Society of the Divine Word
Divine Word Missionaries

(Institute of Consecrated Life - Men)

Societas Verbi Divini

Leader(s)

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Institute of Consecrated Life - Men
Founded: 8 September 1875
Clerical Religious Congregation
Official Web Site: http://www.svdcuria.org/
Mailing Address: Via dei Verbiti 1, 00154 Roma, Italia
Telephone: 06.57.11.52.00
Fax: 06.57.11.53.00

Past and Present Leaders

Johannes Schütte, S.V.D. † (28 Mar 1958 Appointed - 15 Dec 1967 Resigned)
Paulus Budi Kleden, S.V.D. (4 Jul 2018 Elected - 25 May 2024 Appointed, Archbishop of Ende)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
8 September 1875	Founded		Society of the Divine Word
25 January 1901	Approbation		Society of the Divine Word

Statistics

Year Religious Priests Male Religious Houses Source

1950 4,152 ap1951

1954 4,435 ap1955

1959 5,232 ap1960

1963 5,680 ap1964

1966 3,003 5,744 206 ap1967

1967 3,054 5,712 207 ap1968

1971 3,229 5,538 158 ap1972

1974 3,176 5,301 154 ap1975

1976 3,204 5,222 227 ap1977

1977 3,187 5,243 228 ap1978

1981 3,271 5,290 258 ap1982

1986 3,358 5,504 280 ap1987

1990 3,487 5,648 ap1991

1991 3,500 5,707 276 ap1992

1995 3,627 5,757 299 ap1996

2000 3,769 5,962 ap2001

2001 3,799 6,003 ap2002

2002 3,800 6,075 383 ap2003

2004 3,865 6,051 384 ap2005

2007 3,961 6,096 335 ap2008

2009 4,047 6,131 333 ap2010

2010 4,107 6,105 341 ap2011

2011 4,124 6,067 335 ap2012

2012 4,152 6,015 314 ap2013

2013 4,171 6,001 326 ap2014

2014 4,202 6,003 329 ap2015

2015 4,224 6,032 1,239 ap2016

2016 4,231 6,003 1,259 ap2017

2017 4,210 5,987 1,252 ap2018

2018 4,185 6,005 1,271 ap2019

2019 4,163 5,998 1,296 ap2020

2020 4,150 6,016 1,332 ap2021

2021 4,120 5,965 1,330 ap2022

2022 4,084 5,977 1,336 ap2023

2023 4,039 5,833 1,322 ap2024

Affiliated Members, Living

Gabriel Lionel Afagbegee, S.V.D. (Priest: 1982)
John Alphonse Asiedu, S.V.D. (Member: 21 Sep 1991; Priest: 19 Jul 1997 to 11 Feb 2019)
John Barwa, S.V.D. (Member: 14 Oct 1984; Priest: 14 Apr 1985 to 4 Feb 2006)
José Luíz Bertanha, S.V.D. (Priest: 18 Dec 1971 to 26 May 1998)
Krzysztof Białasik, S.V.D. (Member: 8 Sep 1980; Priest: 15 Jun 1985 to 30 Jun 2005)
Telesphore Bilung, S.V.D. (Priest: 2 May 1992 to 6 May 2014)
Michael August Blume, S.V.D. (Priest: 23 Dec 1972 to 24 Aug 2005)
Vincent Sowah Boi-Nai, S.V.D. (Priest: 13 Aug 1977 to 16 Mar 1999)
Edgardo Cedeño Muñoz, S.V.D. (Member: 19 Mar 1988; Priest: 28 Oct 1989 to 15 Oct 2015)
Leo Cornelio, S.V.D. (Priest: 14 Nov 1972 to 3 Jun 1999)
José Luis Corral Peláez, S.V.D. (Member: 1987; Deacon: 21 Feb 1996; Priest: 1 Mar 1997 to 19 Jul 2019)
Rafael de la Barra Tagle, S.V.D. (Priest: 12 Jun 1954 to 17 Jun 1989)
Alangaram Arockia Sebastian Durairaj, S.V.D. (Member: 12 Jun 1984; Priest: 8 May 1985 to 11 May 2009)
