The Society of the Divine Saviour (), abbreviated SDS and also known as the Salvatorians, is a clerical religious congregation of Pontifical Right for men in the Roman Catholic Church. The members of the congregation use the nominal SDS after their names. It has clergy serving in more than 40 countries throughout the world. It was founded in Rome, Italy on 8 December 1881 by Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan. The Generalate of the community is in Rome, at Via della Conciliazione in Palazzo Cesi-Armellini. The current Superior General of the Salvatorians is the Milton Zonta. It is dedicated to Jesus Christ as the "Divine Saviour". Its patron saints are the Blessed Virgin Mary as "Mother of the Savior", the Apostles, Michael the Archangel, and Joseph. The patronal feast of the Society of the Divine Saviour is Christmas Day. The Salvatorians celebrate 11 October as the "Solemnity of Mary, Mother of the Savior". Other important liturgical celebrations include Pentecost Sunday and 5 September, the Feast of Blessed Mary of the Apostles. Other societies affiliated with the Salvatorians as part of the "Salvatorian Family" include the Sisters of the Divine Saviour and the International Community of the Divine Saviour (Lay Salvatorians). History The Society of the Divine Savior was founded at Rome, on 8 December 1881, by Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan. The original name of the institute, Society of Catholic Instruction, was changed in 1893 to the present title. The Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Savior was founded in December 1888, by Jordan, to complement the work of the Salvatorian Fathers. On 13 December 1889, the new Prefecture Apostolic of Assam in present-day India was entrusted to the society. :pl:Otto Hopfenmüller was named the first Apostolic Prefect. The fathers also published many books in the Khasi language. In September 1893, a college was established at Lochau, Austria; in the same year a station was founded at Corvallis, Oregon, United States. In 1896 several members began work in Brazil. The first papal approbation was granted in the Decretum laudis of 27 May 1905. In 1915 Pankratius Pfeiffer succeeded Jordan as Superior General. During the Nazi occupation of Rome in 1943 and 1944, Pfeiffer acted as an intermediary between Pope Pius XII and the German authorities. Every day he would visit the prisons of Regina Coeli and Via Tasso, returning with a freed prisoner. Spirituality and mission The