The Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus are also known as the Dehonians, for their founder, Léon John Dehon, who founded the Roman Catholic religious congregation in 1878. The Order was founded at Saint-Quentin, Aisne, Picardy, in northern France. The beginnings of the congregation goes back to July of 1877, when Dehon started his novitiate with permission of his bishop, professing his religious vows after one year. The Oblates of the Heart of Jesus was born at Saint John's College. However, shortly after the institute was formed, the college was destroyed by fire and, at the same time, misinterpretations and misunderstandings provoked the intervention of the Holy See, and the newly found institute was suppressed for a time. Although the founder had preferred the first name for the Order, Oblates of the Heart of Jesus, when the the congregation was approved by the Holy See in 1884, it was as the Priests of the Heart of Jesus. The Order's mission is to the young and those who are most inn need, having a focus on education, social work, missions, spirituality, and media. In 1883, the first seminary for those aspiring to become missionaries was opened in Holland, and another opened in Belgium the following year. The first residence in Rome was opened in 1891, designed to be the seat of the general administration. Soon the Order spread throughout Europe, the most recent in Ukraine, Byelorussia, Slovakia, Croatia, and Moldavia. The first presence of the Order in the Americas was in Ecuador, when two priests were sent in 1888; however, the Masonic government sent them away in 1896, and its mission in Ecuador was not reopened until 1997. In 1910, four priests went to Canada, starting the congregation in North America. In 1897, a mission in the Congo was opened, and others followed in subsequent years. Three priests and one brother arrived in Indonesia in 1923, and the mission in the Philippines was created shortly afterwards.
Recommended Resources
Presented in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, and Portuguese, the site highlights the life of Léon Dehon, the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Significant dates in his life are posted, along with an overview of his early years, his education, travels and studies, as well as Saint John’s High School, which he founded, his social apostolate, old age, and death. A gallery of photographs is included.
http://www.leodehon.com/
Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The official website of the Curia of the Dehonians offers a biography of the founder and his works, a gallery of photographs of the founder and the early days of the Order, and a catalog of his writings. A mission statement of the Order, its spirituality, and mission are documented, along with the general administration, missions, parishes, schools, and programs. Information from the general counsel are posted to the site.
http://lnx.dehon.it/en/
Priests of the Sacred Heart, Canada
The Dehonians are a Roman Catholic religious community of priests and brothers founded in 1878 France by Father Leo John Dehon. Canadian members of the Order have served in ministries throughout Canada since 1910, working primarily in the metropolitan areas of Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto. A profile and history of the Order, its locations, membership information, and contacts are put forth.
http://www.scjcanada.org/
Priests of the Sacred Heart, Sacred Heart Monastery
Founded by Leo John Dehon in 1878, the Order is also known as the Dehonians. Built in 1968, the Sacred Heart Monastery is located in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. The Order’s founder and spiritual leader are identified, and its missions, masses and events are published to the site, along with a variety of prayer resources, volunteer opportunities, and an online gift shop, where donations may also be made.
http://poshusa.org/
Priests of the Sacred Heart, US Province
Founded in France in 1878, members of the Dehonians first came to the United States in 1919, initially to raise funds for the German Province but, in 1923, Father Fohrman accepts a mission in Lower Brule, South Dakota. A timeline of the history of the Order is presented, along with an overview of its mission, ministries, spirituality, and location. Information on becoming a member are put forth.
http://www.sacredheartusa.org/
Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology
Situated in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, Sacred Heart School of Theology is an apostolate of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, a Roman Catholic religious community of priests and brothers, who established the seminary program in 1932, when it was known as Sacred Heart Monastery. Its programs, degrees, and accreditation status is specified, along with its faculty and administration, admissions policies, and contacts.
http://www.shsst.edu/
