A proposal for a common understanding and possible activities of the SVD vocation ministry in Europe was discussed by representatives of European SVD provinces from May 31 to June 3, 2026, at a conference at St. Gabriel. Among the ten participants from Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, and Portugal was also the coordinator of the European Zone of the Divine Word Missionaries, Fr. Franz Helm, SVD. The president of the European Zone and provincial of the Divine Word Missionaries in Slovakia, Fr. Marek Vanus, SVD, also paid a visit to the meeting.

The Difference Between Vocation Animation and Vocation Ministry
A key point that emerged from the discussion was the need to distinguish between vocation animation and actual vocation ministry. Vocation Animation is broader in scope and is just as much a part of parish ministry, pastoral care in schools, or in immigrant communities as it is of youth ministry. “It is the responsibility of every member of our community to introduce people to our missionary charism and to our worldwide religious community,” explained Fr. Franz Helm. Vocational ministry, on the other hand, involves accompanying young adults between the ages of 20 and 35 who are interested in becoming members of the “Society of the Divine Word.” This process should offer opportunities to experience community life, provide guidance for discernment and decision-making, and lead to the postulancy or novitiate, Father Helm clarified.

Many Unanswered Questions About the Formation
The coordinator of the SVD’s EUROPA Zone expressed regret that representatives responsible for vocation ministry had come to the meeting in St. Gabriel from only about half of the Society of the Divine Word’s provinces in Europe. According to Helm, there are several reasons for this: “In some provinces, there are no longer any people in charge because of a lack of personnel, motivation, or the belief that young adults might even be interested in our religious community.” In some provinces, he noted, there have been no new members joining the SVD for several decades. In other countries, such as Slovakia, there are local candidates for the order.

“A major challenge we now face in Europe is that it is difficult for us to tell prospective candidates what their formation will entail. Often, there is no novitiate offered in the candidate’s native language. How this can be resolved remains an open question,” explained Father Helm, citing a few possible solutions: “Should novices from Europe be sent to the Philippines, where there is already a joint English-language novitiate for various Asian provinces of the Divine Word Missionaries? Or should several provinces in Europe organize novitiates together? Or should an English-language and a Spanish-language novitiate be established in Europe?”

Where do we come into contact with people interested in religious life?
Another important question that occupied the participants at the meeting was where it is actually possible to come into contact with people interested in the Divine Word Missionaries. Father Franz Helm: “Where do our vocation ministry leaders encounter young men who are seeking a deeper faith and meaningful engagement?” University ministry seems to be one such place. However, personal relationships and ongoing accompaniment—often spanning years—are always crucial.

Those responsible for vocation ministry reported that they had had positive experiences with teams that explored the question of where to find people who are searching. It is advantageous if these teams consist not only of Divine Word Missionaries, but also include Divine Word Missionary Sisters or young people connected to the Divine Word Missionaries.

Exchange with Representatives of Heiligenkreuz Abbey
During the meeting, it was emphasized that prayer for vocations is important because prayer helps cultivate a positive attitude toward spiritual vocations and expresses openness to them.
As part of the conference, the group of vocation ministry leaders also visited the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz, where the participants spoke with the abbey’s novice master, Father Tarcisius, and the prior, Father Johannes Paul.