Back to Top

Category: Information

A new Salvatorian Bishop

We are delighted to hear that the Holy Father has appointed Father Milton Zonta, S.D.S., former Superior General of the Society of the Divine Savior, as Auxiliary Bishop of Criciúma, Brazil.

Father Milton is originally from Videira, Brazil, and has served the Salvatorian family with wisdom and dedication. His moving sermons and writings remain in our memories, and we are delighted that they will now continue and reach a wider audience in this new phase of his ministry.

We ask for your supporting prayers as far as possible for you.

May the Lord fill him with His love

May the Holy Spirit guide
and strengthen him in this new task.

May he feel His presence

with every breath he take.

In deep fraternal solidarity, together with Fr. Milton on the Salvatorian path,
the sisters and brothers of the International Community of the Divine Savior.

39th Salvatorian Meeting Day – Vienna/Austria

On Saturday, September 27, 2025, the 39th Salvatorian Meeting Day took place in Vienna City at St. Michael’s Parish with the theme “Have we fallen out of time – Why Lay Salvatorians?”

As always, it was a very joyful celebration and reunion of the Salvatorian Family in Austria. The keynote address was given by Christian Patzl, president of the International Community of the Divine Savior. He covered a wide range of topics, from the term “layperson” and its origin and incorrect interpretation, to the vocation of Lay Salvatorians and their tasks and Salvatorian mission. It was emphasised that Lay Salvatorians are on a permanent pilgrimage.

Various posters provided information about the history of lay Salvatorians in Austria and internationally, as well as the various focal points of their work.
A subsequent panel discussion deepened the insight into the development of lay Salvatorians from personal experiences, the perspective of Salvatorian religious members, the Salvatorian vocation as such, and the cooperation between the three branches.
A beautifully arranged Vespers service organized by the Lay Salvatorians concluded this very fraternal day.

 

Invitation: Meeting of the Salvatorian laity in Europe 2025

Dear Salvatorian Family

You will undoubtedly remember the advance notice regarding the planned meeting in Germany in 2025. The preparation team has been jampacked and is now sending out the official invitation with registration → see the link below. If you are interested, please get in touch with the organizers in Germany.

 

Communities of Salvatorian Laity in Germany

invite to a meeting of the Salvatorian laity in Europe in

2025

Walking together with Jesus Christ“

 

 

 

Key data:

WHEN:May 29 – June 1, 2025
WHERE:Regina Pacis Conference Center in
D-88299 Leutkirch im Allgäu; Baden-Württemberg
WHO:Lay Salvatorians internationally, people interested in Salvatorian spirit and charism, and guests from the two other Salvatorian branches are very welcome.
COSTS:We have currently calculated a total cost of € 330 per person,
This includes accommodation with full board and coffee breaks, the supporting program, and the costs for the two speakers. A solidarity fund will be set up to ensure that no one cannot participate for financial reasons.
CONTACT and QUESTIONS: albrechtklein@mail.de

 

Invitation

Registration Form

 

 

The new General Committee of the ICDS

Dear readers,

Since it was very difficult to access the internet in Logrone because the corresponding wifi networks kept crashing, therefore here is the important news from our General Assembly.

 

The International Community of the Divine Savior is pleased to present the new leadership team. On Monday, October 14, 2024, the following people were elected to the General Committee in Logrono, Spain:

Christian Patzl (Austria) – President, and Celso Calleff (Brazil) – Vice President.

Bobby Pantuso (USA), Sammantha Da Luz (Australia), Olga Lucia Hurtado (Colombia), and Monica Cuadra (Venezuela) as consulters 

Sussan Mugurusi (Tanzania) and Mariangeles Molina (Guatemala/Spain) as the two internal auditors

 

 

All the best and God’s blessings to the elected persons for their work and their activities in and for the ICDS.

Posted in Information, News, Event | Tagged | Leave a reply

Announcement: Meeting of the Salvatorian laity in Europe 2025

Dear Salvatorian Family

After a long, far too long break, a meeting of the Salvatorian Laity – Europe is organized once again. Spiritual exchange is an important basis for our work, and this is best achieved through personal encounters. Even if, due to special circumstances, we have recently successfully explored other ways of communicating, it is high time to refresh, deepen, and renew personal relationships and get to know new sisters and brothers in spirit.

Therefore the

Communities of Salvatorian Laity in Germany

invite to a meeting of the Salvatorian laity in Europe in

2025

Walking together with Jesus Christ“

 

Ecumene should be the heart of talks, prayer times, workshops and other items of our agenda. We pay particular importance getting to know each other better and gaining a deeper understanding of one another.
Prof. Dr. Michaela C. Hastetter and P. PD Dr. habil. Ephräm Givi Lomidze have already confirmed their participation as speakers. In addition to their teaching and research activities, both are also members of the management of STEP WIEN (St. Ephrem’s Scientific Center for Oriental & Occidental Studies).

