Societas Verbi Divini (SVD), known as the Society of the Divine Word, is set to hold its 19th General Chapter on June 16 at the Ad Gentes Center in Nemi, Italy.
This event, which is held every six years, will involve the society’s discernment process and the drafting of a chapter statement outlining how the congregation will live out its mission in the coming years.
This year, the general chapter will focus on the theme “Your Light Must Shine Before Others: Creative and Faithful Disciples in a Wounded World.”
It will run over four weeks and gather a total of 153 participants from 31 countries.
This includes 120 voting capitulars, two representatives of the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, four lay partners from the four zones, and SVD observers and staff.
Following a two-day period of reflection, SVD Superior General Paulus Budi Kleden will preside over the inaugural Mass on Sunday.
On June 28, the general chapter will hold an audience with Pope Francis at the Clementine Hall to address the society’s capitulars, with Fr. Kleden providing a response.
Moreover, this international gathering will include the election of the new SVD superior general, as Fr. Kleden is set to be installed as the metropolitan archbishop of Ende, Indonesia, on August 22.
Other members of the SVD general council will also be elected during this event.
The Society of the Divine Word was founded in 1875 in Steyl, Holland, by Saint Arnold Janssen.
Present across five continents with more than 6,000 members, the congregation is engaged in pastoral work, education, biblical apostolate, communication, justice, peace, and integrity of creation.
The society’s last general chapter was held in 2018.
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