Welcome!
The Priests of the Sacred Heart welcomed two new members to the community last week when James Nguyen and Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojas (“Juancho”) professed their first vows during a morning liturgy at Sacred Heart School of Theology on August 15.
The two SCJs reflect the changing face of the congregation, a religious community that is increasingly more international, even within the U.S. Province itself. Juancho is originally from Colombia and James was born in Vietnam, though he and his family have been in the United States since James was four.
Juancho has the longest history with the Priests of the Sacred Heart. He came to the United States in 2006 to study English and eventually found his vocation with the congregation.
“Since the very first day I arrived here, I felt welcome,” said Juancho, 31. “Somebody said to me once that it does not matter where you are or what you do; if you are happy then that is where you belong. Well I am REALLY happy with the Priests of the Sacred Heart so it is here where I feel that I belong!”
James, 24, entered candidacy only two years ago but immediately felt at home and applied for novitiate as soon as possible.
“What drew me to the Priests of the Sacred Heart is the charism and spirituality in Fr. Leo Dehon’s writings,” he said. “Every SCJ that I have met shows such passion and hospitality in his ministry. They express the mission of being prophets of love and servants of reconciliation in their daily lives. I was inspired by Fr. Dehon saying that going out to the world with a Bible is not enough as we should also be carrying a newspaper – or now an iPad!”
The families of both James and Juancho joined SCJs at the profession ceremony.
Just beginning
The day before Juancho and James left the novitiate, Justin Krenke entered it during an evening adoration service, also at SHST.
A candidate for the past three years, Justin, 22, has been a member of the Dehon Formation Community in Chicago, attending St. Xavier University. He is originally from Milwaukee.
“As I have come to learn more and more about the SCJs, how they live, the work they do throughout the country and around the world, and as I have come to grow not only on a spiritual level but on a personal level, I felt that the time was right to learn more and come to a fuller understanding of what it would mean for me to become and SCJ,” said Justin about entering the novitiate. “I am looking forward to the year ahead and I hope to learn all I can to prepare me to take my first vows.”
See and read more
Click here to read more about James, Juancho and Justin.
Click here to read Justin’s reflection on the readings done during the prayer service prior to his entrance to the novitiate.
Click here to view photos from Entrance to the Novitiate on Facebook or click here to view an online album of downloadable photos.
Click here to view photos from First Vows on Facebook or click here to view an online album of downloadable photos.
Please remember
Fr. Joe Gietl, a former SCJ, died on August 17. A priest with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, he had been pastor of St. Edward Parish in Spring and the Episcopal Vicar of the Northern Vicariate of the archdiocese.
The Funeral Mass will be tomorrow, August 20, at St. Edward at 2:00 p.m. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo will preside.
Click here to read the obituary.
Also, please remember Fr. Thomas Kaschten, a member of the Franco-European Province, who died August 16. He was born in 1921, professed in 1941 and ordained in 1947.
Keep in prayer
Antoniette Westhoven, the sister of Fr. Tom Westhoven, had surgery last week to treat a bowel obstruction. Please remember her in prayer.
New district established
A week ago today the Priests of the Sacred Heart established the District of Vietnam, the congregation’s newest entity.
Over 140 people were crammed into the small house chapel to hear the reading of the formal announcement of the establishment of the district and the names of its first administration. Some of the guests sought space on the rooftop balcony but heavy rain forced them inside.
It has only been ten years since the first Vietnamese candidates went to the Philippines for formation and further study. At the 2003 General Chapter delegates decided to formally work toward the establishment of a district.
In 2005, the first SCJ community was established in Ho Chi Minh City. The SCJs lived in a hotel in the city because the Vietnamese government did not permit foreign nationals of non-approved religious communities to live with the Vietnamese. However, under a quirk of law, non-Vietnamese could live under the same roof with Vietnamese citizens if the roof was on top of a hotel. And so, the first SCJ presence in Vietnam was based out of a hotel.
Now, the Priests of the Sacred Heart is a community fully recognized and approved by the Vietnamese government so international SCJs can live with their Vietnamese brothers and candidates at the community house.
The new district has 17 members: 10 priests and seven students. Many of the students are currently in the Philippines for study.
Click here to read more.
Summer ESL program
The first newsletter of the summer ESL program was published last week. Click here to download a PDF of it.
Have you?
If you are an SCJ in North American have you responded to the invitation to the September North American Continental Conference? Held September 24-27 in Hales Corners/Franklin, Wis., it is the concluding moment of the general visitation of North America.
If you have not responded to previous invitations, please contact Carole Johnson (cjohnson@shsm.org, 662-342-3324) to let her know whether you will or will not attend the conference. Conference organizers need to plan not only for lodging but for meals and materials. Even if you are tentative in your plans at this time it would be helpful for you to respond.
