Philippines: Occidental Mindoro to Honor SVD, SSpS Missionaries in Thanksgiving Mass

The Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose will hold a thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration on January 7, 2026 at St. Joseph Cathedral, to honor the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) and the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) for more than a century of pastoral service in Occidental Mindoro.

According to Fr. Giovanni Gatdula, cathedral parish priest, the Mass will be celebrated in a spirit of “festive joy” in recognition of the enduring Christian witness and fruitful missionary work of the two congregations, whose mission in the province began in 1922. The celebration also coincides with the 150th founding anniversary of the SVD, established in 1875.

Over the decades, the SVD and SSpS have played a vital role in the establishment and growth of Catholic communities in Occidental Mindoro, particularly in remote and rural areas. Their ministry has extended beyond parish work to include education, the formation of lay leaders, and various social and pastoral programs, including outreach to indigenous peoples.

“We thank and honor the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) and the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) for their Christian witness and pastoral dedication in the province since 1922,” Fr. Gatdula said.

He noted that the Apostolic See entrusted the work of evangelization and the implantation of the Gospel in the province to the SVD missionaries, including the administration of parishes and the formation of local clergy. He also highlighted their contribution to Catholic education through the establishment of several schools, including Divine Word College of San Jose, Holy Family Academy, Colegio de San Sebastian, West Mindoro Academy, San Rafael High School, and Stella Maris School on Lubang Island.

Church officials said the thanksgiving celebration aims not only to express gratitude for the missionaries’ enduring commitment but also to highlight their continued relevance in responding to the spiritual and social needs of communities in the province.

Clergy, religious, and lay faithful from parishes across the vicariate are expected to attend the Mass, which will include prayers of thanksgiving and reflections on the legacy of the SVD and SSpS in Mindoro.