“May our farewell express our affection for all who were a part of this history… Let us also be thankful for the gifts of God’s grace that flowed in and through the many people who passed through our SCJ formation houses in Chicago. “

-Fr. Bob Tucker, SCJ

 

The Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians) have had a formation program in Chicago since 1971. Students attended Catholic Theological Union, Loyola University, St. Xavier University, Harold Washington College and other schools while living and praying together in community and learning about religious life as an SCJ.

In recent years, the Dehon Formation Community has been located in a renovated brownstone in the heart of Hyde Park. The undergraduate and theology programs are based there; and until this year, it was home to the novitiate (the novitiate is now located in Raymond, WI). A multicultural, inter-generational community, the house has also welcomed SCJs from around the world who come to Chicago for sabbaticals and graduate studies.

This summer, the Dehon Formation Community will become a part of Sacred Heart Monastery. Undergraduates will go to Milwaukee area universities and theology students will attend Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.

The move brings to end an era of formation in Chicago, an era that was celebrated by the community during a gathering on Tuesday, May 15, 2018.

Starting in the lobby of the community house, Dehonians, neighbors and friends joined in prayer and shared stories together.

“We gather to remember a formation community and a history of 47 years in which SCJs and candidates studied, ministered and lived in the city of Chicago,” began Fr. Bob Tucker, SCJ, a member of the formation team. He led the prayer service that moved from the lobby, to the kitchen, to the living room and finally, to the chapel.

“May our farewell express our affection for all who were a part of this history, to this place and the other places in Chicago where formation took place,” he continued, joined by others. “May our remembering and our prayers enable us to express gratitude, ease any sadness, sustain and strengthen us for the upcoming transition. Let us also be thankful for the gifts of God’s grace that flowed in and through the many people who passed through our SCJ formation houses in Chicago. We gather today to honor and remember the many people and stories of those who were a part of this history.

“We remember stories of laughter and tears, stories of rejoicing and grieving, stories of good times and difficult times, and stories of thanksgiving.

“Let us remember the gifts of formation directors, candidates, novices and the temporary professed. We remember those who celebrated final profession, ordination to diaconate and to the presbyterate, or perhaps moved on to other ways of living out their baptismal vocations. We remember also the many guests to our Chicago formation houses, including those who came to our doors looking to find the mercy of Christ.”

Fr. Bob reminded those gathered that while an era is coming to an end in Chicago, a new one is beginning at Sacred Heart Monastery. The move will allow students to have greater interaction with members of the province, more easily attend community events, and study in one of the congregation’s own seminaries.

At each stop in the prayer service –– the lobby, kitchen, living room and chapel –– items were chosen to be brought to Sacred Heart Monastery. At the end of the prayer service, these items were packed into a large box of memories and keepsakes.

“These will help us to remember our past as we move toward a new future,” said Fr. Bob.

Click here to view photos from the commemoration.