Divine Word College
Encyclopedia
Divine Word College is an undergraduate Roman Catholic seminary
that educates young men for missionary
vocations as priests and Brothers in the Society of the Divine Word. The college also offers degree and ESL (English as Second Language) programs to other Catholic religious missionaries and those aspiring to Catholic lay ministries.
The Society of the Divine Word originally established Divine Word Seminary, a four-year liberal arts college
in 1912 at Techny, Illinois
. The Society later purchased property in Epworth, Iowa
, in 1931 and established St. Paul’s Mission House, an SVD high school seminary. In 1964, Divine Word College replaced the high school seminary and has since served as the principal site of SVD undergraduate seminary education in the United States
. Located near the larger city of Dubuque
, the college is set on a campus in the small rural town of Epworth.
Divine Word College offers an education which combines a liberal arts
curriculum and a program of "spiritual formation".
During their final semester of undergraduate studies at Divine Word College, young men who choose to continue with the SVD may apply for the Society’s one-year novitiate
program at the Chicago Province Headquarters in Techny, Illinois. These men may then apply to profess first vows as members of the Society near the end of the novitiate program and continue on with seminary studies at the Chicago Theologate.
Other Divine Word College students may include SVDs from foreign countries who are in the ESL program and Catholic religious missionaries from other orders and countries who are earning their degrees or learning English
before going on to their missionary work.
/auditorium
accommodates a variety of sports and cultural events. In addition to an indoor swimming pool
and weight room, the campus features new tennis court
s and a soccer field. Off campus activities include interaction with area host families. Art and culture play important roles at Divine Word College and are reflected in the art program, the two campus art galleries and unique displays of art and artifacts from around the world.
, Holland, by a German priest, Fr. Arnold Janssen
, who created a missionary training center there. Within four years, he sent the first Divine Word Missionary, Fr. Joseph Freinademetz
, SVD, to China
. Janssen also helped to found two religious sister orders within the Society: the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) and the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (SSpSAP). In 1895, Brother Wendelin Meyer, SVD, came to America. By 1909, the Society had established the first seminary in the United States with the mission of training priest and Brother candidates for service in foreign missions. Both Janssen and Freinademetz were canonized by Pope John Paul II
in 2003.
Today there are over 6,000 Divine Word Missionaries working in more than 70 countries worldwide.
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...
that educates young men 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...
vocations as priests and Brothers in the Society of the Divine Word. The college also offers degree and ESL (English as Second Language) programs to other Catholic religious missionaries and those aspiring to Catholic lay ministries.
The Society of the Divine Word originally established Divine Word Seminary, a four-year liberal arts college
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
in 1912 at Techny, Illinois
Techny, Illinois
Techny is a neighborhood of Northbrook, Illinois, United States. Techny was once a separate community but was eventually annexed by Northbrook. The North American headquarters of the Divine Word Missionaries has been located in Techny since 1896. The Divine Word Missionaries opened St...
. The Society later purchased property in Epworth, Iowa
Epworth, Iowa
Epworth is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,428 at the 2000 census, but is now estimated to be 1,589 ....
, in 1931 and established St. Paul’s Mission House, an SVD high school seminary. In 1964, Divine Word College replaced the high school seminary and has since served as the principal site of SVD undergraduate seminary education in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located near the larger city of Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
, the college is set on a campus in the small rural town of Epworth.
Divine Word College offers an education which combines a liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
curriculum and a program of "spiritual formation".
During their final semester of undergraduate studies at Divine Word College, young men who choose to continue with the SVD may apply for the Society’s one-year novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
program at the Chicago Province Headquarters in Techny, Illinois. These men may then apply to profess first vows as members of the Society near the end of the novitiate program and continue on with seminary studies at the Chicago Theologate.
Other Divine Word College students may include SVDs from foreign countries who are in the ESL program and Catholic religious missionaries from other orders and countries who are earning their degrees or learning English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
before going on to their missionary work.
Campus and Student Life
The large combination gymnasiumGymnasium
Gymnasium may refer to:*Gymnasium , educational and sporting institution*Gymnasium , type of secondary school that prepares students for higher education**Gymnasium **Gymnasium...
/auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
accommodates a variety of sports and cultural events. In addition to an indoor swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
and weight room, the campus features new tennis court
Tennis court
A tennis court is where the game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles.-Dimensions:...
s and a soccer field. Off campus activities include interaction with area host families. Art and culture play important roles at Divine Word College and are reflected in the art program, the two campus art galleries and unique displays of art and artifacts from around the world.
History
The Society of the Divine Word was founded in 1875 in SteylSteyl
Steyl is a village in the municipality of Venlo in the Netherlands and is best known as a monastery village.-Location:Steyl is on the right bank of the Limburgic river Meuse. A ferry connects Steyl with Baarlo. Steyl in the past has often had to deal with flooding, due to the high level of the...
, Holland, by a German priest, Fr. Arnold Janssen
Arnold Janssen
Saint Arnold Janssen, S.V.D., was a Roman Catholic priest and missionary, and is venerated as a saint. He is best known for founding the Society of the Divine Word, a Roman Catholic missionary religious congregation, also known as the Divine Word Missionaries, as well as two congregations for...
, who created a missionary training center there. Within four years, he sent the first Divine Word Missionary, Fr. Joseph Freinademetz
Joseph Freinademetz
Saint Joseph Freinademetz as a member of the Society of the Divine Word, was a missionary in China.-Early life:...
, SVD, to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Janssen also helped to found two religious sister orders within the Society: the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) and the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (SSpSAP). In 1895, Brother Wendelin Meyer, SVD, came to America. By 1909, the Society had established the first seminary in the United States with the mission of training priest and Brother candidates for service in foreign missions. Both Janssen and Freinademetz were canonized 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 ...
in 2003.
Today there are over 6,000 Divine Word Missionaries working in more than 70 countries worldwide.