On June 12, 2026, the Dehonian community in Cagayan de Oro joyfully celebrated the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the principal feast of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ). The Eucharistic celebration brought together SCJs from the Cagayan de Oro area, friends, benefactors, and members of the faithful in a spirit of prayer, gratitude, and fraternity.

The Mass was presided over by Fr. John Karl Cabaluna, SCJ, who invited those present to reflect on the profound gift of the Sacred Heart. In his homily, he described the Sacred Heart as the greatest treasure entrusted to the Congregation by Father Leo Dehon. Quoting the Founder, he reminded the faithful that the Heart of Jesus is a source of eternal joy, hope, and love, capable of sustaining believers amid life’s uncertainties and challenges. He emphasized that the mission of sharing God’s love can only be lived authentically when rooted in a personal intimacy with the Sacred Heart, nourished especially through devotion to the Holy Eucharist.

Reflecting on the image of the Sacred Heart—wounded by sin and indifference, yet still burning with love—Fr. Cabaluna highlighted God’s unwavering faithfulness. Despite human weakness and feelings of unworthiness, God continues to call each person by name and invite them into a relationship of trust and love. Drawing from the Gospel, he noted that the mysteries of God’s love are revealed not to the proud or self-sufficient, but to those who approach Him with the simplicity and openness of a child. The faithful were encouraged to recognize God’s presence in the small details and ordinary experiences of daily life.

The homilist also expressed gratitude for the missionaries, benefactors, and countless individuals who have become instruments of God’s love, helping others draw closer to the Sacred Heart. Their presence and vocation, he said, are part of God’s providential plan. He concluded by inviting everyone to become witnesses of mercy, compassion, and hope in a world often marked by indifference, selfishness, and greed. Trusting not in their own strength but in the grace flowing from the Heart of Christ, believers are called to embrace their mission with courage and enthusiasm.

The celebration provided an opportunity for members of the Dehonian family and their supporters to renew their commitment to the spirituality and mission inspired by the Heart of Jesus, which lies at the center of the Congregation’s charism.

As the celebration concluded, participants left renewed in faith and hope. More than an annual feast, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart was a living reminder that the Heart of Jesus remains the source of their mission, the foundation of their communion, and the enduring sign of God’s faithful love for His people.