June: month of the Sacred Heart
During the month of June, the province offers daily, one-minute meditations on the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The reflections, assembled by Province Dehonian Associates Director, David Schimmel, come from the writings of Fr. Leo John Dehon. Click here to view the full month of meditations, or subscribe at the following link to receive each day’s reflection via email: http://eepurl.com/gqQ2lj
Note: everyone who is on the Dehonian Spirituality mailing list was added to the June mailing; the e-blasts began on Saturday, June 1.
Retreat helps youth learn to open their hearts to others
“It is always amazing to see how God works among young people,” wrote Fr. Albertus Joni. An SCJ from the Indonesian Province doing graduate studies in the United States, Fr. Joni led a retreat May 17-19 for 70 youth who are a part of the Indonesian Community (Mudika UKI) in Toronto. Joining him was Postulant Hung Pham from the US Province, and SCJ Frs. Jim Casper, Peter McKenna, Martin Kadamattu and Aegi Warsito of the Toronto community who heard confessions.
“Focusing on the theme of ‘unity,’ these beautiful young people, aged 15-29, reflected on their personal relationships with themselves, with their families, and with God. We talked about the truth of our real selves as ‘the beloved sons and daughters of the Merciful Father.’ Learning from the event of Jesus’ baptism, we tried to be attentive to the voice of the Father who always calls us to return to His home, to true joy and happiness.”
Click here to read more on the province website.
New Generalate email and website addresses
The general administration in Rome updated its email and website addresses as of Saturday, June 1. The old “dehon.it” domain name used by members of the general administration no longer works.
The new general website address is: www.dehoniani.org (NOT dehoniani.it, which is the website address of the North Italian Province). The website itself has not changed, only the address. You can still access the English version of the site from the new address or directly at: http://www.dehoniani.org/en/
All SCJs in the US Province were sent a list of the new Generalate email addresses from Br. Frank Presto, SCJ, last Friday. Click here to download a PDF of the list. One address that SCJs in North America may want to make sure that they update is that of Fr. Stephen Huffstetter, SCJ: stephen.huffstetter@dehoniani.org
Three new candidates!
Last week three men were accepted as candidates for the province formation program: Steven DiNello, Francis Joanness and Jonathan Nguyen Vuong. All will enter the program at Sacred Heart Monastery in the fall semester. Steve will study at Cardinal Stritch and Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, Francis will begin with ECS (formerly ESL) and transition to SHSST, and Jonathan will study at Marquette University. We will post photos of the candidates later this summer when they settle in at the monastery.
Speaking of candidates…
In the previous issue of Fridge Notes we included the summer assignments of many of the students in formation. We have one more to add: Michael Wodarczyk. A first-year candidate, Michael joined the formation program earlier this year. He will be serving in Mississippi along with Kenneth Chidozie Anyanwu.
International conference on Sacred Heart Devotion
The Priests of the Sacred Heart (via the Centro Studi Dehoniani), in conjunction with several partners, including the Pontifical Council for Culture and the University of Lucerne (PH Luzern), will host an international conference November 8-9 titled “Sacred Heart Devotion, Memory – Body – Image – Text: Continuities and Discontinuities.” The conference will be held at Villa Aurelia (next to the Generalate).
“The devotion to the Sacred Heart in a variety of perspectives will be the central focus of the international and pluri-disciplinary conference,” write organizers on the conference website. “Speakers from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, the United States, Canada and Indonesia will focus on iconography, memory, emotion and body in the language, imagery and rituals of the Sacred Heart… Theologians, historians, religious scientists, sociologists and art historians will present and discuss their research and reflections.”
Click here to read more on the conference website.
Updates and prayer requests
Fr. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, was hospitalized last week for an infection. Several months ago, he had a car accident in which he unknowingly fractured his sternum; doctors are treating him for an infection that settled in the area. He is to be discharged today.
