A man of great faithA man of great faith A man of great love to GodA man of great love to God A man of deep compassion for his A man of deep compassion for his

fellowmen fellowmen

ANDAND

Someone who is really a witness to the Someone who is really a witness to the wordword

ST. ARNOLD JANSSENST. ARNOLD JANSSEN

ST. ARNOLD JANSSENST. ARNOLD JANSSEN

Janssen was born on Janssen was born on November 5,1837November 5,1837inin  Goch, in the Rhineland, Germany,Goch, in the Rhineland, Germany,

not far from the Dutch border, one of not far from the Dutch border, one of eleveneleven siblings. siblings.

He developed a deep, simple faith. His He developed a deep, simple faith. His first school was the first school was the Catholic Catholic Augustinianum High SchoolAugustinianum High School in in Gaesdonck, which is near his birthplace. Gaesdonck, which is near his birthplace. He did his college degree, then studied He did his college degree, then studied theology and was ordained to the theology and was ordained to the priesthood on priesthood on 15 August 1861.15 August 1861.

Within a few years, many Within a few years, many seminarians, priests and brothers seminarians, priests and brothers were preparing for missionary were preparing for missionary service there, and the first two service there, and the first two missionaries, missionaries, Joseph Joseph FreinademetzFreinademetz and  and John AnzerJohn Anzer, , were sent to China. were sent to China.

For a while worked as a high school teacher For a while worked as a high school teacher in in Bocholt, GermanyBocholt, Germany, teaching , teaching physicsphysics and and catechismcatechism. .

His real passion, however, was the mission. In His real passion, however, was the mission. In 1867 he became the 1867 he became the director of the director of the Apostolaat des GebedsApostolaat des Gebeds  for Germany and for Germany and Austria and founded a scientific institute Austria and founded a scientific institute in Mödling, near Vienna. in Mödling, near Vienna.

He also founded a journal, He also founded a journal, Bode van het Heilig Bode van het Heilig Hart van JezusHart van Jezus, which looked to enlist the , which looked to enlist the faithful in prayer and support for the mission. faithful in prayer and support for the mission.

The Kulturkampf, however, hampered his The Kulturkampf, however, hampered his efforts, and Janssen purchased land in efforts, and Janssen purchased land in Steyl, Holland to begin his seminary, Steyl, Holland to begin his seminary, dedicated in 1875 as the "dedicated in 1875 as the "St. Michael the St. Michael the Archangel Mission House". Archangel Mission House".

He was ordained a priest on He was ordained a priest on August 15, August 15, 18611861 for the diocese of Muenster and was for the diocese of Muenster and was assigned to teach assigned to teach natural sciences and natural sciences and mathematics in a secondary schoolmathematics in a secondary school in in Bocholt. There he was known for being a Bocholt. There he was known for being a strict but just teacher. Due to his profound strict but just teacher. Due to his profound devotion to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of JesusSacred Heart of Jesus, he , he was named was named Diocesan Director for the Diocesan Director for the Apostleship of PrayerApostleship of Prayer. This apostolate . This apostolate encouraged Arnold to open himself to encouraged Arnold to open himself to Christians of other denominations. Christians of other denominations. 

Little by little he became more aware of Little by little he became more aware of the spiritual needs of people beyond the the spiritual needs of people beyond the limits of his own diocese, developing a limits of his own diocese, developing a deep concern for the universal mission of deep concern for the universal mission of the church. He decided to dedicate his life the church. He decided to dedicate his life to awaking in the German church its to awaking in the German church its missionary responsibility. With this in missionary responsibility. With this in mind, in 1873 he resigned from his mind, in 1873 he resigned from his teaching post and soon after founded teaching post and soon after founded The The Little Messenger of the Sacred HeartLittle Messenger of the Sacred Heart.. This  This popular monthly magazine presented news popular monthly magazine presented news of missionary activities and it encouraged of missionary activities and it encouraged German-speaking Catholics to do more to German-speaking Catholics to do more to help the missions. These were difficult help the missions. These were difficult times for the Catholic Church in Germany. times for the Catholic Church in Germany. Bismark unleashed the “Kulturkampf» with Bismark unleashed the “Kulturkampf» with a series of anti-Catholic laws, which led to a series of anti-Catholic laws, which led to the expulsion of priests and religious and the expulsion of priests and religious and to the imprisonment of many bishops. to the imprisonment of many bishops.

