With the invocation of the Holy Spirit, on June 10, 2019, the formation community in Cagayan de Oro I officially started new academic year 2019 – 2020. During the Holy Eucharist presided by the Regional Superior, Fr. Lukas Hadi Siswo Sasmito, SCJ, three (3) Aspirants (2 Vietnamese and 1 Filipino) were accepted into the Postulancy Program, six (6) into the Aspirancy and five (5) into Orientation Year. The new Postulants were given Bible, while all the others “Rules of the House.” Altogether there are twenty (20) young men, who expressed their wish to follow their vocation in the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (SCJ).
Category Vocations
Celebrating Founder’s Birth Anniversary in Cagayan de Oro, Manila and Dumalinao
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.
Archdiocesan Vocation Jamboree
On April 21, 2018, more than 750 youths coming from different parishes of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro attended the Vocation Jamboree prepared by the Directors/Directresses of Vocations in the Philippines (DVP) Cagayan de Oro Chapter, headed by the Rev. Fr. Roger Gabac, SSJV, the Archdiocesan Vocation Director with the cooperation of the members of DVP represented by different Religious Men and Women that works in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.

The activity started at 3:00PM with a Pilgrim Walk from Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Camaman-an going to the venue at Saint John Vianney Seminary covered court. Upon arriving at the venue there were opening salvo to animate the participants while at the same time registration was going on. At around 6:00PM dinner was served .
Right after dinner, Bishop-elect Raul Dael, SSJV gave a talk about vocation in general. All throughout the talk, the participants were attentive to the speaker. After, the talk on vocation , the big group was divided into three groups for another talk on Married Life, Priestly, Religious and Single Blessedness. After each talk, the youths were given time to interact by encouraging them to ask questions to the speakers.

The vocation talk was followed by the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. While the adoration was going on, priests, religious men and women around the venue were conducting counseling, to those who were willing and needed it. At 5:00AM the Vocation Jamboree was concluded with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist celebrated by Bishop-elect Fr. Raul Dael, SSJV and concelebrated by all priests who attended the activity.
By: Fr. Joseph Butlig, SCJ
Priestly Ordination of Deacon Dennis
On June 29, 2017, on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, Dn. Dennis Macasero, SCJ, was ordained priest. The ceremony of ordination took place at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Buug, Zamboanga Sibuguey, his parish of origin and was presided by the Bishop of Ipil, Most Reverend Julius S. Tonel, D.D.
Fr. Dennis Macasero is the 18th SCJ Filipino priest and 2nd SCJ ordained by Bishop Tonel. His vocation story goes back to the year 2000 when became a “convent boy” in his parish. Helping for four years in the rectory, he was able not only to finish his high school education, but also observe the life of a priest, which attracted him very much. It was during that time that he met an SCJ priest assigned in the nearby parish in Kumalarang. As a result of that, after graduating from St. Paul School in Buug, he applied to the SCJ Formation Program in Cagayan de Oro City. In 2011 he made his first profession of vows in the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and proceeded to study Theology at the Loyola School of Theology (LST) in Manila. On June 29, 2016, he was ordained deacon and was assigned first in Tanay, Diocese of Antipolo and later in Bagong Silang, Diocese of Novaliches.
The ceremony of ordination was beautifully prepared by the Buug Parish and was attended by almost all SCjs, diocesan priests from the Diocese of Ipil and Pagadian, religious sisters, parishioners and friends.
The ordination of Fr. Dennis was the culmination of the three-day activities, which included ordination to the Diaconate and First Profession of Vows.
Perpetual Profession and Renewal of Vows
On May 13, 2017, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, Bro. Rogereve Pausanos (SCJ) professed his final vows of Chastity, Obedience and Poverty in the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. The celebration was held in the Chapel at the Dehon House in Quezon City, and was presided by the superior of the Philippine Region, Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, who accepted his vows.
During the same celebration six Filipino and two Vietnamese brothers renewed their temporary vows. The vows of the Filipino SCJs were accepted by Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, and of the Vietnamese by Fr. Delio Ruiz, SCJ, the superior of the local community.
The celebration was attended by the SCJs from the Metro Manila area, some religious sisters, family members, relatives of the professed and friends.
We entrust Bro. Rogereve Pausanaos and all the brothers who renewed their vows to your prayers. The world needs committed religious and priests who will continue the mission of the Church and of the Congregation.