Bishop Vilsom Basso and Bishop Gaetano Di Pierro talk during the SCJ bishops meeting in Rome. Bishop Basso is an alumnus of SHST's ESL program, as are several of the bishops.

SCJ bishops meet in Rome

“You are a part of us, you are a part of the Dehonian family,” said Fr. Claudio Weber to SCJ bishops gathered in Rome.

Fr. Weber, a member of the General Council, spoke to bishops during introductory remarks at their January 10-15 meeting at the Generalate.

The Priests of the Sacred Heart have among them 25 bishops, archbishops and cardinals. They serve in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America, representing large, urban areas as well as small, missionary locations. In one diocese, the bishop is slowed in his travels by seemingly never-ending city traffic while in another, the lack of roads requires the bishop to walk up to 70 kilometers (43 miles) to visit with his people.

Talking about his vocation as an SCJ and as a bishop Mons. Nelson José Westrupp of Brazil said that “It is a great sign of grace when an SCJ is chosen to serve as a bishop. It is a way of infusing the Dehonian charism into a diocese. It is vital that there be a commitment by members of the congregation to pray for our bishops… I love the congregation with all of my heart, I pray for my brothers every day. I am an SCJ. I am a bishop, but I am a Dehonian bishop.”

Articles about several of the bishops have been posted on the Generalate website in English at www.dehon.it/en. There are also reports from the meetings and links to photos. You can click here to go directly to the photo albums.

Among the bishops featured is an alumnus of Sacred Heart School of Theology’s ESL program, Mons. Vilsom Basso, 52, bishop of the Diocese of Caxias, Maranhão (Brazil).

Born in Tuparendi, in south Brazil; Mons. Basso grew up with the SCJs; they ministered at his home parish. When he was just 10 years old he said that he already felt a call to the community.

“Two SCJ priests came to my school to do a vocation campaign. Immediately I said, ‘Here I am Lord!.’ My family gave me their full support, so literally, here I am!”

Click here to read the full story about Bishop Basso.

SHST video

Msgr. Ross A. Shecterle, president-rector of Sacred Heart School of Theology, is featured in a new video about the seminary. In it he talks about seminary education in the context of the school’s focus on men over 30. The SHST student body includes seminarians who excelled in a variety of professions before pursuing their call to priesthood.

If you are unable to view the video at the direct link on the photo above, click here to see it on YouTube.

Please remember

John Pelrine, the husband of Fr. Thomas Garvey’s sister, Eileen, died January 10. Fr. Tom, now deceased, was a former provincial superior and later missionary in India. Click here to view the online obituary about Mr. Pelrine.

Directory correction

Fr. Don Barnd’s email address in the personnel directory is off by one letter. It should be: frbarnd@gmail.com

Provincial’s time

Fr. Tom Cassidy is in Milwaukee most of this week doing a visitation with the Sacred Heart community at SHML.

Upcoming events

2013:
January 29-30: Provincial Council Meeting
March 13: Local Superiors Meeting
March 14: Provincial Council Meeting
April 8-9: Mission Education Conference, St. Joseph’s Indian School
April 30 – May 1: Provincial Council Meeting (budgets)
Week of June 3: Province Election Assembly.
September: Fr. General’s visitation to North America
September 24-27: North American Conference, Hales Corners

2014:
July 7-11, 2014: Provincial Chapter

National Vocation Awareness Week

A prayer from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops for this week’s National Vocation Awareness Week:

Father, we’re your people, the work of your hands.
So precious are we in your sight that you sent your Son, Jesus.
Jesus calls us to heal the broken-hearted,
to dry the tears of those who mourn, to give hope to those who despair,
and to rejoice in your steadfast love.

We, the baptized, realize our call to serve.
Help us to know how.
Call forth from among us priests, sisters, brothers and lay ministers.
With our hearts you continue to love your people.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.

Click here to visit the SCJ vocation webpage.