News & Events | August 10, 2026
Welcome!
Tin Nguyen, a member of St. Martin of Tours parish in Franklin, WI, has been accepted by the US Province Admissions Board as a new candidate for the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians).
Originally from Vietnam, Tin, 27, immigrated to the United States when he was 11. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, and has worked as a mechanical engineer for the past three years. He came to know of the Dehonians through his parish, St. Martin of Tours, where he serves as secretary of the Vietnamese Community Pastoral Council and is a leader-in-training for the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement. Tin also volunteers at a local soup kitchen.
He said that the Dehonian call to Eucharistic Adoration and love for the poor and workers speak most deeply to his heart.
“We give thanks for Tin’s willingness to answer this call and ask for continued prayers as he begins his journey with us,” said Fr. Hendrik Ardianto, SCJ, province vocation director.
Just days away…
On August 15, SCJ Deacons Long Nguyen and Hung Pham will be ordained to the priesthood at Vietnamese Martyrs parish in Houston. Bishop Joseph Kopacz of the Diocese of Jackson will be the ordaining bishop. The RSVP deadline has passed, but you can view the ordination via the parish’s livestream account. The link:
https://www.youtube.com/@VietNamMartyrs/streams
Masses of Thanksgiving will be on Sunday, August 16. Hung’s Mass will be at Vietnamese Martyrs (10610 Kingspoint Rd., Houston) at 11:00 a.m. and Long’s will be at 4:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (6500 Fairbanks N, Houston).
Please continue to keep these SCJs in your prayers as they make their final preparations for ordination.
Seminar concludes
The Final Message from the 7th International Theological Seminar has been published on the general website.
“The primary fruit of these days is a simple invitation: let us read Father Dehon,” states the document. “Today, his texts are readily accessible to everyone on Dehondocs. Reading our Founder means entering into dialogue with him. We invite all members of the Dehonian family, religious and lay, to set aside time in our communities to read and deepen our core concepts—pure love, oblation, reparation, the interior life, the social question, and the reign of the Heart of Jesus—and to reinterpret them for today’s world. We invite everyone to visit the Faculdade Dehoniana website, where the proposals and developments discussed here can be consulted in several languages.
“As we approach our 150th anniversary, let us move beyond nostalgic remembrance. With grateful hearts, let us honor Father Dehon by allowing the love of the Heart of Jesus to live on in us through concrete acts of fraternity, justice, and service.”
Click here to read the Final Message.
Click here to read the daily written summaries, available in English, Portuguese and French.
Click here for the seminar webpage on the Faculdade Dehoniana website.
Summer camp returns
Hey Kids!!! HOW ARE YOU!!!
I am GREAT! You are GREAT! We are GREAT!
YES! YES!! YES!!!
Praise our Lord, Jesus Christ!
With these words from staff to children, summer camp returned to St. Catherine’s Church in Big Bend, SD. The camp was begun by long-time pastoral minister Sr. Charles Palm, OSB, but discontinued when she retired several years ago (Sister died in 2023).
“However, thanks to the loving efforts of volunteers and donors, members of the St. Catherine community revived the camp as a way to nurture children’s faith and build a community of believers,” said Sr. Grecely Tangcogo, MCM, director of this year’s edition.
Held July 27-31, the camp opened with Mass led by Fr. Floribert Bulo, SCJ. In his homily, he reminded the campers that God is good and God LOVES children.
“At first, Jesus’ disciples tried to stop the children who wanted to come to Him,” said Fr. Floribert. “However, Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to Me.’ Jesus invites children because God is good; He loves everyone without distinction, including children. Today, we begin our summer camp. Let us rejoice and come closer to Jesus.”
During the five days children prayed together, played games, sang music, painted, and danced. Approximately 20 local youth took part in the camp.
During the closing Mass, Fr. Marius Saputra, SCJ, reminded the children that “gratitude and faith are the keys to a happy life, just as St. Paul said, ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.’” (Phil 4:13).
Click here to view photos on the province Facebook page.
