Preparing “ambassadors of Christ in everyday life”
“[Y]ou play a crucial role in carrying out the Church’s mission in the world by engaging with important issues regarding justice, peace, protection of life, nurturing the young at heart, and upholding the dignity of all people. You are ambassadors of Christ in everyday life. And by embodying your values and sharing the Gospel in meaningful ways, you contribute to spreading hope and compassion.”
The quote was from Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, to alumni of Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology‘s Cor Unum master’s program. On Feb. 4, SHSST held an appreciation dinner for the program’s alumni, staff and faculty.
Based in the Dehonian charism, Cor Unum is a master’s degree program in theology designed for lay people, many of whom serve or plan to serve in Church ministry. Organized into two-year cohorts of approximately a dozen students, classes are held on Monday evenings and one Saturday per month. There are also options for summer experiences, such as a trip to the Holy Land.
“In the classroom, at table, in meetings, and just milling about I have been continually impressed with the lived passion, engaging inquiry, personal investment, focused dedication and engaging discussion among the lay ministers of Cor Unum,” said Br. Duane Lemke, SCJ, whose casual comments after a province meeting a few months ago led to the Appreciation Dinner.
During his presentation on the history of the program, Dr. Patrick Russell told alumni that “[Y]ou are now extending the very Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed through your lives, your work, and your ministry.” In 2015, Dr. Russell was the SHSST Vice President for Intellectual Formation and Academic Dean, and one of the founders of the Cor Unum program.
“Indeed, the Spirit shines in your faces,” he continued, “because you are transforming the world through your teaching in Catholic schools, through your ministry to the poor and marginalized, through lives of generous love to family and volunteer service in the community, through your catechetical efforts and church ministry, through your work with migrants and immigrants, through your secular professions that are done in a way that bring Christ in the midst your vital work. And the list goes on and on…”
Click here to read Dr. Russell’s text.
Click here to read more about the evening.
Saying good-bye to Fr. Yvon
“In his ministry as a priest, whether in South Dakota or in Franklin, Wisconsin, Fr. Yvon offered people a sense of hope in hopelessness situations,” said Fr. Francis Vu Tran, SCJ, in his homily at the Funeral Mass for Fr. Yvon Sheehy, SCJ, on Saturday. “When life threw a lemon, Fr. Yvon showed people how to make a sugarfree lemonade. He believed that the God who has given all for us would also give us everything needed to help us get through the darkness of life…
“Fr. Yvon was the type of person who could smile even when life threw challenges at him, such as his many months in the care facility at Camillus to treat a difficult foot issue [Charcot]. He was in pain and suffered a lot during those days but still chose to befriend nurses, caregivers and others who happened to be near him. As the Gospel related, ‘I will never drive them away.’ Fr. Yvon would never drive people away. He was the instrument of hope to all.”
CLICK HERE to read Fr. Francis’ full homily.
CLICK HERE or on the image above to view a recording of the Funeral Mass (our thanks to Br. Andy Gancarczyk, SCJ, for organizing the livestream).
CLICK HERE or on the image below to view a “Heart to Heart” interview with Fr. Yvon in which he talks about his years of ministry in South Dakota. “I didn’t intend to go there but I fell in love with it,” he said. Of the Native Americans he served, he spoke with admiration of their trust and faith in God. “They always depend on God to help them through the hard times,” he said. “They believe that God will take care of us.”
On the way to India
Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, will be in India from February 11 to March 3 to lead two retreats for Dehonians in the Indian District. During his absence, urgent matters will be referred to the vice provincial superior, Fr. Jack Kurps, SCJ.
Lenten hours of recollection
MARCH 7 – Fr. Paul Phong Hoang, SCJ, will lead the annual Lenten Zoom reflection for SCJs. The topic: “Finding Purpose”. After presenting perspectives from philosophies and other faith traditions, he will offer the Christian perspective to the question “What is the meaning of life?” “We will spend time in group discussion reflecting on how we, as Dehonians, can find purpose in our lives and ministries,” he said.
The presentation will be from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. (central). SCJs in the US and Canada will receive a Zoom link via email.
MARCH 25 – As noted last week, the annual Lenten Zoon reflection for collaborators will be presented by Dr. Jeremy Blackwood, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, who will speak on Dilexit Nos, the recent encyclical by Pope Francis on the Sacred Heart. The presentation will be from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. (central); a Zoom link will be available soon.
A sign that fraternity is possible
Constitution No. 65 was the starting point of the February issue of As a Rule: ” Through fellowship even above and beyond conflicts, and through mutual forgiveness, we would like to be a sign that the fraternity for which people thirst is possible in Jesus Christ and we would like to be its servants.”
“[D]o we communicate these signs of fraternity and love in us to others?” asked Dr. James Stroud in the first reflection. “Do those we encounter see the face of Christ and experience the heart of Christ in us and in their midst? When a driver does not see a stop sign, the consequences can be tragic. How much greater a tragedy it is for others to not see the sign of the love of Christ in us! Let us commit ourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit to being known by our signs of love and fraternity rooted in Christ so that everybody we encounter may see and experience the love of God and know that they are, as we are, children of God.”
Dr. Stroud is an Associate Professor of Moral Theology at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
“I was struck by the words ‘through fellowship,'” wrote Fr. David Szatkowski, SCJ, in the second reflection. “I believe we are called to create fellowship. Fellowship means relationship. Pope Francis’ theology of encounter is a form of fellowship. Forming relationships with people we disagree with, people we think are ‘wrong’ in their theology or politics, people we call ‘disordered’ or ‘lacking’ due to the ways they live, or those we deem ‘sinful’ is difficult. Yet we must dare to come into relationship. This is hard work. We cannot compromise the gospel, or teachings of the Church. We can act with love, respect, honesty, and sincere care. We can be in relationship with a person, who becomes a friend and who is no longer ‘them.'”
Fr. David is a member of the Dehonian pastoral team in northern Mississippi.
CLICK HERE to access the full February issue of As a Rule. There is a subscription link in the upper, left corner of the publication, as well as a link to past issues.
New assignments
Today Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, announced that Fr. M. Ari Saputra, SCJ, from the Indonesian Province, and Fr. Floribert Dhelo Bulo, SCJ, from the Congolese Province, will begin their first assignment in South Dakota, tentatively in May 2025.
Closing photo
Fr. Charles Brown, SCJ, sends the photo below from South Africa. He writes: ” I am teaching at St. Joseph’s Theological Institute in Cedara, KwaZulu-Natal, where the Dehonian students study. I have nine SCJ students in my class of 28 second-year seminarians. The course is on the letters of St. Paul. I am so very happy to be back in the classroom, and to have such fine students to work with.”
The photo was taken on Saturday following a reflection that Fr. Charlie gave to the Dehonian formation community entitled “Our Dehonian Life of Prayer.”
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