Over 40 Men Visit Divine Word College for Come and See Weekend

Palm Sunday weekend at Divine Word College was truly a celebration! Not only as the beginning of Holy Week, but also at the time for the annual Spring Semester Come and See weekend. Twice a year, Divine Word Missionaries host weekends where young men discerning God’s call in their lives can visit Divine Word College Seminary. For more information about the weekend, click on the link above. Our next Come and See weekend is scheduled for Mission Sunday weekend, October 20-23, 2006. For more details, please contact a vocation director at: svdalum@mwci.net.

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Divine Word College Students Help at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

A group of 15 students and one SVD departed for Divine Word Seminary in Bay St. Louis Mississippi on Friday, March 3, 2006. Five worked at St. Rose de Lima Parish. They helped gut and repair local homes affected by Hurricane Katrina. The others worked on the seminary campus preparing the first floor of Christmann Hall for professional contactors to complete remodeling. Some also finished clearing the grounds of debris.

Read the article written by Bro. Mike Decker, SVD

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Come and See Weekend Held at DWC

Divine Word College hosted 20 visitors for its biannual Come and See weekend. Young men from around the country visited the college seminary in Epworth, Iowa, to further discern if God was calling them to study in a college seminary formation program. The weekend schedule blends educational, spiritual and leisure activities to give candidates the opportunity to truly experience student life at Divine Word College Seminary. Divine Word College is the only Roman Catholic college seminary in the U.S. whose primary mission is the education of men for missionary service.  It is an accredited liberal arts college which offers student s the opportunity to earn their Bachelor Degree while participating in the seminary formation program to answer the question, "Is this what God is asking of me?"  Students find it beneficial to participate in a formation program that combines academic, personal, spiritual and ministry dimensions so that they may continue to discern God's call in their lives. The next Come and See weekend is scheduled for Palm Sunday, April 7-10, 2005. For more details, please contact a vocation director svdalum@mwci.net.

SVDs in Bays St. Louis Affected by Hurricane Katrina

The Divine Word Missionaries’ residence in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. About 20 Divine Word Missionaries lived at the residence, a former seminary, and many were present when the hurricane hit the Gulf Coast. Many Gulf Coast residents have survived several hurricanes in the past. No one thought Katrina could be as powerful and as destructive as Hurricane Camille. However, what survived other storms was not as lucky with Katrina.
In 1905, the founder of the Divine Word Missionaries, St. Arnold Janssen, urged the Society to begin its pioneering ministry among African Americans in the United States. By 1923, the Society had opened St. Augustine’s Seminary in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to provide African American men with the opportunity to become priests. Today, about 40 percent of the African American clergy ordained in the U.S. have been trained by the Society of the Divine Word, including nine SVD bishops.

The picture at right shows Fr. George Artis, SVD, a dialysis patient, being airlifted to safety. Use the links below to read first hand accounts of how the Divine Word Missionaries and local residence were affected by Hurricane Katrina.

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Six Men Profess First Vows as Divine Word Missionaries

The six young men who entered Divine Word Novitiate in September 2004 pronounced their first vows as members of the Society of the Divine Word August 13, 2005 at Divine Word International in the Holy Spirit Chapel. Promising to live the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience as members of the Society of the Divine Word Catholic missionary order, the men have taken the first step toward becoming Divine Word Missionaries. They will continue their academic and ministerial training for priesthood or brotherhood in Chicago and abroad for several more years. Following the vows ceremony, the class stood in front of the main altar of the church with Society superiors. Back Row: Fr. Jack Farley, SVD, Assistant Novice Director; Fr. James Bergin, SVD, Novice Director; Fr. Mark Weber, SVD, Provincial Superior; and Fr. Walter Bracken, SVD, Techny Rector. Middle Row: Hoang Chuong Nguyen (26), Linh Tran (29), and Andrew Li (30). Front Row: Phuc Nguyen (25), Lan Luong (25), and Augustine Hien Nguyen (27). Andrew Li and Linh Tran will pursue training as Divine Word Brothers at St. Anselm Parish, Chicago while Hoang Chuong, Phuc Nguyen, Lan Luong and Augustine Hien Nguyen continue their training for the missionary priesthood at Divine Word Theologate and Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Fr. Antonio Romo Romo, SVD Ordained in Mexico

