“May the Triune God live in our hearts and in the hearts of all humanity.”

With a heart full of joy, I share with you all the wonderful experience I had in Guadalajara, Mexico, from September 11 to 17, 2025, at the First Assembly of Lay Partners of the Divine Word of the PANAM region under the motto “He called those he wanted to be with him and to send them out to preach” (Mk 3:13-14).

It was a very exciting meeting for all the lay people who were blessed to participate, from 14 Provinces and Regions, and we were accompanied by priests. I would like to thank Fr. Ignacio Migoya, spiritual director of groups of SVD lay partners who have been on mission for 43 years.

During the meeting, we felt a great sense of brotherhood in gestures of smiles, tears, hugs, songs, and dances, respecting each other as we expressed our opinions in the different formations we held during those days.

The cultural diversity was evident as each province presented its stand with typical products from their region, clothing, crafts, food, and a herbal tea. The interculturality in language and dance reminded me of this wonderful phrase “Many Faces, One Heart”… united in a common mission to be faithful and creative disciples of the Triune God.

Being a Lay Member of the Divine Word implies a commitment to the Triune God, accepting the call to our lay vocation to be a light for our brothers and sisters.

Starting from faith in God the Father, which is expressed through complete trust in His love and providence, it is a call to recognize His presence in creation, in everyday events, and in the community. To be a faithful disciple of the Father is to live in a relationship of trust and filial abandonment, knowing that He cares for us.

The model and center of the mission is the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. We lay partners are faithful disciples, committed to listening to, meditating on, and living the Word of God. This translates into a missionary spirit, imitating Jesus in his dedication, his service to others, and his love for those most in need. The mission is a reflection of the life of Christ.

Following the example of our holy founder Arnold Janssen, we trust completely in the Holy Spirit, who is the force that animates and guides the mission. Being faithful to the Spirit implies a constant openness to his gifts and guidance. He enables us to overcome our limitations, to dialogue with other cultures, and to discern the signs of the times. It is the Spirit who makes us true witnesses of the Gospel in a world that is often wounded and seeking hope. We ask the Triune God to guide and accompany this First Leadership Team of the PANAM Zone of Lay Partners of the Divine Word.

In this Jubilee Year, as we celebrate 150 years of dedication and mission of the SVD, I ask that our loving Mother and Mother of the Divine Word cover the entire Arnoldus Family with her mantle in a warm embrace of love, hope, and light.

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Aurora Galarza, PANAM Zone Coordinator