History
From the suggestion of the SVD Generalate’s Secretary for Mission, Fr. Tom Aschemann, SVD (08 April 2003) and the encouraging support of Visitator General Fr. Michael McGuiness, SVD (15 October 2004) to the recommendation of Superior General Fr. Antonio Pernia, SVD (letter dated 11 December 2004), and the endorsement of the ASPAMIR Coordinator, Fr. Stanislaus Thanuzraj, SVD (letter dated 29 July 2006), the Provincial Superior of the Philippines SVD Central Province, Fr. Nielo Cantilado, SVD appointed an Ad Hoc committee to help concretize the offering of graduate courses in missiology at the Divine Word Seminary-Tagaytay.
The establishment of the DWIMS is a response to the proposal of the General Administration of the Society of the Divine Word to set up a missiological institute in Asia and the Pacific on account of the shift, at the turn of the millennium, of the center of gravity of the Catholic Church from the “global North” to the “global South.” This proposal was presented to the eighteen (18) Provincial Superiors of the SVD Asia-Pacific Zone (SVD-ASPAC) who responded positively. It did not take long until the Philippines was singled out as the most appropriate location due to several factors, e.g., geographical centrality, widespread use of English, ease of obtaining entry visas, and the presence of a vibrant local Church. The Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies (DWIMS), however, is a separate entity from the Divine Word Seminary-Tagaytay (DWST).
Purpose
The general objective of the Institute is to help realize the vision of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC)—that is, a Church engaged in triple dialogue: dialogue with cultures, religions, and the poor in the Asia-Pacific context.
The specific objective of the Institute is to offer post-graduate studies (education, research and training) in Missiology with a particular sensitivity to and appreciation of the socio-cultural and religious geography of Asia and the Pacific for the mission of the Divine Word Missionaries of the Asia-Pacific Zone (ASPAC), and other SVD zones worldwide. It is also open to other diocesan and religious priests, religious brothers and sisters, the laity and other interested parties in the AsiaPacific Region and beyond
Official Name
This Ecclesiastical Higher Education Institution is called the Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies (DWIMS). It is a study and research institution that “promotes active participation in the ministry of evangelization concerns of the Church in pastoral work, in ecumenism, and in missionary undertakings.”
Official Address
The official address of this Institute is Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies, SVD Road, San Jose, 4120 Tagaytay City, Philippines. The DWIMS is an entity distinct from the Divine Word Seminary-Tagaytay (DWST). It has its separate organizational and administrative set-up governed by these Statutes.
Official Logo
The Logo of the Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies (DWIMS)
The bell tower symbolizes the heralding of the Good News. The globe symbolizes the mission fields around the world where the SVDs are engaged in doing mission. The motto of the DWIMS is “Making the Heart Beat for Mission.” We commit ourselves to the formation of missionaries (priests, religious, and lay) in the Asia-Pacific Zone of SVD.
Vision-Mission Statement
Vision—The Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies is an Institute whose heart is mission. It is called to form persons of prophetic dialogue (SVD General Chapter 2000), interculturality (SVD General Chapter 2012), and communion (Evangelii Gaudium, Art. 130) in the service of the Word, the Church, and the world.
Mission—To achieve this vision the DWIMS is committed to providing avenues of learning about the mission in contemporary times. It provides studies and research as well as outreach programs to make Missiology truly intercultural, interreligious, and ecumenical.
Officials
The following officials govern the Institute:
- Director
- Vice Director for Studies
- Director for Research and Publications
- Director of Library
- Treasure
- Secretary
Professors
Professors are appointed by the Director of the Institute upon the recommendation of the Academic Council, which ascertains their academic qualifications as well as their moral integrity.
- Fr. Samuel N. Agcaracar, SVD
- Director
- Fr. Antonio M. Pernia, SVD
- Vice Director for Studies
- Fr. Dante Maria Victoria B. Venus, SVD
- Vice Director for Research and Publication
- Fr. Gerardo P. Donato, SVD
- Vice Director for Finance
Biographies
Director—Fr. Samuel Naceno Agcaracar is a member of the Society of the Divine Word. He is presently teaching at the Divine Word Seminary and Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies in Tagaytay City and is also a guest professor at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila, and the Institute of Consecrated Life in Asia in Quezon City. He obtained his licentiate and doctorate in Missiology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
He is currently the Rector of the Divine Word Seminary of Tagaytay, Director of the Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies, Executive Director of the SVD Laudato Si’ Farm, and a Provincial Councilor of the SVD Philippine Central Province.
Vice Director for Studies—Fr. Antonio M. Pernia is a member of the Society of the Divine Word. He is presently teaching at the Divine Word Seminary and Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies in Tagaytay City. Served in numerous administrative capacities including Provincial Superior of the Philippine Southern Province (1993-1994), SVD Vice Superior General (1994-2000), and SVD Superior General in Rome, Italy (2000-2012).
He is currently the Vice Director for Studies at the Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies. He obtained his licentiate and doctorate in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy.
Director for Research and Publications—Fr. Edgar Guiang Javier is a member of the Society of the Divine Word. He is presently teaching at the Divine Word Seminary and Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies in Tagaytay City and is also a guest/visiting professor at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Recoletos School of Theology in Quezon City, Maryhill School of Theology in Quezon City, Immaculate Conception School of Theology in Vigan, and the Institute of Consecrated Life in Asia in Quezon City.
He is the Director for Research and Publications of the Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies. Educated at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, he earned Licentiate and Doctorate degrees in Missiology.
The Society of the Divine Word (SVD) was founded on September 8, 1875 by St.Arnold Janssen in Steyl, Holland. It is a religious missionary Congregation. The members are more popularly known as Divine Word Missionaries. Since the beginning, the SVD has been an international religious missionary Congregation. The members come from different countries in the world. The thrust of their mission is prophetic dialogue and living and sharing life and mission interculturally.