Provincial’s time
Last Tuesday, Fr. Tom Cassidy and the Provincial Council took part in the “Kick Off Dinner” for the Lux Center for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue. In his letter to the province last week Fr. Tom wrote that “Dr. Richard Lux retired at the end of the school year after 37 years on the faculty at SHST. He has been one of the leading figures in Catholic-Jewish Ecumenical relations and dialogue. You might say it is one of his passions.
“The administration and faculty began last fall to develop the idea of The Lux Center, in part to honor Richard for his many years of service to SHST, but also to ensure that his efforts at furthering Catholic-Jewish relations will continue to flourish at Sacred Heart School of Theology. By the way, it is the first Catholic seminary to have such a center devoted to Catholic-Jewish Studies.”
The dinner was held at the Whitnall Park Botanical Gardens. Among the speakers were Bishop Richard Sklba, auxiliary bishop of Milwaukee, and Fr. Raúl Gomez, SDS, of SHST. Their remarks, as well as more information about the center, are available at the center’s website.
SHST hopes to raise $300,000 to endow the center. The U.S. Province contributed $25,000 to that end, along with a $25,000 challenge grant.
Fr. Tom Cassidy heads to Montréal May 21 to visit with the SCJ community and to attend meetings with the Canadian Religious Conference. He attends the meetings in his role as president of CMSM.
Graduations
Congratulations to Fraters Duy Nguyen and Greg Schill who graduated from Catholic Theological Union last week. Both will be headed to Argentina this summer to study Spanish while living with the SCJ community there. In fall, Frater Duy will begin ministry in Mississippi. Frater Greg is looking at ministerial possibilities in South Dakota.
Congratulations as well to Fr. Yves Leopold Keumeni, a member of the Cameroon Province who graduated on Saturday with a master’s degree in Semitic and Egyptian languages from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Many may remember Fr. Yves from his time with the ESL program at Sacred Heart School of Theology.
Fr. Yves visited Sacred Heart Monastery/School of Theology for a few days before graduation to extend his thanks to the U.S. Province for serving as his host during his studies.
While he hopes to use the degree to do continued studies toward a doctorate in Scripture, he may spend some time in front of the classroom, teaching in Cameroon before continuing further study. University professors are in short supply not only in Cameroon but in Africa. Fr. Yves said that he asked to do his studies in English, instead of his native French, so that he could be more versatile. “I could teach in South Africa, or even here at Sacred Heart School of Theology as a part of an exchange program,” he said.
Fr. Yves also sees teaching at the university level as a way to help bring money to his province to help fund ministries. “The SCJs in Africa have been dependent for many years on financial assistance from Europe and other sources,” he said. “Preparing men to serve as professors is important for education, but also as part of a plan for self-sufficiency.”
Update
Fr. Mark Fortner has a new e-mail address: fortscj@me.com
SCJ has a life-long love
Fr. Byron Haaland, SCJ, is in love, and it is that love which drives his ministry.
“I love the Bible; I love Scripture and I love playing with Scripture,” he said. “I don’t know any better word than that – I love to play with Scripture.”
However, the Bible isn’t Fr. Byron’s only love. He also loves SCJ spirituality. “Welcoming the spirit, responding to Christ’s love, seeking union and communion with Jesus, and cooperating in the work of redemption. That is SCJ spirituality in a nutshell. That is the base for all of my retreats.”
A story about Fr. Byron and his retreat ministry has been posted on the province website. Click here to read it.
Feast day reminder
Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee will be the main celebrant at a Mass for the feast of the Sacred Heart at Sacred Heart Monastery/School of Theology on June 11. As it has for many years, the province development office hosts the Mass for benefactors. SCJs are welcome to concelebrate.
A light luncheon will be served in the monastery dining room following the Mass. The public is welcome to attend; however, seating is limited. Those who would like to attend are asked to call 414-425-3383 or 800-448-7674 by Tuesday, June 1, 2010.
