News & Events | June 30, 2025
Four Dehonian Associates welcomed
During the feast-day Mass at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, four people made their commitment to become Dehonian Associates: Jenny Drzewiecki, Pam Milczarski, Edell Schaefer and Monica Misey (click here to view the photo of the four). All four have been active with the Priests of the Sacred Heart for many years. Jenny initially worked at SHSST and is now on the staff of St. Martin of Tours; Pam is Mission Advancement Manager at our Province Development Office; Edell is a graduate of SHSST’s Cor Unum program and continues to be active as alumni liaison; and Monica is Province Director of Dehonian Associates.
“It was through the Cor Unum program that I was first introduced to Dehonian spirituality,” said Edell. “My experience at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, the people I met, the courses I took, the retreats and events, and the continued contact have been transformative. The more I learn about my faith and Dehonian spirituality, the more I am at peace. This is where I feel connected and at home, where I find acceptance and belonging. This is where I find my true Father who comforts and heals the brokenness of my life and gives me the strength to help heal the brokenness of others.
“One of my favorite passages is Mark 6:51: ‘He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.’ I am reminded on a daily basis that He is in my boat.”
Monica too came to learn more significantly about Priests of the Sacred Heart through the Cor Unum program; last year she took on leadership of the Dehonian Associates office.
“Since first learning about the Priests of the Sacred Heart seven years ago, I have been drawn to their spirituality,” she said. “In our fractured world, we need love and reconciliation. Collaborating in their mission gives me both purpose and hope. I am grateful to become part of the Dehonian family.”
Monica noted that Fr. Joseph Mukuna, SCJ, of the Dehon Study Center, has been instrumental in preparing the four associates for their commitment.
The associate program is beginning to take shape in all of our province locations. Dehonian Associates are lay men and women who gather in small faith groups to deepen their Dehonian Spirituality. For information about it, contact Monica at 414-427-4267, mmisey@dehoniansusa.org
A full chapel!
The chapel at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology was filled on Friday for the Mass for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, was the main celebrant and Fr. Stephen Huffstetter, SCJ, was the homilist; Lumen Christi Music Ministry served as music ministers.
During his homily Fr. Steve, the in-coming SHSST president-rector, reflected on the gospel reading of Luke in which Jesus asks “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?”
Fr. Steve recalled a moment years ago when he was a young priest in South Dakota, helping one of his parishioners on a cattle ranch. The gospel came to life for Fr. Steve not in sheep but in cows when the rancher realized that one of his herd was missing. How did he know? The rancher had a relationship with each of the cows. He knew them and cared about them just as Jesus knows us and loves us.
“The love of God continues to be poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit,” said Fr. Steve. “As we celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, recall the wonders of that love and ready your hearts to receive the overflowing measure of his grace that comes from the Good Shepherd, the Sacred Heart of Jesus.”
Click here to view a recording of the Mass.
After the Mass, people were invited to join Fr. Vien and Fr. Steve for a blessing of the newly renovated Sacred Heart Shrine.
Bishop Kopacz joins in feast-day celebrations
Bishop Joseph Kopacz of Jackson joined Dehonians at Holy Spirit Church in Holly Springs, MS, for the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart. During the liturgy, Dehonian Associates and SCJs renewed their commitment as Dehonians. Among the SCJs who took part in the liturgy: Frater Thuan Nguyen, Fr. Hendrik Ardianto, Fr. Jack Kurps, Fr. David Szatkowski and Fr. Guy Blair.
Click here to view more photos. Our thanks to Laura Grisham from Sacred Heart Southern Missions – and a Dehonian Associate – for sharing them.
Welcome!
Last week Fr. Vincent Suparman, SCJ, arrived at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake to begin ministry with the senior SCJ community.
Leadership based in Dehonian Spirituality
Just before the Esprit de Coeur reunion and feast-day celebrations, seven SCJs and lay leaders from around the province came together for the first of what is to become a significant component of an annual Dehonian leadership program: a LEAD retreat.
“LEAD is a leadership program whose mission is to form spiritually grounded leaders who embody the Dehonian spirit of love and reconciliation,” said Monica Misey, province director of Dehonian Associates and a member of LEAD’s organizing team.
Retreatants represented apostolates in Wisconsin, Mississippi, Texas and South Dakota. However, their invitation to the June 24-26 retreat at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology came with a caveat: they would be guinea pigs, part of a small pilot retreat to help organizers finalize their program. The first full cohort of 12 will begin to meet in September (also at SHSST).
Participants in the pilot retreat included Jenny Renner-Meyer and Robyn Knecht of St. Joseph’s Indian School, Michael Beard and Jeremy Blackwood of SHSST, Micaela Gomez from Our Lady of Guadalupe Houston, Fr. Paul Phong Hoang, SCJ, from the Catholic Parishes of Northwest Mississippi, and Frater Hung Pham, SCJ, an SHSST seminarian. The organizing team: Monica Misey, Joe Tyrell (St. Joseph’s Indian School) and Julie O’Connor (SHSST).
When asked for feedback on the retreat, most participants agreed that one of the best moments was an evening at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake during which SCJs – many of them retired – shared stories from their years as Dehonians.
“These stories gave me a much greater appreciation for the Priests of the Sacred Heart and the many SCJs who are a part of the province’s story,” said one LEAD participant.
Click here to view a few photos from the gathering.
Feast-day travels
Fr. Jean Claude Mbassi, SCJ, shares this photo and writes that he spent most of the feast day traveling to his new assignment. On Friday, he left Lower Brule, SD, headed for Pinellas Park, FL, where he will assist with the Sacred Heart retirement community there.
“Although the journey is long, my heart is already in Florida,” wrote Fr. Jean Claude. “The same heart that brought me to South Dakota is the same heart that brings me to Florida. Happy Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to all!”
Please remember
+Fr. Giulio Madona, a member of the North Italian Province, died on June 29. He was born in 1942, professed in 1960 and ordained in 1968.
+Bernardino Bacchion, also a member of the North Italian Province, died June 28. He was born in 1935, professed in 1951 and ordained in 1961.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Br. Long Nguyen, SCJ, who shared news that “the National Association of Catholic Chaplains emailed me official documents indicating that I am a board-certified chaplain with the organization effective immediately until December 31, 2030.”
The board certification interview took place on June 14.
Br. Long is currently a part-time chaplain at Saint Camillus and a pool chaplain for Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center and Froedtert Hospital, both in Milwaukee.
Esprit de Coeur
The feast was a good excuse to hold a reunion for members of the Esprit de Coeur (alumni of SCJ seminaries and former members of the community). The gathering began Thursday evening with Adoration led by Fr. Jim Schroeder, SCJ, at Good Shepherd Chapel at SHML, followed by a social and dinner. On Friday morning, reunion participants took part in feast-day activities at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
Reunion participants are pictured above in the Good Shepherd Chapel. Click here to view other photos from the evening.
For information about future Esprit de Coeur gatherings, click here.
Happy Independence Day!
The Provincial Offices will be closed July 3-4 for Independence Day. Please note that several members of the staff are taking extra days of vacation prior to the holiday. The office reopens on Monday, July 7. Have a wonderful holiday weekend!
As we celebrate Independence Day we pray…
God, source of all freedom, this day is bright with the memory of those who declared life and liberty are your gift to every human being.
Help us to continue a good work begun long ago. Make our vision clear and our will strong: that only in human solidarity will we find liberty, and justice only in the honor that belongs to every life on earth.
Turn our hearts toward the family of nations: to understand the ways of others, to offer friendship, and to find safety only in the common good of all.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
From Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers
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