SCJ Philippine District

The time before Christmas in the Philippines is a time of different gatherings and parties. Also, the Dehonian Family composed of SCJ priests, seminarians, lay professionals and dehonian youth in Cagayan de Oro City celebrated their own Christmas Party. The celebration took place on December 17, 2004 at the Sacred Heart Formation Center in Aluba, Macasandig. It started at 6:45 pm with the common dinner and was followed by the second part composed of different presentations and numbers. The theme of this celebration was "Journeying Together in Love and Reconciliation", which is also a part of the motto of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. It was not only a very nice party, but also an occassion to be together and to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas which is God's Love revealed in the person of His Son Jesus Christ, who came to save us.

As a part of spiritual preparation for the SCJ Memorial Day and for Advent, the members of Adult Lay Dehonians group and the Dehonian Youth from Cagayan de Oro joined together for a day of recollection conducted by Fr. Eduardo Aguero. It took place on November 21, 2004 at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro and was attended by more than 30 participants.

The Lay Dehonians is a group of lay people, who live and share the Dehonian charism and spirituality. Together with the SCJ priests and brothers they belong to the Dehonian Family. In Cagayan de Oro the Lay Dehonians are divided into two smaller groups: Dehonian Youth and Adults, mostly professionals. Also in Zamboanga del Sur in Dumalinao, Kumalarang and Margosatubig there is a number of people sympathizing with the SCJs and actively taking part in their apostolic mission. The group of Lay Dehonians in Cagayan de Oro is the oldest one and at the moment at the stage of reorganizing and acquiring new members. Due to this on October 24, 2004, the group of Adult Lay Dehonians organized a day of recollection for themselves and also for their invited friends to learn more about their vocation as lay people and to adopt the Dehonian spirituality as their own way of life. It took place at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro City and was attended by 18 participants.