VERBUM DEI

What VERBUM DEI does

VERBUM DEI is a Catholic missionary fraternity founded in 1963 by P. Jaime Bonet on Mallorca, Spain, operating as a non-profit religious community with international headquarters in Madrid and German coordination in Munich. It comprises approximately 600 consecrated members (priests and missionary couples) and roughly 38,000 co-workers across 36 countries on five continents, delivering contemplative spiritual formation, theological education, retreats, and pastoral ministry, with particular focus on Latin American diaspora communities in Europe.

The organization's core product is "The Seven Stages of Prayer with the Bible" (Die 7 Stufen des Betens mit der Bibel), a codified contemplative methodology taught through courses worldwide. This is complemented by a five-year ecclesiastical baccalaureate program at the Theological Institute "San Pablo Apóstol" in Madrid (a branch of the Pontifical University Urbaniana in Rome), retreat facilities including the 600-capacity Centro Misionero at Siete Aguas (Spain), Venner Moor (Germany), and Central European houses (24–240 beds each), plus parish-based "Misa Latina" Spanish-language services in Munich and youth formation programs.

VERBUM DEI operates on a donation-based, non-commercial revenue model: members practice Gütergemeinschaft (community of goods) and work gratuitously in pastoral ministry, with occasional paid pastoral/teaching roles. Distribution occurs through parish and diocesan networks, retreat centers, local study communities, and the theological institute, with growth driven by personal invitation, retreats, and ecumenical partnerships. In September 2024, Anne Marie Healey became the first Irish worldwide president, succeeding Spanish priest Rodrigo Moya (2018–2024); Pope Francis sent a personal greeting to the 2024 General Congress, reinforcing Vatican recognition of the organization as a "New Missionary Church Family."

Name

VERBUM DEI

Legal name

Gemeinschaft VERBUM DEI

Website

https://verbum-dei.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VERBUM DEI is a Catholic missionary fraternity founded in 1963, operating across 36 countries with ~600 consecrated members and 38,000 co-workers, delivering contemplative spiritual formation, theological education, retreats, and pastoral services through donation-based, non-commercial operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Spiritual Formation Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Catholic spiritual formation
• Contemplative prayer programs
• Theological education
• Religious retreat centers
• Missionary community

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Support: Verbum Dei practices community of goods (Gütergemeinschaft) with over 1000 members worldwide living simply. They ask for support for theological education (minimum 6 years), pastoral work, and projects especially in disadvantaged countries. They work gratuitously in pastoral ministry.
2. Pastoral Services: Occasionally members take on paid duties in church pastoral care and teaching, though this is secondary. The primary commitment is to gratuitous service.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Verbum Dei is a Catholic missionary fraternity offering spiritual formation through a proprietary seven-stage prayer methodology with the Bible, theological education programs, daily contemplative exercises, marriage and family seminars, and retreat facilities. It operates as a non-profit religious community of consecrated missionaries, priests, and married couples providing gratuitous pastoral services in 36 countries.

Product overview

VERBUM DEI is a missionary Catholic organization structured as a community with spiritual formation offerings. The core is the Missionarische Fraternität Verbum Dei with three branches (missionaries/priests, missionary couples), supported by lay workers and members. Key offerings include: the theological education program at Instituto San Pablo, the '7 Stufen des Betens' prayer formation program, daily spiritual exercises (Exerzitien im Alltag), marriage and family seminars (Leben&Liebe), and retreat facilities at Centro Misionero Siete Aguas. The organization focuses on contemplative-missionary spirituality through prayer and evangelization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Theologisches Institut Verbum Dei 'San Pablo Apostól': Theological institute in Madrid offering a five-year study program leading to ecclesiastical baccalaureate in Catholic Theology, affiliated with the Pontifical University Urbaniana in Rome.

Products and services

• Die 7 Stufen des Betens mit der Bibel

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands have learned 'The Seven Stages of Prayer with the Bible' through courses worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pope Francis / VaticancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2024Pope Francis sent a greeting message to members of the Missionarische Fraternität Verbum Dei at their General Congress in Madrid, encouraging them to 'use the grace of the moment as an impetus for mission.' The movement is recognized as a 'New Missionary Church Family' by the Catholic Church.
• Miteinander für EuropacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004European initiative uniting over 300 Christian communities and movements from various churches. Verbum Dei has been involved since the first Congress in Stuttgart in 2004, participating in the network that promotes common goals while respecting each community's unique charisma.
• Budapest, Hungary CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001In 2001, after completing their diplomas, missionaries from the Munich Verbum Dei community established a new mission in Budapest, Hungary.
• Pontifical University Urbaniana, RomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe San Pablo Institute in Madrid is a branch of the Pontifical University Urbaniana in Rome, offering accredited theological education to Verbum Dei members and others.
• KHG (Catholic University Parish) MunichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing connection with the Catholic university parish at LMU Munich, integrating Verbum Dei into the student milieu around the university.
• Parish of Allerheiligen, MunichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor over 10 years, the parish hosted Verbum Dei's Spanish-language 'Misa Latina' services, becoming a spiritual home for Latin Americans in Munich.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/verbum-dei

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VERBUM DEI