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THE SHORTEST HISTORY OF SVD
Societas Verbi Divini
Divine Word Missionarries |
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1837 |
5 November. Arnold Janssen
born in Goch (Germany) |
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1861 |
15 August. Ordained Priest
in the Cathedral of Munster |
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1875 |
8 September. Founding of
St. Michael Mission Seminary, Steyl, Holland
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1879 |
First two missionaries
going to China |
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1889 |
Foundation of the
Congregation of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the
Holy Spirit |
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1896 |
Foundation of the Sisters
Servants oh the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration |
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1909 |
15 January. Arnold
Janssen's died in Steyl |
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1975 |
19 October. World Mission
Sunday; Arnold Janssen's beatification in Rome together
with Father Joseph Freinademetz (one of first two SVD's
China missionaries), Father Eugene de Mazenod and Mother
Maria Teresa Ledochowska |
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1981 |
Mission in Botswana.
SVD responding to the
request of the Bishop of Gaborone, decided in February
1981, to begin missionary work in Botswana. The coming
of the first SVD missionaries was announced on Botswana
Radio and published in the Daily News. After initial
visits to some of the parishes in the south the Journey
was made northwards to Francistown. Francistown was then
a town of about 25,000 inhabitants.
The initial vision of the SVD Generalate was to send,
over a period of some years, a maximum of 17
missionaries to Botswana. But the Holy Spirit had
another vision! By 1984 Botswana Province had spread out
to Kenya, Zambia (1986) and Zimbabwe (1987). Eventually
the three neighboring countries (Botswana, Zambia and
Zimbabwe) formed one Province in 1993, with over 60
confreres by 2008.
2001 - opening of Soth
Africa District. |
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1987 |
Zimbabwe District,
within Botswana Province |
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2002 |
18 October -
svdbotswana.com |
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2003 |
5 October. Arnold Janssen's
canonization in Rome together with Father Joseph
Freinademetz and Father Daniele Comboni |
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2004 |
14 August - Final Vows of
Br. Eddie Dzinda Nkhoma SVD, first SVD from Zimbabwe.
Died in the mission in Chad 17.05.2006 |
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2006 |
16 September - ordination
of Fr. Muserere Tapera SVD, first SVD priest from
Zimbabwe, send to the mission in Mozambique |
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2008 |
1 June - independent Zimbabwe Mission |
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2009 |
12 September - Fr. Alex
Thomas SVD ordained Archbishop of Bulawayo |
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How this seminary has grown internally and externally!
At that time, it could still be compared to a small,
insignificant mustard seed. Year after year it has
enlarged its quarters, and the number of its own members
has grown. If today 89 people - of which 10 are priest
and 48 students - are living within its walls, its
success is due to Him from Whom all good things come and
in whom is every blessing and perfection.
Arnold
Janssen, March 1879, less than four years after founding
of the mission seminary. Today there is over 6.000 SVD's
working in more than 70 countries around the world.
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St.
Arnold Janssen (1873 - 1909),
Founder of
SVD
St. Joseph
Freinademetz (1852 - 1909),
first SVD
missionary |
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First
Mission Seminary, Steyl, 1875 |
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Mission
Seminary, Steyl, 1900 |
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First
group of SVD's in Botswana |
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Beginnings
in Zimbabwe.
First
SVD in Zimbabwe - Fr. Krystian Traczyk |
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Br. Eddie
Dzinda Nkhoma SVD (1967 - 2006), first Zimbabwian SVD |
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