I. The Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the charism of Fr. Dehon
In the years of spiritual formation at St. Clair-Roma (1865-1871), the young Leo Dehon became deepened his devotion to the Heart of Jesus, opening himself to the spirituality of love and reparation to the Lord in the spirit of victim. In the first years of priestly ministry (1871-1877), this spirituality was subsequently strengthened, both because at St. Quentin would reign " a traditional and deep devotion to the S. Cuore" (NQ April 1921), both for the spiritual contacts that Leo Dehon had with the Ancelle Sisters, at Institute animated by the spirit of victim (NHV X, 2). This spirituality also directed his pastoral office, i.e. "to build the Kingdom of the Heart of Jesus in the souls and in the societies" with a special attention towards the poor people of his time.
Called by God to devote himself in the religious life, Leo Dehon didn't find any religious institute that corresponded to this specific vocation. For that reason he decided to found the "Oblates of the Heart of Jesus" (13th July 1877 &emdash; 28th June 1878), as a first historical expression of his personal charism. This Institute finds its origins in the faith experience of Father Dehon. But already from the beginning he wanted the lay people and priests to be part of this, his charism; in this way founding the Reparatory Association (which would be approved by Bishop Thibaudier on the 8th February 1889). All were called to render to the Heart of Jesus that "cult of love and reparation that his heart desires" (cf NQ XXV, 5) and to establish its Kingdom. Given the symbiosis of the same spirituality between Fr. Dehon and the first Oblates, with the Ancelle Sisters, the participation in that charism was organized as follows:
The women were associated to the Ancelle Sisters, the laymen and the priests were associated and united to the Oblates. We have here the historical roots of what could be today the Dehonian Family.
From the times of Fr. Dehon up to the Vatican Council II, the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus have continued their historical journey, living the Dehoniano charism in the traditional forms inherited by the Founder, and letting the laity and the priests participate with the Reparatory Association "Adveniat Regnuum tuum" (ART), tightly tied up to the Congregation.
The renewal by the II Vatican Council has committed all the Institutes of consecrated life, and also the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to find adjourned forms of proposing and living the charism of their Founder. In the twentieth century starting from 1965-66 (CG XV) to 1985 (CG XVIII), there has been a notable commitment in the Congregation for this updating and renewal. Already from the XV General Chapter the following concerns were raised:
So, we have the present "SCJ Rule of life" (1986), in which it is easy to observe three levels of proposals.
The Council has also marked a turn in the share of the laity to the mission of the Church and the charisma of a Founder. After the Council, the Reparatory Association in many countries disappeared. It, however, still continues in some other countries, but without bonds with the Congregation. Instead, new forms of sharing of the laity in the charism of the Founders, as "Consecrated Life " (nn 54-57) recently pointed out, have risen and are encouraged by the Church.
What then characterizes and distinguishes the SCJs from the other institutes of consecrated life, is not a determined apostolic activity, but the spirituality and mission bequeathed/left by Fr. Dehon in the Church. If others institutes are characterized by the care of the sick (Camillians, Fatenebenefratelli…), the Christian education of the youth (Christian Brothers, Salesians…), the missions abroad (PIME, Saverians…), the SCJs are characterized by the spirituality of love and reparation to the Heart of Jesus in the spirit of victim, said Fr. Dehon yesterday; we convey ourselves today by our union to the reparatory oblation of Christ to the Father for the people. It is, therefore, the charism of Fr. Dehon, in its originality of spirituality and mission, the gift given by the Spirit to the whole Church. This is the inheritance that we SCJs share together with all those who are called in their state of life.
As disciples of Father Dehon, united to Christ in his love and in his oblation to the Father, witnesses of the supremacy of the Kingdom, we are all called to be, in the Church, prophets of the love and servants of reconciliation of the men and the world in Christ (cf. 2Cor 5, 18).
II. Development of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Geographical presence
The SCJs are currently present in 38 countries in the world: - Europe: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Byelorussia, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, England, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Spain Poland, Moldavia, Holland, Portugal, Scotland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Ukraine.
- North America: Canada, United States.
- Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Uruguay, Venezuela.
- Africa: Camerun, Madagascar, Mozambico, South Africa, Zaire.
- Asia: Filippine, India, Indonesia.
When Fr. Dehon died, the Congregation was present in 18 countries:
France (St Quentin, 28.06.1878), Holland (Sittard, 2.03.1883), Belgium (Lille, 4.11.1884; Clairefontaine, 12.06.1889), Italy (Rome, January 1892; Albino, 8.09.1907), North Brazil (Camaragibe, 12.06.1893), Luxemburg (City of Luxemburg, 15.08.1895), Belgian Congo (25.03.1897), Brazil of the South (Saint Catarina, 1903), Finland (17.08.1907), Austria (1909), Canada (April 1910), Germany (Krefeld, 1912), Cameroon (5.11.1912), Spain (1916), United States of Ameria (South-Dakota, 1923), Switzerland (Basil, 1923), South Africa (Gariep, 12.06.1923), Indonesia (Sumatra, 3.12. 1923).
As we can clearly see, Fr. Dehon himself was notably committed that his charism, through the SCJs, be put to service of the Church in all the continents of the world. In about 50 years, he had installed his Institute in 18 countries. After him, in 75 years, his children installed it in 20 countries.
This presences is juridically structured as parts of the Congregation in:
-21 provinces: BH, FL, GA-LW, GE, HI, IM, IS, LU, OF IT, PO; CA, US; AU, BM, BS, CH; AM, CM, MZ, ZA; IN.
- 7 regions: ACR, FIN; CG; MAD; MAR, RBM, VEN.
- 2 districts: PHI, IND.
In other countries not indicated, the presence is very small and the local communities are considered as parts of a Province.
Numerical consistence
The SCJs reached a maximum history in 1967 with 3255 members (2718 clerical religious and 537 religious brothers). Starting from 1968 we had a constant numerical recession, except some years when there has been a light increase on the preceding year. At the end of 1995 we declined to the minimum of 2294 (1705 priests, 365 scholastic and 224 brothers). There has Subsequently been a light growth: with 2301 members in 1996 and in 1998, 2302 in 1999. Today 31.08.2000, we count 2298 members, besides 114 novices. They are however light fluctuations, that don't mean an inversion of rout.
The new challenge
The presence of the SCJs in the western countries is numerically still notable. However, keeping in mind the aging of the personnel in these countries, of the active presence of the religious in other continents of the world, of the change move of the ecclesial axle toward the South and the East of the world, a cultural pluralism is being asserted by the SCJs by the presences of the local cultures. The SCJs are finding themselves facing a new challenge today: that of inculturating the charism of Fr. Dehon in other contexts, to let the emerging forces to be part of the administration of the Institute (in the General Chapters and in the Central Government).
The challenge of inculturation of the charism of Fr. Dehon in the culture of the individual countries is now posed to the same Dehonian Family.
That is the task that is up to all of us to face in this 1st Convention of the Dehonian Family.