In this chaotic situation Arnold Janssen In this chaotic situation Arnold Janssen proposed that some of the expelled proposed that some of the expelled priests could go to the foreign missions or priests could go to the foreign missions or at least help in the preparation of at least help in the preparation of missionaries. Slowly but surely, and with missionaries. Slowly but surely, and with a little prodding from the a little prodding from the Apostolic Apostolic Vicar of Hong KongVicar of Hong Kong, Arnold discovered , Arnold discovered that God was calling him to undertake that God was calling him to undertake this difficult task. Many people said that this difficult task. Many people said that he was not the right man for the job, or he was not the right man for the job, or that the times were not right for such a that the times were not right for such a project. Arnold's answer was, project. Arnold's answer was, “The Lord “The Lord challenges our faith to do something new, challenges our faith to do something new, precisely when so many things are precisely when so many things are collapsing in the Churchcollapsing in the Church.”.”

With the support of a number of With the support of a number of bishops, Arnold inaugurated the bishops, Arnold inaugurated the mission house on mission house on September 8, September 8, 1875 in Steyl, Holland1875 in Steyl, Holland, and thus , and thus began the began the Divine WordDivine Word. Aware of . Aware of the importance of publications for the importance of publications for attracting vocations and funding, attracting vocations and funding, Arnold started a printing press just Arnold started a printing press just four months after the inauguration four months after the inauguration of the house. Thousands of of the house. Thousands of generous lay persons contributed generous lay persons contributed their time and effort to mission their time and effort to mission animation in German-speaking animation in German-speaking countries by helping to distribute countries by helping to distribute the magazines from Steyl. the magazines from Steyl.

From the beginning the new From the beginning the new congregation developed as a congregation developed as a community of both priests and community of both priests and Brothers. The volunteers at the Brothers. The volunteers at the mission house included women as mission house included women as well as men. From practically the well as men. From practically the very beginning, a group of very beginning, a group of women, including women, including Blessed Maria Blessed Maria Helena StollenwerkHelena Stollenwerk, served the , served the community. But their wish was to community. But their wish was to serve the mission as Religious serve the mission as Religious Sisters..Sisters..

Saint Saint Arnold Janssen, S.V.D.Arnold Janssen, S.V.D.,, was a was a Roman Catholic Roman Catholic

priest and missionarypriest and missionary, and is , and is venerated as a saint. He is best venerated as a saint. He is best known for founding the known for founding the Society of Society of the Divine Wordthe Divine Word, a Roman Catholic , a Roman Catholic missionary religious congregation, missionary religious congregation, also known as the also known as the Divine Word Divine Word MissionariesMissionaries, as well as , as well as two two congregations for womencongregations for women

The faithful, selfless service they freely The faithful, selfless service they freely offered, and a recognition of the offered, and a recognition of the important role women could play in important role women could play in missionary outreach, missionary outreach, urgedurged Arnold to Arnold to found the mission congregation of the found the mission congregation of the “Servants of the Holy Spirit,” SSpS“Servants of the Holy Spirit,” SSpS, on , on December 8, 1889December 8, 1889. The first Sisters left for . The first Sisters left for Argentina in 1895Argentina in 1895..

In 1896 Fr. Arnold selected some of the Sisters In 1896 Fr. Arnold selected some of the Sisters to form a cloistered branch, to be known as to form a cloistered branch, to be known as “Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual “Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration”, SSpSAPAdoration”, SSpSAP. Their service to mission . Their service to mission would be to maintain an uninterrupted would be to maintain an uninterrupted adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, praying adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, praying day and night for the church and especially for day and night for the church and especially for the other two active missionary congregations.the other two active missionary congregations.

..

HonorsHonorsIn his hometown of Goch, the In his hometown of Goch, the Arnold-Arnold-Janssen-Church and the Arnold-Janssen-Janssen-Church and the Arnold-Janssen-CommunityCommunity are named after Saint Arnold. are named after Saint Arnold. His birthplace can be visited in the His birthplace can be visited in the Arnold-Arnold-Janssen-Street.Janssen-Street.The St. Arnold neighborhood The St. Arnold neighborhood in Neuenkirchen, Westphalia, has a in Neuenkirchen, Westphalia, has a Arnold-Arnold-Janssen High SchoolJanssen High School. It was founded . It was founded 19291929 by his religious community, but since 1996 it by his religious community, but since 1996 it has been administered by the has been administered by the Diocese of Diocese of MünsterMünster. The . The Arnold-Janssen High School Arnold-Janssen High School in Sankt Wendel,Saarland,in Sankt Wendel,Saarland, is also named for is also named for him, as is the him, as is the Arnold-Janssen-Hauptschule in Arnold-Janssen-Hauptschule in Bocholt.Bocholt.

