From November 4th to 7th, 2025, the Dehonian International Spirituality Commission held its first in-person meeting in Rome.
The first in-person gathering of the Dehonian International Spirituality Commission (DISC) brought together representatives from across the Congregation’s geocultural areas in a spirit of fraternity, prayer, and shared discernment. Welcomed by General Superior Fr. Carlos Luiz, participants recalled the 2024 General Chapter’s call to “protect our spirituality as something precious,” setting the tone for days marked by gratitude and attentive listening to the Spirit and one another.
During the sessions, members shared experiences of life and mission, discovering anew the richness of the Congregation’s global diversity. The approval of the DISC Statutes and adoption of its official logo symbolized a renewed sense of shared identity and direction. Central to the meeting was a deep reflection on the meaning of the Dehonian charism today — a spirituality rooted in the Heart of Jesus that unites love, oblation, and solidarity. The Commission’s newly approved Vision Statement envisions “a united Dehonian family, religious and lay, dedicated to fostering a world shaped by love, compassion, justice, reconciliation, and hope.” Members emphasized the need to translate this spirituality into contemporary language and culture, especially for young people and lay collaborators, presenting it as a path of compassion and committed love.
Guided by the prayer Adveniat Regnum Tuum (“Your Kingdom come”), DISC identified four priorities for its mission:
- Formation and Christian Education – deepening formation in the Dehonian charism across all levels of life and ministry.
- Spirituality and Liturgy – promoting prayer, retreats, and the Dehonian Spiritual Exercises.
- Inculturation – fostering intercultural dialogue and mutual enrichment.
- Communication and Digital Evangelization – engaging creatively with digital culture as a new space for formation and witness.
DISC also highlighted collaboration with the Centro Studi Dehoniani (CSD), the International Dehonian Theological Commission (IDTC), and local (Entity and Geocultural Area’s level) spirituality commissions to ensure coherence and vitality across the Dehonian network. Looking ahead, the Commission plans to collect testimonies, develop a 2026–2028 working plan, and create new spiritual and formative resources attuned to the “signs of the times,” including the challenges of artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
The Rome meeting was a moment of grace and renewal — a reaffirmation of the Dehonian call to serve “in the light of the Lord,” nurturing a spirituality that transforms hearts, renews communities, and builds a world rooted in love, justice, and reconciliation.