Fr. Tony Romo Romo, SVD, originally from Mexico, completed his studies for the priesthood in the United States. Eight of his classmates were ordained at the Holy Spirit Chapel in Techny, Illinois on May 28, 2005. Tony was given permission to return to his home parish of La Parróquia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Jalostotitlán, Jalisco, México for his ordination. The ceremony took place on July 3, 2005. Fr. Tony is pictured here with his parents. His first assignment as a Divine Word Missionary will be as a vocation director in the United States. Fr. Tony will be assigned to Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa, but his office will be located in California.

Ordination 2005

Eight members of the Society of the Divine Word were ordained to the priesthood at Divine Word International Church of the Holy Spirit, Techny, May 28, 2005 by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of Milwaukee. From Left: from Vietnam, Fr. Dominic Trung Thanh Mai, 41, assigned to the U.S. Chicago Province; from China, Fr. Paul Zuqigng Xu, 39, assigned to the China Province; from Indonesia, Fr. Fransiskus Xavierus Magung, 30, assigned to Hungary; from Indonesia, Fr. Edmundus Sonny DeClass, 31, assigned to Angola; from Vietnam, Fr. Anthony Dai Ba Thai, 33, assigned to Vietnam; from Vietnam, Fr. Duong Viet Nguyen, 32, assigned to the U.S. Western Province; from Vietnam, Fr. Joseph Danh Van Pham, 37, assigned to Argentina; from the U.S., Fr. Darrell Charles Kelly, assigned to the U.S. Southern Province. The ninth man in the front row is from Mexico, Deacon Juan Antonio Romo Romo, who will be ordained July 2, in his home parish in Jalisco, Mexico. He is assigned to the U.S. to work as a vocation director. In the back row, from left: the Very Rev. Thomas A. Krosnicki, Provincial; Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of Milwaukee; Rev. Quang Duc Dinh, Formation Director; and, the Very Rev. Edward Peklo, Rector of Divine Word Theologate, Chicago.

Nine Divine Word Missionaries Profess Perpetual Vows and are Ordained Deacons

Nine men professed Perpetual Vows as Divine Word Missionaries in the Holy Spirit Chapel at Divine Word International at Techny, Illinois, on September 18, 2004. In preparation for the priesthood, they were ordained temporary deacons on October 3, 2004, at St. Cecilia parish in Mount Prospect, Illinois, by Bishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS, an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago. These men range in age from 30 to 43 years, and come from Indonesia, the United States, Vietnam, Mexico, and China. They will complete their studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and serve the next several months as deacons in local parishes. They will be ordained priests on May 28, 2005.

Divine Word College holds Eighty-Ninth Commencement Exercises

The Class of 2005 received their diplomas on May 14, 2005. Of the eight young men graduating, five have applied to the novitiate, one will begin a journey with the Brother Formation Program and two have plans to pursue a priestly vocation with their home diocese.

Commencement activities also marked the completion of service for Rev. Gus Wall, SVD, who served as Dean of Students for the past four years. To mark the occasion, Wall served as presider and homilist during the Mass of Thanksgiving held on May 13.

Dr. Bob Morrissey, Vice President for Development, is also completing over six years of service to the college. Morrissey delivered the commencement address during the graduation ceremony.

Pictured here are (front L to R) Dominic Tho Tran, Thang Minh Cao, Ahn The Dinh, Dominic Savio Huynh Pham. Middle; Toan Bao Huynh, Nam Quoc Vu, Kien Trung Kieu, Peter Ai Dang. Back; Bro. John Wozniak, FSC, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Rev. Michael Hutchins, SVD, DWC President and Rev. Thomas Krosnicki, Provincial.

