Steps for Students
Fr. Duy Nguyen, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Houston, along with associate pastor Fr. Tim Gray, joined parishioners, students and their families at the annual Steps for Students 5K on February 18.
Steps for Students is an archdiocesan-wide event where schools and parishes, along with business and community partners, come together as one to support Catholic education. It is both a fundraiser and a means of building awareness for Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
Former SHSST faculty member named bishop
Fr. James Schuerman, a former Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology faculty member, was one of two Milwaukee priests recently named as auxiliary bishops for the archdiocese. The bishop-elect taught systematic theology at SHSST from 2007 to 2009 as an adjunct lecturer. He was ordained to the priesthood in May 1986 and is currently serving in parish ministry in Lake Geneva and Bristol. He and Fr. Jeffrey Haines will be ordained as bishops on March 17.
Progress continues on health care center
The new Health and Family Services Center at St. Joseph’s Indian School is quickly taking shape. It will replace the current health center which is housed in a former convent from the school’s earliest days.
The new center will focus on a holistic approach to health care, working with students and their families to attend to the children’s physical well-being as well as find solutions to wider family issues. Healthcare monitoring, individual and group counseling and addiction treatment will all be offered by the center.
“We continue to see construction moving forward on a daily basis,” said Mike Tyrell, executive director of St. Joseph’s. “It is exciting, because the new facility will enable our health and counseling services to work more congruently. This new endeavor will enable us to better serve our students’ health — mind, body, heart and spirit.”
Click here or on the image above to view a video about the project.
Ordinations in Africa
On February 5 the Priests of the Sacred Heart celebrated the ordination of the first Angolan SCJ to the priesthood. Fr. João Mateus José Bartolomeu was ordained at Our Lady of the Rosary in Viana.
A week later an SCJ from Madagascar, Razafiarison Nomena Michel Roberto, was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Zolile Petros Mpambani at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Pietermaritzburg is home to the international formation community shared by several African entities.
Included in the photo above are Fr. Sanil Michael (South Africa), Fr. Bernard Tente Sompane (South African provincial superior), Dn. Roberto, Bp. Zolile (a former member of the General Council and provincial superior of South Africa prior to being named bishop of Kokstad in 2013), Fr. Yvon Mathieu (regional superior of Madagascar), Dn. Louis, Fr. Chris Grzelak, Fr. Jean-Paul Amuli, Fr. Angel Gabryel, Fr. Gilbert Kamta and Fr. Jean-Claude Nkuka.
Keep in prayer
Richard Fagon, a former SCJ, was recently diagnosed with a serious blood disorder. He welcomes email at: rfagon@hargray.com.
Please remember
+Br. Nicolaas J.J. van Ham, a member of the Dutch-Flemish Confederation, died February 12. He was born in 1943 and professed in 1961.
+Fr. Lorenzo Pistelli, a member of the North Italian Province, died on February 19. He was born in 1923, professed in 1942 and ordained in 1950.
+Michael Hak, the nephew of Fr. John van den Hengel, died of a heart attack on February 17.
Provincial’s time
Fr. Ed Kilianski shortened his visitation to the Sacred Heart Community in Pinellas Park last week due to the funeral for Fr. Michael Burke. Fr. Ed flew to Florida on Wednesday morning. His next visitation will be with the Dehon Formation Community the week of March 6. As noted last week, the ceremony for entrance to postulancy will take place on March 6 at 4:45 pm. Any SCJ is welcome to join the community for the celebration; please contact Fr. David Szatkowski if you plan to be there.
Looking ahead, Fr. Ed will take part in the Local Superiors meeting on March 13-14, and the Provincial Council meeting on March 15.
Update
Patrick Skahill has left the province formation program; he returns to Las Vegas this week. Please keep him in prayer as he continues his discernment journey.
“I had great respect for him”
Among those who called to express their condolences on the death of Fr. Michael Burke was former SCJ Cletus Meiergerd who was with the community from 1967-1985. “I had great respect for him and was very saddened to learn of Fr. Mike Burke’s death,” he said. “Please express my condolences to the province.” Cletus was one of many who contacted the Provincialate to share stories of Fr. Mike and express sadness on news of his passing.
Click here to view an online photo album from the Mass of Christian Burial. Pictured at right is Fr. John Czyzynski, a classmate of Fr. Mike’s, sharing the sign of peace during the Funeral Mass.
Closing shot
During his recent visitation in Florida Fr. Ed Kilianski had the chance to catch up not only with the SCJ community in Pinellas Park, but also with a few former SCJs who stopped by to visit: Fr. Mike McMillan and Fr. Bob Donlan. They are pictured below with Bishop Joseph Potocnak, Fr. Pat Lloyd and Fr. Tom Burns.
