“My vision for the future of this center is one of growth, inclusivity, and faithfulness to our founding spirit. To honor Fr. Dehon’s legacy, we must not simply preserve it, we must translate and contextualize his message in today’s world.”
-Fr. Joseph Mukuna, SCJ,
Director of the Dehon Study Center
The Dehon Study Center has come a long way since its days in the basement of Dehon House. Established in 1994, the center was a response to a mandate by the US Provincial Council to make the founder’s works better known and available to English-speakers. Fr. Paul (PJ) McGuire, SCJ, was named the center’s first director, a role that he held until his death in 2016. By then, the center’s resources had been moved out of the basement and into a spare apartment at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake.
Following Fr. PJ’s death, the center’s work continued on a part-time basis with help from David Schimmel (former director of Dehonian Associates) and Fr. Jim Schroeder, SCJ, as well as other Dehonian scholars.
Last year, the Provincial Council named a full-time director for the center: Fr. Joseph Mukuna, SCJ. Originally from the Congolese Province, Fr. Joseph had just defended his doctorate at Loyola of Chicago when he was tapped to direct the center. One of his first tasks was to move its resources to a place where they could be more easily accessed by a wide variety of people: the Provincial Conference Center in Franklin (Hales Corners), WI.
On March 18, approximately 80 people came to an Open House at the center, which included a brief presentation, and a blessing of the new space by Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, provincial superior. Monica Misey, director of Dehonian Associates, served as emcee of the program. Fr. Ed Zemlik, SCJ, shared a brief history of the center. Fr. Willyans Prado Rapozo, SCJ, general councilor (in Hales Corners for the combined meeting of the North American administrations) read a passage from the SCJ Constitutions. Dn. David Nagel, SCJ, provincial treasurer, shared a passage from Scripture.
“This year holds a particular significance for us,” said Fr. Joseph. “We are commemorating 100 years since the death of Fr. Dehon, whose spirit and vision continue to guide our mission. As Fr. Dehon himself said, ‘I leave you a meritorious treasure, the Heart of Jesus.’ This treasure is more than a source of personal devotion. It is the wellspring of our work, the foundation of the values we seek to instill in all who pass through the doors of the Dehon Study Center. To build a just society and to form compassionate individuals, we must remain rooted in the Heart of Jesus. Looking ahead, we are also preparing for the 150th anniversary of our foundation, a moment that invites us to reflect on where we have come from and where we are heading…
“My vision for the future of this center is one of growth, inclusivity, and faithfulness to our founding spirit. To honor Fr. Dehon’s legacy, we must not simply preserve it, we must translate and contextualize his message in today’s world. What does reparation mean in the face of modern challenges? How can social justice shape our engagement with the world? These are questions we must answer all the time.”
Anyone with an interest in Fr. Dehon, his charism and spirituality is welcome to visit the center. Contact Fr. Joseph Mukuna for more information at
Click here to view more photos from the Open House
