Fr. Mike Burke (left) with classmate Fr. John Czyzynski during last year’s jubilee celebrations.

Former provincial superior dies

Fr. Michael Burke, provincial superior of the US Province from 1983-89, died February 9, in suburban Milwaukee. He was 79 years old and had suffered a heart attack earlier in the day.

Originally from Chicago, Fr. Mike professed his first vows in 1956. Just last year he and classmate Fr. John Czyzynski were honored for their 60th anniversary during the province jubilee celebrations in June.

Ordained in 1963, his initial assignment was as a teacher at Sacred Heart Monastery. He then went into administration, first as superintendent of St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, SD, and in provincial administration, serving as personnel director and as vice provincial.

Fr. Mike was elected as the ninth provincial superior of the US Province in 1983.

After completing his second term he was named novice master for the international novitiate in Toronto. He continued in various formation and vocation roles until his retirement in 2009..

“I have appreciated and valued our shared life together as SCJs. I find in it a source of support and encouragement,” he said in an interview several years ago. “While there are many different personalities and ministries in our community we all share and experience the love of God and we desire to share that experience with others. This is what binds us and supports us in our ministry.”

Click here to read more on the province website.

The vigil for Fr. Mike will be on Monday, February 13th, 7:00 p.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial is on Tuesday, February 14 at 10:30 a.m. Both will take place at Sacred Heart Monastery, Hales Corners, Wisconsin

Three enter postulancy

Last week the Provincial Council voted to approve Phong Hoang, Henry Nguyen and Patrick Skahill for entrance into postulancy. Fr. Andrzej Sudol will serve as their postulancy director. The postulancy ceremony will take place at 4:45 p.m. on March 6 at the Dehon Formation Community in Chicago. Fr. Ed Kilianski will lead the ceremony.

Fr. Tom Knoebel speaking at an SCJ Mission Education gathering

Interim SHSST president-rector named

Fr. Tom Knoebel has been appointed as Interim President-Rector of Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology; his term will be from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018.

A priest with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Fr. Tom is a familiar face at SHSST. He is an emeritus professor of systematic theology and a member of the seminary Board of Directors. He served at SHSST from 1981 to 2013, for many years as vice rector, and twice as interim president-rector. Fr. Tom holds a Ph.D. in theology from Fordham University.

The term of the current president-rector, Msgr. Ross Shecterle, concludes this year. A global search has surfaced strong possibilities for leadership in the future but the congregation is not prepared to name a permanent SHSST president-rector at this time.

“We are very grateful to Fr. Tom Knoebel for accepting this responsibility while we take time to ensure the best possible leadership arrangement for the future,” said Fr. Ed Kilianski.

Click here to read more on the province website.

Happy Lunar New Year!

The Vietnamese community at St. Martin of Tours parish in Franklin, WI, hosted a Lunar New Year’s celebration January 29. Fr. Yvon Sheehy is pastor of SMOT and Fr. Joseph Thien Dinh is associate pastor as well as chaplain to the Vietnamese Catholic community of Milwaukee which is a part of St. Martin of Tours. Click here to view a few photos from the event posted on Facebook. You do not need to be a member of Facebook to view the album.

Please remember

Tiny Bon-de Jong, the sister of Fr. Jan de Jong, died February 9. She was in hospice in Holland; two of her children were with her when she passed.

Keep in prayer

Fr. Bill Marrevee, a member of the Canadian Region, was treated for a minor stroke (TIA) yesterday. He is recovering at home; please keep him in prayer.

Seeking answers from God

Throughout his life Fr. Zdzislaw “Stan” Plawecki has turned to God for answers to his questions. But sometimes, the 44-year-old admits, he hasn’t always been quick to embrace the response he receives, starting with his own vocation. ”I wanted a VACATION,” he joked, “not a VOCATION!”

For many years the Polish SCJ served as a missionary in Cameroon, now he is in the ESL program, preparing to join the congregation’s Asian mission.

Fr., Stan said that he became a missionary out of a desire to give himself more fully to God, to have a sense of sacrifice. But, he said, as a missionary he realized that he could never really give up who and what he was.

“I lived in a well-built house, I had hot and cold running water, I had all the food that I needed,” said Fr. Stan about his time in Cameroon. “I lacked for nothing while the people we lived among were living in poverty. I felt like a wealthy man and I didn’t like it.”

It was a challenge that Fr. Stan struggled with for many years.

Click here to read more about his story.

Postcard from Argentina

Fr. Stephen Huffstetter, former US provincial superior and now general councilor, sends a postcard from his travels in South America. The photo below was taken at the Sagrado Corazon Basilica in Buenos Aires where Fr. Steve concelebrated Mass with fellow SCJs.