SVD是拉丁文“Societas Verbi Divini”三字的第一個字母，拉丁文意思是聖言會，一個由楊生‧愛諾德神父於1875年在荷蘭史太爾城建立的傳教團體，其總部現設於羅馬。團體成員通常被稱為‘聖言傳教士’。現有成員（包括神父及修士）大約有六千人，來自及服務世界六十多國。他們的福傳工作主要在非教友中服務，並協助當地教會的傳道事業如教育、印刷有關福音書籍、社會各階層的溝通、社會公義與和平的爭取、培養神職人員及安排對社會上不同意見的人士間展開和平對話等。

教宗若望保祿二世於2003年10月5日策封聖言會會祖楊生‧愛諾德神父及首位到中國傳教的范若瑟神父為天主教聖人。

聖言會最早期對香港傳教工作始於1879年。當時首位來華的聖言會傳教士范若瑟神父，在未進入中國內陸前，曾進註新界西貢鹽田仔村二年之久。范若瑟神父在這期間也探訪了大嶼山一些漁村。他其後在中國汕頭展開傳教的工作。聖言會於1948年在九龍設立補給宿舍，接待大量由於共產革命而被逐出中國的傳教士。從1965年起直到今天，聖言會持續參與香港教區的工作。現時共有26位來自19個不同國家的聖言會會士（20位神父，6位修士）在香港服務。

於2006年9月開始，教區邀請聖言會派出三位神父主理大嶼山主顯堂教務：麥安華神父(主任司鐸)、范進峰神父及夏恒信神父。

“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of Grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all. Amen.” (SVD Prayer)

SVD stands for “Societas Verbi Divini” (Latin) which means the Society of the Divine Word, a religious missionary congregation founded in 1875, in Steyl Holland, by fro, Arnold Janssen. Its motherhouse now is in Rome. Members of this congregration are known as the “Divine Word Missionaries”. There are more than 6,000 members (priests and brothers), coming from and working in more than 60 countries in the world, doing mission mainly among non-Christian people and helping local churches by involving in different kinds of apostolate such as education, biblical, communication, justice and peace, missiology and dialogue, etc.

On October 5, 2003, Fr. Arnold Janssen, SVD (the founder) and Fr. Joseph Freinademetz, SVD (the first missionary sent to China) were canonized by Pope John Paul II.

SVD started its mission in Hongkong in 1879 when the first missionary to China, Fr. Joseph Freinademetz stationed in Yim Tin Tsai island, Sai Kung, New Territories, for two years before entering the mainland China where he later started his China mission in Shan Dung. During his stay in Yin Tin Tsai island, Fr. Freinademetz also visited some fishing villages in Lantau Island. In 1948, SVD established a procure house in Kwoloon, accommodating many missionaries from China expelled during the China Revolution. Since 1965 until now, SVD has been involved in the life of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. At present, there are 26 SVD priests in Hong Kong (20 priests and 6 brothers) coming from 19 different nationalities.

In September 2006, three SVD missionaries were sent to Lantau island, administering the Epiphany Parish. They are Fr. Osvaldo G. Metz (Parish Priest), Fr. Jay Francis Flandez and Fr. Henry Cabral.