News & Events | August 17, 2026
Two new Dehonian priests!
“Stay close to the people, close to your religious community, and close to the Spirit. If you do, your priesthood will become a real sign of the love of the Sacred Heart and a faithful witness to our Dehonian vocation.”
The quote is from Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, speaking to Fathers Long Nguyen, SCJ, and Hung Pham, SCJ, during their Ordination Mass on August 15, the Feast of the Assumption. It took place at Vietnamese Martyrs Parish in Houston; Bishop Joseph Kopacz of the Diocese of Jackson, MS, was the ordaining bishop.
Vietnamese Martyrs has been Fr. Hung’s parish since arriving in the United States from Vietnam in 2008. “I was an usher and catechist for four years here before pursuing my vocation with the Dehonians,” he said. On Sunday, August 16, he celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at the parish. Fr. Hung is 39 and is a member of the SCJs’ pastoral team in northern Mississippi, where he served his deacon internship.
Fr. Long, 47, comes to the priesthood after nearly 20 years of religious life as an SCJ brother. He has served in pastoral ministry in South Dakota, Mississippi and Wisconsin. He also assisted with the English and Culture Studies Program at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. After completing a year-long CPE program (Clinical Pastoral Education) through Aurora Healthcare in Milwaukee, he entered his current ministry as a hospital chaplain in the Milwaukee area.
“My vocational call as a Dehonian priest is to help bring holiness to the faithful by helping them to overcome the barriers we erect that can sometimes make us blind to God’ s love,” said Fr. Long.
CLICK HERE to read more about the ordination.
CLICK HERE to view photos from Saturday, and CLICK HERE to view photos from the two Masses of Thanksgiving.
CLICK HERE to view a recording of the livestream of the Ordination Mass.
Please remember
+ Fr. Hugh Birdsall, SDS, professor emeritus at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, died on August 14. He was born in 1935 and professed his first vows with the Salvatorians in 1956.
+ Craig McKee, a graduate of the SCJs’ seminary in Lenox, MA, died over the weekend. We do not have further details at this time.
Keep in prayer
Shannon McKeown, receptionist at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, broke multiple bones in an accident over the weekend. It is anticipated that she will be in a rehabilitation facility for several weeks as a part of her recovery.
Human dignity in the age of Artificial Intelligence
“We are convinced that, were Fr. Dehon alive today, he would engage this emerging social question [Artificial Intelligence] with the same passion and pastoral concern that he brought to the challenges of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century.”
The quote is from Fr. Joseph Mukuna, SCJ, director of the Dehon Study Center, in his introduction to the August 12th colloquium on “Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” The backdrop of the colloquium’s overall theme was Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, in which the Holy Father urges “safeguarding the human person in the age of artificial intelligence.”
“We chose this topic because AI is rapidly transforming society and raising fundamental questions about human dignity, responsibility, and the common good,” continued Fr. Joseph. “The colloquium seeks to familiarize participants with the Church’s vision and to foster thoughtful dialogue on one of the most pressing issues of our age.”
Speakers at the initial session included Dr. Khaled Tannir, an AI and data engineering expert who specializes in developing generative AI (he is also a lecturer at McGill University’s School of Continuing Studies in Montréal), and Fr. Ricky Manalo, CSP, Ph.D., a theologian, author, and co-creator of CatholicFaithAI.org with the Daughters of St. Paul. He is a frequent speaker on AI from a Catholic perspective, including a presentation at the Vatican on the prophetic role of the Catholic Church in the age of AI.
“Magnifica Humanitas directs us toward the grandeur of humanity as God’s creation and the responsibility to safeguard it,” said Fr. Ricky. “Pope Leo XIV recognizes the genuine good that technology can accomplish but also notes that every AI system bears the marks of human choices…
“[He] warns that control over platforms, infrastructure, data and computing power increasingly rests with major economic and technological actors, and that when power is concentrated in the hands of a few, it can become opaque and evade public oversight. Catholic social teaching offers a process of shared discernment shaped by dignity, the common good, the universal destination of goods, subsidiarity, solidarity, social justice and integral human development. These principles ask whether technological power fosters participation and responsibility, protects the vulnerable, ensures fair access and serves the good of all.”
Several of the supporting materials from the presentations are available for download:
Booklet from Dr. Khaled Tannir‘s presentation
PowerPoint slides from Dr. Tannir’s presentation
Handout from Fr. Ricky Manalo’s presentation
Click here to view photos from the colloquium
Video recordings of the presentations will be made available soon.
Correction
In last week’s write-up about “Coffee and Conversations” we mistakenly stated that Fr. Vincent Suparman, SCJ, has served in the Netherlands. Although he visited the Netherlands in regard to fundraising, he has not served there. Our apologies for the error.
St. Joseph’s Mission Day
Employees from St. Joseph’s Indian School contributed over 250 hours of volunteer service during their second annual Mission Day on August 11.
A total of 168 staff members participated, supporting schools, churches and community projects through hands-on service. Inspired by a similar program at Mt. Marty University, Mission Day reflects St. Joseph’s commitment to gratitude, service and community engagement.
Volunteers completed a variety of projects across the region, including assembling hygiene, first aid and birthday kits for students; assisting Chamberlain schools with cleaning and classroom preparation; performing yard work and window washing for area businesses; cleaning local churches; painting at the Chamberlain Armory; working in the Fort Thompson Community Garden; and helping to clean parks and other public spaces.
“Mission Day is a powerful reminder that our mission extends beyond our campus and into the communities we serve,” said Joe Tyrell, director of mission integration at St. Joseph’s. “When we come together to share our time and talents, we live out our commitment to service and demonstrate compassion in meaningful ways. These acts, big and small, help strengthen the connections that unite us and reflect the values at the heart of St. Joseph’s mission.”
Three renew vows
On August 11, the eve of the commemoration of the death of Fr. Leo John Dehon, SCJ Fraters Truc Tran, Thuan Nguyen and Michael Wodarczyk renewed their vows. All three are seminarians at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. Fr. Rafael Querobin, SCJ, and Br. Brian Tompkins, SCJ, are their formation directors. Our thanks to Br. Andy Gancarczyk, SCJ, for taking photos. Click here to view more.
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