Coordinated by Fr. Bonaventura Laba, SVD, European Zone Formation Coordinator, the meeting included participants from Spain, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, and Poland. Fr. Anbu Agustine, SVD, Generalate Formation Coordinator, and Fr. Franz Helm, SVD, European Zone Coordinator, also participated.

The gathering aimed to bring formators and formandi together as confreres, deepen their knowledge of one another, share vocation experiences, and strengthen their sense of belonging to the Society of the Divine Word.

The week combined spiritual, formative, cultural, and recreational activities. Participants celebrated the Eucharist, prayed together, shared the Bible, and prayed the Rosary. Conferences addressed contemporary challenges facing the Church, religious life, and SVD formation. Speakers included Cardinal László Német, SVD; Fr. Anbu Agustine, SVD; Fr. Franz Helm, SVD; Bishop Jerzy Mazur, SVD; and Fr. Hery Wea, SVD. Cultural activities, sports, and encounters with young people further strengthened fraternity.

Cardinal Német encouraged the formandi not to be afraid of living their SVD vocation in a rapidly changing world. He emphasized the importance of remaining open to the challenges of the times while staying firmly rooted in their identity as members of the Society of the Divine Word.

Fr. Anbu presented the current situation of SVD formation and highlighted the Society’s strong international and intercultural character as an important strength amid increasing secularization. Fr. Franz reflected on the need to foster SVD vocations in Europe, particularly amid the decline in religious vocations, so that the Society may continue to maintain its international and intercultural identity.

The presence of Bishop Jerzy Mazur, SVD, further enriched the gathering. He shared experiences from his missionary journey and offered insights into the situation of the Church in Poland. He also presided over the closing Eucharistic celebration.
For the formandi, the gathering provided an opportunity to share their experiences, challenges, and hopes with confreres from other formation communities. The meeting strengthened fraternity and encouraged mutual learning across cultural and national boundaries.
The participants expressed the hope that similar gatherings will continue in the future, strengthening bonds among SVD formandi in Europe and providing opportunities to share their spiritual, cultural, and intellectual gifts as one missionary family.