Salvatorians

The term Salvatorians refers to members of the Society of the Divine Savior, a religious institute of the Catholic Church with priests, deacons, brothers, and clerics serving in more than 40 countries throughout world.[1] The title "Divine Savior" is a reference to Jesus Christ. The patrons are Mary, mother of Jesus, under her title "Mother of the Savior," the Apostles, Saint Michael the Archangel, and Saint Joseph. The patronal feast of the Society of the Divine Savior is Christmas Day. The Salvatorians celebrate October 11 as the "Solemnity of Mary, Mother of the Savior." Other important liturgical celebrations include Pentecost Sunday and September 5, the Feast of Blessed Mary of the Apostles.

For the Melkite Greek Catholic Church religious community, see Basilian Salvatorian Order.

The "Salvatorian Family" also includes the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Saviour and the Lay Salvatorians, officially the International Community of the Divine Savior. The Society was founded by Venerable Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan in Rome on December 8, 1881. Salvatorians use the post-nominal letters "S.D.S.".

The Generalate of the community is in Rome, in Via della Conciliazione, in Palazzo Cesi-Armellini. The current Superior General of the Salvatorians is Reverend Milton Zonta, S.D.S..

History
Franziskus Maria vom Kreuze Jordan
Main article: Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan

The Society of the Divine Savior was founded at Rome, on 8 December 1881, by Johann Baptist Jordan, who was elected superior general as Father Francis Mary of the Cross. The original name of the institute, Society of Catholic Instruction, was changed in 1893 to the present title. The Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Savior was founded in December 1888, by Father Jordan, to complement the work of the Salvatorian Fathers.[2]

On 13 December 1889, the new Prefecture Apostolic of Assam was entrusted to the society. pl:Otto Hopfenmüller was named the first Apostolic Prefect.[3] The fathers published many books in the Khasi language. In September 1893, a college was established at Lochau, near Bregenz; in the same year a station was founded at Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.A. In 1896 several members began work in Brazil.

The first papal approbation was granted in the "Decretum laudis" of 27 May 1905.[2]

In 1915 de:Pankratius Pfeiffer succeeded Jordan as Superior General. During the Nazi occupation of Rome in 1943 and 1944, Pfeiffer acted as an intermediary between Pope Pius XII and the German authorities. Every day he would visit Regina Coeli prison and another in Via Tasso, returning with a freed prisoner.[4]

Spirituality and mission

As of 2019, there are over 3,000 Salvatorians serving in 45 countries on six continents.[1] In keeping with the spiritual vision of Father Francis Jordan, the Salvatorians are prepared to serve in any place, spreading the Gospel "by all ways and means." Their work is not limited to one particular activity, but members serve as pastors, catechists and teachers, home and foreign missionaries, chaplains, authors, musicians, counselors, spiritual directors, and in many other areas of ministry. Ultimately, their goal is to proclaim salvation to all people by making known the "loving kindness of the Savior."

The "Constitution" of the Society of the Divine Savior specifies that "Salvatorian life is apostolic and is the expression of the love of Christ urging us to spend ourselves for the salvation of all people... We proclaim Jesus Christ to all people by all ways and means which the love of Christ inspires, especially through the witness of our lives, our kindness, and our apostolic zeal. In fulfilling this ministry we always respect human dignity, and we are ready to serve all people without distinction" (§201-202).

Salvatorian scholars identify four primary biblical texts as being fundamental for understanding both the Society's charism and spiritual vision of Father Francis Jordan.[5] These include:

  1. John 17:3: "Now eternal life is this, to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
  2. Matthew 28:19–20: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And, behold, I am with you always until the end of the age."
  3. Mark 16:15: "Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Gospel to every creature."
  4. Daniel 12:3: "But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament; and those who lead the many to justice will shine brightly like the stars for all eternity."

Salvatorian priests and brothers have been serving in the United States since 1892 and members of the United States province can be found serving in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin; the United States Province is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[6] An elected member of the United States Province also currently serves on the Salvatorian Generalate in Rome, Italy.

