The second week of preparation for the final vows (June 12 to June 16, 2023) was quite intense, but also very interesting. The theme of the week was “Religious Vows: Spirituality and Dehonian Dimension,” and it was given by Fr. Dominic Nguyen Huu Loc, SCJ from Vietnam.

Fr. Dominic began the week by talking about the importance of religious vows. He said that they are a sign of our love for God and our commitment to following Jesus Christ. He also said that they are a way of giving ourselves completely to God and to the service of others.

Fr. Dominic then went on to talk about the Dehonian dimension of religious vows. He said that the SCJs are called to be “men of the heart” and to live out the charism of Father Dehon, the founder of the SCJ. He said that this means being men of prayer, men of service, and men of love.

The week ended with the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart on June 16, 2023. The SCJs from the Pagadian Zone gathered together to celebrate the love of God and to renew their commitment to their vows. They also prayed for the strength and grace to continue to live out the Dehonian charism in the world.

On June 17, they travelled to Cagayan de Oro to continue their preparation for final vows. They will spend the next couple of weeks in prayer, discernment, and service. They will also continue to study further the Dehonian charism and prepare for their final vows.

The participants are grateful for the support of their respective entities as they prepare for this important moment in their lives. They ask for your prayers as they continue to journey with Christ.