Saving Ecology, Serving the Anawim
On this year’s Season of Creation celebration (September 1 – October 4), Pope Leo XIV declared: “It is not yet too late.” These words echo through our SSpS communities as we confront the wounds of our planet. The Holy Father’s message is a summons to conversion, hope, and action grounded in our missionary vocation.
Pope Leo invites us to hear “the melodious voice of creation.” In this silence, we recognise what our charism has always proclaimed: care for creation and care for the poor are inseparable. The cry of the earth and the cry of the anawim are one cry.
The marginalized suffer first when creation is exploited. Deforestation displaces indigenous communities. Pollution poisons the water of the poor. Climate change uproots families with no resources to adapt.
16th General Chapter Process Begins
Standing at a kairos moment, the Congregation starts the journey toward the 16th General Chapter, by calling on every SSpS to discern once more who God invites us to become for tomorrow’s mission
The Congregational Leadership Team has started laying the groundwork for the 16th General Chapter in 2028 with the theme, “On fire with the Spirit, committed to life in mission.”
Central to the planning is one fundamental question: Who does God want the SSpS to be today? This shall guide the Congregation in rediscovering its missionary identity and responding faithfully to the times.
The Chapter framework is grounded in the organizational lifecycle model and Nygren & Ukeritis’s study of religious institutes. It follows a four-phase “Vitality Cycle” template, moving from purpose to leadership, then to organization and, finally, to resources. In the initial phase, the Congregation rereads its charism in light of current realities by listening to concrete mission experiences shared from provinces and regions. The second phase focuses on models of leadership and shared responsibility for mission. The third phase examines formation programs, governance structures, and necessary changes. The final phase assesses tangible assets and demographics in service of the vision.
Such a process invites all Sisters to work with the Spirit, moving from consultation toward genuine conversation rooted in lived experience. The outcomes will be presented to the General Chapter for deeper discernment and decision-making on the Congregation’s future direction.
Source: Circular Letter: Preparatory Process for the 16th General Chapter
Unity in diversity means finding something in common even when everything around us looks different. It happens when people from different cultures and backgrounds come together, not despite their differences, but because of them.
Every culture has something beautiful to offer. Every person carries a unique story that deserves to be heard and respected. When we open our hearts to those who are different from us, we don’t lose ourselves — we grow. Together, we become something richer than we ever could be alone.
Of course, living this out takes effort. It means choosing patience over frustration, listening over judging, and welcome over exclusion. It is not always simple, but it is always worth it.
For missionary sisters, this is not just an idea — it is daily life. Whether they are teaching in a school, serving in a community, or praying together in silence, they live out this reality with dedication and tenderness. They walk alongside people from all walks of life, united by a shared faith and a common call to love.
Unity in diversity is, at its heart, a simple but powerful choice — to see the person in front of you, to welcome them fully, and to walk forward together.
🌿 The Force That Brings Life Back | A Pentecost Message
Every spring, life finds its way through stone and asphalt. Something unstoppable is at work.
In this Pentecost message of Sr. Miriam Altenhofen, SSpS (Congregational Leader), we ask a simple but profound question: What is that force? And could it be the very same energy that transforms human hearts — even in the middle of war, fear, and division?
Rooted in the wisdom of Hildegard of Bingen and the stories of our own missionaries, this reflection invites all to look again at the world around — and ones own heart.
Because the Spirit of Pentecost is not a distant memory. It is alive. It is here. And it is moving.
Where is it calling you?
#Pentecost #HolySpirit #SSpS #Faith #Hope #MissionaryLife
One Spirit, Many Flames
Honoring Blessed Josepha Stenmanns and Sister Veronika Theresia Rácková in the light of Pentecost.
In this season of Pentecost, when the Church recalls the fire that descended upon the first disciples and sent them to the ends of the earth, we as Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit carry in our hearts the testimony of two women who continue to inspire our mission:: our co-foundress, Blessed Josepha Hendrina Stenmanns, whose feast we celebrate, and Sister Veronika Theresia Rácková, whose tenth death anniversary falls this May 20.
