Mission send-off
During the Saturday morning Mass at Sacred Heart Monastery the community held a formal missionary send-off ceremony for Sr. Ramona Pandan and Sr. Grecely Tangcogo. Both are members of the Missionary Congregation of Mary (MCM), a diocesan religious community founded in 1970 in the Philippines with the mission of educating children, caring for people with an intellectual disability, and ministering to indigenous peoples. This week they will move to South Dakota to continue their preparation for ministry with our Dehonian pastoral team.
“Today at Mass we expressed our sincere gratitude for their willingness to serve God, God’s people and collaborate with us in our South Dakota missions,” said Fr. Mark Mastin, SCJ, superior of the monastery community. “Sr. Ramona expressed her own gratitude for being here at Sacred Heart and the warmth she always felt from Fr. Yvon Sheehy and the entire SCJ community. They will truly be a blessing to the people they serve. We wish them the very best.”
Prior to her arrival in the United States in 2024, Sr. Ramona served as a missionary in Australia where she was involved in high school education as a teacher and in religious life formation as a novice director. Sr. Grecely’s ministry has also been in education, serving as a campus minister and as an assistant principal at a high school in the Philippines.
Safe travels sisters!
Celebrating 100 years!
February 12 marked the 150th anniversary of Milwaukee’s elevation to an archdiocese. To honor that, last Wednesday Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology hosted a lecture and book-signing by Fr. Steven Avella, one of the archdiocese’s foremost historians and a former SHSST adjunct professor.
The event began with evening prayer presided over by Bishop James T. Schuerman, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Following a reception in the lobby, Fr. Avella spoke about his newly released book, Three More Archbishops of Milwaukee, which offers an in-depth look at the archdiocese’s bishops from 1930-1958. Fr. Avella explored the impact these bishops had on the Catholic community and most importantly, the ways in which their shared theological visions were emblematic of their educations in Rome. Fr. Avella closed the evening with a Q&A, and then a final word to seminarians, urging them to engage with their shared Catholic history, to “Enter into your heritage!”
A new member!
The General Curia has approved SCJ Fr. M. Ari Saputra’s transfer request to the US Province. He and Fr. Floribert Bulo Dhelo, SCJ will be assigned to the South Dakota community in spring.
A visit to DR Congo
Fr. David Szatkowkski, SCJ, was one of the presenters last week at the Congolese Province’s assembly in Kisangani.
“My topic was the sacred power of the Church, which is a legal concept, and how it is useful in Dehonian ministry in the context of the Congo today,” wrote Fr. Dave, who has a doctorate in canon law. “It is this one power that all members of the Church exercise, whether they are lay or cleric. What is different is not the power, but the way in which it’s practiced.”
Fr. Dave also reflected on “how reparation, our fellowship, our way of being religious helps to bring about the kingdom of God, and how our SCJ Rule of Life regulates the way in which we live.”
Besides the assembly, Fr. Dave is also giving presentations to the province’s formation communities.
Please remember
+Fr. Pío Lázaro Riaño, a member of the Venezuelan Region, died on February 15. He was born in 1937, professed in 1955 and was ordained in 1964.
+Fr. Claudino Afonso da Piedade, a member of the Mozambique Province, died on February 2. He was born in 1963, professed in 2006 and ordained in 1993.
Welcome to India!
As noted last week, Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, will be in India until March 3 to lead two retreats for Dehonians in the district. Fr. Michael Augstine, SCJ, district superior, shared the photo above of Fr. Vien’s arrival in Chennai.
Esprit de Coeur reunion
The Priests of the Sacred Heart Development Office and the Office of Dehonian Associates are planning events for the Feast of the Sacred Heart, including an Esprit de Coeur reunion in Hales Corners. Seminary alumni, former SCJs and current SCJs are all invited.
The reunion will begin on Thursday, June 26, starting with prayer at 5:00 p.m., followed by a reception and dinner. The next day, June 27, begins with a presentation at 9:00 a.m. on “The Legacy of Fr. Dehon,” followed by the feast-day Mass at 10:30 a.m., brunch, and tours of the Sacred Heart campus for those who are interested.
If you plan to attend, please RSVP so that the kitchen staff can plan for the meals:
If you are an SCJ, RSVP to Jessica Ramos at: [email protected], 414-427-4234
If you are an Esprit de Coeur member (and not an SCJ), RSVP to [email protected], 414-427-4267.
Please indicate if you are taking part in any or all of the following:
Thursday, June 26 dinner
Friday, June 27 coffee & donuts
Friday, June 27 brunch
Priests are welcome to concelebrate the feast-day Mass. If you plan to do so, please bring an alb and stole.
Gracias!
Fr. Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojas, SCJ, shares this video of volunteers at the Sagrado Corazón Day Center for the Elderly in Quito, Ecuador, expressing their thanks to benefactors in the US Province who made possible the purchase of a retrofitted van to transport disabled elderly clients. Fr. Juancho studied in the US Province and now serves with the Dehonian community in Ecuador.
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