Homilies of the Superior General, Fr. Antonio M. Pernia

Persons of the Word

Homily of the Superior General, Fr. Antonio M. Pernia, SVD, at the Philippine SVD Centennial Mass at the Divine Word College of Vigan, Vigan City, 25 August 2009. Readings: Eph 3:8-12, 14-19 / Lk 10:1-9.

My dear Confreres and Friends,

Allow me to start by greeting all of you in the name of the SVD General Council in Rome. As superior general of the Society of the Divine Word, I am here to represent the whole SVD all over the world in the centennial celebration of the SVD in the Philippines. This is our way of saying that the whole SVD rejoices with the SVD in the Philippines, and all those associated with the SVD in this country, for the 100 years of SVD religious missionary presence in the Philippines.

During the past few days, official celebrations of the Philippine SVD Centennial took place in different parts of the country – in Manila and Tagaytay, in Cebu and Bohol, and in Bangued and San Isidro. I believe my visit today gives us the opportunity to celebrate in our own way – as the Divine Word College of Vigan family – this milestone in the history of the Philippine SVD. Thank you for this opportunity, and thank you for joining us in the celebration of the Philippine SVD Centennial.

As you know, the first two SVD missionaries arrived in Abra a hundred years ago and started their mission in what is now San Isidro. Within a short time, the work of the SVD spread out to other provinces in this northern part of the Philippines. It is for this reason that we usually call the Northern Philippines as the cradle of the Philippine SVD. This was where everything began – a hundred years ago, in 1909.

It did not take long for the first missionaries to realize that, in the context of the situation of the country at the time, schools were a particularly effective means of evangelization. As early as seven years after their arrival, in their annual mission report of 1916, the missionaries listed 55 elementary schools run by them in the area entrusted to their care. This involvement in the school apostolate eventually led to the establishment of a number of Divine Word Colleges here in the north and in other parts of the country, including the Divine Word College of Vigan.

In the course of time, these schools became known for their unflagging commitment to academic excellence, scientific research, moral upbringing, social and civic involvement, cultivation of the arts and sports. The many distinguished alumni and alumnae who have passed through the portals of these colleges attest to the holistic education and integral formation which is the hallmark of the Divine Word Colleges.

But as we look back to the past with gratitude and joy, we also need to look to the future with courage and confidence. Many things have changed – and changed radically – since a hundred years ago. It is said that our world today has become a wordy world. Wherever we go, we are surrounded with words – words softly whispered, words loudly proclaimed, even words angrily screamed. In fact, driving through the city can seem like driving through a huge dictionary – words artistically painted on billboards, words nicely printed on newspapers, even words crudely splattered on placards. Words seducing us, words challenging us, words blaming us. Words, words, words – they form the floor, the walls and the ceiling of our existence.

In such a world, the respect for words can easily vanish, and our proclamation of the Word of God can easily become “just words”. In a world where words no longer communicate and build up, we need to renew our commitment to being “persons of the word”.

Indeed, SVD Missionaries consider ourselves and profess to be, Socii Verbi Divini: companions of the Divine Word, collaborators with the Divine Word. We are, or we are called to be, in a special way, “persons of the Word”. But all those associated with the SVD, everyone passing through a Divine Word College, are likewise called to be “persons of the Word”. “Persons of the Word” in two senses. First, “Person of the Word” in the sense of a disciple of Jesus and a follower of the Divine Word, who is God’s ongoing dialogue with the world. And secondly, “Person of the Word” in the sense of a person who is true to his/her word, who keeps his/her word, who “walks his/her talk”, who lives a coherent and integral life. Indeed, as missionaries, we are called precisely to be witnesses of the fact that God keeps his word, that God is faithful to his promises.

“Persons of the Word” – that was what Arnold Janssen, Joseph Freinademetz, and the blessed men and women of the Arnoldus family were. “Persons of the Word” – that was what Luis Beckert, Juan Scheiermann, and our pioneer SVD missionaries in the Philippines were. “Persons of the Word” – that is what all of us are called to be. Through our celebration of the Philippine SVD Centennial, may we become truly “Persons of the Word” – persons whose lives and actions are many different words which echo the Word of God, the Divine Word, Jesus Christ.

It is said that once Arnold Janssen went to visit his cardiologist. When the doctor listened to his EKG, the doctor was alarmed because Fr. Arnold’s heartbeat was abnormal. What the doctor heard was not the usual (------), but “May the Triune God live in the hearts of all! May the Triune God live in the hearts of all! May the Triune God live in the hearts of all!” In other words, a restless heart beating for mission. On the occasion of the centennial of the SVD in the Philippines, allow me to express the hope that all of us, like Arnold Janssen, may have a heart for mission!

Congratulations, and may God bless us all.