Toronto community takes on a Brazilian flavor
The SCJ community in Toronto has a history of welcoming priests and brothers from around the world for both ministry and study. Fr. Willyans Prado Rapozo, SCJ, of Brazil is the most recent international member of the community. He arrived in May. Last week, Fr. Jim Casper, SCJ, did an interview with him. In it Fr. Willyan talks about his first assignment after ordination:
“My first assignment was to be in Canada, but because two priests left the province, I was asked to go to Rio de Janeiro to our parish of Ecce Homo. That was a very good experience for me because I worked with poor people who lived in the slums. I was there in 2010 when police took control of the hills again. It had been controlled by the drug traffickers. On November 7, 2010, I was celebrating Mass when the police and the army arrived and we were asked to keep the people inside the church. It was like a civil war. The people could not go home and we stayed in the church complex for three days until the police had control.”
Click here to read the full interview posted on the province website.
St. Joseph’s honors first students
In 1927 Orville Webb and Casimir LeBeau were among the first students at the SCJs’ St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, S.D. “There were 21 boys and 25 girls that first year,” said Casimir in an interview for the West River Eagle. He came to the residential school from Eagle Butte, S.D. and graduated from eighth grade in 1932. He went on to work for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. Coast Guard before returning to Eagle Butte with his wife. There, he has written six books.
Orville Webb attended St. Joseph’s from 1927 –1929; he finished his education in Eagle Butte. After his studies he joined the U.S. Navy, later returned to South Dakota, married, and served as a cook for many years at the Flandreau Indian School and later, as a baker in Milbank, S.D.
Both men were recognized by St. Joseph’s during the school’s seventh annual Distinguished Alumni Awards.
“Your upbringing and your religion will keep you on the straight and narrow,” said Casimir LeBeau to St. Joe’s students.
Back in the States
Bishop Joe Potocnak, SCJ, has been back in the United States for the past month or so, spending time with family. He will be in Hales Corners for about a month, starting June 20, staying at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake.
Since his retirement, Bishop Joe has split his time between South Africa, where he served for many years, and the United States.
On the general website
The congregation’s general website has been updated with a number of stories that may be of interest to readers of the Fridge Notes, including:
MUSI-CHARITAS COLLEGE IN PALEMBANG: On December 22, 2009 MUSI-Charitas was entrusted to the Indonesian Province by the Archbishop Aloysius Sudarso. The province decided to accept this responsibility and will be investing more confreres in this field of ministry. At this point there are six confreres working at MUSI. But with the new responsibility, the Province will have to prepare additional personnel.
Today there are several faculties: Engineering, Economics, and Health Sciences. The Musi-Charitas Foundation plans to open Faculties of Sociology, Psychology, Cultural Studies and Languages.
The process of becoming a full-fledged university is proceeding well. All that is required is the permission of the government.
Click here to read the full story.
PREPARING FOR A NEW COMMUNITY IN BERLIN: On August 1 a new SCJ community will begin in Berlin (Prenzlauer Berg). About four years ago, the Polish and German provinces undertook a new initiative: the planning of a new international community in Berlin.
The Archdiocese of Berlin accepted the SCJs’ plan with enthusiasm and great openness. They have made it possible for the community to live and work in the very center of the German capital. The SCJs received the care of the parish of Corpus Christi in the eastern part of Berlin. As well, they have asked the community to take on pastoral ministry of the Mater Dolorosa, a former monastery church.
Click here to read the full story.
THE WORK OF THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION: At the beginning of its term the General Council chose several areas on which to concentrate during its six-year mandate. In preparation for the July meeting of major superiors, status reports are being assembled on each of the sectors. The first, on spirituality, has been posted on the Generalate’s website. Click here to read it.
At the conference center
On Tuesday, June 5, the Provincial Conference Center will host the twice-yearly meeting of Milwaukee bishops and major religious superiors. Among the topics of the gathering is a discussion of what have been identified as three emerging needs in the archdiocese: immigration, human trafficking, and local poverty.
Province assembly reminder
The province assembly kicks off with Jubilee Celebrations at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 9. Tuesday and Wednesday, July 10-11, will be full days with the assembly, and Thursday, July 12 will be a half day.
If you haven’t made room arrangements, contact Marlene at the front desk at Sacred Heart Monastery/School of Theology. Call: 414-425-8300 and hit “0.”
Provincial’s time
Fr. Tom Cassidy, SCJ, will be in Milwaukee for much of the week. June 12-19 he will be with the Pinellas Park community in Florida, spending Feast of the Sacred Heart there. He is back in Milwaukee until leaving for the General Conference and Major Superiors meeting in Germany. Fr. Cassidy will be in Europe July 14-25.
Office news
A reminder: the Provincialate is now on its summer schedule. This means that most people at the office will be working longer days Monday through Thursday and then taking off on Friday afternoons. Please keep this in mind if you need to reach someone at the Provincialate.
Also, a big welcome to Nancy Gray, our new administrative assistant at the Provincialate. Many of you may know Nancy from her work at Vocation Central. As of today Nancy can be reached at 414-427-4261, provadm@poshusa.org.
Upcoming meetings and events:
NOTE: the dates of several Provincial Council meetings have been added.
June 15: Feast of the Sacred Heart (11 a.m.)
June 28: Provincial Council Meeting (conference call re: formation)
July 3-4: Provincialate Offices closed for Independence Day.
July 9-12: Province Assembly, Hales Corners
July 16-21: General Conference, Neustadt, Germany
July 23-25: SCJ Major Superiors Meeting, Neustadt, Germany
August 28-29: Provincial Council Meeting
October 11-12: Provincial Council Meeting
October 12: Dedication of Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake
December 18-19: Provincial Council Meeting
2013:
January 29-30: Provincial Council Meeting
March 19-20: Provincial Council Meeting
April 8-9: Mission Education Conference, St. Joseph’s Indian School
April 30 – May 1: Provincial Council Meeting (budgets)
Week of June 3: Province Election Assembly.
