On his way to St. Joseph’s
Last week we shared photos of Fr. Anthony Kluckman’s last Mass at St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, SD; the SCJ is now a retired member of the Sacred Heart Community at SHML. The new school chaplain? Fr. Greg Schill, SCJ; his assignment begins July 1. Fr. Greg is currently a member of the pastoral team serving six parishes in northwest Mississippi.
“Ten years ago, shortly after being ordained to the priesthood, I was assigned to a then cluster of four parishes here in northwest Mississippi,” wrote Fr. Greg. “Much has changed, including the expansion of responsibilities that now finds the pastoral team in a cluster of six parishes since 2016. The changes have been a challenge for the priests, parish staff and the parishioners. The challenges have also been a blessing for myself as I have had much time to adapt, grow and learn from my confreres, parish staff and parishioners.
“Ten years is a long time for a priest from a religious order to be assigned to one place. I honestly thought I was only going to be assigned here for three years. With that being said, after ten years I will be finding myself facing the challenge of a new transition.”
Fr. Greg is pictured above with students from Sacred Heart School in Southaven.
Keep in prayer
Br. John Monek, SCJ, has transitioned to home hospice care; he is a member of the Sacred Heart Community at SHML.
Fr. Bill Marrevee, SCJ, was hospitalized over the weekend for a series of tests; he is a member of the Ottawa community.
Heart to Heart conversations
In recent weeks we have shared links to video interviews on topics such as “The Gospel of Inclusion” with Bishop Joseph Perry of Chicago, the ministry of “Intentional Presence” with Fr. Frank Wittouck, SCJ, spirituality with Fr. John Czyzynski, SCJ, and antisemitism with Bonnie Shafrin, director of the Lux Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
The interviews are a part of a new series titled “Heart to Heart,” produced by the province video team; the team is made up primarily of members of the formation community at Sacred Heart Monastery.
Begun in March, Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, has served as the series’ first interviewer. Although it is his face that is in front of the camera right now, Fr. Vien emphasizes that the interviews are definitely a team effort. “There is a lot of work that goes into each of the videos,” he said. “Just setting up the scene and adjusting the lighting and sound all takes time.” And after that comes significant work in front of the computer, editing. “I am grateful to our video team; everyone contributes toward the production of the interviews.”
The videos are generally less than 15 minutes and focus on “heart to heart” conversations about faith, spirituality and current events. “With these dialogues, our viewers can see how God works mysteriously – and not-so-mysteriously – in all of our lives,” said Fr. Vien.
Click here to read more about the series on the general website. Future interview topics include cross-cultural ministry, and the Islamic faith
Click here to access the series directly.
Please remember
+ Fr. Stanisław Święch, a member of the Polish Province, died on April 16. He was born in 1934, professed in 1971 and ordained in 1957.
+ Fr. Fausto Leonida Colecchia, a member of the South Italian Province, died on April 18. He was born in 1943, professed in 1961 and ordained in 1971.
+ Fr. Hans-Dieter Hertrampf, a member of the German Province, died on April 18. He was born in 1940, professed in 1964 and ordained in 1970.
Updates
Several updates have been made to the online North American Personnel Directory, most of which have been sent to SCJs via email. Among the updates: Fr. Jean-Claude Mbassi, Fr. Hendrik Ardianto and Br. Diego Diaz have new cell phone numbers, and Fr. Anthony Kluckman is now a member of the Sacred Heart Community at SHML.
SCJs who need assistance in accessing the directory should contact Mary Gorski.
Congolese church set on fire
On the night of April 6, the Dehonian community in Kinshasa (DR Congo) woke to see smoke and flames coming from St. Clément parish next door. The fire is thought to have been intentionally set (arson); those who did so have not yet been identified.
The community was alerted by a neighbor who saw three people fleeing the area. Dehonians quickly worked to extinguish the fire, which was centered on the church doors. Police found accelerants – fuel and wood – surrounding the area of the fire.
Unfortunately, “these kinds of incidents are not isolated,” writes Kivahuka Faustin, SCJ. “Several parishes and religious communities have already suffered some attacks. And in several regions of the country, some dioceses and congregations have seen their priests either physically attacked or kidnapped. And some other clerics have disappeared or have been murdered. In a country where the political, economic and social aspects are in ruins, the Church, which is the only refuge for the people, has also become a target for people with bad intentions. Let us pray for the DR Congo so that peace may come to hearts and society.”
Join SHSST grads virtually!
Due to pandemic safety guidelines, only those who are directly a part of the SHSST and/or Sacred Heart Monastery communities, along with provincial administration, have received in-person invitations to the May 7 graduation ceremony at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
However, all are welcome to attend the event VIRTUALLY. The vespers service will begin at 4:30 pm. Fr. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, will be the main presider, and Fr. John Hemsing (rector of St. Francis Seminary) will be the commencement speaker and recipient of the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.
Click here receive a link to the ceremony.
87 years ago…
Sunday, April 25, is the 87th anniversary of the founding of both the North American Province (now, the US Province and Canadian Region) and the South Brazilian Province. Each were previously under the jurisdiction of the German Province. Fr. Matthias Fohrman, SCJ, is considered the founder of the SCJ presence in the United States. He went to the United States in 1919 on a fundraising mission for the German Province, and ended up with a pastoral assignment in Lower Brule, SD. As they say, “the rest is history!”
The Dehonian presence in Canada began in 1910 when Fr. Leo John Dehon sent four SCJs to Alberta, near the Saskatchewan border. This initial effort stalled after a few years but the congregation returned to Canada in 1948, focusing on ministry in Quebec and Ontario.
Below is a photo of pioneering SCJs in South Dakota.
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