In 2001, members of the three branches of the Salvatorian "Family" established Jordan Ministry Team in the Diocese of Tucson to serve the needs of the Catholic Church in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson and throughout the Southwest.

SOFIA

SOFIA is an acronym for the Salvatorian Office for International Aid which works alongside the Salvatorians in order to increase the impact and sustainability of the community's projects.

Established in 2008, SOFIA supports Salvatorian initiatives in health, education, rural development, and pastoral formation.[7]

Notable Salvatorians
  • Blessed Mary of the Apostles, co-foundress of the Sisters of the Divine Savior. She was beatified by Blessed Pope Paul VI in 1967.
  • Bonaventure Lüthen (d. 1911), early Salvatorian and collaborator of Father Jordan.[8]
  • Melchior Geser, a German Salvatorian priest, who was killed by Communist bandits at the Salvatorian mission in Kienning, in China's Fujian Province, on June 11, 1931. He is honored as the first Salvatorian martyr.
  • Epiphanius Deibele (d. 1936), the first superior of the Salvatorian community in St. Nazianz, Wisconsin. In addition to overseeing the construction of the Salvatorian monastery and St. Ambrose chapel at St. Nazianz, he oversaw the remnant of the community established there years before by Father Ambrose Oschwald.
  • Gertrude Ludwig and Agnieszka Falkus, Salvatorian Sisters killed by the Nazis on January 22, 1945, "in defense of chastity"[9]
  • Heribert Aloysius Theodor Winkler (d. 1967), first superior of the Apostolic Prefecture of Shaowu, China
  • Bonaventura Josef Schweizer (d. 1968), fifth Superior General of the Society and "Council Father" of the first, second, and third sessions of the Second Vatican Council
  • Maurinus Rast (d. 1969), sixth Superior General of the Society and "Council Father" of the fourth session of the Second Vatican Council
  • Leonard Gerke (d. 1973), a German Salvatorian priest and theologian who served in numerous positions within the Society, including as a professor in England the United States, as a missionary in China, and as the author of "Because He Hoped in Me," a popular account of the life of Father Francis Jordan, the founder of the Society of the Divine Savior. In 1938–1939, Father Leonard also served as chaplain of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
  • Franziskus Emmenegger (d. 1974), third Superior General of the Society, from Switzerland, served as missionary and supervisor in China, South America, and Africa, until his death history professor at Salvator Kolleg (under Bosco Holdener) in Fribourg, Switzerland.
  • Afonso de Oliveira Lima (d. 1994), first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brejo, Brazil
  • Arnold Ralph Cotey (d. 1998), American missionary and first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lindi, Tanzania
  • Charles Mahuza Yava (b. 1960), first Apostolic Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of the Comoros Archipelago
  • Winfrid Herbst (d. 1988), a Salvatorian priest who served the American Province as the author and editor. He wrote hundreds of pamphlets and books, including "Eucharistic Whisperings," and was the editor of "Manna" and "The Savior's Call," two important Salvatorian publications in the middle of the twentieth century.
  • Robert Nugent (d. 2014), an American Salvatorian priest and co-founder of New Ways Ministry.
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See also
  • Catholic religious order

References
  1. "Where We Are", S.D.S.
  2. Rudge, F.M. "Society of the Divine Savior." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 12 June 2019 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. "Fr Otto Hopfenmuller". Societas Divini Salvatoris.
  4. "Fr Pancratius Pfeiffer". Societas Divini Salvatoris.
  5. see "Our Biblical Roots" by Fr. Arno Boesing, S.D.S., in Salvatorian Key Elements: Charism, Mission, Spirituality, Identity, volume 2, published by the International Joint Charism Commission (2005)
  6. "Ministries - Salvatorians". Archived from the original on November 20, 2015.
  7. "SOFIA".
  8. "Fr Bonaventura Luthen".
  9. "1945".

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Society of the Divine Savior". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

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