Divine Word College: A History of Missionary Education
Perched atop a hill in Epworth, Iowa, Divine Word College (DWC) stands as a testament to the enduring mission of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). Founded in 1964, the college is dedicated to educating men and women for missionary service in the Catholic Church, preparing them to serve as priests, brothers, sisters, and laypersons. The college's commitment to global outreach is symbolized by the line of brightly colored national flags representing countries from around the world, adorning the front of the campus.
Origins and Founding
The Society of the Divine Word, the largest missionary congregation of men in the Catholic Church, was founded in 1875 in Steyl, the Netherlands, by Saint Arnold Janssen. By 1879, the SVD had sent its first missionary, Joseph Freinademetz, to China. In 1895, Bro. Wendelin Meyer arrived in America, paving the way for the establishment of the society in the United States.
In 1909, the Society established its first seminary in the United States at Techny, Illinois, with the mission of training priest and brother candidates for service in foreign missions. As the Society of the Divine Word became established at Techny, Illinois, Bro. Wendelin Meyer and his colleagues continued their work selling SVD publications to German Catholic immigrants living in the Midwest.
In 1931, the Society purchased property in Epworth, Iowa, where it established St. Paul's Mission House, an SVD high school seminary. This location would eventually become the home of Divine Word College.
From Seminary to College
In 1932, St. Paul's Mission House was dedicated in Epworth. In 1949, St. Mary’s Mission Seminary was founded in Girard, Penn. Later, in 1959, the SVD leadership decided that while its primary purpose was to educate men for missionary service, they should also be offered an education that could provide a basis for a secondary profession.
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On July 10, 1962, construction began on Divine Word College Seminary. The massive structure, completed in 1964, spans the length of two football fields and is more than a football field wide. In September 1965, DWC became a four-year, liberal-arts college and welcomed students from the novitiate at Conesus, New York and the two-year liberal arts program at Miramar. The student population leaped to 186 students. That same year, the college opened its swimming pool to the surrounding community.
Evolution and Growth
Over the years, Divine Word College has evolved to meet the changing needs of the Church and the world. In 1975, DWC welcomed 16 Vietnamese seminarians, refugees after the fall of Saigon. This decision spurred the development of an extensive English as Second Language (ESL) program and a student body fortified with increased numbers of international students.
In 1976, the first Lunar New Year celebration was held at the college. In 1985, the college held the first International Food Fest following the annual Mission Sunday Mass. The popular event is the largest public event held each year. In 1996, the college initiated Friends Across Nations or “FAN” Club. It connects international students with area families and continues to be a great success today. In 1998, the first woman graduated from DWC as one of two recipients of the Joseph D.
In 2002, the first group of “Lost Boys from Sudan” arrived at DWC. In 2006, four religious sisters who were members of the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters (SSpS), an affiliated order of the SVD, became the first women religious to enroll at DWC.
As the student body changed, so did the overall mission of the college. In 2009, the Divine Word College Board of Trustees approved a new mission statement, which formally allowed for the enrollment to include religious sisters, seminarians from other Catholic orders and lay persons.
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Overcoming Challenges: A History of Inclusion
A century ago, racism existed widely throughout the United States and the Catholic Church in America was, sadly, not much different. Early in the 1900s, Fr. Aloysius Heick, SVD built a frame chapel in Merigold, Mississippi and hoped to open a Catholic mission school for Black children. However, he faced threats from the Ku Klux Klan for his efforts to educate Black children.
Undeterred, Divine Word Missionaries continued to try and educate people of color in the South. It soon became apparent to Divine Word Missionaries that African American priests may be more influential in gaining followers among the Black community. They began laying the groundwork to start a school dedicated to educating young African American men.
In September 1920, the Society of the Divine Word opened Sacred Heart College in Greenville, Mississippi. In 1923 the school was relocated to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi and renamed St. Augustine Seminary. In 1934, Divine Word Missionaries in America celebrated another exciting milestone when they ordained the first four men to complete the formation program at St. Augustine Seminary. Fathers Anthony Bourges, Maurice Rousseve, Vincent Smith and Francis Wade hold a special place in SVD history, as well as Catholic American history. Collectively, they are known as the First Four.
