SEDOS (Service of Documentation and Study on Global Mission) is a forum open to Institutes of Consecrated Life, which commit themselves to deepening their understanding of global mission. It encourages research and disseminates information through its Bulletin and Homepage, the annual SEDOS Residential Seminar (beginning of May), public conferences, and workshops.
SEDOS began during the Second Vatican Council when nine missionary societies began to meet in an informal way in Rome to exchange information and opinions on mission in the Church. The guiding light was Father Hein Mondé, Superior General of the Society of African Missions (SMA), together with other eight Superiors General. The group made a significant contribution to Ad Gentes at the Second Vatican Council, which was greatly influenced by their discussions with members of the Roman Curia.
In 1964 the nine societies wished to have a permanent secretariat. Father Johan Schütte, Superior General of the Society of the Divine Word Missionaries, generously made available the spacious premises on the SVD College grounds, in Rome. Even today, these offices host the SEDOS secretariat and library.
In 1969, SEDOS was already made up of 30 member societies of sisters, brothers, and priests. In December 1995 the number reached 88. At the moment, 2017, we have about 80 members. Many of the members have their Mother House in Rome, others in Ireland, England, France, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, the United States of America, and Mexico. Many of them are major religious missionary societies of the Catholic Church.
In 1981, SEDOS organized an international seminar on “WHY MISSION?”. The idea that immerged, in the words of Father Ferrari, Superior General of the Xaverian Missionaries, then President of SEDOS, are now recorded in the Statutes of many of our member institutions and others. He said that SEDOS is, and has been, an extraordinary catalyst of the missionary energy of its members. The reports of the seminar is reported in the book published by SEDOS, Mission in Dialogue (Orbis Books 1982), and they are still relevant to missiological thought today.
SEDOS published Trends in Mission (Orbis Books 1991), to celebrate its 25 years of Mission activity. It contains a selection of conferences given over the preceding eight years which illustrate the development of theology and mission practice during that period. This text was chosen by the International Bulletin of Missionary Research as one of the most meaningful texts on the study of mission published in 1991. In 1994, during the Special Synod of Bishops for Africa, SEDOS organized a special theological symposium with the bishops and the African theologians. This conference led to a new book on the Church in Africa, entitled: Africa – The Kairos of a Synod. To celebrate the 50 years of SEDOS a booklet on the history of SEDOS and its founders was published: The biographies of the nine Founders of SEDOS (1964-2014).
Interreligious dialogue and Ecumenism are important subjects for SEDOS.
The Commission on World Mission and Evangelization within the World Council of Churches (WCC) has already invited SEDOS several times to their International conferences (e.g. Melbourne 1980, San Antonio 1989, Greece, 2005, Tanzania 2018). For the Commemoration of the 500 Years of the Reformation this year, we are organizing an Ecumenical Celebration at the Lutheran Church in Rome.
Also for interreligious dialogue SEDOS has taken different initiatives, the last one was last year, 2016, with an Interreligious Pilgrimage through the Holy Door: https://vimeo.com/193203862
The place of women, an argument taken into little consideration at the initial meetings, now holds an important place. In fact, the Executive Committee of SEDOS is now made up of 50% men and 50% women. And in accord with SEDOS Statutes, a Superior General, man or woman, alternates in holding the position of President for a period of three years.
SEDOS’ primary prerogative is the deepening and understanding of world mission. To accomplish this, it organizes various seminars, conferences, workshops, every year which are open to the public. The speakers are chosen among those with a wide experience in the missionary field and with a sufficient knowledge on how to deal with missionary challenges.
In addition, SEDOS welcomes groups and facilitates meetings periodically at the Secretariat, to analyze and share particular experiences and situations in different missionary areas. For this reason, SEDOS also cooperates with other groups, such as Justice and Peace committee or IRD committee within the USG-UISG.
SEDOS library has an important collection of books and magazines. It publishes the bi-monthly SEDOS Bulletin with articles in four languages, and manages a Homepage which circulates interesting information, articles, books, and links on missionary experiences /studies from diverse parts of the world.
SEDOS welcomes all new members with an open heart and an open mind!