Fr. Stephen Huffstetter with Rebecca, a student at St. Joseph's Indian School who earned a laptop by collecting soup labels. Fr. Steve is now preparing to say good bye to St. Joe's and its students and staff. — Fr. Stephen Huffstetter with a St. Joseph’s Indian School student. The provincial-elect is now preparing to say goodbye to St. Joe’s and its students and staff.

Entering leadership with faith, trust and enthusiasm

In his blog for St. Joseph’s Indian School Fr. Stephen Huffstetter wrote that being elected as provincial superior of the U.S. Province was both “affirming and emotional… I was honored to be chosen, though know the position also carries a lot of responsibilities.”

He continued, noting that “the hard emotional part for me is that this means finishing up my time at St. Joseph’s Indian School as director. By August, I will be leaving South Dakota and no longer involved in the day-to-day running of the school. I will become a member of the Board of Directors, however, which will give me good reason to come back to visit a couple times each year and help set direction in a broad way.

“So many of our staff were praying I would NOT be elected, but religious life calls for openness to the Spirit. When I first came to St. Joseph’s eight-and-a-half years ago, I was sad to leave parish work on the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Indian Reservations. But I trusted, and my time at St. Joseph’s has been such an amazing blessing in surprising and unexpected ways.

“I will enter into the new role with the same faith and trust and enthusiasm…

“Today at Mass, I saw the Native American students who are in the summer High School Prep Program, and I got teary-eyed thinking about the day I will have to say goodbye to them. A couple of them were first graders when I arrived, and we have so many memories together.

“Every year we say goodbye to our students as they move on, hopefully prepared to make their way in the world. It will be so different with me doing the leaving… But, the Lakota people don’t really say goodbye. They say “doksa,” which means ‘until we see each other again.’ During the time between, they will be kept close in my heart and prayers.”

Click here to visit Fr. Steve’s blog.

Keep in prayer

Recently Fr. Ed Kilianski underwent testing that determined that he had a minor stroke sometime in the past two months. To address concerns related to that he will undergo carotid surgery on June 25 to correct a narrowing of the carotid artery. It will require two to three days of hospitalization. The June 25 surgery will be on the left artery. Please keep him in prayer.

Also, the mother of Br. Frank Presto was hospitalized last week after suffering an episode that left her paralyzed from the waist down. Tests have not fully determined what actually happened, but the incident may have been the result of poor nutrition and other complicating factors of age. She is doing better but will need further care. Br. Frank is home in Pittsburgh this week as his family looks at possibly moving his mother into a different living situation.

Update

Br. Mike Fette
New email address: m_fette@yahoo.com
Cell phone : 414-418-7978

Fr. Richard MacDonald
509 E. Filmore Ave.
Harlingen, TX 78550
Cell phone: 956-357-5390

Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojas and James Nguyen, novices, served as tellers at the election assembly. Both will profession their first vows on August 15 — Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojas and James Nguyen, novices, served as tellers at the Election Assembly in early June. Both will profess their first vows on August 15

Formation news

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. A luncheon will follow. Invitations will go out soon, but please mark the date on your calendar.

The night before (August 14), Justin Krenke will be received into the novitiate during a 5 p.m. Adoration service, also at SHST. No formal invitations will be sent for the ceremony; however, all SCJs are welcome to attend.

In Rome

Fr. Terry Langley, provincial secretary, is in Rome this week for a secretaries’ workshop. No, there won’t be classes in shorthand, but instead there will be presentations on the many tasks involved in the administrative needs of a province, region and/or district in the congregation. This is the second time that such a workshop has been hosted by the general curia. Fr. Terry will be joined by SCJs from South America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

SHST sponsors Holy Land dig

Frater Joseph Vu is among those taking part in the Bethsaida dig this month, which is sponsored, in part, by Sacred Heart School of Theology.

Dr. Pat Russell (red shirt) at the Bethsaida dig

Bethsaida was a key site in Jesus’ ministry. It is the most frequently mentioned city in the Gospels after Jerusalem and Capernaum. Bethsaida was the hometown of the apostles Peter, Andrew and Philip, in the Gospel according to John. In addition, a major city occupied the site during the 9th-8th centuries BCE and was re-founded in the Hellenistic period.

The seminary’s vice president for academic affairs, Dr. Patrick Russell, is leading the expedition. He is joined by Msgr. Ross Shecterle, SHST president-rector. Fr. Charles Brown was among the key organizers of the project.

Those taking part in the Bethsaida dig will share their experiences on a Facebook page dedicated to the project. Click here to view it. Just as with the province Facebook page, you do not need to be a member of Facebook to view the Bethsaida page, but you do need to join if you would like to make comments. To view postings without logging in, just scroll down past the login banner.

Click here to read a previous story on our website about the project.