Click here to view an online photo album from the celebration

Celebrating the commitment to religious life

Five hundred years of religious life! That’s what members of the US Province celebrated on June 3 during the annual Province Jubilee Mass.

This year’s jubilarians included Fr. Michael Burke, SCJ and Fr John Czyzynski, SCJ (60 years of vows with the Priests of the Sacred Heart); Fr. Frank Burshnick, SCJ, Fr. Joseph Dean, SCJ, Fr. Joseph Doscher, SCJ, Br. Benedict Humpfer, SCJ and Fr. Gregory Speck, SCJ (50 years); Fr. Charles Brown, SCJ and Br. Frank Presto, SCJ (40 years); Fr. Vincent Suparman, SCJ (30 years); and Fr. Duy Nguyen, SCJ and Fr. Greg Schill, SCJ (10 years).

Fr. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, provincial superior, was the main celebrant and homilist at the Jubilee Mass. Fr Stephen Huffstetter, SCJ, general councilor, and Fr. John van den Hengel, SCJ, regional superior of Canada, were among the concelebrants.

So who are the jubilarians?

Frs. Burke and Czyzynski are not only classmates but also former provincial superiors. Fr. Burke served from 1983-89 and Fr. Czyzynski was provincial superior from 1995-2001.

Originally from Chicago, Fr. Mike, 78, studied at Kilroe Seminary, Sacred Heart Monastery and the Catholic University of America (Washington, DC). Among his degrees is a master’s in Medieval History. Ordained in 1963, his initial assignment was as a teacher at Sacred Heart Monastery (now Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology). He then went on to administration, first as superintendent of St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, and then in provincial administration. When he completed his second term as provincial superior Fr. Mike was named novice master of the international novitiate in Toronto. He continued in various formation and vocation roles until his retirement. He is now a member of the Sacred Heart Community at SHML.

Fr. John, 78, grew up in Cleveland. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1963. Like his classmate, Fr. Mike, Fr. John studied at the Catholic University in Washington, DC, where he earned a master’s degree in classical languages and a licentiate in theology. He also studied in Rome, receiving a licentiate in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. Except for his two terms as provincial superior, Fr. John spent most of his years of ministry preparing others for priesthood and/or religious life. He served for over 25 years at SHSST, and in province formation, including as novice master from 2002 until his retirement in 2014. Last year he joined the Sacred Heart Community at SHML.

Fr. Frank Burshnick, 79, is originally from Forest City, PA. Ordained in 1970, he initially taught for five years at the SCJs’ Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary before entering parish ministry. In Texas he served at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Brownsville, OLG in Raymondville, St. Cecilia in San Antonio, and Prince of Peace in Lyford. During his years in the Rio Grande Valley he often assisted at a refugee center established by the bishop of Brownsville. In 1984 he moved to Mississippi, where he ministered at the parishes of Sacred Heart in Walls and Christ the King in Southaven. In 2007 Fr. Frank retired and joined the Sacred Heart Community in Pinellas Park, FL, where he continues to reside.

A native of Grand Rapids, MI, Fr. Joseph Dean, 69, was ordained in 1984. He earned his M.Div. from Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, a master’s degree in history from Marquette University, and another master’s from Harvard University (both master’s focused on Medieval history). Fr. Joe taught at SHSST for 10 years and then joined the community at St. Joseph’s Retreat Center in Baileys Harbor, WI. During that time he traveled the country doing parish missions. In 2007 Fr. Joe answered a request made by the provincial superior (Fr. Tom Cassidy, SCJ) in a general letter to the province. Volunteers were needed to serve in Lower Brule, SD; if no one was found the province might have to leave its ministries in the area. “I thought to myself, ‘I can do anything for three years,’” said Fr. Joe. That was in 2007; he arrived soon after and continues to serve on the Lower Brule Pastoral Team (along with fellow jubilarian Fr. Vincent Suparman).

Fr. Joseph Doscher, 82, is a native of Deans County, NJ. He served in Europe in the US Army for three years before beginning his discernment with the SCJs. Fr. Joe was ordained to the priesthood in 1973. His first assignment was from 1973-76 at St. Cecilia parish in San Antonio. He later went on to serve in parishes in Mississippi and California. From 1991-94 Fr. Joe was chaplain at Villa St. Francis in Milwaukee. He then joined the Sacred Heart Community in Pinellas Park, FL. In 2012 he moved to Milwaukee and joined the Sacred Heart Community at SHML with residence at the Congregational Home.

