Pet blessings

In commemoration of the feast of St. Francis, pet blessings are offered throughout the province. Due to the pandemic, this year the blessings were done via drive-thru (pets were asked to have their humans do the driving). Fr. Hendrik Ardianto, SCJ, is pictured above blessing Holy Family principal Tunia Sangster’s new dog, Diesel. Blessings were done at both Holy Family and Sacred Heart Schools in Mississippi, as well as at the parishes in northern Mississippi and in other areas of the province. Fr. Greg Schill, SCJ, is pictured below receiving thanks.

Have you seen it lately?

In August, the general communications office released a redesigned website for the congregation. Be sure to stop by for a visit if you haven’t done so already. Although it has a new look, the address is the same:  https://www.dehoniani.org.

Recent posts include a letter from Fr. Carlos Luis Suarez Codorniú, SCJ, superior general, about Pope Francis’ recently released encyclical letter Fratelli Tutti.

“This new encyclical letter has a lot to say about our Dehonian life,” wrote Fr. Carlos Luis. “Fr. Dehon’s faith experience was similar to that of St. Francis. They both understood that ‘God is love; whoever remains in love remains in God and God remains in him’ (1Jn 4:16). This same experience of faith is also our experience of faith (cf. RL 9)… We cannot remain indifferent to the pressing invitation that Pope Francis addresses to each of us. We are called to have the open heart of the Good Samaritan to face ‘numerous related issues […] forcing us to see things in a new light and to develop new responses’ (FT 128): people migrating, humanitarian crises, the relationship between the East and West, globalization, social degradation, better politics, social dialogue, and the ecumenical and inter-religious journey.”

Click here to access the letter. Click here, or on the image below, to view Fr. Carlos Luis’ video introduction.

Other articles on the newly designed website include (click on the title to access the article):

Being a Dehonian with a Chinese heart – “It was a great honor to live in the Dehonian community since 2017, where I had the opportunity to know the charism of the congregation.” The quote is from Fr. Zhand Yulai, a priest from China who stayed at the Generalate in Rome while doing his doctoral research in canon law. “I have had a very precious experience, a unique, enriching experience, as well as a great honor. Here I met and understood the charism of the Congregation, which I admire and with which I am very much in agreement.”

What social initiatives have we had as Dehonians in this time of pandemic – In response to the pandemic, SCJs in Ecuador reach out to the poor providing food, medicine, masks, and hygienic materials. Each day more than 350 lunches are distributed to children and families in Bellavista. In Quito, the community has teamed up with parishioners to offer online assistance to those suffering from depression.

A Ministry of Service – Fra. Henry Nguyen, SCJ, a member of the general communications team, wrote an article about the work of Sacred Heart Southern Missions in response to the pandemic. “The daily interactions that I have with those who are struggling are sometimes challenging as I ask uncomfortable questions to truly assess their situation,” wrote Fra. Henry. “I believe in ministering with care and love, but also at the same time, truly help them advance and get to a better place by asking these questions.”

Dehonians in Cameroon at the School of Management – Dehonians in Cameroon took part in a week-long workshop regarding asset management, accounting procedures, human resources, and the overall skills needed to serve as a local treasurer.

Thank you!

Last week the Provincial Office held a small luncheon to commemorate the work of David Schimmel as the US Province’s director of Dehonian Associates. He retires this month. During his years as director, David edited the weekly e-publication, Dehonian Spiritualty, developed a wide variety of materials on the Dehonian charism, taught classes on the founder at the novitiate, created presentations on Sacred Heart spirituality for a variety of age and academic levels, worked with Schools in Collaboration in designing Dehonian curricula, represented the province at international lay Dehonian gatherings, assisted with Mission Education, and developed the Dehonian Esprit de Coeur (alumni association).

Much of the work that David has produced, including back issues of Dehonian Spirituality, bulletin inserts, seasonal e-blasts, youth materials, and the ten-part “Spiritual Path” are available in the Dehonian Spirituality section of the US Province website. More will be added in the weeks ahead. Click here to access the page directly.

Click here to view photos from the luncheon.

2021 Ordo

The Province Development Office is preparing the 2021 Ordo. They ask that if you would like to either be added or removed from the mailing list that you contact the office as soon as possible. You can call the Development Office at 1-800-448-7674 or 414-425-3383. It is anticipated that the mailing will go out on November 16.

