A) Gifts of SCJ Founder meant for all

The SCJ Family Associates are undergoing a revitalization. Although the program has been around since the early 1980s, it has never spread beyond Texas, and more specifically, not much further than the time and energies of Fr. Jim Steffes, scj.

Fr. Jim began the Family Associates in San Antonio when he was pastor of St. Lawrence. At first, it was primarily a vocational tool - build a relationship with families, introduce them to the spirituality of the Priests of the Sacred Heart and the charism of Fr. Dehon, and perhaps a vocational spark would fly. Maybe a son, cousin or nephew from one of these families would consider a vocation to religious life.

But soon, those involved with the Family Associates realized that what they were doing was more than just vocation promotion.

“I think that the Spirit gives special gifts to people such as Fr. Dehon, people who go on to found religious communities”, said Fr. Jim. “These gifts are really meant for the whole church, the people of God, but they can be given to the laity through the efforts of religious.

And that’s what the SCJ Family Associates evolved into: a means of sharing the gifts of the founder beyond the confines of the congregation.

“The reality may be that a religious community is only a temporary repository for a gift meant for all the Church”, added Fr. Jim. “That a terrible waste of God’s gift if it were hoarded by a community, if it were never shared with God’s people”.

Fr. Jim developed a set of constitutions for the Family Associates and these became the basis of their first meetings. Groups of parishioners in San Antonio and later, Houston, gathered about once a month to learn about the constitutions and Fr. Dehon.

“And that’s what really got my interest”, said Mary Smith, chairperson of the province Family Associates Committee. Mary has worked at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in Houston since 1984. In 1987, the Priests of the Sacred Heart assumed ministerial duties for the parish, “and I wanted to know who these people were”.

Soon after the SCJs arrived at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Fr. Jim Steffes offered an information session about the SCJ Family Associates. “I went to find out about the SCJs but when I learned about Fr. Dehon, I became excited. He was a prophet ahead of his time and it was wonderful to learn about this man...

“I think the SCJs’ eyes were really opened when they saw our enthusiasm about their founder. I guess when you have something special around you all the time you don’t always notice. But to us, we said to ourselves, ‘This man, Fr. Dehon, is incredible, we want to learn more about him’”.

The committee which Mary chairs grew out of the Dehonian Affiliates Commission. The Family Associates is one of three areas for which the commission, under the direction of Fr. Tony Russo, scj, is responsible (the other two being the Sacred Heart Lay Missioners and the Mission Education program). The Family Associates Committee, a mix of SCJs and laity, has been meeting since January to discuss ways in which the program can spread beyond Texas.

“While the Family Associates has taken off in Texas, we believe that Fr. Dehon’s spirituality and vision can be promoted to parishes, prayer groups, study groups and others”, said Fr. Rick DiLeo, scj, a member of the committee. “The parish could be the most viable tool to present these ideas but there are many other possibilities as well”.

The goal of the program, Fr. Rick continued, is to “promote the spiritual and social vision of Fr. Dehon... but it is not just something for people to passively listen to. There is a means of applying his hopes to everyone’s life and circumstances”.

“People have a hunger for this”, said Mary, adding that when lay staff came to the Mission Education Conference last year, it was the first time many had heard about Fr. Dehon - who he was and what he advocated. “They wanted to learn more about this man, just as we did when we first heard about the Family Associates”.

In Houston, there are several parishes with a Family Associates program, some in Spanish, some in English. Groups meet at their parishes most months, but come together quarterly for a city-wide meeting or celebration.

“Those larger gatherings are wonderful”, said Mary. “They give you a sense of ‘one-ness’ with the other Family Associates”. The day before the feast of the Sacred Heart, the city-wide group gathers for a special liturgy. The Family Associates re-consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart and SCJs are invited to renew their vows. For many Associates, it is a good opportunity to get a wider view of the province by meeting more than just the SCJs at their individual parishes.

In September, 35 Family Associates came together for a retreat led by Fr. Jim Steffes. “His homilies were fantastic!” said Mary. “Fr. Jim has evolved in this program as much as we had. He said that we were gathered to study, pray and share so that we could go away refreshed. Well, I think he goes away refreshed just as we do. We all share in supporting each other in prayer. This is not just a one-way dialogue”.

Becoming closer to God, Church and Family

Besides learning about Fr. Dehon and his charism, many credit the Family Associates with bringing them closer to God, the Church and their families.

