A few photos from the past week. At left is Bishop Joseph Potocnack with Shirley Daughtery, a teacher at Holy Family School in Holly Springs, Miss. The bishop visited with students at the school prior to attending the province gathering in Belleville, Il. At right is Br. Ben Humpfer with honorary SCJ Florence Popp (now Macintosh) and her new husband, Bill. Br. Ben attended their wedding January 23. Photos from last week’s province gathering are available at the province photo site. Click HERE.
Provincial’s Time
January 24-28 Fr. Tom Cassidy is scheduled to be at a CMSM retreat in San Antonio, Texas. January 30 is Frater Duy Nguyen’s final vows ceremony and February 2-3 are council meetings.
Election process reminder
The discernment ballots for the province elections were mailed to members of the province on January 4. These ballots are due back to Br. Frank Presto by 4 p.m. on February 1. They can be returned in person, by mail or by fax. However, they cannot be returned by e-mail. If you have questions, please contact Br. Frank Presto at 414-427-4263 or at provsec@poshusa.org.
Prayer requests
—THE FAMILY OF FR. CHARLES BROWN: Just after arriving in South Africa (where he teaches for a semester each year) Fr. Charles learned that his mother had a stroke. We will share more information about her condition when it is available.
—FR. FRANK CLANCY: On Friday, Fr. Richard MacDonald wrote the following update on Fr. Frank, who had a fourth foot surgery last week: “Fr. Frank was released from the hospital this afternoon and, of course, is happy to be home and once again sends his thanks for the prayers and notes from others. He will have daily home nursing as well as daily visits and care from his caregiver as well as from me and Mike [Fr. Mike Burke].”
—FR. STEPHEN HUFFSTETTER: As noted previously, Fr. Steve is beginning treatment for cancer. He has had one chemotherapy cycle at the Mayo Clinic, will have three weeks home at St. Joseph’s Indian School, and then have a second cycle. Later, he will be in Rochester, Minn., for five weeks of radiation. It is anticipated that he will have surgery in about four months to remove a tumor. In-between treatments he will maintain his normal routine at St. Joseph’s, backing off at times depending on his energy level. “The outpouring of support and prayers has been tremendous. I’m in good spirits, and ready to get started.”
—SR. BARBARA BOWE: Many SCJs know Sr. Barbara from her work at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Last fall she was diagnosed with brain cancer. On January 20, the CTU community held a prayer service for Sr. Barbara in which she was anointed and blessed as she prepared to undergo additional treatments. If you would like to send her a card, her address during treatment: 140 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton, CA 94017
—KENNETH SANDERS: Mr. Sanders was a teacher at Sacred Heart School in Mississippi. He died on January 15 of a lengthy illness.
Province Gathering
Last week members of the U.S. Province came together at Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Il., for the last of a series of three province gatherings. The purpose of the gatherings was to further the dialogue begun at the 2008 Provincial Chapter. There, directional statements on Community, Aging and Ministry were formulated.
Photos from the days are available on the province photo site at: http://www.scjusa.smugmug.com — click on the first gallery. Reports of the days’ events are available from the home page of http://www.scjusa.net
As needs in Haiti increase, so does assistance
As noted last week, the U.S. Province donated $5,000 towards relief efforts in Haiti. That amount has now been increased to $20,000. This is on top of the many fund raising efforts taking place in SCJ parishes and other ministries in the United States, as well as in the worldwide congregation.
Remembering those who built the province
As we have for the past several months we will continue to share a bit of information about deceased members of the province on or near the anniversary of their death. This week we remember Fr. Frank Aresta who died on January 29, 2001.
A native of Provincetown, Rhode Island, Fr. Frank learned entered the Priests of the Sacred Heart after serving in the military. “I was in the Air Force and felt that something was missing from my life,” he said.
Drawn to religious life, he served as a brother for his first 15 years as an SCJ. He said that it was while he was working as a missionary in Lesotho, Africa, that he began to feel a call to the priesthood. “I enjoyed my work in the missions as a brother but I felt that I could do much more as a priest, especially since there were not many priests available for the missions,” he said.
At the age of 40, Fr. Frank left Africa to study for the priesthood at Sacred Heart School of Theology. He then returned to Africa to minister in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. When the diocese needed a canon lawyer, he volunteered to go back to school again and earn a canon law degree. He earned his degree at St. Paul University in Ottawa, and was set to return to Africa until health concerns dictated that he remain in the United States.
Fr. Frank served in administration and taught at SHST, was provincial secretary and mission secretary, taught at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, served as chaplain to area Milwaukee hospitals and with the local fire department, and was on the Marriage Tribunal for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. His last assignment was as spiritual director of the Province Development Office.
We also remember honorary SCJ Walter Hagerty. He and his wife, Kathryn, dedicated much time and effort to the community. Mr. Hagerty was instrumental in the development of the new Sacred Heart Monastery/School of Theology building in Hales Corners.
