The Regional Celebration of the 100th Death Anniversary of the Servant of God, Fr. Leo John Dehon, SCJ, founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, was joyfully held on August 26, 2025, at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro City. The day was filled with prayer, reflection, fraternity, and thanksgiving—a fitting tribute to a man whose life and mission continue to inspire the Dehonian Family around the world.

The celebration began in the morning with a conference given by Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, titled “A Heart that Transforms: The Path of Dehonian Spirituality.”
In his talk, Fr. Pupkowski reflected on the deep spirituality of Fr. Dehon, whose life was united with the Heart of Jesus—a heart that loves, serves, and transforms society through compassion and faith. He encouraged everyone to live this spirituality in today’s world by following the path of faith, love, and reparation as ways to bring healing and renewal.

After lunch, the priests and seminarians enjoyed a friendly basketball game, filling the afternoon with laughter and joy. This simple moment of recreation expressed the spirit of friendship and community that Fr. Dehon valued—one built on mutual respect, joy, and unity.

As the day came to an end, the community gathered for the Holy Eucharist, the highlight of the celebration. The Most Rev. Jose A. Cabantan, D.D., Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro, presided over the Mass. In his homily, the Archbishop invited everyone to follow the example of Fr. Dehon’s open and generous heart, always centered on Christ and ready to love, serve, and heal the wounds of humanity.

The Eucharist brought together Dehonian priests and brothers from different communities, along with friends, benefactors, and lay collaborators from Cagayan de Oro and nearby areas. It was a moment of deep gratitude to God for the gift of Fr. Dehon’s charism, which continues to bear fruit in the life of the Church and society.

After the Mass, everyone shared a festive supper, followed by a program prepared by the SCJ seminarians. Through music, skits, and creative presentations, the seminarians expressed their joy and thanksgiving for belonging to the spiritual family founded by Fr. Dehon.

The day concluded in an atmosphere of joy, faith, and communion — a living sign that the Dehonian mission remains alive and fruitful in the Philippine Region.