Category SCJ Congregation

Jun 6 2018

2nd Regional Assembly Chapter

27 SCJs, after final vows, took part in the 2nd Regional Assembly Chapter, held on June 5 – 6, 2018, at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro City. The participants were welcomed by Fr. Rico Lapinig, SCJ, and after that by the Regional Superior Fr. Lukas Hadi Siswo Sasmito, SCJ, who officially declared start of the Chapter. As usual, the first part was a spiritual preparation for the main activity. Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, led a reflection based on the theme “With open Heart and Mind to the urgent needs of the Church and the World”, which was followed by the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Sacrament of Reconciliation.

After the break, Fr. Lukas Hadi Siswo Sasmito, SCJ, delivered the “State of the Region Address” (SORA), summarizing the main activities and achievements, that had happened since the 1st Regional Chapter in 2014. Following this, Fr. Delio Ruiz, SCJ, the chairman of the Preparatory Commission, explained the goal and procedures of a workshop that was going to be held, in five groups, in the afternoon. The purpose of this was to come out with some concrete proposals for the next six years, based on the last and this year conclusions of the assemblies.

On the following day, June 6, 2018, the assembly discussed the proposed motions, coming from the working groups, and voted on it. The last activity of the Chapter was election of the delegate for the XXIV General Chapter in Rome and his substitute, who will accompany the Regional Superior in July 2018.

The 2nd Regional Assembly Chapter was well prepared and conducted in a very fraternal atmosphere.

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.