TECHNY, Ill. (CNS) -- The first assignments for the nine men ordained as priests of the Society of the Divine Word in May will take them around the globe. The new priests -- eight are of Vietnamese descent and one is from China -- will serve in the order's western and southern U.S. provinces and in Mexico, Mozambique and Paraguay. Historically, Divine Word priests have "transcended boundaries -- geographically, philosophically and culturally. Globally, we work together," said Father Mark Weber, Chicago provincial superior for the Society of the Divine Word located in Techny. The men were ordained May 24 in Techny by Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Carmon of New Orleans, who was ordained a priest for the Society of the Divine Word, known commonly as Divine Word missionaries and as Verbites. The Society of the Divine Word was founded in 1875 and currently has more than 6,000 members who serve the spiritual and social needs of people in 70 countries.