Letter From the Director

In January, we celebrate the feast days of our founder, St. Arnold Janssen (January 15) and our first missionary to China, St. Joseph Freinademetz (January 29).  Both saints gave their lives to missionary service, but they were quite different.  St. Arnold spent his entire life in Europe, while St. Joseph spent most of his life in his beloved China.  St. Arnold’s personality was somewhat low key and detached.  He was a mathematician and scientist by training.  St. Joseph was a more outgoing and gregarious.  Together, these complementing personalities accomplished great things.

In our community prayer book, the Vademecum, we have this prayer to Sts. Arnold and Joseph:

Burning with love for Him and filled with his Spirit, they dedicated themselves totally to the work of spreading your Kingdom of peace and love.  Their example has inspired many generations of missionaries in many parts of the world.  May it continue to inspire us today.

Teach us to rejoice in the abundant diversity of peoples and give us a loving heart ready to embrace all peoples of our one world.  Transform our one world into one heart fully alive with Christ’s spirit.  Amen.

Please join us in celebrating the feasts of St. Arnold and St. Joseph as we open this new year.  Thank you for your continued support of Divine Word Missionaries around the world.

Bro. Dennis Newton SVD
Mission Director