Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit
Encyclopedia
The Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, also known as Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, or simply Holy Spirit Sisters (SSpS Latin: Servae Spiritus Sancti) are an official "Religious Congregation" within the Catholic Church, with members (after some years) making a vowed commitment to the loving service of God and their sisters and brothers in need around the world. They are an international
group of women numbering approximately 4,000 members in 38 countries around the world. The congregation
was founded by Saint Arnold Janssen in 1889 in Steyl, Holland.
This community of religious women is rooted in the Trinitarian spirituality:"Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they, in collaboration with dedicated laity and clergy, live and proclaim the Gospel of God’s love, justice, and peace. In dialogue with people of diverse cultures and traditions, they minister and journey together promoting human dignity and life-giving relationships."
The Holy Spirit Sisters share the Love of God through a variety of ministries. They have a common call to mission, being ever ready to go wherever they are needed. They remain open to the Spirit in themselves and in other cultures and peoples. They live in community where they share its supports as well as challenges.
diocesan priest, did not plan to be a founder. At first, he only felt called to work for missionary animation in his country. In the course of his work, he saw the great need for Germany
to have a society for missionaries. A man of great faith, he responded to this need by founding the society himself. Thus, the birth of the Divine Word Missionaries, also known as Society of the Divine Word or SVD (Latin: Societas Verbi Divini).
Father Arnold saw the need for women religious to complement the work of the Divine Word Missionaries
who had spread throughout the world following the colonial
expansion of the 19th century. He realized the need not only for missionary
priests and brothers, but also for missionary women. The volunteers at the SVD mission house included women as well as men. A group of women, including Blessed Maria Helena Stollenwerk, served the community. Their wish was to serve the mission as Religious Sisters. The faithful, selfless service they freely offered, and a recognition of the important role women could play in missionary outreach, urged Janssen to found the mission congregation of the “Servants of the Holy Spirit,” or SSpS. With two German women, Helena Stollenwerk and Hendrina Stenmanns, he founded the congregation on December 8, 1889. The first Sisters left for Argentina in 1895.
From the very beginning, their vision has been to share God’s love and the knowledge of Jesus Christ with people of different nationalities and cultures, in whatever ways they can.
Janssen also founded the Missionary Sisters Servant Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (Latin:Congregatio Servarum Spiritus Sancti de Adoratione perpetua), or Holy Spirit Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, also known as Pink Sisters on September 8, 1896. This is a contemplative congregation.
congregation, the Holy Spirit Sisters' witness to multicultural living is an important part of their charism
. They remain ready to go to any country where needed. Ministries include: Education, Health, Pastoral care, Spiritual guidance, Adult Education, Catechetics, Chaplaincy work, Social work, Administration and Interfaith dialogue.
priest
born in Goch
, Germany
, near the Dutch
border. The second of ten children, his parents instilled in him a deep devotion to religion. He was ordained a priest in 1861. Janssen purchased land in Steyl, Netherlands
to begin his seminary
, dedicated in 1875 as "St. Michael the Archangel Mission House". Within a few years, many seminarians, priests and brothers were preparing for missionary service there, and the first two missionaries, Joseph Freinademetz
and John Anzer, were sent to China. Together with the cofoundresses, Maria Helena Stollenwerk and Josepha Hendrina Stenmanns, Janssen also founded two congregations of religious Sisters: The Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters (members known as "Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit") on December 8, 1889, and the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration ("Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration") on September 8, 1896.
He and Joseph Freinademetz
were canonized
on October 5, 2003 by Pope John Paul II
, as was Daniele Comboni, an important missionary in Africa
. Janssen was canonized after the healing of a Filipino
teenager living in Baguio City
who fell down on a bike and was not expected to recover from a head wound. According to her relatives and the Church, she was healed miraculously
following prayers to Janssen.
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
group of women numbering approximately 4,000 members in 38 countries around the world. The congregation
Congregation (catholic)
The term "congregation" has three usages specific to the Roman Catholic Church. One concerns the Roman Curia, the other two concern religious institutes.- Roman Curia :...
was founded by Saint Arnold Janssen in 1889 in Steyl, Holland.
This community of religious women is rooted in the Trinitarian spirituality:"Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they, in collaboration with dedicated laity and clergy, live and proclaim the Gospel of God’s love, justice, and peace. In dialogue with people of diverse cultures and traditions, they minister and journey together promoting human dignity and life-giving relationships."
The Holy Spirit Sisters share the Love of God through a variety of ministries. They have a common call to mission, being ever ready to go wherever they are needed. They remain open to the Spirit in themselves and in other cultures and peoples. They live in community where they share its supports as well as challenges.
