New Dehonian Roman Conference

On Saturday, 3 May 2025, a unique gathering took place at the General House of the Sacred Heart Fathers in Rome. On the centenary of the death of Fr. Leo John Dehon, Founder of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in this Holy Year and in conjunction with the declared Jubilee of Entrepreneurs, the Catholic Association of Entrepreneurs—animated by the Polish Dehonians—organized a day of study on the social thought of Fr. Dehon.

The event also marked the 125th anniversary of the final Roman social conference delivered by Fr. Dehon in September 1900 during the Congress of the Third Order of St. Francis. This occasion served as an opportunity to reflect on Fr. Dehon’s special connection with the Eternal City and, in a sense, to revive the tradition of Dehonian Roman social conferences after more than a century.

The day began with a solemn Mass for the Solemnity of Our Lady, Queen of Poland, celebrated in the chapel of the International College by Fr. Levi dos Anjos Ferreira, Vicar General of the Congregation. In his homily, Fr. Grzegorz Piątek, SCJ, Assistant to the Association of Entrepreneurs, emphasized Mary as a model of devotion to God and the source of all good actions within the Church.

At 10:00 a.m., in the amphitheater of Villa Aurelia, Fr. Levi opened the conference by reflecting on the feast of Saints Philip and James, celebrated that day in Italy. He recalled the mission of the apostles to gather, invite, and lead people to Christ, connecting it to the message of hope taught by the late Pope Francis to those who face rejection and despair. This warm welcome and thoughtful reflection served as a prelude to four thematic presentations offered by members of the Centre for Dehonian Studies.

Fr. José Gregorio Gonzalez Benítez, SCJ, M.A., a theology student specializing in Dehonian studies, introduced the “three Leos” featured in the readings: the Congregation’s founder Fr. Dehon, the Catholic entrepreneur Léon Harmel of Warmeriville, and Pope Leo XIII. At the close of the “long nineteenth century,” these three were united in their commitment to the dignity and well-being of workers. Their kindness, faith, and Christian sensitivity exemplified the Church’s response to the era’s social challenges. A short film, produced by the CDS in collaboration with Tele Dehon, complemented his talk and highlighted the synergy among the “three friends” working for the common good.

Fr. Aloysius Yudistiro Adifitrityassanto, SCJ, from Indonesia, a theologian and fellow of the Dehonian Study Centre, reflected on the roots of the Dehonian social apostolate in the reign of the Heart of Jesus in both individual hearts and society. He emphasized self-oblation—symbolized by the Heart of Jesus pierced on the Cross—as the foundation for the Christian order of love, where the love of Christ is both central and primary.

Fr. Victor de Oliveira Barbosa, SCJ, from Brazil, a Doctor of Spiritual Theology and Coordinator of the Dehonian Study Centre, offered a reflection on profit in light of Fr. Dehon’s work Wealth, Mediocrity, or Poverty. Referencing the heated debates within Franciscan circles at the end of the 19th century about the role of poverty in Christian holiness, he presented Fr. Dehon’s perspective: that wealth, as a gift from God and the result of honest, fruitful labor, possesses dignity. Though not always popular in his day, Fr. Dehon’s view continues to inspire reflection among today’s entrepreneurs and economists.

Fr. Jakub Bieszczad, SCJ, a graduate student in Church history and Specialist in Dehonian studies, explored Fr. Dehon’s call for synergy between action and reflection, values and aspirations—particularly through the lens of the Church’s synodal ministry. The historical context of Fr. Dehon’s life reminds the Church that community is a space for the reign of love and a school of human growth through dialogue and solidarity. Though the concept of corporative professional relationships may seem dated, it continues to offer insights into the enduring value of integration, solidarity, and mutual respect.

The setting of Rome, the heart of the Church, made the day all the more significant. For Fr. Dehon—attentive to the voice of Peter in his time—it was truly a second home, as Fr. Grzegorz Piątek noted. Pilgrimages to apostolic tombs and sacred relics, retracing the footprints of the “three Leos” in the Eternal City, formed a fitting and moving conclusion to the renewed Dehonian Roman Conference.