Weekly News: July 5, 2011

Fr. Thi Pham (red bandana, fourth from the right) is pictured here with youth volunteers at Sacred Heart Southern Missions. SHSM expects over 300 volunteers to assist with home repairs this summer, many of them from SCJ parishes.

SHSM video

More than 300 volunteers from around the country will come to Sacred Heart Southern Missions this summer to do home repair for primarily elderly, economically poor clients of SHSM. Local skilled volunteers donate time to help guide these eager workers.

Click here to watch a video of a volunteer describing her experience last summer reinstalling a caved-in floor in the trailer of an elderly, handicapped client.

Among those who have volunteered in the past are youth from SCJ parishes.

Keep in prayer

Fr. Joe Dean is recovering at home after undergoing a thyroid operation last week.  He hopes to be up to traveling next week and plans to attend the province assembly.

The father of SCJ candidate Anthony Nguyen was admitted to the hospital last week after fainting.  Mr. Nguyen had a low hemoglobin level and some stomach ulceration.  He received a blood transfusion and is recovering.

Please remember

Fr. Philip Heitzman, a member of the Dutch Flemish Confederation, died on June 28.  He was born in 1921, professed in 1941 and ordained in 1951.

Newsletter wins award

The SCJ News, a publication of the U.S. Province, won second place for “Overall Excellence” in the 2011 Catholic Press Association Awards.  In their comments judges wrote that the newsletter had a  “Clean, professional look with good color and strong editing. Bold color blocks counterbalance color images.”

Click here to download a PDF of recent editions of the newsletter.

New faces

As noted last week, Fr. David Szatkowski is the new provincial secretary.  You can contact him at 414-427-4263 or at provsec@poshusa.org.  His personal email remains the same (davescj@yahoo.com)

Br. Frank Presto is now managing director of the Province Development Office.  His new office email is  brfrank@poshusa.org.  However, he notes that there have been a few bugs in setting up his office computer so if you need to reach him you might want to use his personal email address: scjpresto@hotmail

And replacing Fr. Paul Kelly as spiritual director of the office is Fr. Dominic Peluse.  You can continue to contact Fr. Dominic at his personal email address: d.peluse@att.net.

After 10 years as spiritual director, Fr. Paul Kelly is beginning a well-deserved sabbatical.

Dn. David Nagel reviews details of the new kitchen equipment with Barb Haag, food services director.

Just about done!

The SCJ wing at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake is just about completed; a mid-July move-in date is anticipated.  Photos of the complex were taken on June 29 as workers finished last-minute details.  Click here to view them.

Saying good-bye

Among those moving to the new Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake are members of the Villa Maria community.

On Friday, July 15, the community will hold a “Good-Bye Prayer Service for Villa Maria,” starting at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments to follow. All are welcome to attend, but if you do plan to come, please let Fr. Jim Brackin know.  You can call him at 414-520-7947.

SCJs are also welcome to join the community for dinner at 5:30 p.m. prior to the service.  Again, if you plan to be there, contact Fr. Jim.

Next week

Just a reminder, the Province Assembly begins with the Jubilee Celebration at 4 p.m. on Monday, July 11.  A reception and dinner will follow.   The first full day begins at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 12 with morning prayer in the main chapel of Sacred Heart Monastery.  The first session of the assembly will be at the Provincialate Conference Center at 9:15 a.m.

The assembly will end with lunch on Thursday, July 14.  Questions about the assembly should be directed to Fr. Jack Kurps.

SCJs who plan to stay at Sacred Heart Monastery need to contact Marlene (414-425-8300, ext. 0) to reserve a room.  If you haven’t done so yet, please give Marline a call today.

If you are registered for the July 13 performance of “Church Basement Ladies” and need a ride to the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, please make sure that on TUESDAY, JULY 12, you sign up for one of the three vehicles taking SCJs to the performance. Sign-up sheets will be in the assembly meeting room, as well as details about pick-up time and location.  Directions will be available for those driving on their own to the show.

Our thanks to Fr. David Szatkowski, Fr. Stephen Huffstetter and Fr. Duy Nguyen for agreeing to drive the group vehicles.

This week

The driveway and parking lots on the grounds of Sacred Heart Monastery/School of Theology (including the lot for the Provincialate Offices and Vocation Central) will be repaved on July 6 and 7.  Parking will be available in the SHST student lot Wednesday and Thursday.

Available at www.dehon.it

A PowerPoint presentation of Fr. General’s Feast of the Sacred Heart letter is available at the congregational website.  Click here to download it (the PowerPoint is available in English).

The PowerPoint presentation is fifth item listed under “Letters from the General Administration.”

You can also read the letter on the province website by clicking here.

Provincial’s time

Fr. Tom Cassidy is in Milwaukee this week and next.  On Monday, July 11, he will take part in the Province Jubilee Celebrations, and much of the rest of the week he will join SCJs at the assembly.

Upcoming meetings and events:

July 11:  Province Jubilee Celebration, 4 p.m. Mass
Week of July 11:  Province Assembly, Hales Corners, Wis.
August 30-31: Provincial Council Meeting
October. 2: Pet Blessing (SHST)
October 4-5: Provincial Council Meeting
November 14-16: SCJ Retreat, Pinellas Park
December 14-15: Provincial Council Meeting
December 18: Advent Concert, 2 p.m.