Our Founder: Fr. Leo John Dehon
Fr. Dehon's vision of sharing Christ's love with those most in need shapes our mission today as Priests of the Sacred Heart. Learn about his remarkable journey.
The Heart that Shaped Our Mission
“The Heart of Jesus is overflowing with tenderness and compassion for all those who suffer, those who endure hardships, those who go hungry, and for the sick and the infirm. His is the heart of a father, the heart of a mother, the heart of a shepherd.”
– Fr. Leo John Dehon
Early Life & Calling
Born in 1843 in La Capelle, France, Leo Dehon grew up in a prosperous family. Despite his father’s wishes for him to pursue law or politics, Leo felt called to priesthood during his sophomore year of high school. When his father refused to let him enter seminary, Leo studied law in Paris while remaining active in his faith — attending daily Mass and serving the poor through the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Journey to Priesthood
His father’s attempt to dissuade him with a nine-month Middle Eastern tour unexpectedly deepened Leo’s calling. Two weeks in the Holy Land and an affirming audience with the Pope strengthened his resolve. Finally gaining his father’s permission, Leo entered the French Seminary in Rome, excelling in his studies and developing a deep connection to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through meditation.
Ministry in Saint-Quentin
After ordination and earning degrees in philosophy, theology, and church law, Fr. Dehon was assigned to Saint-Quentin, a blue-collar town where most of the 35,000 residents struggled to earn their daily bread. Recognizing traditional church methods weren’t reaching people, he:
- Built a youth group of over 400 members
- Created safe spaces for young workers
- Advocated for workers’ rights
- Engaged with business leaders to improve working conditions
Founding the Congregation
At 33, Fr. Dehon was flourishing in ministry, but he yearned for more time in prayer and contemplation. He considered joining a religious order, but didn’t want to abandon the ministries he’d begun. A sympathetic bishop proposed a solution: Fr. Dehon could establish his own religious congregation if he would also establish a Catholic high school to serve the diocese. The bishop would get his high school, Fr. Dehon could live as a religious, and the new congregation would care for his ministries, including the new school.
In July 1877, Fr. Dehon started the school (St. John) and began a year of intense preparation for his new religious congregation. The following June he made his first vows and established a new religious congregation modeled after the love of the Heart of Jesus.
Fr. Dehon died in Brussels on August 12, 1925, with his final words capturing his life’s mission: “For Him I lived and for Him I die. He is my everything, my life, my death and my eternity.“