News & Events | December 08, 2025
On this feast of the Immaculate Conception, we pray…
Thank you, O Mother, because in showing yourself to us
You free us of all stain of sin;
You remind us that what comes first is the grace of God,
The love of Jesus Christ who gave his life for us,
The strength of the Holy Spirit which renews all things.
Let us not give in to discouragement,
But, trusting in your constant help,
Let us engage ourselves fully in renewal of self,
Of this city and of the entire world.
Pray for us, Holy Mother of God!
Prayer taken in part from the Prayer for the Immaculate Conception by Pope Francis
Diaconate ordinations
At 4:30 p.m. today, Fraters Long Nguyen, SCJ, and Hung Pham, SCJ, will be ordained to the diaconate by Archbishop Jeffery Grob of Milwaukee in the main chapel at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. Click here or on the image above to access the livestream.
Originally from Vietnam, Fra. Hung, 38, moved to Houston in 2008. He professed his first vows in 2020 and his final vows in June. He completes his studies at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology this semester and has been assigned to serve as a deacon with the Dehonians’ pastoral team in northern Mississippi.
“For me, the diaconate is not just another step to become a priest; instead, it is a gift, grace, and blessing from God,” said Fra. Hung. “The mark of Christ will be forever imprinted on my soul; therefore, when I am a deacon, I am a deacon for life. ‘I am among you as one who serves’ (Lk 22:27). Diaconate, diakonia, literally means one who serves in the service of the Church. Therefore, at this stage, I am called to proclaim, live, and serve the Gospel in a meaningful and fruitful way. Becoming a transitional deacon will deepen my understanding of my future role as a priest, especially as a Dehonian priest.”
Fra. Long, 46, is a Louisiana native. He first professed vows with the SCJs in 2007 and served as a religious brother for several years before feeling called to pursue ordained ministry. He did his theological studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and last year completed a year-long CPE program (Clinical Pastoral Education) through Aurora Healthcare in Milwaukee, preparing him for his current ministry as a hospital chaplain.
“My diaconate ordination is a gift and grace of the present moment and time which requires deeper reflection,” said Fra. Long. “What is the future to which God calls me through the invitation of the Spirit?”
About his ministry as a chaplain, Fra. Long said that he “enjoys sharing prayer space with others. Chaplaincy is one way of sharing that space. I remind people that tears, anguish and frustrations are prayers too.”
Please keep the new deacons in your prayers as they continue to move forward in their vocational journey.
Reflective listening
This year’s Advent Hour of Recollection for employees and other collaborators focused on “reflective listening,” a way of not only mindfully listening to another but also giving input (not necessarily advice!) to ensure that what is said is heard and understood.
“Regardless if it is in a ministerial situation, with a friend or with a family member, we want to help a person feel deeply understood so that we can connect well with that person,” said Kay Eibl. “That’s the foundational piece of what we are doing. We want to ensure that the person feels heard, that they feel known.”
Kay Eibl is a professional counselor with expertise in communication. Her topic – “Reflective Listening for Leaders: Cultivating Meaningful Connection with Those You Serve” – focused on cultivating listening not only as an important tool for interpersonal relationships, but also in our relationship with God.
“How do we listen to God?” said Kay. “How do we set aside our preconceived notions and really hear God; how do we reflectively listen to what God is saying to us?” And in this time of Advent, how do we prepare ourselves to receive what God is saying to us?
Click here or on the image above to view a recording of the Advent Hour of Reflection.
Looking ahead
Please note that the Provincial Offices will be closed Dec. 24-26 for Christmas and Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for New Year’s. Also, be mindful that both SCJs and lay staff often take a few vacation days during this time. If you need to contact someone at the office, try to do so earlier rather than later in the month. Also note that the staff of Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology are off today for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
December 9-10: Provincial Council meeting
January 20-21, 2026: Provincial Council meeting
March 3-4: Provincial Council meeting
March 9-14: Dehonian Jubilee Celebration in Quito, Ecuador
April 21-22: Provincial Council meeting
June 1-4: Province Retreat
June 4: Province Jubilee Celebration
June 9-10: Provincial Council meeting
Also, the Dehon Book Club – and now the Dehon Study Center Movie Club – meets the First Friday of each month at 1:00 p.m. (central). Book discussions and movie showings will alternate each month.
