World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
This Thursday, Sept. 1, is the second annual “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation,” established by Pope Francis last year. Click here to read the Holy Father’s letter regarding it.
Click here to download a flyer (PDF) about the day from a Dehonian perspective. The flyer was produced by David Schimmel, director of Dehonian Associates for the US Province.
A prayer and other information about World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is near the bottom of this page.
Fire in Madeira
The city of Funchal, on the Portuguese island of Madiera, was surrounded by fire earlier this month. The SCJs have three communities in the area. Fr. Roberto Viana Soares, SCJ, wrote about the tragedy for the congregational website. He and several other SCJs stayed behind when others evacuated, extinguishing flames when they threatened the seminary.
“At first we welcomed evacuees at the Colégio Missionário, but 12 hours later we had to evacuate everyone,” wrote Fr. Roberto. “I stayed with four confreres and two postulants who helped to extinguish the fire that was close to our house.”
Click here to read the rest of his text and see photos from Madiera.
September birthdays
Those celebrating birthdays in September include Fr. Aegidius Warsito (51) on Sept. 1, Fr. Gustave Lulendo (43) on Sept. 4, Frater Juancho Castañeda Rojas (34) on Sept. 10, Fr. Steve Wiese (82) on Sept. 11, Fr. Tom Burns (78) on Sept. 12, Fr. Johnny Klingler (81) and Fr. John Czyzynski (79) on Sept. 14, Fr. Greg Speck (69) and Fr. Andrzej Sudol (46) on Sept. 17, Br. John Monek (87) on Sept. 18, and Fr. Joseph Dinh (47) on Sept. 24.
Earthquake in Italy
Our SCJ community in Foligno, Italy, wrote to let us know that they are okay following the earthquake in central Italy last week
“At 3:36 a.m. we heard the earthquake loudly. Being woken by an earthquake is an experience that no one expects. We were kept awake because the earthquake continued for several hours with aftershocks of varying intensity. It was still going strong at 4:30 a.m. However, apart from the scare, especially to our 50 guests who were on a pilgrimage to Assisi, we suffered no harm, not even minor damage.
“We thank all for their thoughts and remain united in prayer for the dead, the injured and the many who have lost everything.”
Back in India
After several days of travel, delayed just about every step along the way, Fr. Tom Cassidy, SCJ, is back in India, where he assists with formation and administration several months of the year. He arrived just in time to take part in the Indian District Assembly last week. Fr. Tom wrote about the assembly in his journal:
“Our days are full and generally run from 6:30 am with morning prayer and Mass, to supper at 8:00 pm with the chance for some recreation afterwards with most people heading to their rooms around 10:00 pm. We don’t have internet access nor TV reception so folks are left to their own devices. Last night card games were popular.
“Most of our sessions have been presentations; we are now hearing from each of the communities concerning their activities of the past year as well as an accounting by the local treasurers. What is a bit different from a typical assembly in the US Province is that the account books for each house are open for inspection by any member and will be available until 9:00 pm this evening…
“It is safe to say that all of our parishes are poor and in some cases they are parishes we are building up from scratch. Many of the parishes have pastoral as well as social needs that the parish team would like to meet. Since the district has very limited resources and is dependent on support from the general administration it will take creative thinking to meet those needs.
“All in all it was a successful gathering. Given the distances that separate various communities it is important to gather at events like this to renew the bonds of brotherhood that are so much a part of belonging to a religious community. It also was an excellent opportunity to hear firsthand from those responsible as to what is going on in the district and the ministries operated in the name of the district.
“There are lots of challenges pulling at the district but as I once read: ‘Every challenge is in reality an opportunity.’”
Click here to read Fr. Tom’s complete blog posts.
Thanks!
William Cianetti, a student in the first session of Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology’s summer ESL program, recently wrote to Fr. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, to express his thanks for his experience at SHSST. William has worked in the Generalate’s archives in Rome.
“It is already a week since I returned to Rome and I am missing all of you and that wonderful place,” wrote William. “I want to say a very big THANKS for the experience that I lived; really, one of the best that I have had. I learned so many things about languages, cultures, faith and humanity. I visited many interesting places and tried many new things… I will never forget my experience!”
