- svd-prms
- / EUROPA
- / Biblical Apostolate / Lay Partners / Meeting / Mission Animation
A Symphony of the Word: SVD-Lay Partners and the Holy Scripture
Gloria M. Lange
As Lay Partners, it is clear that we follow the spirituality of St. Arnold Janssen. The presenter further emphasized this by briefly referring to the Prologue to John’s Gospel, which was the inspiration of St. Arnold. Fr. Szypula highlighted the text: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” as the basis for the mission and spirituality of the Arnoldus family. This text was a direct inspiration for St. Arnold to name the Congregation he founded as “Society of the Divine Word” (Societas Verbi Divini, “SVD”).
Fr. Szypula structured his presentation around the congregation’s motto: “Our name is our mission,” which both explains the name of the Congregation and sets the biblical apostolate as the priority of the Society of the Divine Word.
As SVD-Lay Partners, we also freely commit ourselves to answer God’s call to serve, to build God’s Kingdom on earth in the light of the SVD mission, including our focus on the Divine Word through living witness of the Gospel and proclamation of the Good News.
The Bible, the Word of God, is Jesus and should be the center of our pastoral ministry. It is also the written word—the Bible as the foundation which gives life and animates all Church activities. It is the beginning and framework of the sacraments. It is the foundation of all pastoral commitments; through the Bible, God’s written word, God makes His will known and His message proclaimed. This written Word forms the basis of our liturgical calendar, giving a sacred rhythm to our lives.
Therefore, as SVD Lay Partners, we ought to strive not only to know the Word of God but to make the Scripture a part of our lives. Only then would we be able to enthusiastically and passionately proclaim the Word just like Fr. Szypula who presented his topic so clearly and convincingly.
He also suggested some activities on how to deepen our personal relationship with the Word and how to share it with others, such as Bible Sharing. He clearly stated that Bible Sharing does not require the presence of a priest, as each person is a prophet who shares how the Word of God speaks through her or his life experiences. In that exchange of life experience, the Word speaks to us through others.
Fr. Szypula further recommended reading “Verbum Domini” by Pope Benedict XVI to be inspired and guided about the role of the Bible in the life and mission of the Church and all the faithful. His parting suggestion was that the SVD Lay Partners could take a lead in organizing and celebrating the newly established Sunday of the Word of God, which would make the Bible visible and celebrated, and the distinctive role of the SVD Lay Partners visible and meaningful.
