Steyl
Sacred ground of the Arnoldus Family
Cradle of three religious missionary congregations
Cradle of three religious missionary congregations
SVD
Society of the Divine Word
September 8, 1875
September 8, 1875
SSpS
Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit
December 8, 1889
December 8, 1889
SSpSAP
Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration
December 8, 1896
December 8, 1896

Saint Joseph Freinademetz
“I find myself completely alone in the midst of a completely non-Christian people.
Finally I see fulfilled the ideal of which I had dreamed in my youth.
Praised be to God!
But what am I to do?
How am I to organize things?
Where am I to begin?
O my God, you do the building because on my own I would build in vain.
Keep watch, Lord, otherwise I will keep watch in vain.
Yes, Lord, I love you!
Let’s get down to work.” (St. Joseph Freinademetz)
God, Father of Love, together with the Holy Spirit you sent St. Joseph to proclaim the Gospel to all peoples.
We ask that his example continue to inspire us today, so that through his intercessions all nations might come to know and recognize the great love you have for each one of us. We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son, and our friend and Lord. Amen.
Saint Joseph of Shandong, pray for us!
Finally I see fulfilled the ideal of which I had dreamed in my youth.
Praised be to God!
But what am I to do?
How am I to organize things?
Where am I to begin?
O my God, you do the building because on my own I would build in vain.
Keep watch, Lord, otherwise I will keep watch in vain.
Yes, Lord, I love you!
Let’s get down to work.” (St. Joseph Freinademetz)
God, Father of Love, together with the Holy Spirit you sent St. Joseph to proclaim the Gospel to all peoples.
We ask that his example continue to inspire us today, so that through his intercessions all nations might come to know and recognize the great love you have for each one of us. We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son, and our friend and Lord. Amen.
Saint Joseph of Shandong, pray for us!
- January 28, 2025
After working for three and half years in our center for ongoing formation in Nemi, I came to Oies in May 2022. The Italian Province of SVD was looking for a confrere interested in working at the very significant place for our Society: the birthplace of Joseph Freinademetz…
Author: Michael Ertl, SVD
- January 15, 2025
Letter of Sr. Miriam Altenhof, SSpS
St Arnold’s Day marks the launch of the Year of Transformation for all Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit around the world. Here we present the letter from our congregational leader Sr Miriam Altenhofen introducing the Year of Transformation. We also invite everyone who participates in some way in our mission to seek together to transform ourselves and the world around us…
Author: Martina Gonzalez, SSpS
- December 2, 2024
This is the first biography of Sister Mary Michael, who died on February 25, 1934. The author was a pioneer of historiography and spirituality of the Arnoldus Family – Father Hermann Fischer. In the introduction to the book he writes the following: “After teaching in the diaspora for ten years, Adolfine Tönnies joined the newly-founded Congregation of the Steyl Missionary Sisters. Five years later its Founder, Fr. Arnold Janssen, appointed a group of Sisters for the ministry of perpetual adoration, thus laying the foundation for the new Congregation, Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration. Adolfine Tönnies who, by that time, bore the religious name Sister Michaele, was one of the first members in the new Congregation. According to the plan of Providence, she was called to be its first superior. For nearly four decades, she was so involved in its inner and outer construction that she can rightly be called its co-foundress. In many respects, her story is the history of this Congregation, and the spirit of this Congregation is essentially a mirror of her own spirit.”
Author: Hermann Fischer, SVD
- December 7, 2024
What did you think, Mary, of your Advent?
Who knew your feelings while you waited?
What did you want for your unborn child?
What did you think about all that you were experiencing?
Author: Hna María Virginia Gette, SSpS
- October 17, 2023
Author: Fr. Jürgen Ommerborn, SVD
Subject: Joseph Freinademetz Returns To His Parish Of St. Martin In Thurn, Steyl’s First Impression
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