50 years!
Fr. Tom Stanley of the British-Irish Province, Bishop Virginio Bressanelli of Neuquén, Argentina (and former superior general) and Fr. Tony Russo of the US Province concelebrated Mass last week with Pope Francis at Santa Marta. The three were classmates in Rome and celebrated their 50th anniversary of priesthood last year.
“It was the first time since we were ordained that I had seen Fr. Tom,” said Fr. Tony. “It was great to be together and visit some of the places that had been so much a part of our lives when we were students at the Gregorian in Rome.
“However, what most impacted me during our visit in Rome was the spirit we found in the house [Generalate]. It was good to feel such a spirit of welcoming and collegiality among the many young SCJs in the house, priests and brothers from all over the world.”
Fr. Tony is pictured above (right) meeting Pope Francis. Bishop Virginio is in the background.
God’s call comes in many languages
“It really doesn’t matter what language you speak when you are responding to God’s call,” wrote Frater Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojas. “I am from Medellin, Colombia, and my first language is Spanish. When I professed my first vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity with the Priests of the Sacred Heart in the US Province I did it in both Spanish and English.
“On February 1, I said yes to God one more time as I renewed my vows in the Sao Paulo Province of Brazil. This time I renewed them in Portuguese. In doing so, I felt a real renewal of my vocation as a Dehonian and as a missionary by speaking the formula of vows in another language…
“God calls us not because we are perfect but because of our own imperfections. And yes, it is true that we are renewed by this beautiful call, but God also wants us to be authentic and to be who we truly are by keeping true to our own identity. This is how by this call we come to follow the example of obedience, poverty and chastity found in Jesus.”
Click here to read Frater Juancho’s full reflection on the province website.
Snapshots from South America
During the first weeks of the year Fr. Stephen Huffstetter, general councilor and former US provincial superior, has been visiting SCJ communities in South America. Click here to view a few snapshots that he shared with us on Facebook.
Happy birthday
Happy birthday to Dn. David Nagel who turns 66 today! Other February birthdays include Fr. Paul Kelly (67) on on Feb. 9, Fr. Duy Nguyen (39) on Feb. 17, Fr. Quang Nguyen (52) and Fr. Henry Nguyen (28) on Feb. 18, Fr. Greg Murray (60) on Feb. 19, Fr. Mark Mastin (60) on Feb. 21, and Fr. Peter Sanders (77) on Feb. 28. Happy birthday!
Birthday traditions in India
Fr. Tom Cassidy’s most recent post on the province blog is about birthday celebrations in India. “There is a house ritual to the experience. It starts with door decorations, prayers at Mass and morning prayer for the birthday honoree, and concludes with the presentation of a cake, flowers and hugs from all, along with the traditional birthday song. It kicks off with a few words from the rector (or in his absence, his delegate) on some of the positive qualities of the honoree in helping to build and live our SCJ community life.” Click here to read more.
Benefactors help to build Church in India
Fr. Dominic Peluse and Pam Milczarski of the Province Development Office are currently in India touring several projects sponsored by U.S. benefactors.
“We drove four hours each way to St Joseph parish where benefactors in the United States are helping to build a new church to replace one that is 100 years old,” wrote Pam. “To our surprise there was much more planned than a church tour. There was a procession with music and the traditional throwing of flowers, Mass, speeches on our behalf, our speeches, gifts, about 300 selfies of myself with various parishioners and students, and then a wonderful lunch prepared by the sisters of the community.”
Update
Fr. Richard Johnston
520 FM 306
Box #4107
New Braufels, TX 789130
281-468-0961
Note that Fr. Richard also receives mail at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Houston.
Keep in prayer
Tiny Bon-de Jong, the sister of Fr. Jan de Jong, is in hospice after struggling for a significant time with cardiac issues.
Planning begins
Today the Preparatory Commission for the next General Conference started its work at the Generalate in Rome. Commission members include Fr. Quang Nguyen, vice provincial of the US Province, along with Fr. John Karl Cabaluna (PHI), Fr. Grzegorz Piatek (POL), Fr. Carlos Lobo (MOZ) and Fr. Joao Carlos Paschoalim (BSP).
“Mercy and the social teachings of the Church,” is the working theme of the conference which will be hosted by the Philippine Region in July 2018.
More photos from the meeting are on the Dehonians Worldwide Facebook page.
Volunteer house in the news
Last week we reported on the volunteer house being constructed by Sacred Heart Southern Missions. The South Reporter recently had a feature on the house and SHSM’s volunteer program.
“Fr. Thi Pham, SCJ, referred to the Parable of the Mustard Seed during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Father Gregory Bezy Volunteer House,” wrote Barry Burleson, editor of the South Reporter. “He said, ‘How will we liken the Kingdom of God? Or with what parable will we illustrate it? It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth, yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.’”
Click here to read the full story.
Looking for…
David Schimmel, province director of Dehonian Associates, is writing to former SCJs and SCJ seminary alumni to invite them to join the “Dehonian Esprit de Corps,” an association that will facilitate spiritual and social fellowship among SCJs, former SCJs, and SCJ seminary alumni. Periodically we will post names of those for whom he is seeking contact information.
Click here if you have an email address, phone number or mailing address for any of the following: Leroy Clark, Al Simmons, Tom Corcoran, Bob Hergenroeder or Tim Moore.
New pastoral team installed
This past weekend Fr. Louis-Marie Butari was installed as the administrator of the Sault-au-Récollet Pastoral Unit in Montréal, which includes three parishes: Visitation, Saints-Martyrs Canadiens and Saint-Antoine-Marie Claret. An installation ceremony took place in each of the three parishes. Present for all was Msgr. Pierre Blanchard, who has assisted SCJs as they have assumed responsibilities at the parishes. Other members of the pastoral team include Fr. Engelbert Fotsinf and Fr. Gustave Lulendo (local superior of Montréal).
New administration in South Africa
The South African Province celebrated the installation of its new administration on February 2 at the Cathedral Church in Aliwal. Bishop Adam Musialek presided over the Eucharist with the former and the current provincial superiors as concelebrants.
Fr. Mark Przybys, the out-going provincial superior, gave the homily. After, the newly elected provincial superior, Fr. Bernard Tente Sompane, made his solemn profession of faith. Bishop Adam blessed the new provincial superior and his council.
Fr. Bernard is the second South African SCJ to be elected as provincial superior. The first, Fr. Zolile Petros Mpambani, was named bishop of Kokstad just three months after he took office on February 2, 2013.
The US Province was one of the founding entities of the South African Province. Many members of the province are alumni of the ESL program at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
Provincial’s time
Fr. Ed Kilianski and members of the council will be with the Chicago Formation Community this evening; on Tuesday and Wednesday the council meets at the Provincialate Offices. February 11-17 Fr. Ed will be in Pinellas Park, FL, for a visitation.