Br. Ben Humpfer, 71, was born in Hammond, IN. Soon after his profession he began work in food service at the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Ste. Marie, IL. He also assisted as treasurer of the community. In 1972 he ended up close to his hometown, ministering at Divine Heart Seminary in Donaldson. He moved to northern Mississippi in 1979, where he remained until 1995. Br. Ben taught religion at Sacred Heart School, was parish director of religious education at Sacred Heart parish in Walls, and served as DRE at Queen of Peace in Olive Branch. From Mississippi Br. Ben came to Wisconsin where he was the local superior of Villa Maria (former SCJ retirement community in Franklin) and served in the province vocation office. After a year as chaplain at St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, Br. Ben returned to senior ministry, serving as superior of the Sacred Heart Community in Pinellas Park, FL from 2009-15. He is now retired himself and is a member of the Sacred Heart Community at SHML.

A Philadelphia native, Fr. Greg Speck, 68, was ordained to the priesthood in 1976. Fluent in Spanish, he ministered for many years in Texas, serving at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Brownsville, TX and OLG in Raymondville. He also was a part of the province’s parish team that serves in northern Mississippi where he again put his Spanish skills to use ministering to the growing Hispanic population in the area. Fr. Greg also served several years in internal ministry, first as director of vocations and formation and then as province director of personnel. He is now the local superior of the Sacred Heart Community in Pinellas Park, FL.

Fr. Charles Brown, 62, was raised in Mississippi. His first assignment after ordination in 1984 was at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary parish in Franklin, WI (now St. Martin of Tours). Fluent in French, he served as a missionary in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) for two years. His commitment to the missions continued years later as a visiting lecturer at St. Joseph’s Theological Institute in Cedara, South Africa, and as province mission secretary. In 1997 Fr. Charles earned a doctorate in the New Testament from Loyola University in Chicago. Soon after, he became an assistant professor at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Br. Frank Presto is currently provincial secretary of the US Province as well as a member of the Provincial Council. He has an M.Div. from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and an MBA from Marquette University in Milwaukee. Br. Frank has done parish ministry Raymondville, TX and Chicago, as well as on the Cheyenne River Reservation when he served with the SCJs’ pastoral team from 1986 – 2002. From 1994–2002 he was executive director of the Sacred Heart Center in Eagle Butte. The center serves a wide variety of social needs on the reservation. Br. Frank was also director of the Province Development Office from 2011-13, and served on several province commissions, committees and boards including the Finance Commission, Admissions Board and Employees Retirement Trust.

Fr. Vincent Suparman, 52, is originally from the Indonesian Province. Ordained in 1995, he first came to the United States as a student in 1992 and later returned to serve on the Lower Brule Pastoral Team in South Dakota, where he continues to minister. Fr. Vincent loves to write and he often uses the South Dakota prairie as his backdrop. “Reflecting on mission activities on the prairie, I came to realize that I am called to serve people with an open heart and mind,” he wrote. “At the same time, I need to strengthen my inner spirit and keep my life on track. When trials come, there is no better way to endure them but by praying patiently and attentively in the presence of God. A simple prayer helps us, not only to deepen our spiritual life, but also to stay connected with God, other people, and other creatures around us.” Among Fr. Vincent’s assignments before joining the US Province: serving as a missionary with indigenous people in West Papua.

Fr. Duy Nguyen, 38, originally from Chicago, was ordained by Bishop Joseph Potocnak, SCJ, in 2010. Before entering candidacy, Fr. Duy studied at the University of Illinois in Champaign.  He later transferred to the University of Chicago and earned a bachelor’s degree in Information and Decision Sciences. Fr. Duy graduated from Catholic Theological Union in 2010.  He did his pastoral year in Lower Brule, S.D and also spent a summer with SCJs in Argentina studying Spanish before professing final vows. Fr. Duy’s first assignment after ordination was in pastoral ministry in northern Mississippi. He is now the pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Houston and serves on the Provincial Council. Last year Fr. Duy represented the US Province as a delegate to the General Chapter.

Originally from San Antonio, Fr. Greg Schill, 40, served in the US Marine Corps for four years before pursuing his vocation with the Priests of the Sacred Heart. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville and an M.Div. from Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. He did his diaconate at St. Martin of Tours parish in Franklin, WI, and was ordained to the priesthood in 2010. Fr. Greg is now a member of the pastoral team serving northern Mississippi and is on several province committees and commissions, including the JPR Commission and the Finance Commission.