On August 12, 2026, the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro celebrated the 101st death anniversary of Venerable Fr. Leo John Dehon, founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians).

The Eucharist was presided over by Fr. Niño B. Etulle, SCJ, Regional Superior of the Dehonians in the Philippines. SCJs from the Cagayan de Oro area, seminarians, friends, and benefactors gathered in gratitude for Fr. Dehon’s life and mission. The celebration was preceded by a nine-day novena with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope with the Heart of Christ,” inviting the community to rediscover Fr. Dehon’s spirituality and renew its commitment to live with the Heart of Christ.

In his homily, Fr. Niño reminded everyone that the anniversary is not simply a remembrance of the past, but a celebration of a life that continues to bear fruit. Reflecting on the image of the grain of wheat, he asked: What makes a life truly fruitful—the years we live, or the seeds we plant that continue to bear fruit after we are gone?

This image captures the heart of Fr. Dehon’s life. Like the grain of wheat that falls to the ground, dies, takes root, and bears abundant fruit, Fr. Dehon allowed himself to be planted wherever God called him. Through struggles, changes, and new beginnings, he remained deeply rooted in Christ, nourished by the Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration.

For Fr. Niño, being rooted in Christ is the first challenge of every Christian vocation. From this deep relationship came Fr. Dehon’s courage, freedom, apostolic zeal, and readiness to respond to the needs of his time.

Fr. Dehon was not a distant observer of the world around him. He saw the struggles of the poor, the hopes of young people, and the wounds of society. He listened—to God and to the people—and turned what he heard into concrete action. His vision was not simply to establish an institution, but to form a living family rooted in the pierced Heart of Christ, becoming the hands and heart of Christ in the world.

For this reason, Fr. Niño described Fr. Dehon’s death not as the end of his mission, but as the passing of the torch:

“His life was the seed of wheat; we are the branches. His vision was the blueprint; we are the builders. His faith was the spark; we are the flame-bearers.”

After 101 years, Fr. Dehon’s legacy still confronts us with a question: What are we doing with what has been entrusted to us?

The challenge is not simply to preserve his legacy, but to make his charism fruitful today—to remain rooted in Christ while responding courageously to new realities; to listen to those who are forgotten; to speak for those without a voice; and to bring hope where there is darkness.

Fr. Dehon’s life reminds us that a mission becomes fruitful when it is rooted in Christ and expressed in concrete love and service.

Fr. Dehon planted the seed. Others carried the mission forward. Now the torch is in our hands.

The question is no longer only what Fr. Dehon did in his time, but what we are willing to do in ours.