News & Events | August 18, 2025
Back to school
On Friday, the formation community enjoyed day in Lake Geneva, relaxing and reconnecting before the start of the semester at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. We have a new team guiding our students this year: Fr. Rafael Querobin, SCJ, and Br. Brian Tompkins, SCJ. Seminarians include Frater Hung Pham, SCJ, who is in his last semester at SHSST and SCJ Fraters Truc Tran, Thuan Nguyen, and Michael Wodarczyk, who each have approximately two years of studies ahead of them. Click here to view the photo above.
Please keep in prayer our students and staff in schools throughout the province – from pre-K to theology – as they start the new school year.
Vocation 101
The province Vocation Office is starting a monthly online gathering for men age 18-35 who are interested in learning more about the priesthood and/or religious life.
Sessions will be on one Saturday per month from 10:00-11:00 a.m. CST via Zoom. Each session will be dedicated to a unique topic and include prayer, discussion, guest speakers and Q & A.
The first session is September 13 and will be led by Fr. Henry Nguyen, SCJ, Vocation Director. Fr. Henry will reflect on discerning God’s call, and how to listen to God’s voice in one’s daily life.
If you know of someone who might be interested in being a part of the discussion, have him contact the Vocation Office at vocations@dehoniansusa.org or click here to register directly.
RSVP link: https://forms.office.com/r/A9YSiygYZn
Future dates and topics:
October 4 – Priesthood
November 8 – Religious Brotherhood
December 6 – Ministry
January 10 – Prayer
February 7 – Community
March 7 – Vows Series – Poverty
April 11 – Vows Series – Chastity
May 2 – Vows Series – Obedience
Join us in prayer!
The next monthly Vocation Mass will be at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, September 22, the Feast Day of Blessed Juan Maria de la Cruz. It will take place at Good Shepherd Chapel at SHML; Fr. Vincent Suparman, SCJ, will be the presider.
Commemorating the founder
Various events were held throughout the world last week commemorating the Centenary of the death of Ven. Fr. Leo John Dehon, founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. He died on August 12, 1925.
In the Milwaukee area, the Dehon Study Center hosted the last of its three-part series on Pope Francis’ encyclical “Dilexit nos.” Dr. Jeremy Blackwood, associate professor of Systematic Theology at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, has been the series’ presenter. His focus in the August 12th presentation: how Dilexit nos intersects with Fr. Dehon’s experience of the Sacred Heart.
In his encyclical, Pope Francis emphasized “the idea that all of us need to rediscover the importance of the heart,” said Dr. Blackwood. The pope wrote about the history of Sacred Heart devotion, using terminology familiar to Dehonians with words such as “reparation” and “oblation.”
However, said Dr. Blackwood, it was the Eucharist – mentioned only a few times in the encyclical – that was vital to Fr. Dehon in his understanding of the Sacred Heart.
“We are to care for the world around us as Christ did,” said Dr. Blackwood, reflecting on Dehonian spirituality. “We are to be Him to others. And just as clearly, we are to center around the Eucharist so that we can be fed, so that we can be strengthened…
“Christ’s heart means the will of Christ. The will of Christ means divine life. And our participation in that divine life occurs when our life means Christ. We are His Body. If the heart truly means our center, then our center must become Christ.
“Physical heart, metaphorical heart, oblation, reparation, divinity, humanity and love all come together. And through the Eucharist ‘it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.'” [Gal 2:20]
The presentation took place in-person at the Provincial Conference Center, and via Zoom. Following Dr. Blackwood’s talk, Fr. Joseph Mukuna, SCJ, director of the Dehon Study Center, unveiled the center’s new sign.
Click here or on the image above to view the presentation.
Click here to view previous sessions.
Vow renewals
During a special Mass at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology commemorating the Centenary of the death of Fr. Leo John Dehon on August 12, three SCJ seminarians renewed their vows.
SCJ Fraters Thuan Nguyen, Truc Tran and Michael Wodarczyk all return to SHSST this fall after completing their pastoral ministry year. Fra. Thuan served in northern Mississippi, Fra. Truc was in South Dakota and Fra. Michael ministered at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Houston.
Their vows were received by Fr. Rafael Querobin, SCJ, formation director. He was delegated by Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, who is in Europe this week at the Major Superiors gathering. Fr. Charles Brown, SCJ, was the homilist.
