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United in Mission: SVD and SSpS Family Celebrates Feast of St. Arnold Janssen in Rome
Kasmir Nema, SVD
Members of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) and the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) convened at the Casa Generalizia of the SSpS Sisters on Via Cassia for a joint celebration of the Feast of St. Arnold Janssen.
A Family Reunion
The atmosphere was one of palpable joy and fraternal charity. Before the solemn Eucharist began, Sr. Dorota Maria Piechaczek, SSpS, superior of the local community, set the tone for the gathering with a warm address.
Speaking on behalf of the General Council and the Sisters of the Generalate, Sr. Dorota welcomed the Divine Word Missionaries, referring to them affectionately as “brothers in the Arnoldina Family.”
“O God Eternal Truth, we believe in You! Thank you for the lively confirmation that we are all members of the St. Arnold Janssen family,” Sr. Dorota prayed in her opening remarks.
She expressed hope that the founder was watching over the gathering: “We trust that as we honor our Founder with fraternal gatherings… Father Arnold looks upon us with benevolence, proud of how we have carried forward his missionary project, renewed in the zeal that characterized him throughout his life.”
Sr. Dorota also noted the significant absence of Sr. Miriam Altenhofen, the SSpS Superior General, who was in Austria for the inauguration of the new European Province of the congregation—a sign of the order’s continuing growth and restructuring.
The Oak and the Mushroom
The solemn Eucharist was presided over by Fr. Anselmo Ricardo Ribeiro, SVD, Superior General of the Society, accompanied at the altar by Vice General Fr. Xavier Thirukudumbam, SVD.
The homily was a moment of deep reflection on the nature of missionary work. Sr. Kreti Sanhueza Vidal, SSpS, offered a meditation on a metaphor dear to St. Arnold himself: the contrast between the “slow growth of the oak tree” and the “rapid emergence of the mushroom.”
Sr. Kreti emphasized that in a modern era defined by speed and the desire for immediate results, St. Arnold’s legacy offers a counter-cultural challenge. She urged the community to prioritize “deep roots over quick results.”
Highlighting the saint’s perseverance, she reminded the “Arnoldus Family” that true missionary work, like a sturdy oak, requires patience to offer lasting shelter and bear enduring fruit for the Church.
Spiritual Preparation
The gathering brought together a diverse representation of the family in Rome. SVD confreres attended from three prominent communities: the Collegio del Verbo Divino, the Community of Saint Peter (San Pietro), and the Nemi community. They joined the 34 SSpS Sisters in prayer and thanksgiving.
The spiritual intensity of the feast was the result of careful preparation. Leading up to the day, the community at the Collegio del Verbo Divino observed a Triduum—three days of prayer dedicated to St. Arnold—ensuring that the hearts of the confreres were ready for the solemnity.
As the celebration concluded with shared joy and friendship, the event stood as a testament to the enduring vision of St. Arnold Janssen. His “missionary project,” as Sr. Dorota described it, remains vital, carried forward by a family united in zeal and faithful to his legacy.
