Society
Of The Divine Word

Rome, March 5, 2025 – The Society of the Divine Word (SVD) is set to mark 150 years of mission with an International Conference on Mission at the Pontifical Gregorian University’s Matteo Ricci Conference Center in Rome from March 27 to 29, 2025.

Themed “Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere, For Everyone,” the gathering will bring together theologians, missionaries, scholars, and activists from across the world to reflect on the Missio Dei—the mission of God—and its continued relevance in today’s evolving global landscape.

Founded by Saint Arnold Janssen in 1875 in Steyl, Holland, the Society of the Divine Word has grown into a global congregation of nearly 6,000 priests and brothers, serving in five continents. Dedicated to pastoral ministry, education, biblical apostolate, communication, and social justice, the Divine Word Missionaries continue to bring the Gospel to people of diverse cultures and backgrounds.

As the congregation celebrates this milestone, the conference will serve as a platform for theological reflection, cultural dialogue, and global collaboration, focusing on three key themes: Healing Wounds, Challenged by Postmodernity, and Learning from Cultures, Inspired by Religions.

The conference will open with an inaugural session led by Fr. Anselmo Ribeiro, SVD, Superior General of the SVD, followed by an Inaugural Address from Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization. Cardinal Tagle will highlight the Church’s commitment to evangelization, healing, and mission in a world marked by both hope and suffering.

On the first day of the conference, March 27, the focus will be on “Healing Wounds,” examining how the Church can restore human dignity in a fractured world. The day will begin with a keynote address titled “The Mission of God in Today’s World: Healing Wounds, Challenged by Postmodernity, Learning from Cultures, Inspired by Religions” delivered by Stephen Bevans, SVD (USA), Professor Emeritus at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago.

The first day of the conference will set an action-oriented tone, encouraging dialogue on healing in its many forms—social, ecological, and spiritual. By engaging diverse voices and perspectives, the sessions will illuminate how the Missio Dei can offer hope and transformation in today’s world.

On March 28, discussions will shift toward “Challenged by Postmodernity” and its impact on the Church’s mission.

Speakers such as Dorottya Nagy (Netherlands) and Tiziano Tosolini, SX (Rome) will address topics including Christian mission in secular societies, paradigm shifts in evangelization, and the ethical implications of transhumanism and artificial intelligence.

The day’s discussions will explore how the Church can navigate rapid societal transformations while maintaining its core mission.

The final day, March 29, will explore “Learning from Cultures, Inspired by Religions,” with a special emphasis on intercultural dialogue and interreligious engagement. Asian perspectives will be highlighted with Fr. Antonio Pernia, SVD (Philippines), offering a missiological reflection on cultures, and Piotr Adamek, SVD (Taiwan), discussing “Taiwanese Folk Religion and Missio Dei.”

These discussions will focus on how cultural traditions shape theological discourse and missionary engagement, enriching the Church’s approach to evangelization.

While the sessions will not be streamed live, all talks will be recorded and made available on SVD Mission TV for on-demand viewing.

Organizers hope that this conference will serve as a space for dialogue, theological reflection, and missionary collaboration, shaping the future of global evangelization.

As the Society of the Divine Word commemorates 150 years of missionary service, this gathering offers an opportunity to engage with contemporary theological and cultural issues, reaffirm the Church’s commitment to justice and peace, and explore new ways of fostering interreligious harmony and mission in a changing world.

GMD