July 12, 2010

ESL instructor Michael Krull does an informal quiz with students as a part of the opening session of the ESL summer program.

The world comes to Sacred Heart!

Well, not the WHOLE world, but students from over a dozen countries arrived in Hales Corners last week to take part in Sacred Heart School of Theology’s summer ESL (English as a Second Language) Program.  The first official day of the session was July 6.

Among those in this year’s summer ESL session are Fr. Albert Lingwengewe, a member of the General Council originally from Congo, and Fr. Aquilino Mielgo Dominguez, the SCJs’ general treasurer (he is originally of the Spanish Province).

A few faces are familiar returns including Fr. Francois Muway Mulem of Congo (currently a student in Rome) and Fr. Vincent Suparman of the Indonesian Province who is taking ESL to brush up on his English in preparation for future ministry in South Dakota.

Provincial’s time

Fr. Cassidy has a meeting with the current Provincial Council on July 12-13.  The newly elected council will also take part in the meeting and then have a meeting of its own on July 14.

Fr. John van den Hengel of the General Council will be with the current and in-coming councils on July 12 to discuss the general administration’s six-year plan.

SCJ featured in Rome publication

Fr. David Szatkowski, SCJ

At the end of the recent academic year the International College in Rome produced Il Nostro Frutto, a publication that profiled several students in the community. Among those featured: Fr. David Szatkowski, who recently returned to the United States after five years with the International College. A doctoral candidate in Canon Law, Fr. David will reverse roles in September when he begins teaching duties at Sacred Heart School of Theology. Fr. David has a licentiate in Canon Law and will defend his doctoral thesis in fall.

To read an English translation of the interview, click here.

Back in Rome

Just as Fr. David Szatkowski settles in at Sacred Heart Monastery, Fr. Francis Vu Tran is headed back to Rome to continue his studies in Italian.  He was home for a few weeks after attending the Provincial Election Assembly.  Fr. Francis is studying Italian in preparation for post-graduate classes in Biblical Theology.  In October he will begin work on Greek and Hebrew.

Frater Greg Schill next to a public art display in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He and Frater Duy Nguyen are with the SCJ community in Argentina studying Spanish.

Español en Argentina

Fraters Duy Nguyen and Greg Schill arrived in Argentina last week where they will spend the next two months studying Spanish while living with the SCJ community there.  Frater Duy writes that “Things are good down here in Buenos Aires. I’m already used to the late dinners that start at 9 p.m. Since there’s such a big gap between lunch and dinner, people here in Buenos Aires eat something light in between. They call it ‘merender’ in Spanish. But I call it ‘linner.’ Today, the Argentines celebrate Independence Day so most people have the day off. I don’t know how the rest of the country celebrates it, but at the SCJ house here they’re cooking a popular Argentine  dish.”

Fraters Duy and Greg are being supervised in their studies by an SCJ familiar to many in the United States:  Fr. Eduardo Agüero.  Fr. Eduardo is an alumnus of the ESL program and in recent years did post-graduate studies in the United States.

A year at St. Joe’s

Br. Clay Diaz is our most recent contributor to the province blog site.  On it he writes about his experience at St. Joseph’s Indian School, where he is doing his pastoral year of ministry before beginning studies at Catholic Theological Union.

“I enjoy working at St. Joe’s because of the great people both at the homes and in the different academic departments,” he wrote.  “The atmosphere on the campus is such a unique experience. I have learned a lot about the Native American culture and continue to learn because each day is a new learning experience.”

To read the rest of his blog entry, click here

Br. Clay will renew his vows on July 23 at St. James Church in Chamberlain, S.D., where Fr. Bill Pitcavage is pastor.

Please note, all SCJs, co-workers and other collaborators are welcome to share a reflection –– or even a photo –– on the province blog site.  If you would like to do so, please contact Mary Gorski (414-427-4266).

Please remember

Fr. Francesco Gaglione, a member of the North Italian Province, died July 4.  He was born in 1916, professed in 1937 and ordained in 1946.

Fr. Cornelis (Neil) Marrevee, a member of the Dutch-Flemish Confederation, died July 8.  The brother of Fr. Bill Marrevee, regional superior of Canada, Fr. Neil was born in 1925, professed in 1946 and ordained in 1952.

Congregational statistics

The statistics for the Priests of the Sacred Heart as of April, 2010, are available as a PDF download from the Members’ section of the province website.

SHST board chairperson honored as a “Women of Influence”

Mary Meehan, SHST board chairperson, was recently honored as one of the “2010 Women of Influence” by The Milwaukee Business Journal. Meehan is acknowledged for her leadership as president of Alverno College in Milwaukee. The complete article, including photos and a video, can be found at the Women of Influence website.

Province Assembly reminder

The Province Assembly will begin at 1:15 at the Provincialate Conference Center on Monday, July 26 and run through the end of the day on Tuesday, July 27.  Those attending need to let Br. Frank Presto know TODAY (July 12), so that the kitchen staff can make meal arrangements.  Members of the province are asked to make their own lodging arrangements at Sacred Heart Monastery. To reserve a room, call Marlene at 414-425-8300 and hit “0.”