“My experience as a daughter of Fr. Dehon, whose life belongs to the Heart of Jesus, is that he has make me more loving with my children and my brothers in Christ”, wrote Francisca Rios of Holy Name Parish, Houston.

“The SCJ Family Associates has helped me to focus on the love of Jesus and has increased my desire to follow Jesus more closely. My prayer life has more meaning and more joy. I feel more open to learning where God is leading me. Learning about the spirituality of the SCJs and their founder has been a great blessing in my life”.

The greatest obstacle to expanding the program, say committe members, is asking busy SCJs to take on another task. It is hoped that in the future the bulk of the program’s work will be carried out by the Family Associates themselves; however, at this point SCJ involvement is essential.

“I was involved with the first SCJ Family Associates Program at St. Lawrence in San Antonio in 1982”, said Fr. Jim Walters, scj. “In my opinion, it is critical that the process involve as many SCJ religious in the local areas as possible. It helps the Family Associates to have experienced the presence of SCJs in ministry before they are encouraged toward personal and spiritual growth through a deeper understanding and devotion to the Sacred Heart”.

“At first, I hesitated to get involved”, said Fr. Leonard Elder, scj, associate pastor at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and now a member of the Family Associates Committee. “I thought another meeting to attend would fill up my schedule too much. However, as I witnessed the interest and the positive response from the various members at the meetings, I sensed my own faith life being supported.

“How could I refuse to share my own life as an SCJ and to return the love and support that was so freely offered?”

Fr. Rick says that like Fr. Leonard, he too was impressed by the laity’s interest in the Family Associates. Before returning to formation, Fr. Rick was also an associate pastor at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

“It is inspiring to see lay people take interest in our founder and see how they can adapt his teachings and faith experiences to their own”. He adds that there are already lay people who have a close connection with the Priests of the Sacred Heart and are capable of directing Family Associate sessions under the support and guidance of a local SCJ.

Because it is an association for laity, Mary Smith hopes that it can take root in areas even where the SCJs are not located. “The spirituality that has grown out of Fr. Dehon is not tied to ministry or geographic locations”, she said. “Fr. Dehon has so much to offer that is applicable to our world today; if we share that with others, who knows where it could lead?”

This fall, packets are being sent by the committee to all SCJs, informing them about the program and suggesting ways in which it can be implemented. Members of the committee hope to follow-up with visits to local communities for further dialogue on the program.

“I believe that our challenge in ministry - whether parochial, social of educational - is to bring Fr. Dehon’s faith experience of the loving Heart of Christ into today’s world”, said Fr. Rick. “It is a world that experiences brokenness in so many ways, but the spirituality of Fr. Dehon offers a way to respond to that brokenness”.

B) The “Dehonian Lay Missioners”

Purpose: The Dehonian Lay Missioners Program recognizes that there are lay persons, both women and men, single and married, who wish to give of themselves in service to the Kingdom of God by participating in the charism of Fr. Leo John Dehon. They enter into a covenant which is an agreement with the Dehonian Lay Missioners Program which makes possible their collaboration in ministry with the Priests of the Sacred Heart.

Definition of Terms: The term “Dehonian Lay Missioner” signifies a person who wishes to respond to the love of Christ under the inspiration of Venerable Leo John Dehon by collaboration for a designated period of time in ministering with the Priests of the Sacred Heart.

The term “Dehonian Lay Missioners Program” signifies a program sponsored by the Priests of the Sacred Heart.

The term “covenant” refers to the agreement between the Lay Missioner and the Dehonian Lay Missioners Program, in which the Lay Missioner agrees to serve for three (3) years in ministry, in collaboration with the Priests of the Sacred Heart. The covenant may be renewed yearly. This agreement specifies the type and manner of collaboration, and any details regarding financial support and benefits, living arrangements, and spiritual support mutually agreed upon by the Lay Missioner, Ministry Supervisor and Dehonian Lay Missioners Program Director. Guidelines governing this agreement are to be found in the section of the Dehonian Lay Missioners Manual entitled “Covenant Guidelines”.

The term “collaboration” signifies a relationship whereby the Dehonian Lay Missioner functions in a ministry staffed and/or sponsored by the Priests of the Sacred Heart, and whereby the Priests of the Sacred Heart provide for the Lay Missioners spiritual support, pastoral supervision, team membership, and financial support and benefits as negotiated.