Ecce Venio
“Ecce Venio,” was a favorite scriptural reference of Fr. Dehon’s. It is often translated as “Behold, I come to do your will O God.”
The words have been on the mind of Fr. Stephen Huffstetter, newly installed provincial superior. Fr. Steve noted them in his last blog post for St. Joseph’s Indian School, and again during his closing at the installation Mass on Thursday.
In the St. Joe’s blog Fr. Steve wrote:
“My last events were a Mass Saturday evening and a social afterward in the Rec Center. I’ve had a host of farewells these past couple of weeks, and shed more than a few tears. The tears are both sadness at parting and joy from all that we’ve experienced and accomplished together. I felt a sense of joy for a last celebration, hug, or memory with people I’ve shared so much with.
“We wrapped up shortly before 10 p.m.. The sky outside was still a warm red and purple, lingering colors from a gorgeous sunset over the Missouri River. I will miss those spectacular sunsets. The fountain in front of the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center was still running, and the sound of water very soothing.
“Our SCJ founder, Leo John Dehon had a favorite scripture – Ecce Venio – Behold, I come to do your will O God. In the quiet of the night, alone in the parking lot with just me and the Creator, I felt a deep sense of peace.”
“Ecce Venio” was with Fr. Steve again in his concluding remarks at the installation Mass. Looking at the future, and noting the challenges that he and the province are sure to face, Fr. Steve said that “We don’t know all the questions before us, but we do know the answer to each of them –– Ecce Venio; Behold I Come.”
Click here to view photos from the installation.
NEW Provincial’s time
Fr. Stephen Huffstetter made a quick transition from his role as executive director of St. Joseph’s Indian School to his new one as the 14th provincial superior of the U.S. Province. He drove to Hales Corners with the last of his belongings on Sunday (July 28), was in the office Monday morning, and started council meetings Wednesday. As noted above, on Thursday evening he was officially installed at the new provincial, and on Friday, he was off to Houston, where he attended the funeral of Fr. Charles Brown’s mother, Dorothy.
This week Fr. Steve is in the office on Monday and Tuesday, then leaves on Wednesday for Nashville to attend the national CMSM meeting (Conference of Major Superiors of Men). Next week he will be in Hales Corners, taking part in first professions and entrance to the novitiate.
Staff and officers named
After taking time for team-building and faith sharing, the new administration had its first official meeting on August 1. During the meeting, Fr. Ed Kilianski was chosen as vice provincial, Dn. David Nagel was named as treasurer and Fr. Terry Langley was named as provincial secretary. Mary Gorski will continue to take minutes at the council meetings.
The new council also scheduled its meeting dates for the next year:
September 4-5
October 23-24
December 18-19
February 5-6
March 19-20
May 14-15
On sabbatical
One of Fr. Tom Cassidy’s last tasks as provincial superior was installing his successor, Fr. Steve. Before doing so, Fr. Tom spoke about leadership in his homily, noting that “No. 56 in Our Rule of Life speaks of leadership in terms of service or of being a servant. It addresses Jesus’ response to the squabble among his disciples as to who was the greatest. Jesus responds by posing a question: ‘For who is greater, the one who is seated at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is seated at the table’? But then he gives a surprising response: ‘But I am among you as one who serves.”
“The superior,” concluded Fr. Tom, “is like Christ, a servant leader.” He encouraged Fr. Steve to keep this passage close to him as he begins his new role.
Click here to read the full homily on the province website.
And after 12 years on General Council, several years as rector-president of Sacred Heart School of Theology and another six years as provincial superior, where is Fr. Tom headed now?
To the British-Irish Province.
As a part of a year-long sabbatical program Fr. Tom is going to visit the areas that were under his responsibility when he was on General Council. He will be in the British-Irish Province until August 15. Stops during the next year will include Africa and Asia.
SCJ walks in the footsteps of Saints Marianne Cope and Damien
Last week the Milwaukee Catholic Herald did a feature on Fr. Tony Russo’s visit to the Molokai leper colony. He went in November, just weeks after St. Marianne Cope was declared a saint. The sister, who has long been an inspiration to Fr. Tony, spent 30 years ministering to people with leprosy.
In the Catholic Herald article Fr. Tony was quoted as saying that one of the most emotional moments of the trip was celebrating Mass at St. Philomena Church at the altar built by Fr. Damien (St. Damien of Molokai), the priest also known for his ministry at the colony. He eventually contracted the disease himself.
“It was so moving to me when I was there – that I was saying Mass where this saintly man said Mass,” said Fr. Russo in the Herald article. “One very interesting thing I saw was all the holes in the floor. When Damien said Mass, the lepers, who were so sick, often had to spit and went outside to do this. Damien wanted to keep them in church, so he put holes in the floor and there were big leaves underneath that they could spit into. He was a handy guy and helped build a lot of buildings on other islands in Hawaii before coming to Molokai.”
Click here to read the full article on the Catholic Herald website.
Thank you!
Fr. Claude Bédard, who broke his hip while traveling in St. Quentin, France, writes with appreciation for “the many notes of support, sympathy and courage. Now that I have been repatriated, I want to express my gratitude to all. It is good to belong to the SCJ family when something goes wrong. Thank you all for your prayers and support!”
Immigration stories
Fr. Peter McKenna, who works with immigrants through the organization “Becoming Neighbours” in Toronto, shares the following that he thought other SCJs might find interesting:
“Immigration: The New Face of America is a collection of personal stories, interactive graphics and resources that puts a human face on the political debate. Explore why the ‘American Dream’ comes true for some, yet remains elusive for others.”
Click here to visit the site.
Please remember
Nicolaas van den Heuvel, the brother-in-law of Fr. Rein van Leeuwen of the Canadian Region, died July 31. He was 89.
Calendar items
– On August 14 Justin Krenke will be received into the novitiate during a 5 p.m. Adoration service at Sacred Heart School of Theology. All SCJs are welcome to attend; no formal invitations will be sent.
– James Nguyen and Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojas will make their first profession of vows during a 10:30 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart School of Theology on August 15. SCJs received mailed invitations and are asked to RSVP by August 1 to either Juan Carlos at 414-477-1485, biglionjk@yahoo.es, or James at 206-658-7192, jsnguyen07@gmail.com
Note that upcoming events are listed on the right side of the Fridge Notes e-blast and on the left side of the news page on the province website.
