Bishop Baaij turns 90!
The congregation’s eldest bishop, Bishop Evert Baaij, hits an important milestone this week. On March 24 he celebrates his 90th birthday.
A member of the Priests of the Sacred Heart since 1942 (next year he celebrates his 70th anniversary of profession!), Bishop Baaij was born in the Netherlands, became a citizen of Canada, is a member of the U.S. Province but has called South Africa his home for the past 54 years.
“I’m a citizen of the world,” he joked.
After teaching in Canada and the United States, Bishop Baaij went to South Africa in March, 1957, and began ministry in Middelburg. He later served in Noupoort and in Colesberg. In 1974, Pope Paul VI named him bishop of Aliwal North, South Africa. His bishop’s shield carries the Latin words: Veni Creator (Come, O Creator). Bishop Baaij said that he chose it because “God is the creator of the universe and we are God’s co-creators.”
Bishop Baaij served as bishop of Aliwal North until 1981 when health concerns prompted him to resign.
Since the mid-1980s Bishop Baaij has lived in the Diocese of Port Elizabeth where he has served as a chaplain to several hospitals and mental health institutions.
Click here to read more about the bishop.
Changes in the Indian District
Several days ago the district superior of India, Fr. Kusmaryadi, left the country for Indonesia, along with another member of the administration, Fr. Guntoro. Fr. Martin van Ooij, one of the founders of the young district, has also left India and is on his way to the Philippines to assist with the novices (including those from India) who are there.
The departures come as the result of efforts on the part of the Indian government to ensure that the church in India is fully indigenous, not a church or religious community operated primarily by outside missionaries. This is a situation that many Catholic religious orders are facing in India, as well as other faiths. It is also a situation which the SCJs faced in Indonesia years ago which eventually resulted in a strong and growing SCJ presence in the country.
In the short term, an advisory committee of Indian SCJs will be established to tend to the day-to-day operations of the district. Although outside of the country, the current district superior and council will continue to make decisions regarding entrance to the novitiate, vows and ordination requests. The governance structure of India will be reviewed at the SCJs’ Asian Conference at the end of July.
Member of U.S. Province a part of newly developed working group
The face of the Priests of the Sacred Heart is changing. After years as a European-centered congregation of priests and brothers, it is rapidly growing in Africa, Asia and South America. Among the three provinces of Brazil there are 73 men in temporary vows, Congo has 32, Cameroon 47. In Indonesia, long a province dominated by Dutch missionaries (several American SCJs have served there as well), there are 37 men in temporary vows and four novices. The new Asian districts of the Philippines and India have 45 young SCJs in temporary vows.
The General Curia and the International College in Rome mirror this new SCJ face. The general secretary is a priest from Indonesia, Fr. Heru Ismadi, SCJ. He succeeds a Brazilian, Fr. Anisio Schwirkowski, SCJ. North America and Europe are represented in the SCJs’ International College, but most of the students –– many preparing for teaching or administrative assignments in their home provinces –– are now from Africa, Asia and South America.
The congregation has much youth; there are many young “sons” of Fr. Dehon.
But there are also a growing number of elderly members of the SCJ family, many of whom paved the way for the current growth in the Southern Hemisphere. And it is not just individuals who are aging, but in some cases, entire provinces.
It is easy to concentrate on growth, on youth. It was the focus of much of the early years of the congregation.
“When the whole congregation was young and growing we did not need to focus on aging and retirement,” said Fr. Jim Schroeder, SCJ. “All of our efforts were on formation and education, building schools and preparing formators and teachers, starting new ministries and missions.”
Fr. Jim, a member of the U.S. Province, serves on a newly developed Working Group on Aging. The international group of six SCJs, including Fr. John van den Hengel of the General Council, was developed late last year as an advisory body to the general administration. They met for the first time in February.
An article about the work of the newly developed advisory group is on the province website. Click here to read it.
Don’t forget!
