The SVD Mission Philippines, Inc. (TSMPI) is a
non-stock non-profit corporation organized by the
Society of the Divine Word (Societas Verbi Divini, or SVD) in the Philippines
primarily to promote mission consciousness and animation, and to raise funds
supporting SVD missionaries assigned to the foreign missions. It is an
inter-Provincial agency for the missionaries of the three (3) SVD Provinces in
the Philippines – the SVD Northern Province, ; the SVD Central Province, and
the SVD Southern Province.
The immediate Past Director of TSMPI is Rev. Fr.
Agerico Orbos, SVD, popularly known as Fr. Jerry, who served TSMPI for more
than twenty (20) years. Its incumbent Director is Rev. Fr. Roderick Salazar,
SVD, or Fr. Rod to his friend, who for many years was President of the
University of San Carlos in Cebu City. Its premises are in Christ the King
Seminary Compound at Quezon City. Fr. Rod works with Fr. Angel Magada, SVD, who
is in charge of the Mission House, with quarters for around twenty (20)
missionaries.
The XVD Association was tapped to be the lead group
of a lay associate movement in support of TSMPI. It will extend invitation to
all who are mission minded, especially people whose lives were touched by the
SVDs in their mission work in parishes, schools and other apostolates, and
shall be called The SVD Mission Philippines Lay Associates. The TMSPI Lay
Associates is basically a movement of lay people in support of the missionary
work of the Divine Word Missionaries.
In support of TSMPI’s twin objectives, social media
will be used, starting with the launching of a Facebook page. TSMPI will be
registered as a donee institution, so that donations to it will be tax
deductible on the part of the donor. A donation campaign will be launched to
support the SVD missionaries abroad. An SVD missionary newsletter will be
created in soft copy for posting in the TSMPI Facebook page, and other social
media. Thus thru the TSMPI, with prayers, active participation, donations and
hard work, the XVDs thru the TMSPI Lay Association hope to live out in this
secular world their lay response to the Call that God issued to them a long
time ago, which was never revoked. (Samuel Yap, VP – The XVD Association)
