Nemi: Thirty five newly appointed leaders of the Society of the Divine Word have completed a two week formation programme focused on leadership based on listening, dialogue, service and shared responsibility.
The programme was held from June 21 to July 4 at the Centro Ad Gentes in Nemi, near Rome. It brought together Provincial, Regional and Mission Superiors from Africa, the Asia Pacific region, Europe and the Americas. The gathering was organised around the theme, “Synodal Leadership in the Service of Missio Dei,” which means leadership in the service of God's mission.
The programme combined prayer, spiritual formation, theological reflection and practical leadership training. It was designed to prepare the new leaders for the responsibilities they will carry as they guide missionary communities facing changing realities in the Church and wider society.
Opening the programme, Superior General Fr. Anselmo Ricardo Ribeiro reminded the participants that leadership in the Church should not begin with power, authority or administration. Instead, he said, Christian leadership must be rooted in participation in God's mission and expressed through service to others.
The new superiors were encouraged to see their roles as a ministry of accompaniment. This includes walking alongside fellow missionaries, building communion within communities and encouraging every member to take responsibility for the missionary life of the congregation.
Throughout the formation programme, participants reflected deeply on synodality as a way of leadership. The sessions highlighted listening, open dialogue and communal discernment as essential parts of decision making. Presenters stressed that religious leadership is not simply about managing institutions or enforcing rules. It is also about creating communities where members feel heard, valued and able to contribute to the evangelising mission of the Church.
The spirituality of St. Arnold Janssen, founder of the Society of the Divine Word, was an important source of inspiration during the programme. Participants also reflected on the lives of the congregation's missionary saints and blesseds. The sessions highlighted humility, openness to the Holy Spirit and careful discernment as important qualities for those entrusted with leadership.
Biblical reflections explored the leadership experiences of Moses, Esther and St. Paul. Jesus Christ was presented as the central model of servant leadership, showing that true authority is expressed through love, sacrifice and service.
Intercultural community life was another major focus of the programme. Divine Word missionaries serve in more than 80 countries, making cultural diversity a central part of the congregation's identity and mission.
Participants reflected on how cultural differences can become a source of strength when communities are built on respect, fraternity, dialogue and mutual learning. They were encouraged to see intercultural living not simply as a challenge to be managed, but as a gift that reflects the universality of the Gospel.
The workshop also addressed the practical responsibilities of religious leaders. Sessions covered safeguarding, financial stewardship, governance, canon law, pastoral accompaniment and community discernment. Speakers emphasised that transparency, accountability and responsible administration are important parts of missionary service.
During the second week, attention turned towards the future of the Society of the Divine Word. Discussions examined demographic changes, emerging missionary priorities and the increasingly international character of the congregation.
Fr. Ribeiro encouraged the new leaders to explore fresh forms of missionary cooperation and strengthen intercultural leadership. This was seen as especially important as Catholic communities continue to grow in many parts of the Global South and missionary congregations become increasingly diverse.
The programme also explored several important areas of the congregation's mission, including biblical ministry, communication, justice, peace and the integrity of creation, as well as ministry among people living in vulnerable situations.
The role of communication in the digital age was also discussed. Fr. Kasmir Nema, Coordinator for Communications at the Generalate, said communication should be understood as an essential part of the Church's mission.
Referring to the teaching of Pope Leo XIV on artificial intelligence in Magnifica Humanitas, he encouraged leaders to use digital media responsibly as a means of sharing the Gospel. At the same time, he stressed the importance of promoting truth, protecting human dignity and encouraging genuine human relationships in a rapidly changing digital world.
At the conclusion of the programme, the newly appointed leaders prepared to return to their Provinces, Regions and Missions across the world. They left Nemi with a renewed commitment to lead their communities through listening, discernment, collaboration and missionary service.
The formation programme reaffirmed a central message for the new leaders: leadership in the Church is not mainly about exercising power. It is about serving God's mission with humility, building communion among people and accompanying communities with faith and hope.
For the Divine Word missionaries, the gathering in Nemi offered both practical preparation and spiritual renewal. As the new leaders begin their responsibilities in different cultural and missionary settings, they are being called to build communities where people listen to one another, discern together and work together in service of the Gospel.