Joseph Tarife Durero, S.V.D. (Member: 1991; Priest: 12 Dec 1995 to 23 May 2021)
Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, S.V.D. (Member: 8 Sep 1980; Priest: 14 Jul 1985 to 14 Jul 2015)
Norbert Hans Christoph Foerster, S.V.D. (Member: 1985; Deacon: 1989; Member: 1989; Priest: 10 Dec 1989 to 2 Dec 2020)
Devprasad John Ganawa, S.V.D. (Member: 8 Jun 1974; Priest: 27 Oct 1982 to 11 May 2009)
Walenty Gryk, S.V.D. (Member: 8 Sep 1983; Deacon: 18 Sep 1983; Priest: 28 Apr 1984 to 14 Feb 2022)
Curtis John Guillory, S.V.D. (Priest: 16 Dec 1972 to 29 Dec 1987)
John Hung Shan-chuan, S.V.D. (Member: 1973; Priest: 23 Jun 1973 to 16 Jan 2006)
António Francisco Jaca, S.V.D. (Priest: 29 Sep 1990 to 6 Jun 2007)
Leopoldo Corpuz Jaucian, S.V.D. (Member: 7 Jun 1981; Priest: 1 Mar 1988 to 5 Jan 2007)
Alex Thomas Kaliyanil, S.V.D. (Member: 1987; Priest: 7 May 1988 to 20 Jun 2009)
Lucas Kerketta, S.V.D. (Priest: 25 Oct 1969 to 17 Nov 1986)
Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, S.V.D. (Member: Mar 1985; Priest: 15 Mar 1986 to 29 Apr 2004)
Paulus Budi Kleden, S.V.D. (Member: 1 Aug 1987; Priest: 19 May 1993; Superior General: 4 Jul 2018 to 25 May 2024)
Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, S.V.D. (Member: 8 Dec 1980; Priest: 14 Jul 1985 to 12 Jun 2007)
Fernando Armindo Lugo Méndez, S.V.D. (Priest: 15 Aug 1977 to 5 Mar 1994)
Estanislau Marques Chindekasse, S.V.D. (Member: 1986; Priest: 22 Nov 1987 to 22 Dec 2012)
Jerzy Mazur, S.V.D. (Member: 8 Sep 1972; Priest: 22 Apr 1979 to 23 Mar 1998)
Jean-Gaspard Mudiso Mund’la, S.V.D. (Priest: 8 Dec 1968 to 13 Dec 1997)
Paul Daisuke Narui, S.V.D. (Member: 9 Mar 2000; Priest: 10 Mar 2001 to 31 May 2020)
Ladislav Nemet, S.V.D. (Member: 8 Sep 1982; Deacon: 19 Sep 1982; Priest: 1 May 1983 to 23 Apr 2008)
Timothy John Norton, S.V.D. (Member: 1985; Priest: 2 Mar 1991 to 11 Nov 2021)
Franklyn (Frank) Atese Nubuasah, S.V.D. (Priest: 26 Jul 1980 to 27 Jun 1998)
João Batista de Oliveira, S.V.D. (Member: 25 Mar 2000; Priest: 24 Feb 2001 to 30 Nov 2024)
Carlos Eduardo Pellegrín Barrera, S.V.D. (Member: 23 Apr 1978; Priest: 9 Nov 1985 to 25 Mar 2006)
Józef Roszyński, S.V.D. (Priest: 30 Apr 1989 to 6 Feb 2015)
Francesco Sarego, S.V.D. (Priest: 20 Aug 1986 to 6 Dec 1995)
James Terry Steib, S.V.D. (Priest: 6 Jan 1967 to 6 Dec 1983)
Pablito Martinez Tagura, S.V.D. (Member: 6 Jun 1980; Priest: 17 Dec 1988 to 17 Dec 2022)
Johannes Henricus J. Te Maarssen, S.V.D. (Priest: 31 Jan 1960 to 10 May 2000)
Chacko Thottumarickal, S.V.D. (Priest: 11 May 1979 to 25 Mar 2002)
Jorge Patricio Vega Velasco, S.V.D. (Member: 1 Mar 1983; Priest: 22 Dec 1984 to 20 Feb 2010)
Douglas William Young, S.V.D. (Priest: 13 Aug 1977 to 14 Apr 2000)
Zeferino Zeca Martins, S.V.D. (Member: 1 Oct 1994; Priest: 6 Aug 1995 to 19 May 2012)

