Casimir LeBeau with Fr. Stephen Huffstetter. Mr. LeBeau was a member of St. Joe's first class. He recently visited the school. — Casimir LeBeau with Fr. Stephen Huffstetter. Mr. LeBeau was a member of St. Joe’s first class. He recently visited the school.

St. Joe’s first student

Our ace reporter in South Dakota, Fr. Bernie Rosinski, shares the following:

“This past Tuesday, we had a most welcome visitor: Mr. Casimir LeBeau, a former St. Joseph’s Indian School student who was in the very first class at its opening. We had lunch with him and his niece at the SCJ residence. The 96-year-old regaled us with stories of his student life here. He knew many SCJs including Fr. Henry Hogebach, Fr. John Emonts, Frs. Speyer and Schneider. His most recent acquaintances are Frs. Tom Westhoven and Wayne Jenkins, with whom he exchanged books.

“He offered to help Mary Jane Alexander name and define the functions of the various buildings on a campus map of the late 1920s.

“Mr. LeBeau worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for many years. He has written books that document his early days. He impressed us with his detailed schoolboy recollections and his unlimited affection for the priests, brothers, and sisters who were his teachers at St. Joe’s.

“His Native American classmates were not free of impishness. Mr. LeBeau told one story about how a classmate spoke to a nun who was curious about a live sow that was being hauled on a stone boat pulled by a horse to Chamberlain for some purpose. The classmate told her, teasingly, that in fact the sow was being used to train a horse that was lonely. In those days, St. Joe’s had farm animals for food.

“Frs. Anthony Kluckman and Stephen Huffstetter also got an update on the mission in Eagle Butte where both worked for a number of years. They were pleased to hear about old friends and grieved at the deaths of those who passed on.”

Click here to read more about Mr. LeBeau.

Brazilian SCJ reflects on his homeland prior to World Youth Day

Fr. Willyans Prado Rapozo, a Brazilian SCJ who ministers in Toronto, Canada, was recently interviewed about his homeland by ”Salt and Light,” a Toronto-based media outlet. The focus is on Brazil because of the upcoming World Youth Day gathering in Rio de Janeiro July 23-28.

The following is from the Salt and Light website:

Most people know Brazil to be the home of the Amazon River and of the Amazon Rainforest. Brazil is also known for its samba music, their soccer teams, Copacaba beach, the Christ the Redeemer Statue, the favela slums and the annual Carnival celebrations. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world in both size and population, with 200 million people, 74% of whom are Catholic.

This summer, 2013, WYD will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the second time it will take place in Latin America, the first time in Brazil and the first time in a Portuguese-speaking country. It will also be the first time with a Latin American pope.

This week, Deacon Pedro speaks with Fr. Willyans Prado Rapozo, SCJ, about the Church of Brazil and what the fruits of World Youth Day can be for this country.

Click here to go to the video interview.

Fr. Willyans joined the Canadian Region last year and ministers to the Portuguese-speaking community in Toronto. Click here to read more about him.

Please remember

Fr. Claude Bédard, a member of the Canadian Region, fell and broke his hip during travels in France last week. Fortunately, the break is not too severe. He had surgery over the weekend and is said to be doing well. He will return to Montréal when he has better mobility.

Fr. Mark Fortner is recovering from a brief hospital stay last week for a heart catheterization followed by the placing of a stent.

Bob Granitz, a member of the maintenance staff at Sacred Heart School of Theology, had hip surgery last week. He is home and said to be doing well.

Jo Calcagnino, SHST’s rector’s assistant, continues to work on recovery from a minor stroke.

Mike Shuler, a graduate of Divine Heart Seminary, had surgery on June 25 to address issues related to Spinal Stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal channel). Compounding health concerns is an infection that he is also battling. He is recovering at home and using a cane to slowly get around.

Updates

Fr. Mark Fortner has a new cell number: 414-639-4423

Upcoming events

• Fr. Stephen Huffstetter and the new council will be installed during a 4:30 p.m. liturgy on Thursday, August 1, at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake. A social and dinner will follow. To help plan for food needs, those who plan to attend are asked to contact Mary Gorski at the Provincialate Offices by July 24.

Justin Krenke enters the novitiate on August 14

• On August 14 Justin Krenke will be received into the novitiate during a 5 p.m. Adoration service at Sacred Heart School of Theology. All SCJs are welcome to attend; no formal invitations will be sent.

• James Nguyen and Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojas will make their first profession of vows during a 10:30 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart School of Theology on August 15.

• The North American Conference will be September 24-27 in Hales Corners, Wis. SCJs in Canada and the United States are asked to RSVP to the conference by July 31. A response form was included with the mailed invitation. SCJs can also go to the Members section of the US Province website (www.sacredheartusa.org) to fill out an online response form in either English or French. As always, if you need assistance accessing the Members’ section, please contact Mary Gorski.

Provincial’s time

Fr. Tom Cassidy is on the way to Houston via Mississippi. He’ll be back in Milwaukee by the end of the week and remains in the area through the end of the month.