The Society of the Divine Word is a Roman Catholic order of priests and brothers who focus on missionary work.
St. Arnold Janssen, whom Pope John Paul II canonized in 2003, founded our religious order in 1875. A German diocesan priest, Father Janssen recognized the need for a German missionary order. Because of friction between the Catholic church and the Bismarck government, he had to establish his base in the Netherlands in a little town named Steyl. At the time of his death in 1909, The Society of the Divine Word had missionaries in 15 countries on six continents. today, we serve the people of 71 countries on six continents. (The Divine Word Missionaries arrived in North America in October 1895.)
Our work can be described as contemporary missionary work. We follow the second vatican council’s “decree on the church’s missionary activity” in our efforts to bring the gospel message of salvation to all people while simultaneously respecting their human dignity and cultural heritage. Within the Catholic Church, we are known for working with indigenous people, immigrants, refugees and the disenfranchised. Our specific ministries vary because we respond to the needs of the individual communities in which we serve.
In some corners of the globe, we have helped to develop education systems. In other parts, we provide humanitarian and social development programs. We also give pastoral care, which includes working as retreat directors, counselors and chaplains. The common thread that binds us is that we recognize the sacred in each human being and attend to those most in need.