SVD Mission Awards

Rationale:

The Societas Verbi Divini (SVD) or  the “Society of the Divine Word” , an international Catholic missionary religious congregation of priests and brothers, composed of  6,500 members and present on 64 countries, founded in 1875 in Steyl, Holland by Saint Arnold Janssen,  is celebrating its 100 years of missionary presence in the Philippines (1909-2009). 

Presently, it has 142 Filipino missionaries serving 42 countries around the world. There are  404 members in the Philippines working on 31 dioceses, 54 parishes,  various indigenous and urban/.rural  poor communities, 2 universities,  6 colleges, 13 schools, 22 alternative learning centers,  4 seminaries,   and other forms of apostolate on  media, bible, and justice and peace for the integrity of creation.

To mark this historic milestone,  the SVD Philippine Central Province, in cooperation with St. Jude Catholic School (Manila), launched a  nationwide search for individuals, groups and institutions, both Catholics and non-Catholics,  to be honored with the SVD MISSION AWARDS on January 29, 2010 (Feast of Saint Joseph Freinademetz) at the Father Peter Yang Hall, Saint Jude Catholic School, Manila.

Nature of the awards:

The SVD Mission Awards recognizes individuals, groups, and institutions both Catholics and non-Catholics who have contributed and/or collaborated to the mission of the SVD and the Church in the Philippines in the last 100 years (1909-2009).  The awardee shall be recognized for exemplary missionary work and commitment. The awards honor those who have made a difference in doing prophetic dialogue with the poor and marginalized, faith seekers or no faith community, other religious traditions or secular ideologies, and local or other cultures. The awardee shall be one who has contributed extraordinary living Witness and Service to the Word in the World.  The awardee must still be living or existing at the time of nomination.

Different Awards Category:

1. The SAINT ARNOLD JANSSEN AWARD is presented to an SVD missionary priest or brother who has made a significant contribution for mission.

Awardee: REV. FR. LEO SCHMITT, SVD

2. The VIVAT COR IESU AWARD is presented to an SVD-initiated, led or administered group, community, organization or institution that has made a significant contribution to mission

Awardee: SAMAHANG BAGONG BUHAY FOUNDATION, Incorporation

3. The DIVINE WORD AWARD is presented to an individual who has made an exemplary mission contribution.

Awardee: MRS. BETRIZ BUENAVISTA-EVANGELISTA

4. The COMMUNIO AWARD is presented to a group, institution or community which made an outstanding mission contribution

Awardee: ST. MARTIN MISSION HOSPITAL in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro

5. The FATHER PETER YANG, SVD AWARD is presented to an individual, group or institution that has significantly contributed to the mission for the Chinese in the Philippines

Awardee: ST. JUDE ARCHDIOCESAN SHRINE AND PARISH
in San Miguel, Manila

6. The ABRA MISSION AWARD is presented to an individual, group or institution that has made significant contribution for/in Abra.

Awardee: THE CATECHISTS OF ABRA

7. The CENTENNIAL AWARD is presented to a senior SVD member whose    missionary and religious commitment is sustained through the years.

Awardee: REV. FR. WILHELM VAN KUIJK, SVD

8. The SAINT JOSEPH FREINADEMTZ AWARD is presented to an SVD member who best exemplifies prophetic dialogue and inculturation on his mission contribution, following the charism of the SVD and its founding generations.

Awardee: REV. FR. EWALD DINTER, SVD

 

The SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD is presented to the CONGREGATIO IMMACULATI  CORDIS MARIAE (CICM) or the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary  by reason of its significant support to the SVD mission in the Philippines

 

What do the eight awardees receive?

The eight   awardees will be honored at a banquet on January 29, 2010 and be presented with an SVD Missions Awards Plaque. Furthermore, a fifty thousand peso (P50, 000.00) cash reward will be given to the seven awardees.  The awardees will also typically receive significant recognition at this event and in the hearts of all SVD nationwide.