 

Key data:

WHEN:May 29 – June 1, 2025
WHERE:Regina Pacis Conference Center in
D-88299 Leutkirch im Allgäu; Baden-Württemberg
WHO:Lay Salvatorians internationally, people interested in Salvatorian spirit and charism, and guests from the two other Salvatorian branches are very welcome.
COSTS: We have currently calculated a total cost of € 380 per person,
This includes accommodation with full board and coffee breaks, the supporting program, and the costs for the two speakers. A solidarity fund will be set up to ensure that no one is unable to participate for financial reasons.
CONTACT and QUESTIONS: albrechtklein@mail.de

 

 

 

 

Formation of Lay Salvatorian trainers in DR Congo

Our Salvatorian congregation is founded on the Knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, our Divine Savior (John 17:3: “And this is eternal life, that they know You, the True God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent..”) .
The International Community of the Divine Savior, ICDS in acronym, is young in its existence, alongside the two religious branches in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It lacks facilitators trained in Salvatorian fundamentals and leadership on group dynamics, a guarantee of their capacity to perpetuate the work of Blessed Francis JORDAN, founder of the congregation.
In order to guarantee the future of this branch of Lay Salvatorians in the DRC, the National Coordination in charge of training
is organizing a first session for the attention of members of the different coordinations.
The coordinators of coordination at all levels of our country naturally need this support in the exercise of their functions in order to make apostolic action and the Salvatorian mission effective. In view of the above, a training plan for lay Salvatorian leaders is essential. This training plan must be adapted to the realities on the ground to respond not only to the signs of the times but also to Salvatorian ideals,
the foundation of our existence and to the needs of the church.
For this reason, training to produce Salvatorian lay trainers was organized in two phases, namely:

  • Phase 1: from January 14 to 17, 2023 on Salvatorian fundamentals
  • Phase 2: from January 14 to 17, 2024 on some theological themes and also on educational practices

The one year gap allowed them to master the Salvatorian fundamentals and at the end of the second phase, they were sent on a mission for the expansion of our national unity. They were at 20 at the start to finish 17 in the second phase.

1. PURPOSE
Provide the International Community of the Divine Savior of the DRC with facilitators trained and prepared to carry out their tasks.

2. THEME
This Training session has the theme: “lay Salvatorian, missionary beyond borders”

3. OBJECTIVES
At the end of this training session, participants will be able to:

  • Prepare and implement a training meeting for other members
  • Prepare members for commitments based on Salvatorian fundamentals, prayer, lectio Divina and meditation.
  • To defend their Catholic faith and explain the meaning of the sacraments and sacramentals
  • To contextualize the gospel and the acts of the apostles after careful reading.
  • To put oneself at the center of creation to discover the Savior God
  • To understand and explain Salvatorian Universality.

Catholic Church supports activities against climate change

Since the Encyclica Laudato sii at the latest, it has been clear that the Catholic Church is committed to preserving and protecting the environment. Pope Francis is making many efforts to encourage people to use the earth’s resources better and, in particular, more sustainably. Last but not least, the catastrophic effects of climate change should be a reminder to all.

The Vatican news portal “Vatican News1 has published some important information on the subject in recent days. Among other things, the Pope highlights the need for alliances that promote care for Creation and peace. 

 

1 The news are available in different languages – Las noticias están disponibles en varios idiomas

Our sister Rita was called by God …

Dear sisters and brothers, dear members of the Salvatorian Family,

Although we on the General Committee had been aware of Rita’s failing health for some time, the news of her passing hit us hard. The moment when our thread of life is woven to its end is unknown. And so it says in the Book of Isaiah 38:12 :

My dwelling, like a shepherd’s tent, is struck down and borne away from me; You have folded up my life, like a weaver who severs the last thread.

Some Salvatorian lay people have written words of remembrance which can be read here on behalf of many others:

Our dear Rita beat us to the date of heaven…Her departure leaves a void in the ICDS and in the Salvatorian Family, not only in his native Belgium, but also internationally, due to her active role both in the General Committee of the ICDS, and for her participation in some of the joint commissions of the 3 branches such as “the Justice, Peace and Defense of Life Commission” and the “Salvatorian Identity and Mission Commission”.

With a jovial, cheerful and open spirit, reflecting both her vocation as a school teacher and her vocation to follow Christ as a Lay Salvatorian, Rita worked tirelessly for the development of Lay Salvatorians in the world and for the fraternal union of the Salvatorian Family, putting their gifts at your service. Continue Reading

Posted in Information, News | Tagged , , | 4 Replies

Lay Salvatorians Tanzania – WELCOME!

As you can read in our post from yesterday already, the ICDS is very happy to welcome our new sisters and brothers in Tanzania. Some Lay Salvatorians from the US have guided the development process over a long time and supported them with materials, were also present at the ceremony. Here is their story and report (→ click on the picture below to open the document)