On Sept. 20, eight young men professed perpetual vows with the Society of the Divine Word at St. Joseph the Worker in Wheeling, Ill. Their backgrounds illuminate the intercultural nature of the Society of the Divine Word.
Before joining the Society of the Divine Word in 2018, New Jersey native Ryan Agbim SVD, 30, already began building an exciting life. In high school, he excelled as a shotput champion and took part in stage productions. At Rutgers University, he earned a bachelor’s degree in public health, followed by work as a pharmacy technician. After novitiate with the SVDs, Ryan professed first vows in 2020. He spent two years in Italy, completing his Cross-Cultural Training Program (CTP). In 2026, he will finish his studies at Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago and be ordained to the priesthood.
Born in Haiti, Marc Declama SVD, 33, was in primary school when the example of a local priest inspired him to consider the priesthood. In preparation, he earned an associate of arts degree in philosophy from Grand Seminary Notre Dame de Cazeau in Port-au-Prince. In 2015, Marc arrived in the United States to begin studies with the Society of the Divine Word. A native French and Creole speaker, Marc learn English at Divine Word College in Iowa. He professed first vows in 2020 and completed his CTP in the Southern United States. Marc will graduate from CTU and be ordained to the priesthood in the spring.
Arnold Formbi SVD, 31, grew up in Ghana. The son of a teacher and a farmer, Arnold is the fourth of eight children. He entered the Society of the Divine Word in 2014 and professed vows in Ghana in 2018. After his first vows profession, his superiors sent him to the Chicago Province so he could study at CTU. Arnold fulfilled his CTP in Germany. Like Ryan and Marc, he is in his last year of studies at CTU and will be ordained to the priesthood in the spring.
Born and raised in South Florida, Brian Junkes SVD, 35, is an advocate for the active participation of people with disabilities in the Church. Brian can relate to the struggle. As a child, he had difficulty speaking, began working with a speech pathologist at three years old and throughout his time in elementary school, as well as having support to help him succeed in public school. After high school, Brian worked in the swimming pool retail industry, selling residential swimming pool supplies and cleaning swimming pools. In 2018, he graduated from Divine Word College with a bachelor’s degree in intercultural studies. He professed first vows in 2019 and completed his CTP in Chad. This spring, he will complete his studies at CTU and be ordained to the priesthood.
Born in Vietnam, Vincent Tri Nguyen SVD, 34, moved to the United States with his family when he was 21. The family settled in California. Before entering studies with the Society of the Divine Word, Vincent worked for a dental company in Irvine, Calif. He graduated from Divine Word College in Epworth with a bachelor’s degree in intercultural studies in 2018. The following year, he professed first vows and became the first SVD brother to profess vows in the Chicago Province in more than a decade. Vincent did CTP missionary work in Ghana for two years and will return there for his first assignment.
The sixth of his parents’ seven children, Pedro Saveia SVD, 32, grew up in Angola. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Instituto Superior Dom Bosco in Luanda in 2015. For two years in the seminary in Angola, he worked in maintenance with two SVD brothers. In 2017, he professed vows in Angola in 2017 and was sent to the United States to learn English and eventually attend CTU. Pedro speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish and Kimbundu, a Bantu language spoken in Angola. He fulfilled his CTP in the Southern United States. After graduating from CTU this spring, he will be ordained to the priesthood.
Thong Dinh Tran SVD, 35, the second of his parents’ six sons, was born in Vietnam. Before entering the Society of the Divine Word in 2014, he was a parishioner of Our Lady of Vietnam in Atlanta, Ga.; volunteered in the Eucharistic Youth Movement; and worked as a Vietnamese-language teacher. Tran graduated from Divine Word College with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 2019 and professed first vows at Techny in 2020. He completed CTP in the Western United States. He completed his studies at CTU in the spring of 2025 and will be ordained to the priesthood in 2026.
Born in Benin, Baruch Zinsou SVD, 37, joined the Society of the Divine Word in Togo in 2013. Before entering the religious order, he earned a bachelor’s degree in geography and territory development from the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin and worked as a middle school and high school geography and history teacher. He also was active in Feu Nouveau (New Fire), a youth group in which he served as a leader. Baruch’s language proficiency includes French, English and Fon. He professed first vows in 2021 and fulfilled his CTP in the Southern United States. Baruch will graduate from CTU in the spring and be ordained to the priesthood.
Founded in 1875, the Society of the Divine Word has almost 6,000 members who serve the spiritual and social needs of people in more than 70 countries.