Centenary of the Founder’s Death in Toronto
To honour our founder, Father Leo John Dehon, on the 100th anniversary of his death, the members of the Toronto community gathered with the local lay Dehonians and honorary member at St. Thomas More rectory. The renovated house chapel provided a warm and quiet space for the period of prayer which opened our celebration. Following an adapted version of the prayer service prepared by the confreres in Holland, we listened to and reflected upon scripture passages, words of the Founder, and descriptions of some of the challenges Father Dehon faced. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, hymns, silence, prayers and sharing helped to create the prayerful context needed to process what we heard.
Since all who gathered were relatively familiar with each other, it was easy to move into an atmosphere of celebration as we met at the dining room table and shared a meal together.
I believe most of us who experienced a novitiate followed by years of formation and education are happy to note that a number of people who have learned some aspects of our founder’s spirituality find it attractive enough to want to understand and embrace it. There appears to be a genuine desire for communion with God and with the world we live in, through the path of service and surrender to God who loved us first.
Fr. James Casper, scj
