On July 11 the Priests of the Sacred Heart celebrated the religious jubilees of nine men during a 4 p.m. liturgy in the main chapel of Sacred Heart Monastery/School of Theology.
Commemorating 60 years of vows with the community were SCJ Fathers Tom Fix, Tom Lind, Vincent McDonald, Richard Johnston and Charles Yost. Br. John Monek, SCJ and Bishop Joseph Potocnak, SCJ celebrated their 50th anniversary. Added to the list of jubilarians are SCJ Fathers Vincent Suparman and Donatus Kusmartono from Indonesia. Both are in Hales Corners for study.
Although he is originally from Milwaukee, Fr. Tom Fix is also a member of the Indonesian Province, which he has served since 1962. In recent years he has also assisted with the student programs in India.
Bishop Potocnak, as well, added an international flavor to the jubilees. Retired bishop of De Aar, South Africa, he first went to the country in 1973. He now alternates his time between the United States and South Africa. Following the jubilee celebration he will return to Africa for a year-long commitment at a parish in the Diocese of Port Elizabeth.
Except for Frs. Suparman and Kusmartono, all of the jubilarians are retired.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Br. John Monek served in the U.S. Air Force before pursuing his vocation with the Priests of the Sacred Heart. He dedicated his years of active ministry to St. Joseph’s in Baileys Harbor, Wis. It first served as a novitiate for the province, and later as a retreat center. Br. John now lives in Milwaukee.
Fr. Tom Lind, a Minneapolis native, served for many years at St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, S.D. before entering parish ministry at St. James in Corinth, Miss. A member of the SCJ community in northern Mississippi, he continues to assist with weekend ministry.
“Variety” is an easy word to apply to Fr. Vince McDonald. He has served as a chaplain to prisoners at the Milwaukee House of Corrections, as well as a chaplain to the armed services. He has ministered in parishes in Mississippi, Texas, Florida and England. Fr. Vince also served in education at the province’s seminaries.
Although he spent a few years in vocations and education, most of Fr. Richard Johnston’s ministry has been in parishes, primarily in Texas and Mississippi. Another Milwaukee native, one of his hobbies in retirement is aviation. For the past few years he has been helping a friend build an airplane. Fr. Richard is a member of the Houston community.
Fr. Charles Yost , now retired in Florida, spent many years at Sacred Heart Monastery/School of Theology where he was a librarian and teacher. He also served as director of the Province Development Office and as spiritual director of the Sacred Heart League (now, Sacred Heart Southern Missions).
The jubilee celebration was the kick-off for the SCJ Province Assembly that runs through Thursday, July 14.
Click here to read Fr. Tom Cassidy’s homily from the Mass.
Click here to view the photo album from the ceremony.