Mississippi commemoration
In Mississippi, Sacred Heart Southern Missions held a Mass and dinner at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Hernando, MS, to commemorate the Centenary of the death of Fr. Leo John Dehon, founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. Fr. Jack Kurps, SCJ, spiritual director of SHSM, was the main celebrant. He was joined at the altar by SCJ Frs. David Szatkowski, Fr. Hendrik Ardianto, Fr. Guy Blair and Fr. Paul Phong Hoang.
Click here to view photos on Facebook.
In Montréal…
On the Centenary of the founder’s death, the Montreal SCJ community invited collaborators from its parishes and other ministries to join them for prayer and a meal. Approximately 50 people joined SCJs, filling the community room to capacity.
Fr. Richard Woodbury, SCJ, was the main celebrant. He was joined at the altar by Frs. Hygin Nlandu, SCJ, and Louis-Marie Butari, SCJ, as well as Fr. Thomas Rainchou, a diocesan priest who serves with SCJs at a local parish.
The community hosted a reception after the Eucharist.
A message from Fr. Dehon’s successor
On the occasion of the Centenary of Fr. Leo John Dehon’s death, his successor, Fr. Carlos Luis Suárez Codorniú, SCJ, the 11th SCJ to lead the congregation since the founder’s death, made a video message for members of the Dehonian family. Click here or on the image above to view it.
In France
Last week the Major Superiors of the Priests of the Sacred Heart were gathered in France for meetings, prayer and moments of reflection at several sites of significance in the founder’s life. During his time there, Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, took the opportunity to record several short videos with several members of the General Council and as well as the district superior of India. The SCJs talked about their personal experiences of being a Dehonian, their vocation stories, and about the entities. To view the videos, click on the following links:
Fr. Charles Aime Koudjou, SCJ, general councilor
Fr. Michael Augustine Moses, SCJ, district superior of India
Fr. Levi Dos Anjos Ferreira, SCJ, vicar general
Fr. Willyans Prado Rapozo, SCJ, general councilor
Please remember
+Fr. Alessandro Zanella, a member of the North Italian Province, died on August 14. He was born in 1928, professed in 1945 and ordained to the priesthood in 1954.
Update and thanks
As noted earlier, Fr. John Czyzynski, SCJ, is being treated for cancer. He shares the following update:
“I am grateful to all who are loving and praying for me during my encounter with cancer. I have had four auto-immune infusions during the month of June. Then I had a CT scan to see what was going on as a result of the treatment. The scan indicated there was no cancer anywhere else in my body and the original growth in the abdomen/pelvic area had shrunk from 8.3 to 6.7 centimeters. My cancer doctor wants to have the growth shrink more. One option is chemo but the side effects are challenging.
“The doctor said we could also continue with the auto-immune infusions. So, I am opting for that. I will have four more of the infusions in September and then I believe I will have a scan again to see what effect the treatment is having.
“I just got back from visiting family and friends in Cleveland; I am doing well and I thank all of you for your loving and prayerful support.”
Indonesian Independence Day
Fr. Christian Hoper, SCJ, spent the weekend in Dallas worshipping with the Indonesian community there. August 17 is Indonesian Independence Day so the weekend of prayer also included traditional games and other events familiar to the celebration. Fr. Christian – originally from the Indonesian Province – is pictured above with the Houston Indonesian community following the Independence Day liturgy.
Honoring over 40 years of dedication
After 40 years of dedicated service and leadership, Mike Tyrell has retired from St. Joseph’s Indian School. He and his recently deceased wife, Kim, fell in love with the school after serving as house parents. To honor Mike’s dedication not only to St. Joseph’s but to the Priests of the Sacred Heart and Dehonian spirituality, the courtyard between Our Lady of the Sioux Chapel and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel has been dedicated as the Tree of Life Courtyard.
At its heart stands a beautiful birch tree — symbolizing family and faith, two values Mike has cherished throughout his life and career. Across many traditions, the Tree of Life represents renewal, strength and the sacred bond between all living things. Mike is pictured next to the tree, covered in a Native American quilt gifted to him.
“‘Thank you’ doesn’t even begin to cover the gratitude that the Priests of the Sacred Heart have for the many years of dedication, service and love that Mike Tyrell has shown not only to St. Joseph’s Indian School but to the Dehonians themselves and the spirituality of our founder,” said Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ.
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