This mural was conceived by Roberth Gómez, Director of Formation at Colegio San Juan Evangelista, and painted by Luis Henríquez, a Chilean artist who brought it to life with color and detail. It was born as an artistic and spiritual expression that seeks to represent the Dehonian mission in the world and the journey of the Dehonian Family toward the Jubilee 2025–2028, marking 100 years since the death of Father Léon Dehon and the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Christ lives in me 

At the top left, the phrase “Por Él vivo: Cristo es el que vive en mí” (“I live by faith in the Son of God” — Galatians 2:20), the official motto of the Jubilee, represents the spiritual heart of the mural. This biblical passage, which profoundly inspired Fr. Dehon’s life, is at the center of Dehonian spirituality: to live from and for Christ, allowing oneself to be transformed by His love and becoming a sign of reconciliation. 

The Hands: God’s and Dehon’s Inspiration 

The open hands at the top symbolize God’s action that inspires, sustains, and sends forth the mission. They also evoke the hands of Fr. Dehon, dreaming of a reconciled world flowing from the Heart of Jesus. From these hands descends a stream of light that fills the entire composition, a sign of grace that drives the Dehonian mission through time, cultures, and realities. 

The Four Corners of the Dehonian Mission 

At the center, the cross formed by four geographical circles represents the four emblematic regions chosen by the Congregation for the Jubilee journey. Each place expresses a fundamental dimension of the Dehonian charism and will host a regional gathering on the road to the Dehonian Jubilee 2025–2028. 

– Europe – Brussels / Saint-Quentin: Europe is the historical origin of the Congregation. Here Léon Dehon’s spiritual intuition was born, the Congregation was founded, and the Jubilee began. In this region, the Dehonians work in religious and lay formation, spiritual animation, pastoral accompaniment, theological reflection, and international communication. In the mural, this point represents the spiritual and foundational root — the place where the dream of a reconciled and repairing Church first took shape. It will also host the first Jubilee gathering, uniting religious and lay Dehonians from around the world. 

– America – Quito: America represents the missionary expansion of the Dehonians, especially in Latin America, where their presence has been marked by 

social, educational, and pastoral commitment. In Ecuador and other countries of the region, they serve in schools, parishes, youth ministry, and among vulnerable communities. This point represents missionary vitality and prophetic witness: a charism that takes root in history and culture. Quito will host the continental gathering highlighting justice, solidarity, and mission. 

–  Africa – Kisangani / Wamba: Africa is a land of deep testimony. In places such as Kisangani and Wamba, the Dehonians have carried out missionary work in challenging contexts marked by poverty, conflict, and resilience. In Kisangani, the Centre Monseigneur Grison is dedicated to pastoral formation and the promotion of reconciliation. This circle represents radical self-giving and generous dedication, living signs of reparative love amid suffering. It will also be the site of one of the most symbolic Jubilee gatherings, honoring the memory of Dehonian martyrs in Africa. 

–  Asia – Yogyakarta: Asia represents openness to interreligious dialogue and cultural diversity. In Indonesia, Dehonians work through study centers, formation houses, and pastoral missions that promote coexistence and peacebuilding. This point symbolizes the universality and adaptability of the Dehonian charism, capable of flourishing in plural contexts. The Jubilee gathering in Asia will celebrate the global communion of the Dehonian Family and its openness to the future. 

1. The Life and Works of the Dehonian Family 

Around the cross appear every day scenes of teaching, prayer, community, and service. They reflect the diversity of Dehonian apostolic works throughout the world: schools, parishes, social centers, and missionary communities. They are concrete signs of reparative love flowing from the Heart of Jesus and expressed in transformative actions. 

The Eagle: 

A Higher Gaze and San Juan Evangelista’s Seal The eagle, symbol of Saint John the Evangelist, holds a special place in the mural. In Christian tradition, the eagle represents a higher gaze toward God’s mystery, deep contemplation, and the ability to proclaim the truth boldly and freely. John is the Evangelist of the Heart, of intimacy with Jesus, the one who rests on His chest and bears witness to the truth with clarity and depth. 

For our school, this symbol is central to our identity. As our school hymn says: 

“Sanjuanino, Sanjuanina, mira el águila volando, una huella va dejando, sigue tú ese mismo camino.”
“San Juan students, look at the eagle flying, leaving its trace behind — follow that same path.” 

The eagle represents each student who, upon graduation, lifts their gaze, spreads their wings, and takes flight with hope, carrying the imprint of this educational and spiritual community. Like St. John, they are called to be clear, courageous, and profound witnesses. In this mural, the eagle unites heaven and earth, spirituality and mission, reminding us that only those who lift their gaze can truly see the whole horizon. 

The Road and the Boat: 

Symbols of Accompaniment and Mission The image of Fr. Dehon with his suitcase and the boat is a profoundly missionary gesture. The boat, an evangelical symbol, recalls the disciples who, on the sea, followed Jesus and became fishers of men. It represents the Church in movement, a mission that does not remain still. 

But this journey is not solitary: it is a shared road, just like our students’ path. The boat symbolizes the educational and pastoral accompaniment they receive from childhood — the journey in which each teacher, priest, companion, and family member leaves a mark. Just as Fr. Dehon set out toward new horizons carrying the hope of the Heart of Jesus, our students too are sent to continue that journey: to build, to serve, to transform. 

The Altar, the Word, and the Light

The cross, the Bible, and the lit lamp represent the spiritual center of all Dehonian works: the Eucharist, prayer, and the Word as sources of life, discernment, and missionary sending.

Theological and Charismatic Synthesis

This mural is not only an artistic work — it is a visual catechesis that reminds us: 

• That Dehonian spirituality flows from the Heart of Jesus. 
• That the mission extends throughout the world through communities and works. 
• That prayer, the Word, and communion unite us as one global Dehonian Family. 
• That, like the eagle, we are called to look high and fly far, leaving behind a trace of faith, love, and service. 
• That we are pilgrims, together in one boat, sailing toward horizons still waiting to be transformed. 

Concept: Roberth Gómez — Director of Formation, Colegio San Juan Evangelista 

Painting: Luis Henríquez — Chilean artist
Location: Colegio San Juan Evangelista – Santiago, Chile
Inspiration: Dehonian Jubilee Letter 2025–2028 – Fr. Carlos Luis Suárez Codorniú SCJ