History
Saint Arnold Janssen, a GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
diocesan priest, did not plan to be a founder. At first, he only felt called to work for missionary animation in his country. In the course of his work, he saw the great need for Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to have a society for missionaries. A man of great faith, he responded to this need by founding the society himself. Thus, the birth of the Divine Word Missionaries, also known as Society of the Divine Word or SVD (Latin: Societas Verbi Divini).
Father Arnold saw the need for women religious to complement the work of the Divine Word Missionaries
Divine Word Missionaries
The Society of the Divine Word , popularly called the Divine Word Missionaries, and sometimes the Steyler Missionaries, is a missionary religious congregation in the Latin Church, one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the Catholic Church. As of 2006 it consisted of 6,102 members composed...
who had spread throughout the world following the colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
expansion of the 19th century. He realized the need not only for missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
priests and brothers, but also for missionary women. The volunteers at the SVD mission house included women as well as men. A group of women, including Blessed Maria Helena Stollenwerk, served the community. Their wish was to serve the mission as Religious Sisters. The faithful, selfless service they freely offered, and a recognition of the important role women could play in missionary outreach, urged Janssen to found the mission congregation of the “Servants of the Holy Spirit,” or SSpS. With two German women, Helena Stollenwerk and Hendrina Stenmanns, he founded the congregation on December 8, 1889. The first Sisters left for Argentina in 1895.
From the very beginning, their vision has been to share God’s love and the knowledge of Jesus Christ with people of different nationalities and cultures, in whatever ways they can.
Janssen also founded the Missionary Sisters Servant Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (Latin:Congregatio Servarum Spiritus Sancti de Adoratione perpetua), or Holy Spirit Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, also known as Pink Sisters on September 8, 1896. This is a contemplative congregation.
Mission and ministry
Being an internationalInternational
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
congregation, the Holy Spirit Sisters' witness to multicultural living is an important part of their charism
Charism
In Christian theology, a charism in general denotes any good gift that flows from God's love to man. The word can also mean any of the spiritual graces and qualifications granted to every Christian to perform his or her task in the Church...
. They remain ready to go to any country where needed. Ministries include: Education, Health, Pastoral care, Spiritual guidance, Adult Education, Catechetics, Chaplaincy work, Social work, Administration and Interfaith dialogue.
Formation
A person interested in exploring the possibility of a call to be a Holy Spirit Sister is asked to have contact with an appointed sister over a period of 6 months, to help discern God’s will for her. Certain documents are required for entry. After this initial stage, the candidate may be admitted to begin formation. For about 6 months, the candidate may continue her professional work while living in community. A two-year more intensive spiritual preparation is then undertaken and this is followed by temporary profession of vows. These vows are renewed every year for 6–9 years. During the period of temporary vows, the sister is given the opportunity to continue her studies or engage in ministry. The sister is free to leave after the expiration of her temporary vows. During this period, the sister should be able to make an informed and free decision regarding her vocation and be ready to make a final commitment. At final vows, she is given her mission mandate.Founder
Saint Arnold Janssen (November 5, 1837 – January 15, 1909) was a Roman CatholicCatholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
born in Goch
Goch
Goch is a town in the district of Kleve, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated close to the border with the Netherlands, approx. 12 km south of Kleve, and 27 km southeast of Nijmegen.-Cultural ties:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, near the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
border. The second of ten children, his parents instilled in him a deep devotion to religion. He was ordained a priest in 1861. Janssen purchased land in Steyl, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
to begin his seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, dedicated in 1875 as "St. Michael the Archangel Mission House". Within a few years, many seminarians, priests and brothers were preparing for missionary service there, and the first two missionaries, Joseph Freinademetz
Joseph Freinademetz
Saint Joseph Freinademetz as a member of the Society of the Divine Word, was a missionary in China.-Early life:...
and John Anzer, were sent to China. Together with the cofoundresses, Maria Helena Stollenwerk and Josepha Hendrina Stenmanns, Janssen also founded two congregations of religious Sisters: The Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters (members known as "Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit") on December 8, 1889, and the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration ("Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration") on September 8, 1896.
He and Joseph Freinademetz
Joseph Freinademetz
Saint Joseph Freinademetz as a member of the Society of the Divine Word, was a missionary in China.-Early life:...
were canonized
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
on October 5, 2003 by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
, as was Daniele Comboni, an important missionary in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Janssen was canonized after the healing of a Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
teenager living in Baguio City
Baguio City
The City of Baguio is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi village known as Kafagway...
who fell down on a bike and was not expected to recover from a head wound. According to her relatives and the Church, she was healed miraculously
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
following prayers to Janssen.