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Brother Formation

First and foremost in the identity of a Divine Word Missionary (SVD) are the religious vows he shares with his fellow SVDs. A variety of gifts are needed to fulfill the wide range of ministries the SVD engages in throughout the world. First Corinthians 12: 4 - 11 offers a scriptural reflection on the ways God’s Kingdom grows by using those gifts.

Divine Word Missionary Brothers fill a vital role through the wide range of talents they bring to the missionary endeavor. Without their skills and hard work, many mission churches and schools would not have been built; much of the work in teaching or administration would not have been done; and development of agricultural projects to help a particular indigenous people would have gone unfulfilled. The religious Brother witnesses to the Gospel through his life of service as well as through a committed life of prayer. These are just few of the ways Brothers contribute to the ministry of the Society of the Divine Word.

An individual who chooses to become a Brother finds God’s calling in ministries other than the preaching and sacramental ministries of the Church. These forms of ministry help proclaim the Word throughout the world.

Maybe you’ve grown up with the idea that being a Brother is somehow less than being a priest, or it is a step to becoming a priest. Nothing could be further from the truth! From the foundation of the Church, the Apostles recognized that they could not preach Christ without the assistance of others who ministered in various ways in the early Christian communities (Acts 6: 1 - 6). Religious life in early monasteries continued this tradition as these communities were made up mainly of Brothers, a few of whom were ordained to take care of the sacramental needs of the community. Brotherhood and the vows are at the core of religious life.

To become an SVD Brother, you need a solid education either through a college degree or technical training. Most Brother candidates begin their formational journey at Divine Word College (DWC) in Epworth, Iowa. At DWC you have the choice of earning a four-year B.A. or earning an Associate of Arts Degree (AA) in Cross-Cultural Studies before continuing your training in some area such as carpentry, mechanics, computer, or electronics. You may choose to complete a Bachelors of Arts Degree at DWC in either Philosophy or Cross-Cultural Studies or attend one of the other local four-year colleges while living at DWC in order to complete a B.A. Degree in some other academic area such as Education, Computer Science, Biology, Art, or wherever your gifts might lie. During this time your personal and spiritual formation at DWC would be alongside of students studying for the priesthood.

After pre-novitiate formation, candidates go to Techny, Illinois, for a canonical year of Novitiate. Both brother and clerical candidates attend the novitiate together since their vows of consecrated celibacy, evangelical poverty, and apostolic obedience are the same. After the Novitiate year, students move to Wendelin House and and have the opportunity to do apostolic ministry while continuing professional technical or academic preparation in one of the many colleges or technical schools in the Chicago area. Many Brothers complete graduate programs in their chosen profession.

During post-novitiate formation, Brother candidates participate in an Overseas Training Program (OTP) in which they choose a mission site from one of over 65 countries where Divine Word Missionaries serve. This program can last from one to three years depending on the country you choose and the language(s) you may need to learn. This is an opportunity to experience first-hand mission work in a place where Divine Word Missionaries minister. You will be able to use the skills you developed in your technical or academic training.

Preparation for profession of final vows begins after the OTP experience and completion of basic education. A Brother remains in temporary vows for three to six years before applying for final vows. Final preparation for Perpetual Vows usually lasts three to six months. At this point the culmination of years of academic, personal and spiritual formation has prepared you to join the work of the SVD brotherhood in proclaiming God’s Kingdom.