MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Church marks on Sunday the feast of Saint Arnold Janssen, the founder of the missionary congregations Society of the Divine Word (SVD) in 1875, the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, also known as the Blue Sisters because of the color of their habit (1889), and the Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration, also known as the Pink Sisters (1896).

Rev. Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD, will celebrate a feast mass at 8:30 a.m. at the St. Arnold Janssen Shrine in Cainta, Rizal. Masses will also be held at 7 a.m., 10 a.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. A solemn procession bearing the image of the well-loved priest will be held at 2 p.m.

St. Arnold developed the apostolate of the press and pioneered in sending women to foreign missions. He began his ministry as a teacher and was known as a great devotee of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Born in 1837 in Goch, Germany, St. Arnold was ordained priest in 1861. He died in 1909 and was canonized by Blessed Pope John Paul II on Oct. 5, 2003.

On Sunday, more than 6,000 Divine Word missionaries work in 63 countries all over the world, including the Philippines.