JPIC Commission meets
Members of the US Province JPIC Commission [Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation] met in Hales Corners on August 7. Fr. Joseph-Thien Dinh, SCJ, is chair of the commission and organized a day of reflection, sharing, and discussion. Fr. Jack Kurps, SCJ, gave an overview of the JPIC in Rome. The group also explored several documents, including Rerum Novarum, Laudato Si, Magnifica Humanitas, Social Action, and Mystical Life in Father Dehon, and the SCJ-JPIC survey from Rome.
Besides Fr. Joseph and Fr. Jack, members of the commission include Anna Gonzales (Our Lady of Guadalupe, Houston), Monica Misey, Fr. Joseph Mukuna, SCJ, Sr. Eulogia “Yollie” Nobabos (South Dakota), and Fr. Rafael Querobin, SCJ.
Still time to sign up!
In-person registration is now at its limit for non-SCJs, but anyone is welcome to join us via Zoom for “Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” a colloquium hosted by the Dehon Study Center. It will be held at the Provincial Conference Center on August 12 from 8:45 a.m. to noon.
To receive a Zoom link, please click here to register.
The presenters: Dr. Khaled Tannir, Senior AI and Big Data Architect, speaking on the topic “What Is Artificial Intelligence? Why Should We Be Concerned—or Not?” and Rev. Dr. Ricky Manalo, CSP, theologian and AI expert, reflecting on AI from a Catholic viewpoint.
Click here to access a PDF of the schedule as well as biographies of our presenters.
Registered in-person participants are welcome to arrive at the Conference Center any time after 8:00 a.m. Refreshments will be available. The colloquium will conclude by noon.
If you have questions, contact Fr. Joseph Mukuna, SCJ, director of the Dehon Study Center, at: Jmukuna@dehoniansusa.org
Planting a tree, remembering Fr. Byron
The Novitiate Community has a tradition of planting a tree to honor each member of the US Province following his death. ” Each tree stands as a living reminder of a life faithfully lived and continues to bear witness to the legacy they have left behind,” wrote Fr. Andrzej Sudol, SCJ.
“This year, we will gather to plant a memorial tree in honor of Fr. Byron Haaland, SCJ, whose life and ministry have left a lasting mark on our Novitiate and our Province,” continued Fr. Andrzej. “As Novice Master, Fr. Byron helped shape this house of formation from its very beginning. Through his wisdom, kindness, and deep love for the Sacred Heart, he formed young religious and helped make the Novitiate the spiritual heart of the Province.”
The tree-planting will take place on Friday, August 28, beginning at 4:30 p.m. There will be a brief prayer service, followed by the tree-planting, and a bonfire with a picnic dinner.
SCJs and friends of Fr. Byron are invited to take part. RSVP by August 20 to Fr. Andrzej Sudol, SCJ, at an.sudol@gmail.com or phone: 312-647-8783.
Please remember
+ Fr. Oto Brisch, a member of the South Brazilian Province, died on July 18. He was born in 1953, professed in 1976 and ordained in 1983.
Coffee and Conversations
Fr. Vincent Suparman, SCJ, was the latest speaker in the “Coffee and Conversations” series at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake. Coffee and Conversations is an opportunity for lay residents and visitors to the senior apartment community to learn about the Priests of the Sacred Heart through personal stories shared by SCJs. Previous speakers have included Bishop Joseph Potocnak, talking about his years serving in South Africa as bishop of De Aar; Fr. Tom Cassidy reflecting on his work on the General Council, which offered him the opportunity to know first-hand much of the worldwide congregation and its missions; and Fr. Richard MacDonald, sharing stories from his many years of ministry in the Rio Grande Valley before and after serving as provincial superior.
Originally from Indonesia, Fr. Vincent talked about being raised in a Muslim household and then converting to Catholicism in his late teens. Professed in 1986 and ordained in 1995, he has served in his home province, but also the Netherlands and the Philippines. Currently, he is superior of the Sacred Heart Community at SHML. Prior to that he served in a similar role at the retirement community in Pinellas Park, FL. Fr. Vincent also spent many years in pastoral ministry in South Dakota.
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