Category SCJ Congregation

May 10 2018

Renewal of Vows in Cagayan de Oro

On May 10, 2018, two scholastics: Fra. Victor Lingasa and Fra. Julius Socorro, have renewed their religious vows of chastity, poverty and obedience in the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. The vows were accepted by Fr. Rico O. Lapinig, SCJ, the first councilor of the Philippine Region. The ceremony was held at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro City and was attended by the SCJs from neighbor communities, family members and friends.

At the moment both of them are on their community exposure: Fra. Victor in Talisay, Hilongos and Fra. Julius in Immaculate Concepcion Parish in Aluba, Cagayan de Oro.

Apr 17 2018

Episcopal ordination of Fr. Heiner Wilmer, SCJ

The date of the episcopal ordination of Fr. Heiner Wilmer, SCJ,  the 10th Superior General of the Dehonians, has been announced.

Msgr. Heinz-Günter Bongartz invites you to the celebration, which will take place at the Cathedral of Mariä Himmelfahrt in Hildesheim, on September 1st at 10:00 a.m.

Fr. Heiner will become the 71st bishop of the diocese.

The presider and ordaining bishop will be the archbishop of Hamburg, Msgr. Stefan Heße. Other concelebrants are to include Msgr. Franz-Josef Bode (Osnabrücker) and Msgr. Norbert Trelle (bishop emeritus of Hildesheim). The papal bull will be presented by Archbishop Nikola Eterović (apostolic nuncio).

Apr 17 2018

Meeting of the SCJ Formators in Rome

From April 16 – 20, 2018, the Dehonian formators, particularly the rectors of the scholasticates, are meeting in Rome to discuss the needs and challenges of formation at the stage of Theology.

The Philippines is being represented by Fr. Delio Ruiz, SCJ, the head of the formation team and rector of the Dehon House in Manila. We entrust this meeting to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Apr 6 2018

Fr. Heiner Wilmer to be Bishop of Hildesheim, Germany

On 6 April 2018, the Holy Father, Pope Francis  had nominated Fr. Heiner Wilmer, SCJ, to be a bishop of Hildesheim, Germany.

Fr. Heiner was born 9 April 1961 in Schapen. He grew up on a farm in Emsland. In 1980 he graduated at the Leoninum, a high school operated by the Dehonians in Handrup close to his hometown. In the same year, he entered the novitiate of the congregation in Freiburg. From 1981 to 1986 he studied theology in Freiburg and romance philology (romance languages) in Paris. After that he was ordained as priest by Archbishop Oskar Saier, the archbishop of Freiburg. He then went to Rome to study at the Gregorian Pontifical University; his focus was French philosophy. In 1991 Wilmer earned a Doctor of Theology in Freiburg, where he dealt with the concept of mysticism in the philosophy of Maurice Blondel. His works were awarded the Bernhard Welte Prize.

Shortly after that, he studied for a Master of Arts in History. Sometime before he finished his first master’s degree Wilmer met the Dutch priest Henri Nouwen. At the request of Nouwen, Wilmer represented him for four months as a pastor at L’Arche Daybreak in Toronto, a facility for people with disabilities. After that he worked for two years as a school counselor and taught religion, political science and history at the Liebfrauenschule Vechta (a German high school) in Niedersachsen, Germany. In 1997 he went to the United States for a year to teach German and history at the Fordham Preparatory School, a Jesuit high school in the Bronx (New York). Upon his return, he became headmaster of the SCJ high school Leoninum in Handrup.

In 2007, Fr. Wilmer was elected for Provincial Superior of the German Province of the Dehonians.

Five years later he published a book (“Gott ist nicht nett – God is not kind”) in which he reflected on his faith and his decision to become a priest.

On May 25, 2015, Fr. Wilmer was elected by the Dehonians as its 10th Superior General.

He succeeded Fr. José Ornelas Carvalho, SCJ, who held the office for 12 years (two six-year terms). Carvalho is now bishop of the Diocese of Sétubal (Portugal).

Fr.Wilmer speaks French, English, Spanish and Italian in addition to his mother tongue German.

Feb 6 2018

Regional Assembly 2018

On February 5, 2018, the SCJ Philippine Region started its annual assembly. The assembly is being held at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro City and is attended by 30 confreres, including Fr. Eduardo Aguero, SCJ from Macao (ICA) and Fr. Khoa Viet Nguyen, SCJ representing the District of Vietnam.

