Here in the place of the old chapel Fr. Dehon professed his first vows
On June 28, 1878, which was the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Leo Dehon made his first profession in the little oratory of St. John’s College. As well as the three traditional vows, he added one of victimhood.
This June 28th became the birthday of the Congregation called ‘Oblates of the Heart of Jesus’. It consisted of only one religious, the founder, John of the Heart of Jesus.
June is the month of the Sacred Heart. The Feast of the Sacred Heart is a moveable feast. It is celebrated on the first Friday after the Octave of Corpus Christi. This year 2020 it will be celebrated on June 19. Among many different religious practices during this month is singing or reciting the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Sometimes we do this without giving too much attention to the content and meaning of each invocation. In this connection, the Priests of the Sacred Heart would like to invite you to meditate on it together with Fr. Leo Dehon, the founder of the Congregation dedicated to the Divine Heart of Jesus.
The meditations are taken from the following address: http://dehoniansusa.org/feature-stories/meditations-on-the-litany-of-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus/ and supplied with the biblical references. Continue reading
Mach 14, 2020, marks the 177th birth anniversary of Fr. Leo John Dehon, founder of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, SCJ. It is a special day to thank the Lord for the gift of his life and the uncountable graces that God gave to him. It is also a day of prayer for the new Dehonian Vocations.
In the Spirit of Sint Unum with the whole Congregation, the Sacred Heart Formation House in Aluba, Cagayan de Oro, started the celebration with a holy hour, reflecting upon some of his writings and praying for new vocations. Continue reading
Seventy one (71) participants from the SCJ parishes, all over the Philippines, members of the Dehonian Youth and Lay Dehonians, took part in the “First Dehonian Family Encounter”, that was held at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Aluba, Cagayan de Oro City.
The purpose of this meeting, which was a part of celebration of the 30th Anniversary of SCJ presence in the Philippines, was sharing of experiences, learning more about Father Dehon and fellowship among the different groups.
The meeting started on Friday, October 25, 2019, with the Holy Mass to the Sacred Heart of Jesus presided by Fr. Janusz Burzawa, SCJ. On the following day, October 26, 2019, during the morning session Fr. Janusz deepened the theme: “Sharing the Dehonian Charism Serving the Gospel, and Living in the Community” by sharing about the life and works of Fr. Leo John Dehon, and as well his personal experiences as a missionary in the Philippines for the last 26 years.
In the afternoon, Ms. Elaine Gutang conducted the team building activities. The Eucharist was presided by Fr. Patrick Gutib, SCJ, one of the main organizers of these activities. In the evening, all participants took part in a special program prepared and presented by each group.
On Sunday, October 27, 2019, all the participants attended the Holy Eucharist at the Immaculate Conception Parish, across the street, presided by the regional superior Fr. Lukas Hadi Siswo Sasmito, SCJ. The lunch was followed by the closing activities, namely evaluation and planning. At 3:00 PM the meeting was over and all could return to their respective places. The biggest group came from San Isidro Labrador Parish in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur. Some of the groups were accompanied by their priests.
Hopefully, this was not one time activity, but it will continue in the future.
March 14, the Birth Anniversary of Fr. Leo John Dehon is remembered and celebrated by the entire Dehonian Family around the world. It is also a special day of prayers for new vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially to the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ). On this day, all the SCJs and all lay associates, inspired by the life and works of Fr. Dehon, gather together to reflect on the charism of their founder, which they consider as a special gift from God to the Church.
As usual, the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro City, together with members of the Lay Dehonians and Dehonian Youth, joined this worldwide celebration of the 176th Birth Anniversary of their founder. During the Holy Eucharist, Fr. Francis Pupkowski, scj, the main celebrant and homilist, presented the life and vocation of Fr. Dehon, whose driving force of all his activities was to bring about “The Reign of God in souls and society.”
Besides the members of the Dehonian Family, the celebration was attended by all the SCJs from the neighbor communities, friends and benefactors. The celebration was culminated with the common super prepared by the formation community.
Similar activities were held in Dehon House in Manila and Novitiate Fr. Dehon in Lower Lucoban, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur. In Manila the Holy Mass was presided by Fr. Lukas Hadi Siswo Sasmito, SCJ, the Regional Superior, who instituted Bro. Argol Chavez, SCJ, to the ministry of acolyte.