Our Congregation was born of the same Spirit whom we celebrate at Pentecost. It was that Spirit who moved Blessed Josepha to speak her life’s motto into existence:
“To God the honor, to my neighbor the benefit, to myself the burden.”
These words did not remain on her lips. They became a living tradition, passed from generation to generation within our Congregation, shaping our understanding of mission not as achievement but as kenosis — a pouring out of self in love. Blessed Josepha did not seek recognition. She sought only to be useful to God, and through God, to every person she encountered.
Ten years ago this day, Sister Veronika Theresia Rácková showed us what that motto looks like in the most demanding of circumstances. A physician serving the sick of Yei, South Sudan since 2010, she was attacked by soldiers in the early hours of May 16, 2016, while returning home and driving a St. Bakhita Health Centre ambulance after bringing an emergency patient to hospital. She was shot in the hip and abdomen, underwent two surgeries in Yei, and was flown to Nairobi, Kenya for further care. She died on May 20, 2016. She was traveling back from saving a life when soldiers stole hers.
The Spirit who descended at Pentecost is the Spirit of courage — the same courage that allowed the disciples to leave locked rooms and step into a hostile world. Sister Veronika carried that Pentecost courage every time she drove the ambulance through the dark, every time she worked in conditions no medical school prepares you for, and in those final days, when her body was failing and the Spirit alone could sustain her.
Blessed Josepha and Veronika Theresia Rácková never met. Centuries and continents separate them. Yet they are sisters in the deepest sense — women formed by the same Spirit, animated by the same charism, faithful to the same vocation: to God the honor, to the neighbor the benefit, to themselves the burden. They give us a congregation to be proud of, and a standard to strive toward.
As the fire of Pentecost burns again this year, we ask: who is our neighbor today? Where is our Yei, our South Sudan, our midnight ambulance road? May the Spirit who inspired Blessed Josepha and sustained Sister Veronika renew that same flame in each of us — so that our lives, too, may be a gift given freely, to the last.
When Jesus returned to the Father: The Era of the Spirit Begins
As we prepare for the highest feast of our congregation, the Church Universal prepares to celebrate Pentecost—the birthday of the Church. This solemnity invites us to turn our hearts toward the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, who remains the least known of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
When the risen Jesus spoke to His disciples, He revealed a sacred transition: “My physical presence with you will end.” The era of the incarnate God concluded, and the time of the Spirit began—the era of the Church. Having returned to the Father, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to take over the continuation of His mission through the Church. We now live in the time of the Risen Lord, guided not by Christ’s visible body but by His invisible Spirit.
What is the Spirit’s role? To lead us into deeper understanding of the truth of Jesus Christ—the truth the early Church would proclaim to the ends of the earth. The Spirit is given to us to make our witness clear and courageous. In the Spirit, we receive everything we need to fulfill our mission: strength for the journey, wisdom for uncertainty, and holy boldness.
May this Pentecost renew in us the fire of the Spirit, empowering us as witnesses to the Risen Christ. Come, Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of your faithful.
In the island of Flores in Eastern Indonesia, a quiet revolution of hope is underway. Sr. Fransiska Imakulata, SSpS, turns her mission into a lifeline for survivors of domestic abuse and trafficking. In this powerful documentary from Global Sisters Report, we travel to the island of Flores to meet the women survivors of domestic abuse and trafficking who are finding sanctuary and strength with Catholic sisters.This story is part of the “Out of the Shadows: Confronting Violence Against Women” series, highlighting how women religious are responding to a global crisis.
A Global Vigil Against Human Trafficking
The 12th International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking is a global mobilization from February 4 to 8, held in solidarity with Pope Leo XIV. On Fenruary 5, Sisters from the Casa Generalizia in Rome joined the candlelight procession with an ecumenical prayer vigil at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, led by Cardinal Fabio Baggio. This gathering unites people worldwide in prayer and action to end modern slavery.
