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Our Mission Statement
We Salvatorians are called to follow Jesus Christ, the Divine Saviour, by living as community within the universal Church for apostolic service.
As with our Founder, Father Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan, we proclaim to all people the salvation which has appeared in Jesus Christ, so that by the lives we live and in our apostolic activities, all may come "to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3), and have life in all its fullness. This mission compels us to share our call to be apostles with people from all walks of life.
We are ready to serve all people everywhere, by all ways and means which the love of Christ inspires. We trust in God's loving providence in discerning and courageously responding to the particular signs of the times in each place and age.
Today, these signs urge us to be a prophetic voice for the renewal of Church and world, by conveying in a contemporary way the values of the Gospel in dialogue with each culture; by animating lay people to live their baptismal commitment for Christian leadership, ministry, and service; by joining the poor in challenging contemporary evils which frustrate a fully human life, particularly social injustice, poverty and violence in all their forms.
We Salvatorians seek to fulfill our mission by being one with those we serve, manifesting to the world the goodness and kindness of God our Saviour.
Our Founder - Father Francis Jordan
John Baptist Jordan (in religious life, Francis Mary of the Cross) was born on the 16th of June, 1848 in the village of Gurtweil , Baden , Germany . His parents were very poor and the family frequently went without the necessities of life. The death of his father obliged John to leave the village school and to help his mother and his brothers to provide for the family. Believing himself called to the priesthood, he began to study as a 20 year old and was ordained a priest. He furthered his studies in Rome and in the Holy Land where he resolved to found a Religious Congregation whose chief aim it would be to spread and increase by all ways and means the knowledge and love of Jesus, as the true Saviour of the World.
His labours led to the founding of two Religious Societies. "The Society of the Divine Saviour" and "The Sisters of the Divine Saviour". He died after an active and holy life on September 9th, 1918 . His was the great joy of seeing the two Congregations carrying out their apostolate throughout the world.
Salvatorians Around the World
The Society of the Divine Saviour is composed of Religious Priests, Brothers and Sisters. Three thousand men and women live today as members of one or other of the communities of Salvatorians founded by Father Jordan in 1881. Our aim is to make the Saviour more widely known and loved in the world of today.
The founder of the Salvatorians was a man of vision who wanted to open up to as many people as possible the truth of the Catholic faith "that all may know the goodness and kindness of the Saviour". He wanted to mobilise priests and lay people for this purpose using every means at their disposal, especially the press.
His original plan included three grades or orders. The First Grade were vowed religious as we know it today. The Third Grade were catechists, teachers, trades people etc. what we would call today lay ministry. The Second Grade were professionals like historians, scientists, theologians who used their talents to give talks, write pamphlets etc. which the First Order would publish and put into the hands of the Third Grade. Thus all were involved in teaching the "goodness and kindness of the Saviour".
Because of difficulties with having these innovative structures approved by the Holy See the original vision was modified. The First Grade evolved into the Society of the Divine Saviour in 1881 and the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Saviour in 1888. The Third Grade lay dormant for many years but has been revived as Lay Salvatorians in the last 20 years.
Jordan first rented rooms at Santa Brigida in the Piazza Farnesse in Rome and set up a printing press. Soon the new group moved to its present location at Via della Conciliazione 51 and quickly expanded into many countries throughout the world.
Moved by the words of the Gospel: 'And eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.' (John 17. v.3.) our founder gave us the command and the mission not to rest content until all people know, love, and serve Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
Salvatorians have taken this message seriously and have taken their love of Christ to the following countries:
Austria - Australia - Belgium - Brazil - Byelorussia - Canada Colombia - Czech Republic - Ecuador - England - Germany Hungary - India - Ireland Israel - Italy - Malaysia - Philippines Poland - Romania - Russia - Siberia Spain - Sri Lanka Surinam - Switzerland - Taiwan - Tanzania - Ukraine
USA - Venezuela - Zaire
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