We are Verbum Dei, a Catholic Missionary Community in Chicago. We bear the Living Word of God through the charism of prayer and preaching. Our world is evolving so fast that there is an urgency to respond according to the needs of all walks of life. We provide the space for people to have a personal Encounter with Jesus Christ through the School of the Word, retreats and other initiatives. Our very diverse groups: English, Polish, Hispanic and Filipino communities, are very welcoming and will suit your spiritual needs. You’ll never walk alone wherever you are. The Verbum Dei Missionary Family can be found in many parts of the world. We act on a global scale, but we respond on a local scale! Come and be part of this wonderful adventure!
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Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity was founded by Fr. Jaime Bonet in 1963, in Mallorca, Spain. When Fr. Jaime was 14 years old, in a personal experience of dialogue with the crucified Christ, he felt the call to make God’s love known to all people.
This personal experience became the heart of his vocation and the seed of the future foundation of “Verbum Dei”. He devoted himself intensely to preaching from a prayerful lifestyle which encouraged others to follow Jesus and to proclaim Him. His apostolic activity brought about different groups. In this context, some young women expressed to Fr. Jaime the desire to consecrate themselves to God in this mission.
On January 17th, 1963, the Bishop of Mallorca, Monsignor Jesus Enciso Viana, blessed their first home and chapel, starting their common life together and the Branch of missionary women. As early as 1966, some priest and young men began to live this same lifestyle. In the same year, the first missionary married couple felt the call to dedicate themselves to the same charism and mission from their state of life.
On September 18, 1969, the Exmo. Mr. D. Rafael Alvarez Lara erected in Pia Union the Verbum Dei Apostolic Institute, formed by the three branches. In 2000, Pope John Paul II gave consent for FMVD to be declared a single Fraternity of Consecrated Life.
The Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity was Founded in Chicago in 1999. Two Missionary sisters came from San Francisco, lived in an apartment and started to work in Campus Ministry at UIC with Hispanic Students. They also reach out to different Hispanic immigrants to invite them for Prayer with scripture, faith formation and retreats. After a few years, they set up a meeting with Cardinal Francis George to discuss more permanent work in the Campus Ministry and the possibility to continu their mission with those who were gathering around them. They also found a Convent to live in, St Viator on Addison Street Eventually in 2005, the sisters moved to St. Eugene Convent where they remain living until the present day. The new place and influx of new sisters, brought to the Verbum Dei mission in Chicago a new moment of reaching out to different nationalities; English, Filipino, Polish as well as the continued work with Hispanics.
The Verbum Dei minister to four linguistic and cultural groups—English, Polish, Hispanic, and Filipino—serving people of all ages, social statuses, and backgrounds. Although these groups and their various subcultures arrived during different waves of immigration, their shared migrant background has often made them more vulnerable to challenges such as dysfunctional family dynamics, depression, loneliness, alcohol abuse, and the loss of their youth to gang violence and drug use. Through years of ministry, the Verbum Dei have witnessed that a living encounter with Jesus in the Word of God—experienced within their diverse, international, welcoming, and simple missionary community—fosters a renewed and strengthened Christian identity. This encounter transforms individuals’ outlook on life and brings about deep, interior renewal of families and society.
With joy and eagerness, we will continue our ministry to those who are seeking spiritual guidance and missionary formation. However, we would like to share with you our dream and a specific need: obtaining our own House for Mission.
We, the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity, have been serving the Archdiocese of Chicago since 1999. For most of this time, our community has lived in the convent of Saint Eugene Catholic Church on the Northwest Side of Chicago. However, this rental situation has become increasingly difficult, as we are required to bring in relatively high salaries just to cover the monthly payments.
As a result, we are now looking for another property—an unused convent, rectory, or larger home—that can accommodate four sisters. Ideally, this property would also have extra rooms for retreat guests and some green space that is, or could be, developed into a garden for the sisters and retreatants. The house would need to include: a spacious kitchen, a chapel or a room that could be designated as one, a multipurpose room that could serve as a dining area, lecture/formation hall, and meeting space for small groups.
I am a native of Navojoa, Son, Mexico, northern Mexico., Iam widow, I was married 30 years, to a wonderful man Jerome. We have one son Michael who works in the field of horticulture.
After my husband’s death, I moved to Norridge, I started attending Mass at St. Eugene and one day, I saw on the bulletin an invitation to pray with scripture at the convent with Verbum Dei Missionary Sisters. I didn’t know what the word Verbum Dei meant, I learned it means “The Word of God”, and also, I was not brought up reading the Bible, but I Still I went. And twelve years later, I’m still here.
What has kept me here this long, you might ask?
First, because here, I learned to pray to really pray. My idea of praying was to sit and talk and talk make requests and then expect things to be granted. And I thought reading scripture meant receiving information about Jesus. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
I never realized that when I sat down in prayer, I had someone in front of me. The person of Jesus, listening and gazing back at me and also, He had something to say back to me.
Now, when I sit down and read scripture, I reflect on what He is whispering to me through the Holy Spirit. I believe this is the main reason why I’m here today, because I found a forever friend in Jesus that listens and loves me so much that gave His life for me. And, because of this community of individuals with diverse backgrounds and ethnicity, who despite, our differences, strive to understand each other and be one in Christ.
I believe Jesus calls each one of us to this unity when He said that all of them may be one, as You are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17:21)
I invite you to join us on Tuesdays at 7:30pm for School of the Word (Spanish) at Center of Missionary Spirituality Verbum Dei
Sr. Kasia I was born and grew up in Poland and as young Adult enter into Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity. There I continue my adventure of relationship with Jesus accompanying people through the Charism of Prayer and Ministry of the Word in their own faith and life journey.