We noted it last week, but here’s another reminder because twice is twice as nice.
Budgets are due at the Provincial Treasurer’s office by April 1; if possible, Dn. David Nagel would like to receive the budgets by Friday, March 25. “It takes time to distribute copies to the Finance Commission and Provincial Council,” he said. “If you decide to mail budgets to all of the parties yourself you will need to send them to the Finance Commission members, the provincial superior and councilors, and three more copies of the budget to the Provincial Treasurer’s Office.”
If you have questions about the budgets, contact Dn. David, John Kuxhause or Kevin Stanke.
Back to work
Last Friday, a new construction trailer moved to the worksite for Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake. On March 17, the province signed a contract with Horizon Construction of Madison, Wis. Work is to resume this week on Stage 1 (the SCJ wing) of the building project
Updates
Sacred Heart Southern Missions –– Please note that all email addresses with the “@shl.org” ending now end, as do the rest of the addresses of SHSM staff, with “@shsm.org.” For example, Steve Koepke’s address is now skoepke@shsm.org INSTEAD OF skoepke@shl.org.
Fr. Steve Wiese is moving to a different room at the Congregational Home. As of Tuesday, March 22, his room number will be 2105. His phone remains the same.
Please remember
Fr. Joaquin Solo Uterga, a member of the Spanish Province, died on March 16. He was born in 1922, professed in 1939 and ordained in 1947.
Laura Kosinski, the niece of Br. Tim Murphy, who died early this morning of scleroderma, a chronic disease of the skin. She was 51 and lived in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Keep in prayer
Please keep in prayer the mother of Fr. Mark Mastin. Mrs. Mastin is recovering from a significant respiratory condition.
Fr. Larry Rucker continues at the Congregational Home where he is recovering from a stroke. He appreciates and extends his thanks for the cards, prayers and visits that he has received.
Devastation in Japan
Please continue to keep in prayer the many people affected by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear concerns in Japan. CMSM has been compiling reports from religious communities in Japan in the wake of the tragedies. Click here to read the initial news.
Click here for an update published on March 21 or paste the following in your web browser:
The U.S. Province has donated $5,000 to Catholic Relief Services toward efforts in Japan.
Visa received
Fr. Vincent Suparman, SCJ, received his visa last week, which allows him to minister full time in the United States. He will become a member of the pastoral team based in Lower Brule, SD.
Want to receive the Fridge Notes via email?
The Fridge Notes are generally posted to the province website by noon (central) on Mondays. Shortly after they are posted, an email version –– generally the same text but often with fewer graphics –– is mailed to those who have requested it. If you would like to be added to the email list for the Fridge Notes, please contact Mary Gorski at marygorski@sbcglobal.net.
Service slowdown
During the past few weeks we have had problems with the server that hosts the province website. At times, connection errors force the province website to load slowly, or not at all. Periodically, users receive a message that states that there has been a database error.
Although we were told that the problem had been addressed, it appears that there are still a few bugs to work out. We are now looking at moving the site to a different server. In the meantime, we appreciate your patience! If you have difficulties accessing the website, please wait a few minutes and try again.
Provincial’s time
Fr. Tom Cassidy is in Arizona until March 26, visiting family and enjoying a bit of baseball. March 29-30 he has council meetings. April 7-9 he will out of town for Fr. Mark Mastin’s graduation from basic training (Fr. Mark is preparing to become a chaplain with the US Army).
Calendar updates
March 29-30: Provincial Council meeting
May 1: Easter Concert, 2 p.m. (SHST)
May 9-11: Provincial Council meeting (budgets)
May 17 & 18: Masses for the anointing of the sick, (SHST) 1 p.m.
May 21: Dn. Greg Schill’s priesthood ordination (San Antonio)
May 23-24: North American councils meeting (Chicago)
July 1: Feast of the Sacred Heart, Mass at SHST, 11 a.m.
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.