Arnold died on Arnold died on January 15, 1909January 15, 1909. His . His life was filled with a constant search for life was filled with a constant search for God's will, a great confidence in God's will, a great confidence in divine providence, and hard work.divine providence, and hard work. That his work has been blessed is That his work has been blessed is evident in the subsequent growth of the evident in the subsequent growth of the communities he founded: more than communities he founded: more than 6,0006,000 Divine Word Missionaries are Divine Word Missionaries are activeactive in in 6363 countriescountries, more than , more than 3,8003,800 missionary Servants of the missionary Servants of the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit, and more than , and more than 400400 Servants of the Holy Spirit of Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration.Perpetual Adoration.

SainthoodSainthoodHe and Joseph Freinademetz He and Joseph Freinademetz

were canonized on were canonized on October 5, 2003October 5, 2003, , by by Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II, as was , as was DanieleDaniele ComboniComboni, an important missionary , an important missionary in Africa. Janssen was canonized after the in Africa. Janssen was canonized after the healing of healing of Pamela AvellanosaPamela Avellanosa, , a Filipina teenager living in Baguio who fell a Filipina teenager living in Baguio who fell down on a bike and was not expected to down on a bike and was not expected to recover from a head wound. According to recover from a head wound. According to her relatives and the Church, she was her relatives and the Church, she was healed miraculously following prayers to healed miraculously following prayers to Janssen.Janssen.

St. Joseph FreinademetzSt. Joseph Freinademetz

““I love China and the Chinese, I want I love China and the Chinese, I want to die and be laid to rest among them”to die and be laid to rest among them”

““The language that all people The language that all people understand is that of love”understand is that of love”

He was a man who put his heart into He was a man who put his heart into the Chinese peoplethe Chinese people

A man that loves China and the A man that loves China and the Chinese so much Chinese so much

Freinademetz was born on Freinademetz was born on April April 15, 185215, 1852, in , in OiesOies, a small hamlet , a small hamlet of five houses situated in the of five houses situated in the Dolomite Alps of northern ItalyDolomite Alps of northern Italy. . The region, known as The region, known as South South TyrolTyrol, was then part of the , was then part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Austro-Hungarian empire.

He was the fourth child of He was the fourth child of Giovanmattia and Anna Maria Giovanmattia and Anna Maria FreinademetzFreinademetz

He was He was baptised on the day he was bornbaptised on the day he was born, and , and he inherited from his family a he inherited from his family a simple but simple but tenacious faithtenacious faith. .

While Joseph was studyingWhile Joseph was studying Theology Theology in the in the diocesan seminary of Bressanone (Brixen),diocesan seminary of Bressanone (Brixen), He He was ordained a priest on was ordained a priest on July 25, 1875July 25, 1875, and , and assigned to the assigned to the community of Saint Martincommunity of Saint Martin. . Just two years after ordination he contacted Just two years after ordination he contacted Fr. Fr. Arnold JanssenArnold Janssen, the founder of a mission house , the founder of a mission house which quickly developed into the Society of the which quickly developed into the Society of the Divine Word.Divine Word.

Joseph entered the Joseph entered the mission house in mission house in Steyl, Netherlands, in August 1878.Steyl, Netherlands, in August 1878. On On March 2, 1879March 2, 1879, he received his , he received his mission crossmission cross and departed for China and departed for China with with Fr. John Baptist AnzerFr. John Baptist Anzer, another , another Divine Word Missionary. Five weeks Divine Word Missionary. Five weeks later they arrived in later they arrived in Hong KongHong Kong, , where they remained for where they remained for two yearstwo years, , preparing themselves for the next step. preparing themselves for the next step. Freindademetz was based in Freindademetz was based in Sai Kung Sai Kung until 1880 and set up a chapel on the until 1880 and set up a chapel on the island of Yim Tin Tsai in 1879.island of Yim Tin Tsai in 1879.

In 1881 they travelled to their new mission In 1881 they travelled to their new mission in in South ShantungSouth Shantung, a province with , a province with 12 12 millionmillion inhabitants and only inhabitants and only 158 Christians158 Christians. . Those were hard years, marked by long, Those were hard years, marked by long, arduous journeys, assaults by bandits, and arduous journeys, assaults by bandits, and the difficult work of forming the first the difficult work of forming the first Christian communities. As soon as a Christian communities. As soon as a community was just barely developed an community was just barely developed an instruction from the Bishop would arrive, instruction from the Bishop would arrive, telling him to leave everything and start telling him to leave everything and start anew. anew. 

