The Society of the Divine Word (SVD) on Thursday (Jan. 12) launched a book titled, “Wilhelm Finnemann: An SVD Filipino Martyr” with its author Fr. Michael Layugan at Divine Word College in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. (Photo by Madonna T. Virola)
CITY OF CALAPAN — The Society of the Divine Word (SVD) on Thursday morning (Jan. 12) launched a book titled “Wilhelm Finnemann: An SVD Filipino Martyr” at Divine Word College of Calapan (Basic Education Department) in this city.
The SVD is an international religious missionary congregation of priests and brothers who serve in more than 70 countries worldwide.
“We are launching here because this place is very significant to the person we are celebrating,” said Fr. Michael Layugan, SVD, PhD, SThD, dean of studies of Divine Word School of Theology in Tagaytay.
A naturalized Filipino, Finnemann (who was first a German) was the first Prefect Apostolic of Mindoro (now Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan) in 1936. He was also the auxiliary bishop of Manila and also did missions in Abra in northern Luzon.
“I have three claims in the book: he was a true SVD religious missionary, a true Filipino, and a martyr. It is an illustration of humanity at its best—how he struggled being human and prevailed steadfast in his faith in God,” said Layugan.
Finnemann was thrown into the depths of the sea on Verde Island off the coast of Batangas City on Oct. 26, 1942, by the Japanese because he refused the abuse of girls and women during World War II when he was assigned in Calapan.
Fr. Jerome Marquez, provincial superior of the SVD Philippine Central Province, lauded the 645-page book because it is “readable, its facts are based on accounts and testimonies, it provides context and meaning.”
Layugan said proceeds of the thick book (P500) are for a project celebrating the 150 years of the SVD for a two-volume historical account of the SVD’s presence in the Philippines from 1909 to 1982.
Another book, “A Path Less Taken, a Short Biography of Wilhelm Finnemann,” is being sold (P100) for the cause of Bishop Finnemann. Efforts are going on for his sainthood. Both books are available at Catholic Trade in Manila.
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