“Movies are a powerful way to engage with theological concepts and explore Dehonian spirituality,” said Fr. Joseph Mukuna, SCJ, director of the DSC. “We will be showing movies that have SCJ themes.”
If you have a suggestion of a movie to be considered, please contact Fr. Joseph at 414-427-7265, Jmukuna@dehoniansusa.org.
Welcome!
As of January 1, Corrie Wurster, who has been the Marketing and Office Manager at the Province Vocation Office, will be expanding her role to also provide administrative support to provincial leadership. She will be moving to the Provincialate side of the building early next year.
The impact of Vietnamese immigrants on the Church
Last week Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, was a presenter at “The Journey of Faith and the Mission of the Vietnamese Catholic Migrants in Proclaiming the Good News,” which was held in Bangkok, Thailand. The symposium drew participants from Vietnam, the United States, Italy, Germany, Thailand, Taiwan, and Papua New Guinea.
Fr. Vien, a Vietnamese immigrant himself, told the audience that Vietnamese priests and religious have become a “vital spiritual and cultural bridge” within the U.S. Catholic Church. “They enrich parish life, support immigrant communities, and strengthen the Church’s global outlook.”
About his participation in the conference, Fr. Vien said that “I appreciated the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. I especially valued the time I spent talking to indigenous lay Vietnamese attending the conference. I also met a few missionaries who studied while I was at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.”
Click here to read a summary of the conference on the LiCAS.news website.
It was a quick trip to Asia for Fr. Vien; he returned this weekend, just in time to take part in the diaconate ordination of Fraters Long Nguyen and Hung Pham.
Updates
Frater Long Nguyen, SCJ, is now a member of the St. Joseph Community at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake and Fr. Henry Nguyen, SCJ, is a member of the community living at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Houston.
SCJ News
Click here to access the latest issue of the SCJ News, the quarterly newsletter of the US Province, and click here to add a subscriber to the list of mailed hard-copies of the publication.
For SCJs on Cigna drug cards…
Several SCJs have Cigna cards for medication. As of January 1, 2026, Cigna will no longer be a provider for SCJs in the US Province. “Wellcare” will be the medication provider for those SCJs who were on Cigna. Wellcare cards will be in the mail soon; they will be delivered to the local superiors for distribution. If you have questions, please contact Kevin Stanke at the Provincial Offices. 414-333-8750, provtreas3@usprovince.org.
Las Posadas… a little early
Since students will be on their Christmas break during the usual celebration of Las Posadas (Dec. 16-24), an abbreviated version of the Mexican holiday tradition took place last week in the dining room at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
Las Posadas commemorates Mary and Joseph’s difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a warm place to stay the night. (Posadas is Spanish for “lodgings” or “accommodations”). A procession of musicians and singers accompany Mary and Joseph as they knock on doors, seeking a bed. Our adapted version had the procession singing outside of the doors of the seminary dining room. Once Mary and Joseph entered, the festival part of the celebration – complete with a Mexican piñata – began. First up to bat at the piñata was Fr. Anthony Lajato, OFM Conv. (VP of Formation), but it was our SHSST president-rector, Fr. Stephen Huffstetter, SCJ, who brought the piñata down, allowing students and staff to enjoy the Mexican treats that were stuffed inside.
Pictured above: Joseph and Mary enter the seminary dining room followed by musicians and singers.
Closing pic
Students in the English and Culture Studies program at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology spent Thanksgiving weekend at the Wisconsin Dells, where they shared a Mass of Thanksgiving together, baked Christmas cookies and enjoyed the first snow of the season. For Sisters Leonora Sitohang, FCh and Susana Susmiyarti, FCh, it was a quick taste of winter before their move to Mississippi later this month to begin ministry with Dehonians there.
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