News & Events | June 22, 2026
We remember Fr. Frank
On the evening of June 20, 2026, Fr. Frank Wittouck, SCJ, died. He was 88 and had been in home hospice care at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake for several weeks. Fr. Frank professed his first vows in 1957 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1965.
Fr. Frank served in education, was a military chaplain for over 20 years, was a parish pastor, led Marriage Encounter retreats, and was a chaplain (and sometimes just a helping hand) at social outreach organizations such as Magnificat Houses, Inc. and Father Gene’s Help Center. However, it was a ministry that he embraced later in life that he says really got him thinking about his vocation as a priest: serving as a prison chaplain.
“One of our priests [Fr. Chuck Kelly, SCJ] was dying of cancer but was still active in prison ministry,” said Fr. Frank. “I told him, ‘You shouldn’t be doing this, you’re sick!’ And then he did something that totally surprised me; he quoted Matthew’s Gospel: ‘When I was in prison, you visited me.’ This went through me like a thunderbolt. I eventually went to the prison myself and it really moved me. The ministry genuinely helped my priesthood.”
One of Fr. Frank’s last assignments was serving on the SCJ formation team at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. Technically, he was retired, but there was a need in the program and he was happy to lend a hand. Years earlier he had been formation director for the province and director of spiritual formation for SHSST.
Funeral arrangements are on Thursday, June 25, at Good Shepherd Chapel at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake. Reception of the Body and the Vigil will begin at 9:30 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in the community mausoleum.
Heart to Heart with Fr. Frank
For several years the province offered a YouTube program titled “Heart to Heart.” Guests included SCJs, coworkers, and Church and community leaders. Fr. Frank Wittouck, SCJ, was one of the guests. During a 13-minute interview he shared stories of his years as a military chaplain, including being on the ground in the midst of Desert Storm, and hanging from a helicopter during training.
Click here or on the image above to see the interview.
Dehon Study Center sponsors colloquium on Magnifica Humanitas
In response to Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, the Dehon Study Center is organizing a three-part colloquium with the following theme: “Magnifica Humanitas: Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
The first session will be on August 12, 2026 (the anniversary of the founder’s death). “This initial day will introduce participants to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and examine its implications from a Catholic perspective,” said Fr. Joseph Mukuna, SCJ, director of the Dehon Study Center and colloquium organizer.
The day begins at 10:00 a.m. with the first conference titled “What Is Artificial Intelligence? Why Should We Be Concerned—or Not?” presented by Dr. Khaled Tannir, a Senior AI and Big Data Architect, with a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from the Atlantic International University in Honolulu.
Lunch will follow, as well as time to review a book exhibition that will include works from the presenters as well as others.
The second conference will begin at 1:30 p.m. with the theme: “A Catholic Approach to AI: Antiqua et Nova, Magnifica Humanitas, and Five Discernment Frameworks,” presented by Rev. Dr. Ricky Manalo, CSP, a theologian and AI expert with a PhD from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA.
All sessions will take place at the Provincial Conference Center in Franklin, WI. The day will conclude by 3:00 p.m. A livestream link will be made available closer to the dates.
The colloquium is free and open to the public; however, registration is required. Contact Fr. Joseph Mukuna at 414-427-7265 or jmukuna@dehoniansusa.org to RSVP by July 31. The next two sessions will be on March 12 and on August 12, 2027.
Resources on Fr. Martino Capelli, SCJ
As many of you may already know, Fr. Martino Capelli, a 32-year-old Italian SCJ, was martyred during World War II in the Monte Sole massacre. On September 27, 2026, Fr. Martino –– along with two others –– will be beatified in Bologna, Italy.
The General Postulator’s Office has prepared a variety of materials about Fr. Martino and his life. The most recent is a book titled Winter Has Come, written by Fr. Juan José Arnaiz, SCJ, of the Spanish Province. The book details the final four months of Fr. Capelli’s life, exploring the historical and social context of Italy during the war, the role of the Catholic Church and the brutality of the SS.
Click here to access an electronic copy of the book in English.
Click here to view more resources on Fr. Capelli on the US Province website.
The community house is FULL!
Fr. Greg Schill, SCJ, wrote to let SCJs know that rooms at the community house in Chamberlain are already booked for the Powwow at St. Joseph’s Indian School for 2026 and for 2027. However, there is hotel space in the area. The 50th Annual Powwow and Cultural Celebration will take place September 17-19, 2026. Click here for more information.
Calendar update
The August Provincial Council meeting has been moved from Aug. 4-5 to Aug. 5-6. Click here to access the North American SCJ Google Calendar to see birthdays, anniversaries and other events. The calendar is also available from any page within the US Province website by clicking on the calendar in the lower right corner of the website.
Click here to subscribe to the weekly news (Fridge Notes) via email