The theme of the assembly, as proposed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), is “Renewed Servant-Leaders for the New Evangelization”  and is dedicated to the Clergy and Consecrated Persons. “We aim towards the integral renewal of the values, mind-sets, behavior and life-styles of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons. Following the example of the Good Shepherd, they are invited to become servant-leaders who care most especially for the least, the lost and the last.” (CBCP Pastoral  Exhortation On the Occasion of the Opening of the 2018 Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons, First Sunday of Advent, 03 December 2017).

As usual the assembly started with a short reflection on the theme guided by Fr. Eduardo Aguero, SCJ, service of reconciliation led by Fr. Patrick Gutib, SCJ, confession and adoration.

In the afternoon of the first day, the participants following the guide questions shared their personal experiences and insights regarding last year and the main topic of the assembly.

The day ended with the Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, supper and common recreation.

The second day was dedicated to the reports by communities and different fields of activities of the region.

The main topic will be elaborated on the third and fourth day of the assembly under the guidance of the main moderator Fr. Eduardo Aguero, SCJ.

The assembly is going to conclude on February 9, 2018.

Dec 2 2017

Dedication of the New Parish Church in Aluba

On December 2, 2017, the Immaculate Concepcion Parish in Aluba, Cagayan de Oro City, celebrated the dedication of its newly constructed church. The construction of the new parish church officialy started on February 28, 2015, and in less than three years has been completed. It looks impressive! All the details has been studied and implemented by the construction committee under the supervision of the parish priest Fr. Janusz Burzawa, SCJ, who was the initiator of this project and also fundraiser. By the way, this is the third project that Fr. Burzawa is involved. In his past assignments he built a new church in Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur and prepared complete plans for the new church in Dumalinao, also in Zamboanga del Sur, which now is in its final stage of completion.

The construction of the new church went in pair in building of the local Christian Community, which Fr. Burzawa considers as the most important. There is a number of pastoral initiatives introduced by him such as home visitations, special catechesis, pledges, retreats and recollections for all the faithful, and recently “Parade of Saints” replacing the pagan Halloween.

The ceremony of dedication was presided by Fr. Florencio Salvador, SSJV,  a former pastor of this parish and delegate of the archbishop Most Rev. Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ,DD, who was assisted by several diocesan priests from the vicariate and SCJs from the neighbor communities.

After the Eucharistic celebration and lunch together, the parish community celebrated its “Family Day”, which in the future will be held   on the first Saturday of December.

Nov 25 2017

Remembering SCJ Martyrs in Cagayan de Oro

Each November 26 is a special day of remembrance of all SCJs who have died in the field as martyrs. Since November 26 this year falls on Sunday, the SCJ community in Cagayan de Oro celebrated the SCJ Memorial Day on November 25, 2017. The main celebrant and homilist was superior of the community Fr. Patrick Gutib, SCJ. The celebration was attended by the SCJs from the area of Cagayan de Oro, members of the Dehonian Family and friends. At the end of the Holy Mass took place a 10 minute presentation about the SCJ martyrs. As usual the celebration concluded with a common meal.

Nov 24 2017

Installation of New Lectors

On November 20, 2017, seven (7) SCJ scholastics were installed to the ministry of Lector. Three (3) of them belong to the SCJ Philippines Region and four (4) to the District of Vietnam.

The new lectors were installed during the Holy Eucharist by the Regional Superior Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, which was attended by SCJs from the Philippines Region and District of Vietnam. The ceremony took place between the meeting of formators of both entities and regular meeting of the Philippine Region.

Oct 24 2017

Meeting of Novice and Postulant Masters in Rome

From October 23 – 27, 2017, all Novice and Postulant Masters of the Priests of the Sacred Heart around the world have assembled in Rome to evaluate and discuss the matters of formation. The Philippine Region is represented by Fr. Indra Pamungkas, SCJ, the Novice Master and Fr. Patrick L. Gutib, SCJ, in charge of Postulants. Among the participants is also Fr. Andrzej Sudoł, SCJ, a former master of postulants in the Philippines and now representing formators from the US Province.

For more information about this meeting please click here .