Each Tuesday and Friday morning two SCJ priests with plenty of experience in delivering a homily sit side-by-side with a group of fourth-year seminarians at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology who are just beginning to learn the basics of preaching.
Why the trip back to the seminary, sitting in a “Liturgical Preaching” class with 15 transitional deacons?
The SCJ priests are Fr. Ari Saputra SCJ, of the Indonesian Province, and Fr. Floribert Bulo Dhelo, SCJ, of the Congolese Province. Students in SHSST’s ECS program (English and Culture Studies), the two are preparing for ministry in the United States. Recognizing that preaching techniques often vary from country and culture, Dn. Steve Kramer, SHSST Director of Homiletics and Associate Professor of Pastoral Studies, reached out to Ryan Stubbs, Director of the ECS program, as well as the SCJ community, and suggested that the two priests would benefit from the Liturgical Preaching course. A staple of a seminarian’s preparation, the course would offer the international SCJs an opportunity to practice preaching in the US church.
Frs. Floribert and Ari are also taking “Sacramental Rites,” a course for third-year seminarians who are learning how to minister as deacons. Again, while they are both well-versed in celebrating baptisms, weddings and funerals, it is an opportunity for the international priests to transfer their skills to ministry in the United States. Frs. Ari and Floribert both said that the classes have helped them get a better understanding of the ministry of the deacon, develop their preaching techniques for the US Church, and simply get a better sense of the Church in the US in general.
The learning experience goes two ways. Frs. Ari and Floribert are learning much about the Church in the US, but their fellow students – seminarians from around the country – continue to gain an appreciation of the diversity of the Church around the world, as well as the commitment of these international SCJs who offer themselves as missionaries to the US Province. Their presence also reinforces the fact that regardless of where a person ministers in the United States, most likely he will encounter people of cultures much different than his own.
“Intercultural relationships are crucial in learning how to serve an increasingly global church,” said Dn. Steve.
SHSST welcomes over 40 international priests, religious brothers and sisters each year. Although they come for the specialized language program (including accent modification classes), the ECS students benefit from a collaborative experience in which they are integrated into the life of not only the SHSST community but the wider community as well.
Sharing the international Church with others
On October 2, ECS students will host a multicultural Mass. Joining them will be approximately 150 students and chaperones from Milwaukee area high schools.
The presence of the high school students is another example of collaboration at SHSST. Funded by a grant from the Catholic Community Foundation, SHSST is reaching out to local teachers, religious education directors, catechists and campus ministers to find ways of giving young people a wider experience of the international Church. One of the first components of that outreach is the invitation to the Multicultural Mass. ECS students will also have the opportunity to talk to the high school students about their ministries and the Church in their home countries.
Two days after the Multicultural Mass – October 4 – the ECS students will host a multicultural fair. The long-standing event enables the SHSST community, as well as province employees, SCJs and residents at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake, to experience cultures, traditions and foods from around the world.
“In classes, on campus, and in the community, we are all blessed and enriched by this sharing of culture, faith and knowledge,” said Dn. Steve. “Without leaving the seminary campus, the world church is revealed and celebrated.”
– Our thanks to Monica Misey, director of Dehonian Associates, and SHSST’s Dn. Steve Kramer for providing the information for this article.
