Two new Dehonians!
With the profession of their first vows on August 15, Phong “Paul” Hoang and Henry Nguyen became Dehonians, members of the US Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. The vows were received by Fr. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, US provincial superior, during a liturgy in the main chapel at Sacred Heart Monastery / Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
“Today, I feel loved,” said Frater Paul right after his profession. “I heard it at Adoration, I heard it all day. I give thanks to God for my vocation with the SCJs. I am grateful to the community for giving me an education, the gift of community, valuable ministry experiences, personal growth, and most importantly, a love for the Heart of Jesus.”
About his profession, Frater Henry said that it was “five years in the making, three years in formation, which led me to profess vows with the Priests of the Sacred Heart.
“My vocation calls me to do love in all things,” he continued. “By being ‘Henry of the Heart of Jesus,’ I feel that it is my duty to respond to the lack of God’s love in the world, by spreading God’s love to where people need it most. By becoming an SCJ, I take on a social responsibility, a tug to be present with others.
“During this past year in the novitiate, I became certain that I must ‘love with an open heart and mind,’ and be available. Being ‘Dehonian’ has become my identity. Ecce Venio has become embedded in me.”
Click here to read more about Fraters Henry and Paul on the province website.
Click here to view a photo album from their profession ceremony.
Click here to access Fr. Ed Kilianski’s homily from the Mass.
Three new novices!
The day before Fraters Henry and Paul professed their first vows, three men were received into the novitiate: Hubert Senam Kodjovi Liassidji, John Huan Nguyen and Angel Romero.
Originally from Togo, but now a US citizen, Hubert entered the formation program in Chicago in January, 2017, and was a student at St. Xavier University. He is 37.
Reflecting on his vocation, Hubert said that “I have a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and so I am attracted to the fact that to be a Priest of the Sacred Heart is to be a ‘Prophet of love and servant of reconciliation.’ This really fits my call, and I think it can help me to BE the change in the world.”
Angel, 34, is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico. Before entering formation he worked in the legal profession. As a member of the Dehon Formation Community, he studied at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
“I am very happy to be able to enter the Novitiate because it is a moment to pray more intensely so that I may discern the path of my vocation,” said Angel.
John Huan Nguyen, 31, is a novice from the Vietnamese District; however, this isn’t his first time in the United States. Last summer he was a student in the ESL program at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. Originally from Hanoi, John became a candidate in Vietnam three years ago and has studied philosophy.
Click here to read more about the new novices.
Click here to view photos from the Entrance to Novitiate Ceremony
Keep in prayer
Fr. Ed Kilianski’s surgery for a transmetatarsal amputation was this morning. Before noon he texted to say that it went well. He will be in the hospital for a few days but hopes to come home by the end of the week to begin his rehabilitation. Please continue to keep him in prayers.
Please remember
As we noted last week, Patricia Kane, the mother of province attorney Kathleen Dahlgren, died. A memorial gathering will be held on Tuesday, August 21, at St. Camillus North Residence – Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel, 10201 W. Wisconsin Ave., Wauwatosa, from 11 am until the Mass of Christian Burial at 12 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials to HAWS-Waukesha and St. Camillus Hospice would be appreciated.
Floods in India
Please keep the people affected by the floods in India in your prayers. One of our SCJs there, Dn. Hari, writes that “most of Aluva is in water due to the overflowing of Periyar River and most people’s houses are in water. Some 75 people came and are staying at our house with no electricity. We are managing with a generator for two hours daily. There is no transportation: no trains and no airport.”
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, president of the Bishops Conference of India., writes: “The State of Kerala is being battered by torrential rains, overflowing rivers, release of dam waters and a series of landslides. This unprecedented havoc caused by floods has wrought immeasurable misery and devastation. Declared as the worst flood in a century, the people of Kerala have never faced such a terrifying deluge before.”
Fr. McQueen, district superior, adds that “the situation is truly grave, but also we see the grace of God with all the help and brotherhood. It is a time where many people are trying to reach out. Thanks be to God there have been moments of no rain and the water level has come slightly down. Rain is still predicted for another two days, but not all too heavy. Let us thank God and continue to pray and do some sacrifice for our brothers and sisters in solidarity. Let us do our best. May the merciful Lord be with all his people.”
Updates
Fr. Paul Kelly, SCJ, is now a member of the Sacred Heart Community at SHML; he is in Room 201.
Fraters Henry Nguyen, SCJ and Paul Hoang, SCJ, are now members of the Sacred Heart Monastery Community.
Novices Hubert Senam Kodjovi Liassidji, John Huan Nguyen and Angel Romero are now members of the novitiate community.
Fr. Yvon Sheehy, Fr. Ed Zemlik and Br Duane Lemke are in the process of moving to Sacred Heart Monastery from Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake.
Welcome!
Last week we noted that the Canadian Region welcomed two SCJs to Toronto for their pastoral year. Just a few days later the Ottawa community received Fr. Paulin Makiala, SCJ, who will be studying Conflict Studies at Saint Paul University. His arrival involved two years of paperwork; his student visa was approved this year. Welcome Fr. Paulin!
Fr. Wittouck named to Marriage Encounter team
Fr. Frank Wittouck, SCJ, writes that “I have just been chosen to serve on the executive team for Region 10 of Worldwide Marriage Encounter. Region 10 includes Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. I will be serving with a married couple.
“The executive team encourages and supports other teams throughout the region. We also conduct discernment experiences for local teams to choose new leaders. We try to encourage Marriage Encounter experiences in as many parishes as will have us.”
Congratulations Fr. Frank!
Many languages, many cultures
On Friday, students, staff and volunteers of Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology‘s ESL program celebrated a multicultural liturgy; it is the last day of the first summer session. Music from all five continents on which the Dehonians are located were sung; prayers too were shared in many languages. Fr. Praveen Kumar, SCJ, of the Indian District, was the main celebrant; he was joined at the altar by Fr. Zbigniew Morawiec, SCJ, SHSST vice rector and Fr. Tom Knoebel, SHSST rector.
Click here to view photos from the Mass.
They are also available in an album on the US Province Facebook page.
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