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SVD Ruteng Province Marks 150th Jubilee with Thanksgiving Mass and Cultural Festivities
Daniel Fallo, SVD
The highlight was a solemn Mass of thanksgiving on September 8, 2025, at the SVD Provincialate in Ruteng, a historic site that has long symbolized the congregation’s missionary presence in Flores.
The liturgy was presided over by Fr. Sebastian Hobahana, SVD, Vicar General of the Diocese of Ruteng. In his homily, Fr. Hobahana recalled the enduring legacy of SVD founder St. Arnold Janssen.
“St. Arnold Janssen passed on a spirit that lives on in the light—not only in words but in concrete actions. This light is not ours alone but a gift to be shared. Our mission is to share our encounter with Christ, weaving bonds of true fraternity that transcend ethnic, linguistic, and cultural differences,” he said.
The celebration reflected both faith and culture. Students of St. Paul University of Ruteng performed traditional Manggarai dances, SVD novices offered a modern dance, and children with special needs from the St. Damian community in Cancar moved the audience with a choral performance.
A video presentation retraced the journey of the SVD in pastoral service, education, and social outreach—underscoring how the mission continues to unfold in word and deed.
Local leaders also voiced their gratitude. Manggarai Regent Heribertus G.L. Nabit praised the SVD’s contributions in education, healthcare, and cultural preservation, calling the missionaries “a trusted partner in community development.”
SVD Ruteng Provincial Fr. Paulus Tolo, SVD, used the occasion to encourage confreres and the faithful to renew their commitment to mission: “We are grateful for God’s providence over 150 years of SVD mission. Let us continue to live out the spirit of Verbum Dei, to be faithful witnesses of Christ, and to bring peace and joy wherever we are sent.”
The Jubilee Committee Chair, Fr. Fabi Ngama, SVD, thanked all those who contributed to the celebration, describing it as “a visible sign of shared commitment.”
Beyond the liturgy and performances, the anniversary was seen as a moment of renewal. Participants were invited to look back with gratitude, live the present with passion, and embrace the future with hope.
The 150th Jubilee highlighted how the SVD, inspired by St. Arnold Janssen’s vision, remains deeply rooted in the Word and open to the world—continuing its mission of faith and service in Manggarai Raya and beyond.