The major seminary closed in 1967 and its students went to Techny, Illinois. St. Augustine’s went on to become the Society’s novitiate and also remained a high school seminary. St. Augustine’s Seminary was practically the only place in the United States where a young black man who felt he had a vocation to the priesthood could go to test his vocation.
Divine Word College Today
Today, Divine Word College continues to serve as a vital center for missionary formation and education. The college offers a variety of undergraduate programs in theology, philosophy, and intercultural studies, preparing students for service in a diverse and interconnected world.
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During their final semester of undergraduate studies at Divine Word College, young men who choose to continue with the SVD may apply for the Society's one-year novitiate program at the Chicago Province Headquarters in Techny, Illinois.
The college's commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in its student body, which includes individuals from over 20 countries and virtually every continent. Divine Word College remains dedicated to its mission of educating and forming men and women for missionary service, carrying on the legacy of St. Arnold Janssen and the Society of the Divine Word.
A Look Back: Personal Reflections and Anecdotes
The history of Divine Word College is not just a story of institutions and dates, but also a collection of personal experiences and memories. These anecdotes offer a glimpse into the lives of those who have been shaped by the college and the SVD.
Reflections on Sacred Heart Seminary
The staff at Sacred Heart Seminary in Girard operated a well-structured system of education and formation for high school students. Students’ days were governed by one activity after the other from morning to night. A bell signaled the beginning of activities. The day started with a bell and the lights went on in both of the large dormitories. Another bell would ring, and students went to another class and activity.
Activities on Thursday were an exception to the rule. All students had work assignments and when work was completed at noon, we ate lunch. At times on this day, if there weren’t any sporting events, the afternoon was an open period with no scheduled programs lasting until supper. We were free to choose our own activities, which included leaving the grounds to explore the surroundings of our property in northwest Erie county.
Adventures Beyond the Seminary Grounds
There were three outings that were particularly memorable. Once a small group decided on the spur of the moment and for no reason in particular, to walk along Route 20 to Ohio. A group of 15-year-olds probably wanted to try something different. Since we left after lunch, the day was half gone when we started. The distance was almost 15 miles to the Ohio state line and we may have stopped short of reaching Conneaut, Ohio. We had no money, water or provisions or food and no way to communicate with anyone back ‘home.’ We reached our destination in Ohio, no particular point, and turned around to return. By that time, we feeling fatigued. As we approached Girard, it was getting late and cooler and darkness was settling in. There must have been a sigh of relief when we showed up after supper in the evening.
In the second free time roaming adventure, I believe it was a larger group of students, maybe as many as 10. We headed east off of the property. We spent our time walking through woods, down country roads, over and along train tracks and past houses in small communities. As we neared the end of our meandering, we came upon an estuary which ran into Lake Erie. There we discovered that there was a volume of large fish. We entered the water and easily were able to capture the fish with our hands. We were excited and exhilarated as we grabbed the fish. We collected as many as we could carry and made our way back “home” which must have been a long walk. Along the way we encountered several people. One group in particular was amused to see so many youngsters carrying such a large volume of carp.
My final memory is somewhat different than the above mentioned two outings. I recall that a fellow classmate, John McGucken, was one of the participants in our group of about four. This was a short trip that occurred on Thursday, Oct. 13, 1960. I was a sophomore. Our destination was the Girard Diner. Even though we started out after lunch, we were hungry. We were going to the diner to get some more food. We all had money. As we finished our burgers and fries, we lingered inside watching a dramatic event unfolding on the on the television. The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.
The Mysteries of the Mass
A memorable annual event at East Troy was the presentation of our version of a Passion Play titled The Mysteries of the Mass. Members of the cast and stage crew worked for weeks, perhaps longer to produce a work worthy of presentation to not only our parents and relatives who came on a Visiting Sunday in Lent but also to folks from the surrounding area who may have even paid to attend but certainly had to take the time away from their usual weekend schedules. Our Prefect Father Dudink, SVD was instrumental in bringing this production to East Troy.
Work on the Farm
On Thursday mornings, our day off from classes, I spent more than half during my 4 years at East Troy helping (I thought) Brothers Felix, SVD and Conrad, SVD on the farm. Ron Lange (now Rev., SVD) and I were the “regulars” among others who also helped but less frequently. That activity somewhat prevented me from performing many of the tasks which would have given me a broader experience and understanding of what was happening on the main campus.
