By a show of hands the assembly indicated that it was ready to move toward the canonical elections.
A new administration!
The U.S. Province concluded its four-day election assembly on Thursday, June 17. At the heart of the assembly is a discernment process that helps the membership determine the qualities needed in province leadership at this time in history and then who best expresses those qualities.
Fr. Tom Cassidy was elected to his second term as provincial superior on Tuesday, June 15. Fr. Cassidy, 67, was first elected as provincial superior in 2007. At the time of his election, he was president-rector of Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis.
A Milwaukee native, Fr. Cassidy professed his first vows with the community in 1962 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1971.
The first councilor to be elected was Fr. Bill Pitcavage. Fr. Bill, 67, professed his first vows in 1969 and was ordained in 1976. For many years he was a missionary in South Africa and served a term as regional superior prior to the establishment of the South African Province. For the past nine years he has been pastor of St. James Parish in Chamberlain, S.D.
Fr. Ed Kilianski, 55, was the second elected to the council. Currently pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Houston, Fr. Ed has also served in parish ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and as director of the Province Vocation Office. He professed first vows in 1975 and was ordained in 1983.
Br. Frank Presto works with Novice Joseph Vu and Novice Fernando Orozco. The novices served as tellers at the assembly.
Third to be elected to the council was Br. Duane Lemke. He is 35 and professed first vows in 1997. A home-grown SCJ, he grew up in an SCJ parish in South Dakota and as a teen, worked for the SCJ community when it had a pastoral team in Eagle Butte, SD. He has worked in parish ministry and currently is the administrator of the Dehon Formation Community in Chicago.
The fourth councilor elected was Fr. Jack Kurps, who returns after serving with the previous council. A member of the community since 1972, he is 59 and was ordained in 1977. He has served in parish ministry and as director of the Province Vocation Office. Currently, he is director of Sacred Heart Southern Missions in Mississippi.
The final person to be elected to the Provincial Council was Fr. Byron Haaland. A well-regarded retreat director who has led retreats both nationally and internationally, Fr. Byron, 61, is also a member of the formation department of Sacred Heart School of Theology and is active with St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care in Milwaukee. He was professed in 1970 and ordained in 1977.
Pending approval of the general administration, the new provincial administration will be installed during a July 26-27 province gathering.
Provincial’s time
Following a busy week with the election assembly, Fr. Tom Cassidy is taking a few days away from the office. His last meeting with the current Provincial Council (with the new council in attendance) is July 12-13. The newly elected council will also take part in the meeting and then have a meeting together on July 14.
Mark your calendars
Province Assembly: There will be a province assembly at the Provincialate Conference Center July 26-27 as a part of the transition process between the current and newly elected administration. The new administration will be installed at that time.
Entrance to the Novitiate: August 14 (Sacred Heart Monastery); the time has yet to be determined.
First Vows: August 15 (Sacred Heart Monastery): the time has yet to be determined.
Also, a Final Vows ceremony is tentatively planned for October 2.
Council meetings
The newly-elected council has set meetings through the end of the year:
September 14-15
November 3-4
December 14-15
In an accident?
Members of the province are reminded that if they are in a car accident –– even a minor one in which they are not to blame –– they must contact Christian Brothers and open a claim. This includes accidents that take place while using a rental car.
Questions regarding this should be directed to the Provincial Treasurer’s Office.
Keep in prayer
Fr. Steve Wiese: Fr. Steve is now at the Congregational Home, Room 1283 (3150 Lilly Road, Brookfield, WI 53005-7623). His phone: 262-373-1288.
Fr. Stephen Huffstetter: Fr. Bill Pitcavage reports that Fr. Steve recovering from surgery in Chamberlain. He welcomes calls and emails but Fr. Bill noted that because Fr. Steve is quite fatigued from his surgery that he might not always be able to respond quickly. Fr. Steve thanks SCJs and co-workers for their many thoughts and prayers. His email address: <mailto:huffscj@yahoo.com>huffscj@yahoo.com
Fr. Frank Clancy: Fr. Richard MacDonald said that Fr. Frank is at just about 100% of recovery (as you may remember, he had portions of each of his feet amputated due to infection). He will be doing physical therapy and soon be fitted for a prosthesis. As with Fr. Steve, Fr. Frank extends his thanks and gratitude for the prayers and concerns of SCJs and co-workers.
Fr. Chuck Wonch: He came home from the hospital last week and is recovering at Sacred Heart Monastery.
Also, keep in prayer the people of Dupree, S.D. The area, which had once been ministered to by the SCJ pastoral team based in Eagle Butte, S.D., was hit by several tornados last week. Br. Duane Lemke’s family, who lives in the area, reported that several houses were destroyed and other buildings, such as an assisted living center, a café, a lumber yard and the community center, all suffered significant damage.
Br. Duane’s family was one of the lucky ones; they only had minor property damage.
No one was killed, but several people sustained injury. Many residents took refuge in the courthouse during the storms. While they waited inside, a tornado went directly over the building and pulled off much of the brickwork.
Sacred Heart Church was not damaged.
Please remember
Br. Ignacio Larríon Martínez, a member of the Spanish Province, died June 2. He was born in 1935 and professed in 1954.
Fr. Joseph Tapin, a member of the Franco European Province, died June 14. He was born in 1919, professed in 1938 and ordained in 1947.
Br. Jean Lombart, also a member of the Franco European Province, died June 16. He was born in 1931 and professed in 1951.
Saying good bye
The community at St. Joseph’s parish in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., is having a farewell Mass, reception and program for Fr. Dominic Peluse. After several years as pastor with the parish Fr. Dominic is concluding his assignment. He will be moving to Milwaukee this summer.
New assignment
Fr. Tony Russo has been assigned as the assisting priest at St. Alphonsus Parish in New Munster, Wis., and St. John the Evangelist Parish in Twin Lakes, Wis. (he has previously helped at both parishes). The appointment is effective June 22 and is for four years.
