Celebrating our founder’s birth
Friday, March 14, is the 182nd anniversary of the birth of Ven. Fr. Leo John Dehon. As a part of the commemoration of the founder, the German Province created a prayer service that is being distributed throughout the congregation by the General Postulator. From the opening text:
“As part of our Dehonian Jubilee, we gather to commemorate the anniversary of the birth our Founder, Father Leo John Dehon. During his 82 years of life, the question of St. Paul the apostle accompanied and motivated him: ‘Domine, quid me vis facere?’ (Acts 22:10), ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’
“From his youth and as a seminarian, Leo Dehon embraced an attitude which he would later pass on to his confreres: ‘I will do nothing without embracing this union, with Jesus, through Jesus, and in Jesus. – Cor Jesu, quid me vis facere?’ (NQT 24/65). ‘Heart of Jesus, what do you want me to do?’…
“So that Father Dehon’s charism may continue to bear fruit, we want to follow his guidance entrusted to us in these words: ‘Be flexible, docile, ready in God’s hands. Actions will advance you more than the speculations of the intellect. May divine pleasure be your only rule, your entire life, your sole concern: Domine, quid me vis facere? Lord, what do you want me to do?’ (VAM 301).”
Click on the desired language to download a PDF of the service:
Dehon Study Center colloquim
The Dehon Study Center colloquium on Dilexit Nos kicks off on Friday, March 14 (the anniversary of the founder’s birth), with the first of three sessions to be led by Dr. Jeremy Blackwood, associate professor of Systematic Theology at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
Held via Zoom, the hour-long presentation begins at 10:00 a.m. (Central). ANYONE is welcome to attend. The Zoom link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8342363189?omn=86778099715
The next two sessions will be on June 18 and August 12.
“Hearts of Flesh and Not of Stone”
In February, Fr. Jim Schroeder, SCJ, was the main presenter of the in-service day for staff of Sacred Heart Southern Missions in Mississippi.
He reflected on how Ven. Fr. Leo John Dehon’s heart was impelled by the needs of others to take action, noting that “When Leo Dehon got his first assignment as a priest, he said that pastors need to get out of their churches and go to the people, because he had a heart for people,” adding that “When Leo was first assigned to a parish of 30,000 people, he was the seventh and youngest assistant priest, and he was introduced to all the dignitaries. But, on his own, he contacted the Vincent de Paul conference to discover how the people really lived. Those members would form the core of the youth club that Dehon would soon found.”
After sharing an experience from his own life, Fr. Jim asked participants to reflect on “your history of faith and prayer, your history of witnessing care for the needy and joining in that care. What affected you to have a heart of flesh for others?”
In his second session of the conference, Fr. Jim said that Fr. Dehon “wanted others to join him in proclaiming the love of God to the world. He wanted others to help him go to the neglected and forgotten, and to mission lands. He wanted to bring love and social action for justice to every group and every corner of the globe.”
Fr. Jim then asked the SHSM staff to reflect on how “being with the SCJs has affected you? How has it affected your faith life or your belief in God? Where has your heart of flesh led you?”
Click here to download Fr. Jim’s text.
Finding purpose
On Friday, March 7, Fr. Paul Phong Hoang, SCJ, was the presenter for the annual Lenten Hour of Recollection for SCJs. His topic: “Finding Purpose.” After sharing perspectives from philosophers and a variety of faith traditions, he moved towards discussion of one’s life as an SCJ “mindful that I am the youngest priest in the province,” he said, “speaking here to many years of wisdom.”
Although it was directed toward SCJs who had been in vows much longer than him, Fr. Paul said that his presentation was actually adapted from one that he has used in retreats with youth, helping them to reflect on finding purpose in their lives. Touching on that, he asked SCJs to think about their lives as members of the Priests of the Sacred Heart.
“What was the reason you joined the congregation?” asked Fr. Paul. The responses were varied, but there were common themes. Few of the SCJs knew anything about Dehonian spirituality when they first came to the community. But the longer they spent time with the SCJs they realized – even if by accident – that they were where they belonged.
“I thank God for somehow leading me to the community,” said one SCJ. “It is where I am at home.”
Sharing his own vocation story, Fr. Paul said that he was attracted to the diversity of the community, SCJs from many cultures and ministries, but also, “I liked the SCJ logo, the empty heart in a cross. I thought, ‘I could put my heart there.'”
Fr. Paul “put his heart there” in 2018 when he professed his first vows with the community. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2024 and now serves on the Dehonian pastoral team in northern Mississippi.
Busy meeting room
The board room at the Provincial Offices will be busy during the next couple of weeks. This week Tuesday and Wednesday (March 11-12) the US Provincial Council meets, and next week Tuesday, March 18, the Canadian and US administrations will hold their spring joint meeting. Joining them in Hales Corners will be Fr. Willyans Prado Rapozo, SCJ, general councilor.
Open House!
Following the North American councils meeting will be the Open House and Rededication of the Dehon Study Center from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on March 18.
“There will be an overview of the Dehon Study Center, appetizers and refreshments, and a rededication ceremony as we gather to belatedly celebrate the birthday of Fr. Dehon,” writes Fr. Joseph Mukuna, SCJ, the center’s director. The center is located in the Provincial Conference Center (vocation wing).
Although the original invitation to the rededication had a March 7 RSVP deadline, Fr. Joseph encourages anyone to come, regardless if they have responded yet. HOWEVER, to help plan for food, you are still asked to RSVP to mmisey@dehoniansusa.org if you plan to attend.
Questions? Contact Fr. Joseph at 414-427-7265 or jmukuna@dehoniansusa.org.
Catholic-Jewish relations through stories
The Lux Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology offers a free public lecture on Mach 30 at 2:00 p.m. with speaker Rabbi Yehiel Poupko and respondent Dr. Richard Lux (founder of the center and its namesake). The presentation description:
“The Torah and the Gospels teach their most important lessons through stories. This presentation will feature stories, real live stories, from several decades of Catholic-Jewish relations in the United States and in Israel. Just as religious ideas, aka theology, emerge from the stories of the Torah and the Gospels, so too will some religious ideas and theology emerge from these stories.”
The lecture is free, but you are asked to RSVP is you plan to attend. Click here to do so.
Celebrating reading!
On March 4, pre-K and kindergarten students at Sacred Heart School in Southaven, MS, celebrated reading with a a special visit from the Cat in the Hat! Middle school students joined in the fun by reading a variety of Dr. Seuss favorites to the younger students.
And, commemorating Black History Month
Holy Family School in Holly Springs, MS, held several events to commemorate Black History Month, including a “living wax museum” of important African-American historical figures, and a closing musical program titled “Keeping Black History Alive in 2025!” Pictured above are students portraying Shirley Chisom, the first Black woman elected to Congress, and Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to hold a pilot’s license and also thought to be the first Black person to earn an international pilot’s license.
Both Sacred Heart School and Holy Family School are a part of Sacred Heart Southern Missions, an apostolate of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians).
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