Centennial Activities Update
MILESTONES IN THE HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE SVD
THE PHILIPPINE SVD CENTENNIAL
The Society of the Divine Word will mark its 100th year of missionary presence in the Philippines in August of 2009. In order to set the mode for reflection, remembering, and celebration, within the membership of the Province, as well all the SVD worldwide, and among our countless mission partners, friends, benefactors and the members of the Arnoldus Family, we bring to you brief historical notes of important happenings of the centenary. We hope that together we become more inspired and be constantly renewed in our commitment for that mission begun by the SVD pioneers some 100 years ago.
- The Society of the Divine Word came to the Philippines in August 1909. The first missionaries to arrive were Fr. Luis Beckert, a missionary from South Shantung, China, and Fr. Juan Scheiermann, a neopresbyter from Steyl, Holland. They came via Hongkong on board “SS. Koblenz” and arrived in Manila on August 15, 1909.
- They arrived in Bangued, Abra, on a raft, on August 22, 1909, accompanied by Msgr. James Carrol, the Bishop of Vigan.
- In January 1910, Fr. Juan Scheiermann died of typhoid fever, leaving Fr. Beckert single-handed. But in the same year 4 new missionaries arrived: Frs. Miguel Hergesheier, Joseph Stigler, Philip Beck and Bruno Drescher arrived.
- In 1912 the first two Brothers, Bro. Patricio Grabsch and Bro. Ulrich Meyer, arrived together with Frs. Henry Buerschen, Teodoro Buttenbruch and Frances Blasczyk. (Tayum was the residence of the SVD Community).
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
