Rome, December 29, 2004
Prot. N. 406/2004
To: Members of the
Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Members of the
Dehonian Family
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Today, December 29, 2004 we learned from the Holy See that
the Holy Father, John Paul II, will proclaim Blessed the venerable
Father Leo Dehon, founder of the Congregation of the Priests of the
Sacred Heart on April 24, 2005 during the Eucharistic celebration in
St. Peter’s Square.
These few months remaining before the beatification are
very important for the congregation of SCJs and for the Dehonian
Family. The Church has confirmed our choice of religious life by
giving recognition to the Dehonian charism as a gift from the Holy
Spirit, chiefly by sanctioning the Constitutions of the Congregation
and of other Institutes that receive inspiration from the same
spirituality, one which also embraces and encourages various lay groups
throughout the world. Now we are about to receive a very
meaningful gift: the beatification of our founder. Let us strive
to receive this gift with a spiritual disposition and a suitable
preparation.
As Dehonian Family, we have a father and spiritual guide
in Father Dehon. We have a common way of approaching the mystery
of Christ from the aspect of his Heart open on the cross, a heart that
is, at once, available, in solidarity, docile, and profoundly
human. Let us live united to his reparatory oblation as embedded
in a world wounded by sin and needing salvation, and let us share the
mission of building up his Kingdom of love in souls and in society.
This event invites us to find common space for prayer and
faith sharing, for reflection and formation in this area of our common
patrimony, one that also impels us to a new effort in service
that is ecclesial, social, missionary as our Founder exemplified. To
explore and to make known the life and work of Father Dehon as model
for discovery of God’s designs and as model of service in transforming
the world according to the light of the Gospel is the best way of
preparing for the celebration of the beatification.
Let us strive to prepare, in a very special way, “Dehonian
Day” on March 14, 2005. Let this celebration find us united in prayer
and asking the Lord to continue to raise up in the church men and women
adept in heroically living out the charism offered us through Father
Dehon.
Certainly, not everyone will be able to be present in Rome
for the beatification. Let us hope that everyone can be represented,
but, much more importantly, that the celebration in St. Peter’s square
can re-echo in many parts of the congregation as a day of thanksgiving
to God for the gift of Father Dehon and of commitment to promoting his
charism as a service to the church and to society.
By living out this event together, this event that unites
and challenges each one to be faithful and creative in walking in the
footsteps of Father Leo Dehon, we extend our fraternal greetings in the
Heart of Jesus.
Fr. José Ornelas Carvahlo, scj
Superior General
and his council