Saying good-bye
This week Fr. Anthony Kluckman, SCJ, leaves St. Joseph’s Indian School, for retirement at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake. Yesterday, he celebrated his final Mass at the school; he was joined by his siblings, and after the Mass, students from each of the family homes stood outside to recognize Fr. Anthony for his years of care and service.
Fr. Anthony first came to St. Joseph’s in 1997. He later worked with Dehonian ministries in Eagle Butte, SD, and retirement communities in Wisconsin and Florida before returning to the school in 2009 as its chaplain.
In an interview on the occasion of his 50th anniversary of profession (2016), Fr. Anthony was asked what he enjoyed about his work at St. Joseph’s. “The kids,” he said. “I am able to see the students in church on Sundays but also go into the homes for prayer. I am a referee at the games and participate in a wide variety of activities that take place here. I can show the students that I too am human and make individual connections for those who may need to talk about things. St. Joseph’s also has a great staff who go the extra mile, which in return, makes me go the extra mile.”
As someone who has rarely said “no” to a task, Fr. Anthony was asked what it means to be in service to others.
“It means to help people move closer and closer to God,” he said. “To be flexible and to have a willingness to go where you are needed. I may have a plan on where I am going, but I have to be open to where God wants me to go.
“The key is to not focus on the door that closes, but rather look around for the doors that may be open.”
Click here to view a few photos from Fr. Anthony’s last Mass and commemoration.
The fight against antisemitism
At a time of growing antisemitism in the world it seems more important than ever to give future Church leaders the knowledge and tools to present an accurate understanding of Judaism.
In the latest episode of “Heart to Heart,” Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, speaks with Bonnie Shafrin, director of the Lux Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology in Hales Corners, WI. She talks about her work with the center, but also about her experience as a Jewish woman living in a time of great division, a time when armed security personnel have become the norm at synagogues due to continuing threats.
Bonnie praised the Catholic hierarchy for its efforts in improving Catholic-Jewish relations. “You’d think that after all this work – the Catholic church is very diligent in trying to put out statements that fight against antisemitism – but it is still there, increasing today in our modern world,” said Bonnie. The bishops, she added, have spoken against antisemitism. “But that doesn’t always trickle down to the clergy and the pews.”
Click here or on the image above to see the interview with Bonnie Shafrin.
Province school awards $176,050 in scholarships
St. Joseph’s Indian School recently awarded $84,350 in spring-semester scholarships to Native American students across the nation, bringing the total awards for the academic year to $176,050. This spring, the school provided 68 scholarships: 16 to alumni, 13 to family members of St. Joseph’s Indian School alumni, and 39 to others enrolled in a federally recognized tribe and pursuing higher education.
Pictured above is St. Joseph’s alumnus Wankiya Rios, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe – Lakota, and a second-year welding student at Mitchell Technical College. He will graduate in May. “It was love at first sight,” he says of the spark he felt at his first exposure to his trade in high school.
Wankiya credits the St. Joseph’s scholarships with supporting him through college life changes, living in a new town and making new friends. He plans to move to Rapid City this summer to find a job and live near his grandmother. “She always puts other people first, so it is on my bucket list to take her to Paris someday,” he said.
Through the generosity of benefactors, the school has been awarding scholarships to Native American students since 1985. Opened in 1927, St. Joseph’s Indian School is one of the oldest ministries of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians) in the United States.
Prayer request
Ray Sousa, a former SCJ professed in 1970, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer. He is currently on hormone therapy and will begin chemotherapy on April 20. Cards can be sent to him at: 6231 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago IL 60660-1001. His email address: rsousa6231@gmail.com.
Here I am
In preparation for Easter, Fr. Hendrik Ardianto, SCJ (Fr. “Ardi”), and Br. Diego Diaz, SCJ, led students from Sacred Heart School in Southaven and Holy Family School in Holly Springs, MS, on a day-long retreat centered on the Dehonian motto: “Ecce Venio” (Here I Am). The schools are a part of Sacred Heart Southern Missions.
A mix of video conferencing and in-person participation was used by both presenters and students. Br. Diego opened the day by showing students the Dehonian cross, explaining that the heart in the middle represents Christ who loves all. He challenged students to follow the example of Jesus and open their own hearts to others.
The day was divided into four sections with students doing activities based on the following statements: “I think,” “I feel,” “I am responsible,” and “I learn.” At the conclusion of the day-long retreat, Fr. Ardi blessed and distributed Dehonian crosses, reminding students to always keep their hearts open, to love as Jesus loved, and to meet each day in the spirit of Ecce Venio.
Many thanks to those who signed up to support the students with their prayers throughout the retreat!
Holy Week in Ecuador
As noted previously, Frater Henry Nguyen, SCJ, is spending several months with the Dehonian community in Ecuador as a part of his pastoral year experience. Among his ministries is visiting people at the local prison.
“I have been visiting the local prison (that has on average 300 men) here in Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador, almost on a weekly basis,” wrote Frater Henry. “Recently, we started a catechism program with about 13 men. For Holy Week, we were there daily visiting the guys, sharing with them the last events of Jesus, from the Last Supper to the Via Crucis. It was been a touching experience.
“The more time I spend with these men, the more I get to see them each as a person, an individual, a beloved son of God. In my broken Spanish, they are eager to hear what I have to say, what I have to share about my faith, their faith.
“Together we prayed, shared words, and broke bread on Holy Thursday. As a commemoration for the Last Supper, the religious sisters and I got down on our knees and washed the feet of these men. For me it was a humbling experience. I can only start to imagine what these guys have gone through, as most of them have scars, tattoos, and a whole life of stories to share.
“Friday, we walked the Via Crucis, remembering the life and death of Jesus, in the hot burning sun, we meditated on His life. The guys took turns to lead a station and its prayers, we were in this together. We ended the week reminding the guys that they are loved.
“Our mission statement calls us to ‘live in community, be inspired by daily Eucharistic Adoration, and in a fragmented world we believe unity to be possible.’ This is why I am a Dehonian; Soy Dehoniano.”
Run toward the Risen Christ!
“Despite the diversity of place, background, and personal circumstances, there is the same humanity, the same human condition, and the same message of Easter: Death and sin have been overcome! The Lord is Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!” wrote Fr. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, in his Easter message. His was the last in a series of reflections done by Dehonians throughout Lent and Easter.
“I hope and pray that you experience Easter joy, joy which we are called to carry forward in our lives and show to others. In the words of Venerable Fr. Leo John Dehon, our founder: ‘Like Peter and John, let us run towards the risen Jesus. This race will last as long as our short life, with temporary pauses granted by the mercy of God and the love of our Lord. Let us run, let us leave everything behind for the greater good, and let us never look back.’
“May you be inspired to run towards the risen Christ, carry forth his joy and proclaim with all the world today and every day: Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, Alleluia, Alleluia!”
Many thanks to the SCJs and students who took the time to write reflections for the Lenten mailings! They included: Fr. Byron Haaland, Fr. Tom Cassidy, Fr. Hendrik Ardianto, Fr. Frank Wittouck, Fr. Joe Dean, Fr. Duy Nguyen, Fr. Jerzy (“George”) Mordalski, Fr. Dominic Peluse, Postulant Michael Wodarczyk, Fr. Yvon Sheehy, Fr. Raphael Querobin, Fr. Andrzej Sudol, Fr. Ralph Intranuovo and Fr. Ed Kilianski.
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