I learned Spanish in Spain and in California and I am serving Polish, Spanish and English speaking community here in Chicago since 2008. With other two Sisters: Sr. Milagros and Sr. Ann Marie, we are working in the Office for Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship in Archdioceses and we are building and sustaining Verbum Dei Missionary Family. You are all welcome to join us in any way!!!
I am a nurse manager in one of the Catholic hospitals in Chicago, Illinois.
It was interesting how I met the Verbum Dei Missionaries. I was at the shopping mall looking for a gift for a friend’s birthday but couldn’t find one which was unusual for me since I am a good shopper. That is when I got a phone call from another friend who had been calling me multiple times inviting me to come to Verbum Dei School of the Word. I accepted the invitation and that turned out to be the best decision of my life. Verbum Dei prayer is different, but I enjoyed praying that night. I still remember the Word of God that touched my heart from Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you.” It has been 12 years and I still enjoy the Verbum Dei Charism. I am part of the School of the Word, School of the Apostles, Bible Studies, and Verbum Dei Missions.
I recently lost my husband. In this time of grieving and sorrow my son and I find comfort with the Verbum Dei community. I invite you to consider joining Verbum Dei in whatever capacity that you can. Please check the website or call the contact information
I’m from Mexico. My family and I are interested in knowing and sharing the Love of God.
My work is at home preparing and staying with my family. And I Evangelize through shirts with the Word of God. Meet the Verbum Dei family Fifteen years ago when my life was broken, as it says in The Word, I have remained in ‘The Vine’ of Jesus, nourishing myself and knowing God. My role in Verbum Dei is to help as much as I can in the retreats and coexistences and pilgrimages with the missionaries.
I would like everyone to know from family and learn to love Jesus every day as my family and I enjoy being here.
We invite you to meet him, he awaits you with open arms. Jesus looks for you every day, let yourself be found.
I am originally from the Philippines. I have been retired from Illinois Mesonic Medical Center taking care of the post-partum unit, where all mothers deliver babies. That was a happy and wonderful experience that I had for 22 years.
At present I am taking care of elderly people to make myself busy and my passion to give the best quality of care for them. I enjoy it.
Verbum Dei is the community where I belong. Where I know God so much and am able to pray always with the Word of God. It’s so that we can continue to ‘shepherd’ others who are very skeptical and naïve about their beliefs in God.
I am still here, and it is really important for my life and our life to have others to continue our journey and our spirituality.
I was born and raised in Chicago and my family is from Guerrero, Mexico. I am currently studying at the community college to be a social worker.
I met Verbum Dei through Sr. Milagros and my Mom. From there, I started to go to the School of the Word. Right now in Verbum Dei, I am serving as an Apostle, helping with the Verbum Dei Mission.
Verbum Dei showed me the deep love of Jesus and continues to light ‘my candle’ showing me the way to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. Come join us in Verbum Dei to keep walking with Jesus. Jesus is waiting for you with His arms open forever.
I have been a Verbum Dei Missionary Sister for 21 years. I am originally from Maryland with parents whose backgrounds are from Polish and Slavakia. I live in the Chicago Verbum Dei community and I dedicate to preaching the Word of God in the English Speaking Apostolate.
I work for the Archdiocese of Chicago in the Office for Evangelization as an Evangelization Coordinator.
I met the Verbum Dei Community in Ireland in 1996 while I was studying at the University to be a Veterinarian. I joined a ‘Prayer with the Word’ group and felt the preaching ‘fit my heart like a glove.’ The rest is history….
Verbum Dei has been a gift that connects me deeply to Jesus, listening to Him, through His Word. In this way, I can respond to His call to be with Him and to be sent. I have a great desire to help people to have a life giving relationship with Jesus through His Word. You are invited as well for this experience that is for all.
I live in a suburb of Chicago with my family, including my parents who immigrated here from Poland. I am still trying to figure out what God is calling me to in life, and how to do the thing called ‘adulting’.
I currently work as a librarian. I got involved with Verbum Dei in 2018 when I joined the ‘Gap’ formation program for young adults and have fallen in love with the community ever since. You will see me helping in retreats, going to spiritual direction, or attending the School of the Apostles.
I am grateful to Verbum Dei for their dedication to preaching the Word of God. They have taught me to really pray with the Word and to have a relationship with God. We would be overjoyed to meet you. Come for one of our groups or events. You never know where God will lead you.
I am the father of three sons all of whom live within three miles of where they grew up. Between them I am the benefactor of nine grandchildren, 5 boys and 4 girls. I have lived in this neighborhood for over the past 50 years. St. Eugene is my parish church.
Over twelve years ago I attended the Verbum Dei sisters at their School of the Word prayer group which was held every Wednesday. I did this as a favor to another member who did not feel comfortable attending alone. He soon dropped out but I continued to attend.
After some time I was asked to join the School of the Apostles which I did. I cannot remember when that was exactly, but it has been a growing number of years. During that time I have taught a Monday evening Bible Class and have participated in a number of other Verbum Dei programs.
While my fervor grows or curtailed by changing times and circumstances, the knowledge of the spiritual sensitivity Verbum Dei affords me allows me to maintain a firm grasp on the route and direction I travel in my life towards our final goal with the Lord.
I hope that some small part of my example will motivate another to emulate the Love our Lord hopes all of us share.
“My dear Jesus, my life in You, with You and like You…” (Fr. Jaime Bonet)
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