Also, the Canadian Region reports that Fr. Claude Bédard, SCJ, has been released from the hospital. He had become quite ill from an infection while visiting the District of Vietnam. “He thanks all those who sent messages and prayed for him during his hospitalization,” wrote Fr. Maurice Légaré, SCJ.
Next week
It will be a busy week here in Hales Corners starting June 10. Former SCJs and SCJ students from around the country are coming together for a reunion Monday and Tuesday. The gathering begins at 9:00 a.m. on June 10th with a morning of reflection led by Fr. John Czyzynski, SCJ, in Room 201 at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. Following afternoon activities, the reunion participants will join SCJs at the Province Jubilee Celebration Monday evening at Sacred Heart Monastery, beginning with Mass at 4:30 p.m.
The Province Assembly begins at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 11, in the Provincial Conference Center, with a combined session of SCJs and reunion participants. Following opening prayer and introductions, the group will reflect on the question: ““How has knowing Fr. Dehon and the SCJs affected your values and the way you live your life?”
The two groups will have separate programs after lunch, with the reunion concluding its gathering with dinner in the SHSST dining room Tuesday evening.
The Province Assembly continues until midday on Friday, June 14.
Click here to view the Reunion schedule.
Click here to view the Assembly schedule.
QUESTIONS? Click here to contact David Schimmel regarding the Reunion. Click here to contact Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, regarding the Assembly.
You ought to be in pictures!
We will have a photo studio set up in the coat room near the chapel at the Provincial Conference Center beginning on Tuesday, June 14, for updated headshots (portrait photos). The pictures can be done during breaks at the Assembly; please see Mary Gorski to have an updated photo. A few dark coats and collars will be available for use; however, SCJs are welcome (and encouraged) to wear their own attire. Candidates and novices are also encouraged to have an updated photo taken.
Car insurance cards in the mail
The Provincial Treasurer’s Office is sending new car insurance cards to SCJs this week; they should arrive in seven to ten days. In houses where there are multiple SCJs, the cards will go to the local superior for distribution. SCJs are asked to hang on to their old card until they receive the new one; the new one takes effect June 15. Questions? Contact Kevin Stanke at the Provicialate.
Summer hours
The Provincial Offices are on a summer schedule through Friday, August 30. This means that most members of the staff will work longer days Monday through Thursday and leave at noon on Friday.
Anniversary reminder
Alumni of Immaculate Heart Seminary are holding a celebration in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the closing of the seminary. “We are seeking to find as many faculty members as possible to attend this special event,” wrote Mark Turcio, one of the celebration’s organizers. He noted that Monsignor Michael Shershonovich said that former faculty can stay at the rectory of St Joseph’s in Pittsfield, MA. Click here for the website.
The reunion is June 28-30, 2019. “We will have the Bellefontaine picnic on June 29th at 1:00 pm at The Marians,” wrote Mark. The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy is at 2 Prospect Hill Road, Eden Hill, Stockbridge MA. 01262. There will also be a tour of the school at 91 Kemble St., Lenox, MA on Saturday morning. Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s on Sunday morning.
The dates were picked to coincide with the feast of the Sacred Heart on June 28.
Alumni and other guests are invited to stay at the Berkshire Plaza Hotel.
Questions? Click here to email Mark Turcio.
Celebrations in Vietnam
Six novices, five SCJs renewing their first vows, 35 con-celebrants and 350 family, friends and guests gathered in the recently dedicated chapel of the Dehon II formation community in Vietnam to celebrate the first vows of six Vietnamese Dehonians along with the renewal of five Dehonians who made history last year as the first group to profess their first vows here in Vietnam. Members of this group were also the first to make their first profession of vows in the new Dehon II chapel. In a few weeks, Dehon II will begin its transformation from a formation community for candidates to the Vietnamese District novitiate house.
Fr. Francis Vu Tran, SCJ, district superior, was the principal celebrant and homilist; as district superior, he accepted the vows of the six novices and five theologians renewing their vows for the first time.
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