A Joyful and Grateful Note of the Steyl Phase of Tertian Renewal Journey

It is a great milestone in the history of the Society of the Divine Word as we celebrate the 150^th Anniversary of our Foundation. 22 confreres hailing from 7 countries and 14 PRMs, and 2 diocesan priests from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea respectively arrived for the 91^st SVD Renewal Course (English) on March 01/02, 2025 at St. Michael’s House, Steyl, Netherlands. The Course began on March 03 with inaugural Mass presided by Kulandaisamy Soosai (Samy) SVD, the Director of the Course. He explained the objective of the course as becoming effective witnesses to the light by strengthening human formation and deepening religious-missionary commitment based on the charism and spirituality of the Founding Generation.

Samy and Thomas Heck SVD, the spiritual director at Nemi, animated the group for three days. It gave us a chance to get to know each other by sharing our family backgrounds, personal stories and vocational stories in koinonia groups. We were introduced to the practice of “Mindfulness” for deeper self-knowledge. It also was a nice opportunity to have a glimpse of the carnival festival parades organized by Tegelen town.

Animation was followed by a 10-day thought-provoking input on the Founding Generation by the AJSN Team consisting of Dennis Manzana SVD and Maria Cristina Avalos SSpS. Jürgen Ommerborn SVD, too, shared his rich resources with the group.

The inputs centred around the historical setting of the Arnoldus Family, the roots of our religious-missionary spirituality, the lives and vision of our founding generation, intercultural living, growth and journey towards fullness of life and the spirituality of our founder. It was heartening that the first 15 days of the course was a precious time for the participants to connect with the significant experiences, events, places, persons of the time of the Foundation at Steyl.

Pilgrimage: Mesmerizing Experience

As part of our renewal journey, a day was set apart for a pilgrimage to Issum (birthplace of Bl. Mother Josepha, Hendrina Stenmanns, Kevelaer and Goch (birthplace of St. Arnold Janssen). We witnessed many monumental legacies, churches, relics and tombs that left indelible marks on our memory. These valuable experiences opened our hearts and minds to the world of the Founding Generation.

Memorable Visits

Guided tours to different locations on the Steyl campus boosted our missionary zeal. A morning meditation at the SVD cemetery, a guided tour to the original Printing Press by Br. Heinz Helf SVD and other tours offered by AJSN team to the houses of St. Michael and St. Gregor and the visits to the Pink and Blue Sisters were indeed heart-warming. In our meeting with the Pink Sisters, we could raise questions related to their life, vocation, community life, recreation, spiritual and physical life. The Sisters were all joyful to share their life stories with us. Our visit to our SSpS missionary sisters combined with the Holy Mass and a grand dinner also was memorable. The day before we left Steyl, we made a trip to Sankt Augustin to get to know the vision and purpose of the mission office and how it makes a substantial support to the projects of the Society. It was also an eye-opener to listen to the spirituality of fund raising from Xavier Alangaram SVD, the Mission Procurator. The SVD community at St. Augustin doubled our joy with a special lunch.

Significant Moments:

Undoubtedly, the 20 days we spent at Steyl have been a precious time of learning and enrichment as companions of the Word. We could deepen the knowledge of: Saint Arnold Janssen, our Founder, Father and Leader; Saint Joseph Freinademetz, our first missionary to China; John Baptist Anzer, our first bishop; the four Brothers (pillars of the Society); Blessed Maria, Helena Stollenwerk (Mary Virgo), Blessed Josepha, Hendrina Stenmanns, Mother Mary Michaela (Adolfine Tönnies) SSpSAP, and Sister Theresia, Margareta Messner SSpS. Though we had heard something about all of them at our initial formation, this learning was unique and mind-blowing. It was indeed a time to get in touch with our roots, our spiritualty, our vision and our calling as divine word missionaries. Steyl phase of renewal journey concluded with 14 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration culminating in the celebration of the Holy Mass presided by Dennis Manzana.

Truly each participant is indebted to the SVD family, particularly to the respective PRM superiors for offering us this opportunity to renew our missionary journey.

Brother Raju Soosai SVD
Nemi, Rome