Introduction

Fr. Arnold Janssen put into practice, among the members of the congregations, the teamwork of shared mission. This is what we call synodality today. We find it in the newly started mission house in Steyl. Its members should commit themselves, according to the gifts received and personal vocational aptitudes, to the missionary charism and activities.

The Virgin Mary, the paradigm

For Fr. Arnold, the Immaculate Spouse of the Holy Spirit is the model par excellence of total dedication and committed service, for all the members of the congregations and for the associates. Because she trusted fully in the divine providence and made her risky surrender to be the mother of the Saviour and thus collaborated from the beginning itself of the kingdom of God. She did ordinary things, but in an extraordinary way. The full of grace gradually and progressively understood what is the will of God. Thus, she should be our prototype to understand the steps of our missionary life in every epoch and concrete situation, communitarian, ecclesial and even personal. Now it is in the post-pandemic synodal Church.

Arnold, a docile man

Fr. Arnold was a professor of mathematics. We know that this science is the basis for many technological developments. From his deep knowledge of mathematical logic, but as a visionary and in love with the Word of God, he was pragmatic too. The Founder meditated to understand the charisms and gifts narrated in the letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 12: 1-14) and also significantly what we find related in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 15: 13-41)) that deals with the first ecclesial synod, known as the Council of Jerusalem. It was mainly from there that he would draw his inspiration for congregational organisations. Fr. Arnold prayed and then wrote down directions to priests, sisters and brothers on how to live their vocation.

The realisation of the Arnoldine charism

We see, without discriminatory classification, what Arnold did in dividing up the activities of how to carry out the dedication of each member for the cause of missionary work and its extension to the ends of the Earth. All christians have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, by virtue of the sacrament of baptism. That is why each and every member of the great Arnoldian family is called to take the kingdom of God to all, especially to those who are marginalised and excluded from the establishment of today’s materialistic society. It is today’s global mission and that is permanent (Evangelli Gaudium [EG] # 25).

Our contribution to the shared mission is not about roles but about full participation. Because when one occupies a role or a responsible function, one could carry it out without a total wholehearted dedication and perhaps even mechanically or superficially. That is to say, without a surrender of the heart and one’s whole being moved by love. Therefore, for the Founder, in all our missionary life, the breath of the love of the Holy Spirit should be reflected. He often quoted this phrase from his favourite book of asceticism called Die Gabe des Pfingstfestes (The Gift of Pentecost). Thus, it is not the performance of a job, but a service of total and vocational dedication.  When this vital and spiritual aspect is not understood, our missionary activities could also be reduced to mere roles or functions.

Arnoldine communities, the experience of Pentecost.

The kairos of the first Pentecost that united in harmony, grace and ecclesial community life (Acts 2) diverse peoples and cultures. In our community life, we try to live and actualize this Pentecostal grace. It is through the witnessing life of fraternity and communion of a shared universal mission. It is to walk together as members coming from different nationalities and cultures to give witness to our condition as children of Our Father in the first place. Keeping in mind that another way of being Church is not only possible, but necessary, especially in the present post-pandemic situation. Let us ask ourselves with humility and openness where the Holy Spirit wants to lead us in this moment of the Church in darkness and humanity overwhelmed by Covid 19.

Called to be guided by the Holy Spirit for the Synodal Church

Arnold experienced a gradual transformation of his inner attitude with increasing reverence for the love of the Holy Spirit (Vol. II: 136). This relationship with the Holy Spirit was vital. This experience of Arnold’s love for the Holy Spirit is the transverse axis of all his thoughts, which led him to his missionary dedication for the greater glory of God. If we assimilate what the Founder did, it will become a joyful reality in us as “His (Christ’s) life is our life and His mission is our mission” for the Church going forth (EG # 20) in the synodal spirit for today’s world.

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Saju George Aruvelil, SVD is from India. He is one of the first OTP who has gone to Argentina. He finished his theological studies for the priesthood also there. He then began his service in the education field in our SVD institutions. He obtained a licentiate in Spirituality from Pontifical University of Comillas, Madrid. He also holds a doctorate in Theology from the Pontifical University of Argentina, Buenos Aires. He also helps in the formation of laity and religious candidates. He gives retreats and leads workshops, seminars, etc. He has a radio program and writes in a local newspaper. At present he is a promoter of Laudato Si Movement for caring for the Earth together with his parish priestly pastoral activities.