The Parish of St John Ogilvie's is served by Priests of the Society of the Divine Saviour.
The Society of the Divine Saviour, popularly known as the Salvatorians, is an international, religious, congregation of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church, founded in Rome, December 8, 1881, by Father Francis Jordan. He said:
Today members of the Society are engaged in apostolic activities in 40 countries all over the world. They are part of a Salvatorian Family which includes religious sisters (Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Saviour) and laity (International Community of the Divine Saviour).
The Society of the Divine Saviour proclaims and teaches by all ways and means the goodness and kindness of Jesus the Saviour.
Salvatorians seek to become apostles for our times in order to make the Saviour known to all people.
John Baptist Jordan was born into a poor family in Gurtweil, Germany. His family’s poverty prevented him from completing his studies and entering seminary and he spent some years working as an itinerant painter and labourer.
In time, he was able to begin seminary studies and he was ordained a priest on July 21, 1878. Father Jordan had demonstrated a proficiency with languages and his archbishop sent him to Rome to study Greek and Semitic languages.
Father Jordan became increasingly aware that God was calling him to establish a new apostolic work in the Church, envisioning a collaborative society of priests, religious and lay people who would promote the Catholic Faith throughout the world.
On December 8, 1881, Father Jordan and a small group of companions professed religious vows, establishing the “Apostolic Teaching Society.” At the time of his profession, Father Jordan took the religious name “Francis Mary of the Cross.”
In the years that followed, the Society Father Jordan founded was transformed into two distinct religious communities, one including priests and brothers and the other, a new community of religious sisters cofounded with Blessed Mary of the Apostles (Therese von Wüllenweber). Given a new name and now dedicated to the Divine Saviour, these communities became known as the Salvatorians.
Father Jordan spent the remainder of his life governing the community of priests and brothers and overseeing the establishment of new missions in several countries, as well as the ongoing publishing and educational projects of the young community.
Blessed Francis Mary of the Cross died on September 8, 1918, in Fribourg, Switzerland, where he had been forced to relocate during the First World War. He was beatified on May 15, 2021.
Today, Salvatorian priests, brothers, sisters, and lay members serve in a myriad of ministries in nearly 45 countries, inspired by Father Jordan’s vision of collaboration and universality.
Here are three short videos about Blessed Francis Jordan's life. These are best viewed in full screen or portrait mode.
For information about about possible vocations to the Salvatorians, please visit the Vocations website at
https://sdsgb. org/vocation-2/.