Tag Archives: Dehonian Youth

Oct 27 2019

First Dehonian Family Encounter in CDO

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.

Jun 9 2018

Celebrations in Manila and Cagayan de Oro

The Feast of the Sacred Heart, the patronal feast of the Priests of the Sacred Heart on June 8, 2018, was celebrated in all formation houses in the Philippines. Many friends of the Congregation, associates, and benefactors, had joined the celebration, especially in Metro Manila and Cagayan de Oro.

In Manila, during the Eucharist. presided by the Regional Superior Fr. Lukas Hadi Siswo Sasmito, SCJ, six scholastics: four Filipino and two Vietnamese, had renewed their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. Also, all the SCJs attending this celebration renewed their commitment as religious.

A good number of benefactors from Quezon City, Mandaluyong and Makati City were able to attend this event and to meet personally Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ and Sr. Yolly C. Novabos, TMM, from the fundraising office in Cagayan de Oro City. The oldest participant of the celebration was 97 years old.

The benefactors and guests were given a chance to know more about the congregation and its works through the video presentation, entitled “With open heart and Mind”, that was played just after the Mass.

In Cagayan de Oro City, the Holy Eucharist was presided by Fr. Joseph C. Butlig, SCJ, a member of the community. As usual, besides friends of the Congregation, the celebration was attended by members of the Dehonian Family: Dehonian Youth and Lay Dehonians. After the Holy Communion, five new members of the Dehonian Youth made their commitment and the old members renewed their commitment as well. The commitments were accepted by Fr. Janusz Burzawa, SCJ, the councilor of the Philippine Region, who ealier accepted six new Postulants: five Vietnamese and one Filipino.

In both events, the celebrations were very nice and attended by many people, and SCJs from the area, who were not only able to enjoy the celebration, but also the delicious food served afterwards.

Jul 26 2016

Meeting of the Dehonian Youth

All of the pilgrims from different SCJ parishes around the world are already in Poland. Prior to the main celebration of the World Youth Day in Krakow they met together in Pliszczyn.

One of the first groups of young people, that arrived in Pliszczyn, were the Canadians from Toronto. They were followed by the young people from Brazil, Indonesia, Spain, Germany, Philippines, Slovakia and from the SCJ parish in Houston in the United States.

In Pliszczyn there were: warm welcome of the delegates, presentations, prayer and the Eucharist, fun, shared meals and tours. Most of the young people from Spain, Italy, Albania and Portugal, were accommodated by foster families from the Good Shepherd Parish in Lublin.

In Lublin, they have learned about the history of the city and visited the former concentration camp at Majdanek.
Most of them visited the open-air Village Museum and the Catholic University of Lublin, where once a lecturer was Cardinal Karol Wojtyla. They listened to the story of Professor Fr. Andrzej Szostak about the history of the university and its relationship with the Pope from Krakow. They also met at the roadside shrines located in the area of Pliszczyn with the local population and together they participated in the Holy Mass.

On Saturday, July 23, 2016, the young people took part in the central event of World Youth Day of the Diocese of Lublin at the Arena Stadium under the slogan: “Kraków begins in Lublin.” They arrived at the stadium through the city streets in a grand and colorful parade. On the site they saw the presentation about Abraham and the staging of the history of Lublin, which seven hundred year foundation falls next year. The main point of this Prayer and Art event was the solemn Eucharist presided by the Ordinary of the Diocese of Lublin, Archbishop Stanislaw Budzik.

On Sunday, the youth from Pliszczyn and Lublin went to Stadniki, where the Sacred Heart Seminary is located and where they were joined by other delegations, namely from Moldova, Finland and France.

On July 25, 2016, the young people met with the General Superior of the Congregation of the Priests of the sacred Heart of Jesus, Very Rev. Fr. Heiner Wilmer, SCJ.

The Philippine group is being accompanied by Fr. Andrzej Sudoł, SCJ, a former missionary in the Philippines and in charge of the Dehonian Youth, who designed the program of their visit and took care about all details including transportation, accommodation and sightseeing trips.

 

Jun 18 2016

Dehonian Youth Mission 2016

13256273_1086263954764092_3742855200275738128_nIn celebration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy and in unity with the Dehonian Youth Meeting 2016 in Poland, this year’s annual Dehonian Youth Missionaries (DYM) summer mission was mainly centered on the theme: “Lord make me an instrument of your mercy.” With open hearts and joyous spirits, 34 young missionaries (Filipinos and Vietnamese) responded to the call to meet God through serving His people in the mountainous areas of Tignapoloan in the Jesus Nazareno Chaplaincy, Dansolihon, Cagayan de Oro City.

The activity started with a 3-day stay-in formation seminar on May 14-17, 2016 at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Aluba before the missionaries were sent forth to the mission areas of Lower and Upper Tignapoloan on May 17, 2016.

The mission proper started in the afternoon of May 17, 2016, respectively. The missionaries visited the Christian households in the areas, blessed their homes and had BEC session or faith sharing with the families. They also conducted activities in the chapels like Flores de Mayo for the kids, animation, community building, catechesis and recollection for the youth; BEC input and catechesis for the adults. They also facilitated Taizé prayer with confession, and celebrated the Eucharist. One of the greatest challenges was to help strengthen the leaders and reorganize the youth.

What actually inspired the missionaries most was the warm welcome and hospitality of the communities. However, as missionaries, we also embraced the community life selflessly; that regardless of diversity, we achieved unity. We became missionaries not just to the people there, but as well as to each of our brothers and sisters in our respective groups, living to be instruments of mercy to one another. Thus, this became a true manifestation of the inspiration learnt from our founder, Ven. Fr. Leo John Dehon – the SINT UNUM we Dehonians ought to live by.

Vivat Cor Jesu!

By: Rexell Grace R. Gaa
Dehonian Youth Missionary