Celebrating our calling in religious life, we joyfully share our journey and to say to young people, not be afraid to follow Christ if you feel that call. Though it is not always easy, it is a beautiful adventure of discovering God–and discovering yourself–while walking alongside others.
Discover the inspiring life of Saint Joseph Freinademetz, one of the founding missionaries of the SSpS, SVD, and SSpSAP. In this video, “Love Doesn’t Turn Back,” we explore his unwavering dedication and love for the people of China. Learn about his sacrifices, his profound spirituality, and the legacy that leads us to celebrate his feast day on January 29.
#SaintJosephFreinademetz #MissionarySaint #FeastJanuary29 #CatholicSaints
Join the joyful Arnoldus family celebration in SSpS Casa Generalizia, Rome, Italy! See heartwarming moments from a special family gathering filled with laughter, connection, and community spirit. This video highlights the importance of family bonds within the family of Saint Arnold Janssen. Expect genuine smiles, shared stories, and a feel-good vibe.
As our missions across Europe unite into one new province, we first took time to honor the legacy of each one. This reel captures moments of prayer, gratitude, and shared memory from the closing celebrations in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Spain/Portugal, and England/Ireland.
These farewells were not an end, but a sacred transition. They held space for both gratitude and grief, acknowledging that every unique history and community is a precious part of our collective future.
Like distinct flames joining to form one brighter light, our diverse heritages now unite for a shared mission. The past is honored, not left behind.
On the Feast of Saint Arnold Janssen, we celebrate with joyful and grateful hearts for the rich missionary heritage entrusted to our congregation through the inspiring life of our Founder.
Though more than a hundred years have passed and generations of missionaries have been sent into the world, we continue to carry Father Arnold’s dream: to make known the Holy Triune God to all peoples.
As we journey together in the year of Unity in Diversity, may our hearts beat in harmony with his heart, bringing God’s love into human life through our spirituality and charism, and revealing one God with many faces reflected in the beauty of our diverse world. 🌍🕊️
#SaintArnoldJanssen #FeastOfSaintArnold #UnityInDiversity #MissionaryLife #TriuneGod #SSpS #InterculturalMission #RootedInMission
In 2025, inspired by the call to hope and transformation, our global mission lived in deep communion, celebrated enduring faith, and moved forward as Pilgrims of Hope.
This year strengthened our commitment to carry a renewed purpose and our service to the world.
#PilgrimsOfHope #Transformation #SSpSMission #2025 #Hope #Service #Renewa
Joy to the World! The Lord is come ✨
From different nations, cultures, and languages, we raise one song of praise for the birth of our Savior.
United in faith and mission, we celebrate the joy of Christmas that knows no borders. The same joy, the same hope, the same love born in Bethlehem and shared with the whole world 🌍
May this song remind us that God’s love speaks every language and His joy is meant for all.
#JoyToTheWorld #ChristmasReels #ReligiousLife
#GlobalMission #SistersSing #OneFaithOneJoy
Maria Helena
“To God the honor, to my neighbor the benefit, and to myself the burden.” On the feast day of Blessed Maria Helena Stollenwerk, we reflect on the powerful motto of this SSpS co-foundress. She learned patience and care in her family, and her life reminds us that God asks not for perfection, but for a willing heart. How can you live out this spirit of mission in your own life today?
Sisters in Action
Habits on, spirits high! ✨Sisters with joyful hearts, playing together and celebrating life in motion. Sports, smiles, and a spirit that never gives up — a glimpse of faith lived with energy and grace.#SistersInAction #JoyfulVocation #FaithAndFun #ReligiousLife #SportWithSpirit
Chapters and Assemblies
To nurture the unity and shared vision among sisters, provincial and regional chapters and assemblies are held regularly. These gatherings offer precious moments for reflection and dialogue, guiding the sisters to live the Gospel with renewed commitment and to respond faithfully to the needs of the Church and the communities they serve. Moments that capture the spirit, joy, and blessings experienced throughout the process.
