Fr. John van den Hengel, vicar general at the time, thanks the out-going administration at the 2013 Election Assembly. Fr. John will be at this week's assembly, serving as moderator. — LOOKING BACK AT 2013: Fr. John van den Hengel, vicar general at the time, thanks the out-going administration at the last Election Assembly. Fr. John will be moderator at this week’s assembly.

It all starts today!

The Election Assembly for the US Province begins today at 1 pm in the Provincial Conference Center.

All assembly Masses will be at the Good Shepherd Chapel (main chapel) at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake. Mass will begin at 5 pm Monday through Thursday. A social and dinner will follow at SHML for assembly participants.

Lunch Tuesday through Thursday will also be at SHML. Breakfast is available at either SHML or SHSST.

Tuesday through Thursday SCJs are scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m. in the Provincial Conference Center.

The closing Mass and installation of the new administration is scheduled for Thursday evening, August 27. However, this, as well as the rest of the schedule, remains open to last minute changes depending on the needs of the election process.

Photos and updates from the assembly will be posted on the province Facebook page.

Happy birthday

Those celebrating birthdays in September include: Fr. Aegidius Warsito (50) on Sept. 1, Fr. Gustave Lulendo (42) on Sept. 4, Frater Juancho Castañeda (33) on Sept. 10, Fr. Steve Wiese (81) on Sept. 11, Fr. Tom Burns (77) on Sept. 12, Fr. Johnny Klingler (80) and Fr. John Czyzynski (78) on Sept. 14, Fr. Greg Speck (68) on Sept. 17, Br. John Monek (86) on Sept. 18, and Fr. Joseph Dinh (46) on Sept. 24.

Photo reminder

All SCJs are encouraged to update their “mugshot.” If you have a recent photo of yourself that you can share for the province files, please email it to Mary Gorski (click here to email her). You can also send her a print.

Need a new photo? Mary will be available from 8 – 8:45 a.m. at the Provincial Conference Center on Tuesday and Wednesday of the Election Assembly (August 25-26) to take your picture. Not a good time? Let her know and make other arrangements; photos can be done at various times throughout the assembly.

Recently featured

Fr. Chuck Wonch was recently featured in his alma mater’s magazine, The Jacksonian, of Jackson State University in Mississippi. He graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial management. Fr. Chuck began his studies after service in the Air Force. It was during his time at JSU that he also also became more active in the Catholic Church. After completing his undergraduate studies “I attended Springhill College in Mobile, Ala., and received a Master of Theological Studies,” said Fr. Chuck in the magazine profile.

“I worked with many parish priests and churches around central Mississippi while working for 15 years as a purchasing supervisor at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station,” he continued. “God seemed to be calling me to come and follow Him and be of service to His people.”

This, said Fr. Chuck in the profile, eventually led to his discernment with the Priests of the Sacred Heart. In 1995 he left everything behind to begin studies in Hales Corners, Wis. He eventually earned a Master of Divinity at Catholic Theological Union and was ordained to the priesthood where he began his discernment process: in the Diocese of Jackson, Miss.

Back in India

Fr. Tom Cassidy returned to India last week where he has been assisting for several months at a time since completing his term as provincial superior of the US Province in 2013. As with previous visits, he is keeping a daily journal. Excerpts from a few recent entries:

“It’s now Thursday morning in Eluru and I’m settled into my room and hopefully the house routine. Yesterday was a long day of travel, most of which was spent in two airports waiting for my flights. I was grateful both flights were on time and Mother Nature cooperated with decent flying weather (this is still the rainy season).

Fr. Tom took part in a district council meeting his first week in India.

“Frs. Mariano and Gopu where there to meet me. The Vijayawada airport is not a major airport. Maybe about four times the size of the one in Pierre, SD. The airport is scheduled for major improvements now that the new capital of Andhra Pradesh will be in the area around Guntur and Vijayawada. There was a lot of excitement and a horde of government officials and press there to greet the governor of Andhra Pradesh. I don’t think he was on our flight, though we had our share of government officials — easy to spot in their white outfits.

“Before Andhra Pradesh was split into two states the capital was at Hyderabad and most of the government ministries for the new Andhra Pradesh are still there. Construction on the new capital will begin soon. It has caused a land boom around our Nambur novitiate and Sacred Heart Parish, as well as the minor seminary in Gorantla.

“At our house in Eluru I was greeted with the usual welcome ceremony. This consists of a welcome song, a floral wreath and bouquet presented to the guest, along with a ceremonial dot placed on the forehead [Bindi], incense and finally the guest is offered coconut milk…

“Friday was the district council meeting. The council tries to meet on a monthly basis having the meetings in either Kerala or Andhra Pradesh, and now with the district house in Chennai, that spot as well. The makeup of the current council has three members in Andhra Pradesh and four in Chennai; the number includes the four councilors along with the district secretary and treasurer.

“Of course, it wouldn’t be a meeting day without the power going out at least once!”

Before he left for India Fr. Tom wrote a reflection for the most recent edition of “Dehonian Spirituality.” Click here to access it.

Off to a good start

As in years past the social service offices of Sacred Heart Southern Missions coordinated a school supply program for financially struggling families. Volunteers distributed 136 backpacks filled with school supplies to children in grades PK3 to 12. The supplies were made possible by the donations of local businesses, including coupons for treats at the local Chick-fil-A in Olive Branch. Staff from the restaurant also helped on distribution day.

A St. Joe's student "takes control" at Ellsworth Air Force Base. — A St. Joe’s student “takes control” at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Busy days at St. Joe’s

The students are back to school at St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, SD. Fr. Anthony Kluckman writes about one of the programs that the fifth grade children took part in last week:

“Our 5th graders took part in a STARBASE program. STARBASE is an interactive program that works to motivate young students to explore the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum. On Monday, the students worked in groups to protect their astronaut, ‘Eggbert,’ during his travel on a rocket. In the afternoon, the group launched their Eggbert space shuttles down a line to see if their protection was enough for Eggbert the Egg to survive.

“Yesterday, the students spent part of the morning shooting rockets while learning about 45 and 90 degree angles. In the afternoon, the students ‘Popped the Fizz.’ This project had the students use an Alka Seltzer tablet and water to see how high they could get the capsule to shoot vertically in a 200cm tube. By tinkering with water and size of the Alka Seltzer, they discovered very quickly that they could adjust the height of their tablet’s journey up the tube.”

The week ended with a field trip to Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City on Friday.