World Day of Social Justice
February 20 is the United Nation’s World Day of Social Justice. In commemoration of the day, last week’s issue of Dehonian Spirituality shared the following “Prayer for Peace” from Prayers of the Heart, published by the British-Irish Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart:
Lord Jesus,
when I hear of wars and violence
it makes me feel sad and disappointed.
Why is it that after all these years and generations
mankind has still not realized
that the only answer to our problems
is love and reconciliation?
Master, I am sorry also
for the aggression and anger
that is sometimes in my own heart.
Help me to be a peacemaker,
to welcome all people in my heart.
May I remember
that we are all brothers and sisters
and children of God our Father.
Give me the courage to speak loving words
and may I hear loving echoes.
Amen.
Click here to access previous issues of Dehonian Spirituality, listed by date and topic. Click here to learn more about World Day of Social Justice.
He’s back!
Fr. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, was discharged from the hospital last week Thursday and is continuing his recovery at home at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake. As noted previously, Fr. Ed had surgery at the end of January to remove his foot and part of his shin to treat a bone infection.
Please remember
Nick Brunetti, the cousin of Fr. Frank Wittouck, SCJ, died on February 13 in Crown Point, IN; he was 77. Fr. Frank wrote that he and his cousin “were very close; he had been like a brother to me. Please pray for him and his family.”
Herminia Romano Querobin, 83, the mother of Fr. Rafael Querobin, SCJ, died February 14 at home with her husband at her side. She had been battling cancer for the past two years and is survived by her husband, two sons, one daughter and three grandchildren. A memorial mass will be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Wednesday.
Join in the celebration
The Priests of the Sacred Heart made a $750 donation toward Global Partners: Running Waters’ World Water Day Celebration and Fundraiser. Global Partners focuses on serving the people of Latin America through water, education and health projects.
This year’s celebration will take place Sunday, March 22, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Urban Ecology Center at Riverside Park on Milwaukee’s east side. The evening will feature Latin American cuisine by Pedro’s South American Food, live music by Carlos Serrano and Joshua Esparza, a Latin American-inspired marketplace, and a silent auction.
Mark Peters, province director of Justice, Peace and Reconciliation, has four tickets available for the event. If you are interested in using them, please contact Mark at 414-427-4273.
St. Joseph’s employee receives state award
The South Dakota Department of Tourism and the Governor’s Tourism Advisory Board recently selected Wanda Bunker, St. Joseph’s Indian School Historical Coordinator, as a recipient of the Governor’s Great Service Star award. She is recognized for providing outstanding customer service at the Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center in Chamberlain, S.D.
“Wanda is the key member of our frontline team,” said Dixie Thompson, museum director. “In most cases, she is the first person who visitors and donors meet when visiting the campus. Many share positive comments about experiencing her pleasant and helpful attitude. She is such a blessing to our organization,” said Thompson.
Wanda Bunker has been with St. Joseph’s for over 26 years. She started working at the SCJ apostolate when she was a high school student; she and her husband later became houseparents.
“I love this job, the museum and school, and especially the people with whom I work,” said Wanda. “I feel totally honored to receive this award.”
First SCJ from Ecuador ordained
Last week Fr. Humberto Hidalgo, SCJ, became the first Dehonian to be ordained from Ecuador; he is pictured above. More pictures of the ordination are available on the Generalate’s Facebook page, DehoniansWorldwide.
On President’s Day, remembering the 39th president’s visit to Eagle Butte
“You can do what you have to do, and sometimes you can do it even better than you think you can.” The quote is from former president Jimmy Carter, who, in 1994, was part of a Habitat for Humanity building project in Eagle Butte, SD. At the time, Fr. Johnny Klingler, SCJ, served on the board of directors and was treasurer of the local Habitat chapter, Okiciyapi Tipi. The province had a pastoral team that served the area at the time.
During the project week the former president and his wife, Rosalyn, stayed in a traditional tipi, as did Habitat founders Millard and Linda Fuller. They, along with 1,500 international Habitat volunteers, built 30 new homes on the Cheyenne River Reservation.
“By having the needy work with affluent people together in equal partnership, Habitat builds new relationships and a sense of community as well as new housing,” said Fr. Johnny in an interview following the Carters’ week in Eagle Butte. “In seeking to build both the tangible and the spiritual aspects of the community, Habitat proclaims the love of Christ in work and deed and aims to glorify God.”
Although the province no longer has SCJ priests or brothers in Eagle Butte, Dehonians continue to minister to the Cheyenne River Reservation through the Sacred Heart Center, which offers a variety of social services. Currently, the province, through St. Joseph’s Indian School, is funding a new Family Violence Women’s Safe Shelter
Click here or on the image above to view a video about the 1994 Eagle Butte project.
New SCJ News available
The Spring 2020 issue of the SCJ News is now available for download on the province website; the printed version will be in the mail the first week of March. Click here to access the Spring issue directly; click here to view the archive of issues from 2020 – 2017.
The SCJ News is an eight-page quarterly publication that highlights many of the features which have appeared on the province website, Facebook page and the weekly Fridge Notes. It is sent to SCJs, family members, employees, alumni, friends of the community and others with an interest in the Dehonians. Click here to add a person to the mailing list.
One year later
Happy anniversary to Fr. Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojas, SCJ, who celebrated his first year of priesthood ordination yesterday, February 16. He is pictured below with his family.