Affiliated Members, Deceased

George Marian Anathil, S.V.D. † (Member: 1953; Priest: 2 Oct 1959 to 18 Dec 1972)
Johann Baptist von Anzer, S.V.D. † (Member: 1876; Priest: 15 Aug 1876 to 4 Jan 1882)
Stephen Anthony Appelhans, S.V.D. † (Member: 1919; Priest: 5 May 1932 to 8 Jul 1948)
Leo Clement Andrew Arkfeld, S.V.D. † (Member: 21 Jun 1938; Priest: 15 Aug 1943 to 8 Jul 1948)
Arturo Mandin Bastes, S.V.D. † (Priest: 28 Nov 1970 to 3 Jul 1997)
George Elmer Bernarding, S.V.D. † (Member: 15 Aug 1934; Priest: 13 Aug 1939 to 19 Dec 1959)
Basil Bhuriya, S.V.D. † (Member: 12 Jun 1985; Priest: 5 May 1986 to 18 Jul 2015)
Alphonse Bilung, S.V.D. † (Priest: 3 Oct 1961 to 4 Jul 1979)
Juan Bockwinckel (Bockwinkel), S.V.D. † (Member: 1934; Priest: 17 Sep 1938 to 11 May 1968)
Joseph Oliver Bowers, S.V.D. † (Member: 15 Aug 1933; Priest: 22 Jan 1939 to 27 Nov 1952)
Hermann Bücking, S.V.D. † (Member: 1889; Priest: 11 May 1890 to 28 Jul 1896; Member: 1899 to 1907)
Theodor Buddenbrock, S.V.D. † (Member: 1901; Priest: 24 Feb 1905 to 25 Nov 1924)
John Bukovsky (Fukna), S.V.D. † (Member: 1939; Priest: 3 Dec 1950 to 18 Aug 1990)
Raymond Rodly Caesar, S.V.D. † (Member: 1953; Deacon: 1960; Priest: 4 Jun 1961 to 13 Jul 1978)
Dominic Carmon, S.V.D. † (Deacon: 19 Dec 1959; Priest: 2 Feb 1960 to 16 Dec 1992)
Joel Ivo Catapan, S.V.D. † (Member: 1946; Priest: 19 Mar 1953 to 12 Dec 1974)
Franciszek Cedzich, S.V.D. † (Member: 1933; Deacon: 22 May 1937; Priest: 19 Aug 1937 to 11 May 1968)
Anton Ceska, S.V.D. † (Member: 1901; Priest: 24 Feb 1905 to 28 Jun 1926)
Raphael Cheenath, S.V.D. † (Priest: 21 Sep 1963 to 28 Feb 1974)
Miguel Clarete Cinches, S.V.D. † (Member: 1956; Priest: 22 Oct 1961 to 10 Jan 1973)
John Edward Cohill, S.V.D. † (Member: 1930; Priest: 20 Mar 1936 to 15 Nov 1966)
Apparecido José Dias, S.V.D. † (Member: 1951; Priest: 3 Aug 1958 to 13 Dec 1974)
Matthias Dier, S.V.D. † (Member: 1889; Priest: 1891 - )
Donatus Djagom, S.V.D. † (Priest: 28 Aug 1949 to 19 Dec 1968)
Vitalis Djebarus, S.V.D. † (Member: 1952; Priest: 14 Jan 1959 to 17 Mar 1973)
Wilhelm Josef Duschak, S.V.D. † (Member: 1923; Priest: 29 May 1930 to 12 Jul 1951)
Enrique (Henry) Ederle, S.V.D. † (Member: 1916; Priest: 1923)
Odilo Etspüler (Etspueler), S.V.D. † (Member: 1938; Priest: 14 May 1942 to 20 Aug 1956)
Olívio Aurélio Fazza, S.V.D. † (Member: 1948; Priest: 5 Mar 1955 to 5 May 1978)
Wilhelm Finnemann, S.V.D. † (Member: 1908; Priest: 29 Jun 1911 to 8 Feb 1929)
Joseph Abel Francis, S.V.D. † (Member: 1943; Priest: 7 Oct 1950 to 3 May 1976)
Georg Froewis, S.V.D. † (Member: 1892; Priest: 3 Dec 1893 - )
Julian Gbur, S.V.D. † (Member: 21 Feb 1961; Priest: 21 Jun 1970 to 30 Mar 1994)
Hieronymus Haberstroh, S.V.D. † (Member: 1919; Priest: 28 Jan 1923)
Friedrich Helmel, S.V.D. † (Member: 1933; Priest: 31 Oct 1937 to 19 Mar 1966)
Augustin Henninghaus, S.V.D. † (Member: 1884; Priest: 30 May 1885 to 13 Aug 1904)