Wall Project on the Hill
In the spring of 1968, Fr. William Bauer, SVD’s final year as Rector at what was then known as Holy Ghost Mission Seminary, I was a member of the crew working on the wall project on the hill to the right of the boathouse as one is looking at Lake Beulah. This work party was probably one of the rare exceptions because, rather than ending before lunch, it lasted well into the afternoon. Sandwiches were brought to the crew for lunch and the work continued. Each week there happened to be a case of beer which showed up for the crew to consume while admiring the day’s progress.
Class Reunions
Our East Troy Class of ’59 has held several most enjoyable class reunions. The 50th and 60th were held at Techny Towers in Waukegan, IL. At our 60th reunion, we invited those who were Seniors when we were Freshmen and those who were Freshmen when we were Seniors and everyone in between. In other words, Alumni from Classes ET ’56 through ET ’62 were invited.
Apostolic Work at St. Anthony’s Villa
One of the many features that separated Divine Word Seminary from the surrounding high schools was our unique schedule. Thursdays and Sundays were our days off from classes. That didn’t mean that Thursday was without activities. However, a small group of seminarians spent each late Thursday afternoon in Toledo at St. Anthony’s Villa, an orphanage run by the Sisters of St. Francis and the Catholic Charities. Those who I accompanied to the Villa included Dave Eversman, Jim Barney, and Nick Nigro, among others. It fulfilled our Apostolic Work requirement. But, it was always more than that. As any sequestered boarding school student will tell you, part of the appeal of any activity that takes you off campus is the literal getting off campus.
Once we arrived at the Villa, the children were back from their school and our main task was to run wild with the children in the huge playing fields beyond the compound of buildings where the children lived. Many of us already knew the boys from their time at our Summer Camp. So we all had our favorites. After our playtime, we stayed and shared their evening meal. Each group of boys lived in a self-contained area, with a dining area adjacent to their sleep quarters. Each seminarian headed a table of boys who we helped with setting and clearing the table.
Summer Assignments
After my junior year I spent my summer in Yazoo City, Mississippi, with Fr. Malcolm O'Leary at St. Francis Parish. My primary role at the parish was working with the sisters at the St. Francis Head Start Center. I was also exposed to the racial inequity of the south. Most of the friends I made were black and lived around the parish on the black side of the tracks that split the town. My first experience with racism was when I went to a movie theater with my friends and met with some resistance from the theater owner when I sat in the balcony where blacks were required to sit. The police were summoned to remove me, but they left after I told them I wasn’t going to leave because I was there with my friends from the parish. My second experience was when the police came to the parish house to question me along with Fr. O’Leary about a young white girl who had been raped in town and the white young man that committed the offense was last seen running across the tracks into the black part of town. Since I was the only white person living around that area, they thought it had to be me. Fr. O’Leary informed the officers I had been at the parish all evening helping with a roller-skating party in the gymnasium.
After my senior year I spent the summer in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, at St. Peter’s Parish with my second cousin Fr. Charles Leisring. My role in Pine Bluff was to assist with families and the youth in the parish. I was also given the monumental task of stripping and painting the entire outside of the church all by myself. It was supposed to take the entire summer, which it did, but not without getting pneumonia and having to get penicillin shots in the backside. While at Pine Bluff, I was able to join a caravan of parishioners on a trip to Bay St.
Life at the Seminary
Community life began with Mass each morning, and of course many other prayers throughout the day. Academically, we studied mostly the same topics as in any other high school, but there were fewer textbooks and more "Great Books" of Western civilization. We also studied Latin and obviously religion. Compared to what I had been used to in the government schools, many subjects were taught a year earlier, and the standards were far more demanding. A key component of our well-rounded formation program was the manual labor. On weekdays and some Saturdays, all seminarians were engaged in some form of manual work for an hour or two. This included lawn mowing, dish washing, sweeping/mopping, snow removal, etc. "Ora et Labora" (Prayer and Work) as the Benedictines say. In my spare time, I enjoyed playing chess with 80-something Brother Longinus Posch. He was a chess champion of some repute in his native Germany. I even earned an FCC amateur radio license, callsign KA8AHK, in the ham radio shack.
These personal reflections provide a human dimension to the history of Divine Word College, highlighting the experiences and memories that have shaped the lives of countless individuals who have passed through its doors.
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