Divine Stories
Fr. Adam MacDonald, SVD (left) and a crew of volunteers help repair a local home in Gassaway, West Virginia.
There are two questions that donors never tire of asking charities such as ours. How did you use my donation? Did it make a difference in anyone’s life? We are posting these stories to answer these questions. We think you will like them. They are short and personal. The settings range from the South Side of Chicago to the “hollers” of West Virginia to the poor neighborhoods of Kingston, Jamaica. In every case, your generous support enabled our missionaries to touch the lives of people with the love of God. Thank you!
Legacy of Love
At Divine Word Missionaries, we are humbled and overjoyed to announce a transformative bequest from the late Walter Leo and Jo-Anne Joyce.
Make a Thanksgiving Difference
As the season of gratitude approaches, we warmly invite you to become part of a cherished tradition that brings hope and joy to families in need.
Techny Olympics for Retired Missionaries
Once every two years, there’s a buzz going around the Divine Word Residence at Techny, followed by a competitive spirit in the air.
Grateful for 150 years of service to God's people
On Sunday, September 8th, the Society of the Divine Word also known as Divine Word Missionaries, began celebrating the 150th anniversary of its foundation.
Walking With Moms in Need
This past May for Mother’s Day, a local florist donated flowers worth a few hundred dollars to be given to the women of St. Thomas and Risen Lord parishes in West Virginia. The florist recognized the good works being done by Father Thien Duc Nguyen SVD and his parishioners.
Mission Meets Medical Anthropology
Fr. Alexander Rödlach is a teacher, a priest, a medical anthropologist – in short, he’s a modern-day missionary.
World Travels and Christianity in the World
“It is not easy being a missionary, but they [the people] animate our members,” said Father General Kleden, who served in Switzerland and Indonesia before his election to the General Council in Rome in 2012.
From Distrust to Awe
From distrust to awe, trucker converts to Catholicism in West Virginia.
Local Parishes Alleviate Hunger Through Divine Word Pantries
Food pantries managed by Divine Word Missionaries serve as a lifeline for families in West Virginia. In addition to national inflation, many West Virginians suffer from persistent poverty, the type of poverty that lasts for generations. Missionaries like Father Thien Duc Nguyen SVD provide food that keeps them fed when federal government assistance runs out. Annually, Father Thien buys more than 200 turkeys for Thanksgiving. This year, he and his volunteers anticipate that they will need many more to meet the need. During the past year, they have been helping between 330 and 350 families each month. You can provide a Thanksgiving meal for someone who is suffering.
Some Missionaries are Called to be Bishops
While many priests who are appointed to the role of bishop are diocesan priests, some are religious priests who are members of religious orders, like the Society of the Divine Word (SVD).