Soon Joseph came to appreciate the Soon Joseph came to appreciate the importance of a importance of a committed laitycommitted laity, especially , especially catechists, for first evangelization. He catechists, for first evangelization. He dedicated much energy to their formation and dedicated much energy to their formation and prepared a prepared a catechetical manualcatechetical manual in Chinese. At in Chinese. At the same time, together with Anzer (who had the same time, together with Anzer (who had become bishop) he put great effort into the become bishop) he put great effort into the preparation, spiritual formation and ongoing preparation, spiritual formation and ongoing educationeducation of Chinese priests and other of Chinese priests and other missionaries. His whole life was marked by an missionaries. His whole life was marked by an effort to become a Chinese among the Chinese, effort to become a Chinese among the Chinese, so much so that he wrote to his family: so much so that he wrote to his family: “I love “I love China and the Chinese. I want to die among China and the Chinese. I want to die among them and be laid to rest among them.”them and be laid to rest among them.”

In 1898, Freinademetz was sick with In 1898, Freinademetz was sick with laryngitis laryngitis and had the beginnings of and had the beginnings of tuberculosistuberculosis as a result of his heavy as a result of his heavy workload and many other hardships. workload and many other hardships. So at the insistence of the bishop So at the insistence of the bishop and the other priests he was sent for and the other priests he was sent for a rest to a rest to JapanJapan, with the hope that , with the hope that he could regain his health. He he could regain his health. He returned to China somewhat returned to China somewhat recuperated, but not fully cured.recuperated, but not fully cured.

When the bishop had to travel When the bishop had to travel outside of China in 1907, outside of China in 1907, Freinademetz took on the added Freinademetz took on the added burden of the administration of the burden of the administration of the diocese. During this time there was a diocese. During this time there was a severe outbreak of typhussevere outbreak of typhus

. Joseph, like a good shepherd, offered . Joseph, like a good shepherd, offered untiring assistance and visited many untiring assistance and visited many communities until he himself became communities until he himself became infected. He returned to infected. He returned to TaikiaTaikia, the , the seat of the diocese, where he died on seat of the diocese, where he died on January 28, 1908January 28, 1908. He was buried at the . He was buried at the twelfth station on the Way of the twelfth station on the Way of the CrossCross, and his grave soon became a , and his grave soon became a pilgrimage site for Christians.pilgrimage site for Christians.

Freinademetz learned how to discover Freinademetz learned how to discover the the greatness and beautygreatness and beauty of Chinese of Chinese culture and to love deeply the people to culture and to love deeply the people to whom he had been sent. He dedicated whom he had been sent. He dedicated his life to his life to proclaiming the gospel proclaiming the gospel message of God's lovemessage of God's love for all peoples, for all peoples, and to and to embodying this love in the embodying this love in the formation of Chinese Christian formation of Chinese Christian communitiescommunities. .

He animated these communities to He animated these communities to open themselves in open themselves in solidarity solidarity with the with the surrounding inhabitants. And he surrounding inhabitants. And he encouraged many of the Chinese encouraged many of the Chinese Christians to be missionaries to their Christians to be missionaries to their own people as own people as catechists, religious, catechists, religious, nuns and priestsnuns and priests. His life was an . His life was an expression of his motto: expression of his motto: “The language “The language that all people understand is that of that all people understand is that of love.”love.”

ST.ARNOLD JANSSENST.ARNOLD JANSSEN

Born: Born: November 5, 1837November 5, 1837 Goch, Germany Goch, Germany

Died: Died: January 15, 1909January 15, 1909 Steyl, Holland Steyl, Holland

Honored in: Honored in: Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church Beatified: Beatified: 19 October 197519 October 1975 by Pope Paul VIby Pope Paul VI Canonized: Canonized: 5 October 2003, Saint Peter's 5 October 2003, Saint Peter's

Basilica, Vatican City by Pope John Paul IIBasilica, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II Feast: Feast: 15 January 15 January Ordained to the priesthoodOrdained to the priesthood : : 15, August 15, August

1861.1861.

Joseph FreinademetzJoseph Freinademetz Born:Born: April 15, 1852April 15, 1852

Oies, Badia DolomitesOies, Badia Dolomites Died:Died: January 28, 1908January 28, 1908 (aged 55) (aged 55)

Taikia, South Shandong due to Taikia, South Shandong due to Honored in:Honored in: Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church Beatified:Beatified: 19 October 197519 October 1975 by  by  Pope Paul VIPope Paul VI Canonized:Canonized: October 5, 2003October 5, 2003 by by Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II Feast:Feast: January 28January 28 Ordained:Ordained: July 25,1875July 25,1875 Chinese nameChinese name: : pinyin: Shèngfú Ruòsè or Fu Shen Fu pinyin: Shèngfú Ruòsè or Fu Shen Fu

meaning happy priest meaning happy priest as a member of the Society of the Divine Word, was as a member of the Society of the Divine Word, was

a missionary in China.a missionary in China.