Hubertus Hermens, S.V.D. † (Member: 1929; Priest: 1934)
François Hoenen, S.V.D. † (Member: 1941; Priest: 8 Aug 1948 to 6 Jul 1963)
Franz Hoowaarts, S.V.D. † (Member: 1901; Priest: 24 Feb 1905 to 12 Nov 1934)
Peter Janser, S.V.D. † (Member: 1899; Priest: 1902)
Raymond Philip Kalisz, S.V.D. † (Member: 1947; Priest: 15 Aug 1954 to 24 Apr 1980)
Jorge Kémérer, S.V.D. † (Member: 1929; Priest: 30 Oct 1932 to 13 Mar 1957)
Manuel Könner, S.V.D. † (Member: 1907; Priest: 29 Sep 1910 to 17 Feb 1940)
William Joseph Kurtz, S.V.D. † (Priest: 28 Jan 1962 to 8 Jun 1982)
Heinrich Leven, S.V.D. † (Member: 1907; Priest: 29 Sep 1910 to 25 Apr 1933)
Carlos Ambrosio Lewis Tullock, S.V.D. † (Member: 1943; Priest: 24 Feb 1949 to 22 Jun 1965)
Joseph Li Bingyao, S.V.D. † (Member: 1935; Priest: 21 May 1939 to 30 Jun 1989)
Eberhard Limbrock, S.V.D. † (Member: 1883; Priest: 21 Feb 1896 to 24 Mar 1896)
Federico Guba Limon, S.V.D. † (Member: 1937; Priest: 14 May 1942 to 7 Jan 1972)
Josef Lörks, S.V.D. † (Member: 1897; Priest: 18 Jan 1900 to 23 May 1933)
Ferdinand Loy, S.V.D. † (Member: 1913; Priest: 14 Nov 1920)
Martin Lucas, S.V.D. † (Member: 1920; Priest: 26 Oct 1924 to 14 Sep 1945)
Gabriel Wilhelmus Manek, S.V.D. † (Member: 1936; Priest: 28 Jan 1941 to 8 Mar 1951)
Gregorius Manteiro, S.V.D. † (Member: 1946; Priest: 24 Oct 1951 to 13 Apr 1967)
Vicente Credo Manuel, S.V.D. † (Member: 1962; Priest: 1 Dec 1968 to 17 Mar 1983)
Thomas M. Megan, S.V.D. † (Member: 1920; Priest: 29 May 1926)
Michael Meier, S.V.D. † (Priest: 30 May 1957 to 2 Jul 1984)
Hilarius Moa Nurak, S.V.D. † (Member: 8 Jan 1972; Priest: 2 Aug 1972 to 30 Mar 1987)
Enrique José Mühn, S.V.D. † (Member: 1926; Priest: 20 Sep 1930 to 13 Sep 1934)
Darius Nggawa, S.V.D. † (Member: 1950; Priest: 12 Oct 1955 to 28 Feb 1974)
Adolph Alexander Noser, S.V.D. † (Member: 8 Sep 1922; Priest: 27 Sep 1925 to 12 Jun 1947)
Jorge Novak, S.V.D. † (Member: 1947; Priest: 10 Jan 1954 to 7 Aug 1976)
Petrus Carolus Noyen, S.V.D. † (Member: 1892; Priest: 7 Dec 1893 - )
Augustin Olbert, S.V.D. † (Member: 1920; Priest: 13 May 1926 to 8 Jul 1948)
Leonard James Olivier, S.V.D. † (Priest: 29 Jun 1951 to 10 Nov 1988)
Anton Pain Ratu, S.V.D. † (Priest: 17 Aug 1958 to 2 Apr 1982)
Antonio Pepito Palang, S.V.D. † (Priest: 8 Jul 1972 to 25 Mar 2002)
Gerulfus Kherubim Pareira, S.V.D. † (Member: 15 Aug 1970; Priest: 22 Aug 1971 to 21 Dec 1985)
Harold Robert Perry, S.V.D. † (Member: 1938; Priest: 6 Jun 1944 to 29 Sep 1965)
Jacques Pessers, S.V.D. † (Priest: 10 Jun 1922 to 1 Jun 1937)
Antonio Pott, S.V.D. † (Member: 1928; Priest: 30 Sep 1932 to 8 Mar 1951)
Geraldo de Proença Sigaud, S.V.D. † (Member: 1928; Priest: 12 Mar 1932 to 29 Oct 1946)
Hermann Raich, S.V.D. † (Member: 1957; Priest: 29 Apr 1962 to 8 Mar 1982)
Cesar Castro Raval, S.V.D. † (Priest: 22 May 1952 to 15 Dec 1981)
