WHY SACRED HEART FATHERS?
	WHO WAS LEO JOHN DEHON?
					Fr Dehon was convinced that much of the world's suffering was due to a lack of love in the life of the individual and society. He wanted to imitate Christ in the gift of self to his Father, placing himself and his gifts at the disposal of God's will for the sake of others. We refer to this as our 'charism'. Every Christian, man and woman, seeks their path in life. We speak in this context of an individual's call, whether to married life, single life, religious and priestly life. How will I know whether I am called to religious and priestly life? What does the life of a brother or priest entail today? What do Sacred Heart Fathers do? We strive to open our hearts to embrace the world, so that the Gospel of Jesus may come alive in the heart of each person. We strive to be like Christ, placing ourselves and our love at the service of others, especially those who suffer from any kind of oppression. We strive to live with 'a new heart for a new world'. The thrust of our spirituality is three-fold: * to see and do the will of God * to work for the coming of God's kingdom * to build community In our world today there is a growing desire to be free from every kind of oppression, and for a liberty which respects the dignity of every individual. In a dedicated life as a priest or brother we seek to respond to those deep aspirations in ourselves and others - truth, justice, love and freedom. The Sacred Heart Fathers today continue to work at home and on the missions. They seek to proclaim Gospel values in their own lives and in their service of others. Their goal in life - to be prophets of love and reconciliation, as Jesus is - a goal that requires a life of personal and communal prayer, self- sacrifice and enthusiastic working for others, as well as a commitment to community living. At home and abroad this commitment is expressed in working for young people.
			Leo Dehon was born in La Capelle in the north of France on14 March 1843. He founded the Congregation of the Sacred Heart Fathers (Dehonians) in 1878. He based his life on the Heart of Christ, on compassion, love of truth and concern for all who suffer, no matter what the causes of their oppression. Leo Dehon stood out among his contemporaries in his concern for the social injustices of his time. He sought to bring about the kingdom of Christ in society - a kingdom of justice, goodness , and solidarity with all peoples, especially those who suffer. Today, we Sacred Heart Fathers strive to continue in this way, as part of an international community of Priest and Brothers with an openness that leads to a willingness to work in other countries when necessary. In 1997 Leo Dehon was declared Venerable by the Church.