On September 6, 2025, the Western Province celebrated the climax of our yearlong commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of our founding at Queen of Angels parish in Riverside CA. It was a milestone in mission, one that resonated deeply across our Province. SVDs and laity came from the furthest corners; north to south from San Francisco to San Diego and east to west from Phoenix to Los Angeles. All helped to make it a living tapestry of our SVD charism:
- A multicultural liturgy blending languages, music and traditions from the many cultures we serve.
- Processions and performances showcasing the unity-in-diversity that de-fines our SVD mission.
- Reflections and tributes honoring the legacy of St. Arnold Janssen and the thousands of missionaries who have served in the Western U.S. and be-yond.
The celebration was hosted at Queen of Angels because of its great size and the witness to our SVD ethos of working closely with the community. In two years of fundraising, food sales every Sunday, religious concerts, parish fiestas, and countless volunteer hours, the community not only built the soaring worship space but paid it off entirely. This achievement stands as a testament to the parish’s unity, faith, and commitment.
Queen of Angels parish mirrors the SVD’s global mission of “Unity in Diversity.” It is a ministerial hub com-bining the cultural richness and diversity of African Americans, Latino groups, Asians and Anglos which made it an ideal locus for our jubilee celebration.
In his homily, Bishop Alberto Rojas highlighted Arnold Janssen as the inspired founder of the congregation of the Divine Word Missionaries. Since our founding, missionaries have been sent out to 80 countries around the world, including the Dioceses of San Bernardino. We are proud to be God’s light that comes from every-where and to everyone. Since 2006 when the SVD ministry began at Queen of Angels, it has grown into a sustained witness of faith in action welcoming everyone without distinction of culture or race.
In the years to come we pray that Divine Word Missionaries continues to be a living examples of the Society’s charism—proclaiming the Word of God through loving service and intercultural friendship based on the four ministerial dimensions that characterize our mission.
Beni Leu, SVD