Please remember
+Fr. Leonardo Cappelluti, a member of the Argentine Province, died August 23. He was born in 1933, professed in 1955 and ordained in 1960.
+Fr. Bernhard Zachäus Bothe of the German Province died August 24. He was born in 1936, professed in 1958 and ordained in 1964.
Former members of SHSM staff murdered
Two former staff members of Sacred Heart Southern Missions in Mississippi –– Sr. Paula Merrill, SCN, and Sr. Margaret Held, OSF –– were found murdered in their home near Jackson, MS, last Thursday, Aug. 25.
Sr. Paula, a nurse practitioner with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and Sr. Margaret, a nurse practitioner with the School Sisters of St. Francis, both worked in a clinic with the poor in Holmes County, MS.
In the early 1980s they served as nurses with Sacred Heart Southern Missions in Holly Springs, MS. At that time, SHSM –– through CADET/Christian Development Program –– provided in-home health care. When the State of Mississippi offered free tuition for nurses to become nurse practitioners they both went back to school. After earning their NP licenses they served at a clinic in Mound Bayou, MS, and then moved to Durant to work with the poor at a clinic there.
Click here for more news of the tragedy.
Each sister’s religious community also has news and tributes. Click here for the SSSF website and click here for the SCN website.
Remembering an SCJ martyr
August 23 was the 80th anniversary of the death of Blessed Juan Maria de la Cruz, who was martyred in the midst of the Spanish Civil War. Weeks earlier he was arrested for protesting against the desecration and burning of a church in Valencia.
“He always behaved like a completely worthy priest,” said Bl. Juan Maria’s cellmate. “If he found himself in the yard and heard the hours rung he recited prayers with whomever happened to be there. There were some who saw him doing that on several occasions. There were also times when I myself saw him praying in the cell. I never saw him behave discourteously with anyone.”
On the night of August 23, 1936, Bl. Juan Maria, along with nine other prisoners, was shot by authorities and tossed into a common grave.
He is the first SCJ to be named blessed; the memorial day for him is September 22. Click here or on the image above to view a video in which Fr. José Carlos Brinon, SCJ, general postulator, talks about he life of Bl. Juan Maria. Fr. José Carlos speaks in Italian but there are English subtitles.
Updates
Br. Long Nguyen has a new phone: 346-208-4552
Schedule notes
The Provincialate Offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 5, for Labor Day. The next Fridge Notes will be published on Tuesday, September 6. Enjoy the holiday weekend!
World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
As noted at the top of this page, Sept. 1 is “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.”
“The annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation will offer individual believers and communities a fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to implore his help for the protection of creation, as well as his pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live,” wrote Pope Francis.
The following prayer was prepared for the day by David Schimmel, US Province director of Dehonian Associates:
We adore you, Divine Creator, and we praise you for your goodness. Each day, you sustain the life of all creatures. Your light and hope dawn upon us like the rising sun.
By your amazing grace, Jesus Christ became flesh to reveal your love and your beauty, and the oneness of all creation. By his cross and resurrection, he has restored the unity we had shattered.
Today we want to make a return of love by thanking you for the new creation given us in Christ, by praising you for your Spirit, who never stops renewing the Earth, and by giving ourselves completely for our brothers and sisters.
As custodians of your marvelous creation, may we cultivate your love, beauty, and oneness with the world through the Cosmic Heart of Christ.
Amen.
Click here to download a flyer about the day from a Dehonian perspective. It is in both Spanish and English.
Click here to learn more in general about World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
Provincial’s time
Fr. Ed Kilianski returns from Houston today; he was the main celebrant at Friday’s memorial for Fr. Peter Mastrobuono at Our Lady of Guadalupe, and then assisted with Masses during the weekend. On August 31 he will take part in the Opening Mass for the new school year at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
During Labor Day Weekend he will go to Chicago to spend time with the formation community. September 13-14 he has meetings with the Provincial Council.
Fr. Ed is pictured below during the Memorial Mass for Fr. Peter. Click here to view more photos from the memorial taken by Br. Andy Gancarczyk, SCJ.
