The National Spirituality Encounter, held from November 14-16, 2025, at the Convent of the Holy Spirit in Ponta Grossa, Paraná, had the following objectives: to celebrate life and mission; to deepen the spirituality of the Arnoldus Family; and to elect the new National Spirituality Team for the triennium 2026-2028.

Two provincials from the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) and two provincials from the Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) participated in the meeting, along with two representatives from the spirituality teams of each province and region.

The opening ceremony, held on November 13, was led by Sister Fatima. Sister Gerci then welcomed and introduced the participants. Finally, Sister Ilca led a celebration focused on the Light, which concluded with prayers.

On November 14, Sister Ilca led a prayer service. Ilca remembered, with deep gratitude, the sisters and priests who significantly shaped the spiritual journey of the Arnoldus Family in Brazil: Fr. Antony Pates, Sr. Ágada Brand, and Fr. Heinrich Heekeren.

Then, each Province and Region shared its journey. The National Spirituality Team also had the opportunity to share its journey from 2019 to 2025.

Next, Brother Paulo Eugenio de Lima presented the article “Weaving… and the Word became medium and dwelt among us.”

Afterward, a visit was made to the Convent of the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (SSpSAP), followed by the celebration of Holy Mass. The new provincial headquarters of the SSpS Sisters was also visited.

On November 15, the opening prayer was led by Sister Maria Inês Aragão, Sister Maria Percila Vieira, and Father João Belarmino da Costa.

Then, the Assembly Secretariat, represented by Cristina Maia, presented a summary of the lines of action and perspectives developed from the previous day’s discussions, submitting them for the group’s consideration. After the necessary adjustments, the final version was reached, which emphasized:

• Dialogue with the Arnold Janssen International Network of Spirituality;
• Collaboration with the Vivat Deus Spirituality website (vivatdeus.org): texts, articles, photos, testimonies, prayers, meditations;
• Connection with young people: youth groups, youth ministry, schools, and families;
• Focus areas for concrete actions at the local level: SVD: sectors, districts, parishes, institutions, and communities; SSpS: communities, sectors, institutions, proximity; SSpSAP: community;
• Contextualization and updating of spirituality: being, knowing, and knowing how to do;
• Means of communication that facilitate the spread of the charism and spirituality;
• Pastoral itinerary, mission with the people and the Church, Conference of Religious of Brazil, without losing identity, in synodality;
• Cultivating, deepening, and living spirituality and sisterly-fraternal communion (SSpS – SVD – SSpSAP – Lay men and women);
• Unity in diversity (interculturality);
• From a spiritual perspective, supporting vocational animation and collaborating in initial and ongoing formation.

Brother Paulo Eugênio de Lima revisited the article “Weavings… and the Word became our medium and dwelt among us” to lead a dynamic activity in small groups, guided by the following prompt:

The central theme of the Gospel of John:

Speaking with God.

Listening to others.

Seeing God.

Seeing others.

Echo and Narcissus.

Is this about us?

Father Mateus Lau Nurak presented the book “Praying for 15 Days with St. Arnold Janssen: In Search of God’s Will,” by Jerónimo José Hipólito (Paulus, Lisbon, 2010), and distributed a chapter to each participant. They were then given time for personal study.

Afterward, the participants returned to their small groups and shared three main points from each chapter.

They then sought consensus on three points related to Arnoldian Spirituality:

• Group 1:

Passion for Mission

A man of prayer, attentive to God’s will and timing

Openness to difference. From the beginning, the communities were intercultural.

• Group 2:

Prayer

Eucharist / Blessed Sacrament

Dwelling within us

• Group 3:

The Word as a source

Prayer that transforms life

Communication of the love of the Triune God: leading to mission

• Group 4:

Trust in divine providence (prayer)

Missionary spirit (persistence)

Attentive to the signs of the times (sensitivity to limitations)

To close the day, the film Capernaum was shown: https://youtu.be/g5wpMBUts5A

On November 16, the last day of the Assembly, Sister Ana Elidia Caffer Neves led a guided meditation, highlighting the living presence of the Holy Trinity dwelling in each person. The session concluded with a prayer in reference to the World Day of the Poor.

The following was an analytical itinerary for the film Capernaum, with points for reflection and discussion based on the film:

– How can we transform personal and community wounds into a source of compassion and strength in missionary service?

– What does it mean to be resilient in an intercultural, international, and intergenerational context?

– How does this reality affect and challenge me in the face of the pain and needs of those I encounter on my journey, on my mission?

– In our missionary realities, who are the “Zains” and “Rahis” today, invisible to the world? How can we restore their name, face, and dignity?

– Who are the “orphans of living parents” in our mission today? What can our missionary presence offer so that they may recognize themselves as beloved sons and daughters of God?

– What bonds do we need to restore—within ourselves, among ourselves, and with the people with whom we work—so that the mission may truly take root?

The election of the new National Spirituality Team for the triennium 2026-2028 continued, composed of:

• Sr. Ilca Maria Hendges (SSpS BRS)
• Sister Maria Inês de Aragão (SSpS BRN)
• Fr. Mateus Lau Nurak (SVD BRS)
• Fr. Vitus Gustamana (SVD BRN)
• Fr. Jean Paul Komi Sikpe (SVD BRA and Region)
• Br. Paulo Eugenio de Lima (SVD BRC – to be confirmed)
• Maria Cristina Queiroz Maia

The Divine Word Medal was also distributed, an ancient scapular left by St. Arnold, which, after his death, was transformed into a medal to express the founder’s Trinitarian spirituality. The Divine Word Medal: <https://youtu.be/NPYdy9j-94o?si=MGDQbwg5GYwe34Bm >

The celebration of Holy Mass concluded the Assembly.

 

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Text: Cristina Maia (consecrated laywoman of the Arnoldus Family and secretary of the editorial team of vivatdeus.org) and Photos: Fr. Wendelinus Sowe Teluma