Top 100

Sr. Norma Pimantal, MJ, has been named as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people. “Sister Pimentel has been on the front lines of mercy for three decades, supporting migrants who are seeking refuge in the U.S. along Texas’ border with Mexico,” wrote Julian Castro, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. “As executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, she directs efforts to provide shelter, food, sanctuary and comfort to people often treated as less than human. Her organization has housed and assisted well over 100,000 people at the border.”

Sr. Norma has spoken at several province events; last year she was the featured speaker at the Dehon Lecture.

Click here to read the full piece about Sr. Norma in Time.

Please remember

Ann Kuxhause, the mother of John Kuxhause, province accountant, died on September 30. Her health had been deteriorating in recent weeks. She died at home with two of John’s sisters at her side.

John Davis, an alumnus of Divine Heart Seminary (class of 1974) died in hospice care October 4. Please keep his wife, Karen, and their daughters and son in your prayers. The wake will be October 7 from 5:00 to 8 pm at the Bailey Zechar Funeral Home, 653 Hickey Ave, Versailles, Ohio. The Funeral Mass will be on October 8 at St. Denis Catholic Church at 10:30 am., 14 E Wood St. (Versailles).

Bill Webb, a former SCJ (he professed first vows in 1965) died on September 4 of a massive heart attack. Please keep his wife, Mary, in your prayers.

Keep in prayer

Fr. Bob Tucker, SCJ, is back at RML for rehabilitation after a few days in the hospital. According to Mary Balistreri, province director of healthcare, he “continues to have days where he is able to work on independent breathing and therapy and other days in which he requires more rest. Fatigue is one of his biggest challenges.  His infections are well controlled, and his labs have once again stabilized. He remains in good spirits and has expressed his appreciation for all of the support sent his way.”

Cards and letters can be sent to Fr. Bob at:

RML Specialty Hospital
5601 S. County Line Rd.
Hinsdale, IL 60521
Attention Fr. Robert Tucker room B137

Thanks, and an invitation

Fr. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, shares the following message from Fr. Juan Domingo Griffone, SCJ, provincial superior of the Argentine Province.

“I thank you for the help that Br. Diego Díaz has given me as a facilitator of the missionary training for the seven SCJ missionaries from Asia, two Indonesians and five Indians. Since August, we hold a Zoom meeting once a week, where we prepare the SCJs remotely, talking about the culture, religious background, music and customs that they will find when they arrive in Uruguay and Argentina – of course, after the pandemic.

“I also want to take the opportunity to offer you the possibility that if any young SCJ priests wish to learn Spanish, as Frs. Duy Nguyen and Gregory Schill did several years ago, here in our Provincial House we have the facilities and also a very good language school nearby that is connected to the University of Buenos Aires, one of the best in Latin America.

“Please send my warmest greetings to all the members of the US Province, many of them I have had the opportunity to meet. Thank you again for the collaboration of Br. Diego and a cordial greeting to you in the Heart of Jesus.”

During the 1988-89 academic year, Fr. Juan Domingo was a member of the one of the first ESL classes at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. He was a part of initial group of  SCJ missionaries preparing to go to the Philippines.

South Dakota SCJs join in Clergy Days with new bishop

Fr. Bernie Rosinski, SCJ, writes that this week SCJs in South Dakota will be attending the Clergy Days Conference (Oct. 5-8) at Cedar Shores, just across the river from St. Joseph’s Indian School. “The new bishop, Most Rev. Donald DeGrood is scheduled to speak to lay out his vision for the clergy and for the diocese,” wrote Fr. Bernie. On Tuesday evening, deceased SCJs who have served in the diocese will be commemorated in a special liturgy for deceased clergy; the memorial will be at St. James parish, Chamberlain.

New shoes from good Samaritans

Students at St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, SD, were the recipients of new shoes last week thanks to “Samaritan’s Feet”, a non-profit organization that distributes shoes to children throughout the world. Volunteers from Samaritan’s Feet visited the school on September 21. COVID-19 guidelines limited the visitors’ contact with the school community, but they were able to interact with students via livestream, hear staff presentations, take an interactive tour of the Akta Lakota Museum, and see a livestreamed Native American powwow dance and song by the third-grade class.

St. Joseph’s Indian School is one of the oldest ministries of the Priests of the Sacred Heart in the United States.

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