Year, when the Church calls all the faithful to be pilgrims of hope, the Word of God serves as guide and light for the journey.

The date of this celebration is also providential for the Society of the Divine Word. January 25th falls between the Feast of St. Arnold Janssen on January 15th and the Feast of St. Joseph Freinademetz on January 29th. This positioning is deeply symbolic: the Sunday of the Word of God stands between the commemorations of these two foundational figures in the Congregation’s history, serving as the symbolic heart of the SVD foundation and its enduring legacy. Everything in the Society of the Divine Word revolves around the Word of God—it is the source of our identity, the inspiration of our mission, and the foundation of our spirituality. This liturgical arrangement reminds all confreres that the Word which our Founder placed at the center of his vision continues to illuminate every aspect of SVD life and mission.

The Sunday of the Word of God deserves to become a fixed and cherished element of the annual liturgical rhythm—celebrated with creativity in communities, institutions, and parishes, and carried into daily life through personal meditation and study. It also inspires each confrere to embrace the counsel of St. Joseph Freinademetz, who wisely wrote:

“Do not let even a single day pass without meditating on Sacred Scripture… Though we must work for the salvation of others, we cannot tolerate a zeal for others that keeps us on the go from morning to late at night, preaching, teaching, running around visiting people, and hopping from one corner to another, without paying attention to our own nourishment through prayer, meditation, and the study of Sacred Scripture.”