Featured Stories | December 14, 2025
“The Sacred Heart community, faculty members, and seminarians always found ways to help us feel at home. Regardless if they are SCJs or staff, they all have the Dehonian Spirit and they practice it very well.”
-Sr. Leonora Sitohang, FCh
On December 10, In the midst of a midwestern snowstorm, Sisters Leonora Sitohang and Susana Susmiyarti (pictured above with their Mother Superior in the middle) packed their bags and joined Fr. Hendrik Ardianto, SCJ, for the long drive to Mississippi and their new assignment.
Members of the Sisters of St. Francis Charitas, Srs. Leonora and Susana, originally from Indonesia, are part of a newly developing partnership with the Priests of the Sacred Heart in northern Mississippi. Since their arrival in August, they were students in the ECS (English and Culture Studies) program at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
Before leaving SHSST and heading south, both sisters took time to write reflections about the spirituality of their FCh community, their initial months in the United States, and their new assignments.
They cited the long partnership that their congregation has had with the Priests of the Sacred Heart. One hundred years ago, Dutch SCJs serving in Sumatra invited the FCh community to collaborate with them in Palembang. Now, the SCJ and FCh communities serve together in several parishes and schools in Indonesia, and operate an orphanage and retreat house.
“One hundred years later, the SCJs again invite the FCh Sisters to mission with them; this time, in Mississippi,” wrote Sr. Susana. “Once again, we will work together to give attention and care to the wounds of the Lord’s body.”
She continued, citing the author M. Shawn Copeland, who wrote “that the body of Christ does not only refer to the Eucharist or the community of the Church, but to every person who suffers, who is forgotten, and who is marginalized…
“My presence here is part of God’s great plan to realize undivided compassion through real service in Mississippi. God invites me to see the face of his Son, Jesus Christ, in those who suffer, and to serve them with love and respect. August 22, 2025, marks the beginning of this new chapter of my life in the United States. I set out for this new mission in the spirit of ‘compassio indivisa’ [undivided compassion – one of the founding mottos of the Sisters of St. Francis Charitas] and the vow of obedience…
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord in the United States with the Dehonians. My time at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology has been a blessing, and I look forward to serving in Mississippi.”
Sr. Susana ended with a quote from Hebrews (10:7): “Behold, I come to do your will, O God.”
Sr. Susana enjoying a Midwestern snowstorm
A surprising request
Sr. Leonora said that she “was surprised when my superior spoke about a new mission in the United States. To be honest, I was not initially ready to say ‘yes.’ However, my superior encouraged me and made sure that the US Province would be welcoming. As a religious, I was reminded be ready to go and preach the Gospel all over the world. When we arrived on August 22, the SCJ priests and brothers immediately welcomed us with hospitality. The Sacred Heart community, faculty members, and seminarians always found ways to help us feel at home. Regardless if they are SCJs or staff, they all have the Dehonian Spirit and they practice it very well.”
The sisters had an opportunity to visit Sacred Heart Southern Missions in October. “The mission there touched my heart deeply because it helps many poor people,” said Sr. Leonora. “I was impressed by the mission of Holy Family School, I appreciated seeing the work of Sacred Heart Southern Missions. Southern Missions helps in so many ways. If people are too sick to come for help, staff often bring food to the people who need it.
“Such experiences strengthen my understanding about charity. Charity should touch human reality and build up human dignity with compassion, just as Jesus did. Through good management and generous people, Sacred Heart Southern Missions does just that…
“As I prepare to go to Mississippi I pray ‘O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours.'”