Anthony Pascal Rebello, S.V.D. † (Member: 1976; Priest: 10 May 1977 to 5 Jul 2021)
Joseph Reiners, S.V.D. † (Priest: 15 Aug 1898 to 19 Nov 1912)
Artemio Lomboy Rillera, S.V.D. † (Member: 28 Jun 1970; Priest: 28 Nov 1970 to 28 Jun 1993)
Eduardus Sangsun, S.V.D. † (Member: 1964; Priest: 12 Jul 1972 to 3 Dec 1984)
Paul Sani Kleden, S.V.D. † (Member: 1945; Priest: 20 Aug 1950 to 4 Jul 1961)
Silvestre Luís Scandián, S.V.D. † (Priest: 3 Aug 1958 to 4 Jan 1975)
Johann Schäfer, S.V.D. † (Member: 1886; Priest: 1886 - )
Bernard Schilling, S.V.D. † (Member: 1939; Priest: 14 Sep 1947 to 19 Dec 1959)
Nikolaus Schönig, S.V.D. † (Member: 1892; Priest: 1893 - )
Hermann Schoppelrey, S.V.D. † (Member: 1889; Priest: 28 Jan 1900 to 13 Dec 1933)
Teodoro Schu, S.V.D. † (Member: 1913; Priest: 23 Sep 1916 to 19 Nov 1936)
Michael Schulien, S.V.D. † (Member: 1909; Priest: 29 Sep 1912 to 4 May 1968)
Johannes Schütte, S.V.D. † (Member: 1934; Priest: 24 Aug 1939 to 1948; Superior General: 28 Mar 1958 to 15 Dec 1967)
Werner Franz Siebenbrock, S.V.D. † (Member: 1 May 1965; Priest: 18 Dec 1965 to 12 Oct 1988)
Frans Simons, S.V.D. † (Member: 1928; Priest: 30 Oct 1932 to 15 May 1952)
Getúlio Teixeira Guimarães, S.V.D. † (Priest: 4 Aug 1966 to 20 Dec 1980)
Antoine Hubert Thijssen, S.V.D. † (Member: 1927; Priest: 31 Jan 1932 to 8 Mar 1951)
Wilhelm Maria Thiletzek (Tyleczek), S.V.D. † (Member: 1902; Priest: 25 Feb 1906)
Thomas Tien Ken-hsin (Tienchensing), S.V.D. † (Priest: 8 Mar 1929 to 11 Jul 1939)
Simeon Oliveros Valerio, S.V.D. † (Member: 1941; Priest: 16 Jun 1946 to 26 Nov 1973)
Augustín Van Aaken, S.V.D. † (Member: 1937; Priest: 28 Apr 1941 to 25 Jul 1972)
Wilhelm van Bekkum, S.V.D. † (Member: 1931; Priest: 18 Aug 1935 to 8 Mar 1951)
Theodorus van den Tillaart, S.V.D. † (Member: 1930; Priest: 18 Aug 1935 to 14 Nov 1957)
Jean Van der Heijden (Heyden), S.V.D. † (Member: 1926; Priest: 1 Feb 1931)
Arnold Verstraelen, S.V.D. † (Member: 1903; Priest: 24 Feb 1907 to 13 Mar 1922)
Charles (Karl) Weber, S.V.D. † (Member: 1907; Priest: 29 Sep 1910 to 2 Dec 1937)
Georg Weig, S.V.D. † (Member: 1903; Priest: 10 Feb 1907 to 15 Jun 1928)
Hermann Westermann, S.V.D. † (Member: 8 Sep 1927; Priest: 22 May 1932 to 20 Mar 1948)
Johannes Wiesen, S.V.D. † (Member: 1931; Priest: 27 Oct 1935 to 2 Feb 1964)
Franz Wolf, S.V.D. † (Member: 1896; Priest: 5 Feb 1899 to 16 Mar 1914)
Vitus (Guy) Zhang Zuohuan (Chang Tso-huan), S.V.D. † (Member: 1926; Priest: 16 Mar 1930 to 8 Jul 1941)
Thomas Zhao Feng Wu (Chao Fung-Wu), S.V.D. † (Member: 1982 to 18 May 1993)

Source(s)

Annuario Pontificio, Year 2018, Page 1,403
Annuario Pontificio, Year 2019, Page 1,403
Annuario Pontificio, Year 2020, Page 1,392
Annuario Pontificio, Year 2021, Page 1,378
Annuario Pontificio, Year 2022, Page 1,403
Annuario Pontificio, Year 2023, Page 1,412
Annuario Pontificio, Year 2024, Page 1,585

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