St. Joseph’s Top-Rated Nonprofit for the third year in a row!
“We are proud of our accomplishments throughout the past year, some of which included the launch of an equine therapy program and hosting our 42nd annual powwow,” said Mike Tyrell, executive director of St. Joseph’s Indian School. “More importantly, we’re driven by the everyday victories in our homes and classrooms helping students conquer obstacles, explore their culture and become future leaders.”
The Top-Rated Nonprofit Award was granted by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews of charities and nonprofits. The award is based on the rating and number of reviews St. Joseph’s Indian School has received from volunteers, donors and aid recipients.
Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits, said St. Joseph’s Indian School is a great example of a nonprofit making a real difference.
“Their award is well-deserved recognition not only of their work, but the tremendous support they receive, as shown by the many outstanding reviews they have received from people who have direct experience working with St. Joseph’s.”
The GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Awards are the only awards for nonprofits determined by those who have direct experience with the charities.
“We’re so grateful for the support of our generous donors and grateful for the families who partner with us to educate students for life – mind, body, heart and spirit,” said Mike.
No Fridge Notes, but there will still be news!
There will be no Fridge Notes on Monday, February 18; the next issue will be published on February 25. However, please check the province Facebook page and website for photos and other information from Dn. Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojas’ ordination to the priesthood. It will take place Saturday, February 16, at the Cathedral of Saint Nicolas el Magno in Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia (about 20 miles from Medellin).
Reflecting on his request to be ordained in his home country of Colombia, Dn. Juancho wrote that “it means a lot to me because it was here where my vocation began, it was here where I said to my family and friends that I wanted to become a priest and dedicate my life to God. It is a bit bittersweet because so many of my brothers in my community will not be with me on this important day. However, I know that their prayers and support are always present.”
“The biggest reason why I decided to have my ordination in Colombia was because my mother’s health would not allow her to travel to the United States. I am grateful to receive the support and understanding of my community and Fr. Edward Kiliaski, provincial superior, and his council, to allow me to have my ordination in Colombia.”
Among the SCJs representing the US Province at the ordination: Fr. Jack Kurps, Fr. Duy Nguyen, Br. Duane Lemke, Fr. Vien Nguyen, Fr. David Szatkowski, Fr. Mark Fortner, Fr. Tim Gray and Frater Henry Nguyen.
As noted last week, There will be a Mass of Thanksgiving at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Houston on Sunday, March 10, at 1:30 p.m., followed by a reception in the gymnasium. Those planning to attend should let Dn. Juancho know by March 1. You can email him at: [email protected]
Keep in prayer
Fr. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, is having minor surgery this morning. It is a debridement in which part of a protruding bone in his foot will be reduced. He has recently experienced some positive results with his healing; this procedure is expected to speed the process. Although it is considered a minor surgery, he is to remain in the hospital for three days for aggressive wound therapy. Please keep him in prayer.
Please remember
Daniel McKenna, the brother of Fr. Peter McKenna, SCJ, died in Edmonton, Alberta, on February 6. Fr. Peter is a member of the Toronto community.
Fr. João Maurício de Santana, from the Brazil Recife Province (BRE), died February 3. He was born in 1939, professed in 1978 and ordained in 1979.
Four enter postulancy
Four candidates – Hung Pham for the US Province, and Thien Nguyen, Thuan Nguyen and Truc Tran for the Vietnamese District – will be received into postulancy during a small ceremony on Friday, February 15. Members of the formation community will join the new postulants for Adoration at the Novitiate. Fr. Andrzej Sudol, SCJ, is postulant master.
Former SCJ seminarian reflects on marriage
Sunday, February 10, was World Marriage Day; in commemoration of it, the February 8 issue of Dehonian Spirituality featured a reflection on marriage by former seminarian Mike Philipp. He and his wife Claudette were married over 30 years ago. His novitiate classmate, Fr. Byron Haaland, SCJ, helped them prepare their ceremony.
“Along with the joys and blessings of marriage comes inevitable sorrows and hurt,” wrote Mike. “We each have faults and foibles. Sometimes I tease too much, one of my lesser foibles. Fr. Paul Kelly, my friend and novitiate classmate who died this past October, noted that community [i.e., relationships] has its ‘challenges.’ Misunderstandings, being taken for granted, and hurts occur, as well as more major conflicts about how to live life together. These challenge our relationship with each other, our relationship with God, and our spirituality. Marriage provides plenty of opportunities to show compassion, patience, and tolerance, to express forgiveness, and to work toward resolution. Father Paul noted that relationships provide opportunities ‘to give mercy, to receive mercy.’ These are opportunities to grow as individuals and as a couple…
“Marriage is our vocation, a way in which we live our Christian faith. We are able, each day, to say to each other and to our loving God, ‘Behold we come’, or Fiat, ‘Your will be done.’”
Click here to read the full reflection as well as the rest of the February 8 issue.
Updates
Fr. Bryan Benoit
New email address: [email protected]
Communications and miscommunications
Increasingly, bulk emails are being tagged as spam and not getting to their destinations. The province communications office has been looking at a variety of options for sharing information quickly with the membership. Last week many SCJs in the US Province received an email regarding a province Google group. A test e-mail went out prematurely; the group is not functional at this time. Our apologies for the confusion.
The communications office generally uses either [email protected] (sender address for the Fridge Notes, Dehonian Spirituality and other bulk mailings) or [email protected] for email. Please make sure that these are both in your email contacts.
HOWEVER, you may continue to get messages from Mary Gorski’s SBC address for a bit since we have found that group mailings from the new address have been blocked. Thank you for your patience!
Ecumenical-Interreligious lunch
On Friday, February 15, the Ecumenical-Interreligious Committee at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology is hosting a lunch presentation by Rev. Kerri Parker, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches (WCC). Her presentation, entitled “The Work of the WCC and the Catholic Church,” will discuss the engagement of the Catholic Church of Wisconsin on the Council, historically and at present, and offer insights into ecumenism into the life of local parishes. The presentation will take place at noon in classroom 2 at SHSST.
Dehonian reflections for Lent
As noted last week, the Dehonian Associates office will publish brief reflections sent by email each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday throughout Lent. The reflections come from the writings of Fr. Leo John Dehon. The title of this year’s series is “The Politics of the Gospel” and explores the challenging consequences of following Jesus.
All SCJs in the US and Canada will AUTOMATICALLY be subscribed to the mailing. However, anyone is welcome (and encouraged!) to receive the e-blast. Click here to add a subscriber.
David Schimmel, director of Dehonian Associates for the US Province, is the editor of the Lenten e-blast.
The Year of the Pig
Members of the formation community at Sacred Heart Monastery hosted a Lunar New Year party on Saturday (the actual date of Lunar New Year was February 5). Welcome to the Year of the Pig! May it be both a lucky and blessed year. Our thanks to candidate Jacob Smith for sharing a few photos from the party.