Fr. Mike Hutchins, SVD Reappointed President of Divine Word College

The Divine Word College Board of Trustees, at is October 2004 meeting, reelected Fr. Michael Hutchins, SVD, to a fifth three-year term as college president. Hutchins will serve as president through 2008. Fr. Hutchins, who was inaugurated in September 1993, is now in his fourth is now in his fourth term. He is the longest-serving president in the college's history. Under his leadership, the college has expanded cultural diversity among the student body, strengthened the educational program, fostered new relationships with the local community and renewed the focus on mission as the guiding force behind all initiatives at the college. Fr. Hutchins was born in Maquoketa, Iowa. He graduated from Divine Word College in 1971 and was ordained in 1975. He has a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Iowa.

Nine Divine Word Missionaries Receive their Mission Cross in the U.S.

On Friday, April 1, 2005 nine Divine Word Missionaries received their mission crosses. These nine men professed Final Vows as Divine Word Missionaries in September. They are currently serving as temporary deacons and will be ordained to the priesthood in May and July of this year. All nine have received their first assignments. Back row from left to right: Danh Van Pham, SVD (assigned to Argentina/South America), Paul Zuqiang Xu, SVD (assigned to China/Asia), Juan Antonio Romo Romo, SVD (assigned to the Chicago Province/United States) and Darrell Charles Kelly, SVD (assigned to the Southern Province/United States). Front row from left to right: Duong Viet Nguyen, SVD (assigned to the Western Province/United States), Fransis Xaverius Magung, SVD (assigned to Hungary/Europe), Dai Ba Thai, SVD (assigned to Vietnam/Asia), Edmundus DeClass, SVD (assigned to Angola/Africa) and Dominic Trung Thanh Mai, SVD (assigned to the Chicago Province/United States).

SVD Responds with Help for Tsunami victims

The Divine Word Missionaries have been active in assisting the victims of the December 26, 2004, tsunami which devastated communities on the Asian Pacific Rim. With over 1500 Indonesian members, the SVD has a significant presence in Indonesia. Divine Word Missionaries, along with the Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit, are currently sending members and volunteer seminarians and sister candidates to help with the distribution of aid. They will also begin to work on the long-term needs of the people. If you would like to assist our missionaries, please send your contribution designated for Tsunami relief to: Mission Center, Divine Word Missionaries, 1835 Waukegan Rd., P.O. Box 6099, Techny, IL 60082-6099. For more information about our response to this natural disaster, visit: http://www.svdcuria.org/public/infonews/tsunami/index.htm

Divine Word College holds Eighty-Eighth Commencement Exercises

Nine young men completed their education at Divine Word College on Saturday, May 15, 2004. Seven earned bachelor’s degrees and two earned associate degrees.

Four graduates have already begun their next step in formation with the Divine Word Missionaries in the SVD Novitiate at Techny, Illinois. Two graduates accepted into the Brother Formation Program continued their studies in August. The three remaining graduates are pursuing further education outside of seminary formation.

Six Ordained at Techny by Archbishop John Bukovsky, SVD

Six Divine Word Missionaries were ordained priests on June 5, 2004, by Archbishop John Bukovsky, SVD, at Techny, Illinois. The Bishop was the first Papal Nuncio to Federated Russia, serving from 1994 to 2000.

In preparation for priestly ministry, the six men earned Master of Divinity degrees at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Some had prior education and work experience before joining the SVD. Fr. Herman Manuel, for example, was a registered pharmacist, and Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman has an MBA and worked as a CFO and VP of finance for two companies.

These six new SVD priests illustrate the multicultural charism of the Society of the Divine Word. Three are from the Philippines, two are from Vietnam and one from Russia. The first assignments for these new ordinands include Spain, Papua New Guinea, and the United States.

Fourteen New SVDs

After completing their Novitiate Year, fourteen young men professed First Vows as Divine Word Missionaries. For one year, these men have committed to vows of evangelical poverty, consecrated chastity, and apostolic obedience. Twelve are beginning their theology studies at Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union in preparation for the priesthood. Two others have been accepted into the Brother Formation Program and will continue their formation while living at St. Anselm Parish on the South Side of Chicago. This class of fourteen is the largest to profess First Vows as a Divine Word Missionary in the United States in many years.