Greetings and thanks from Vietnam
In 2008, SCJs partnered in ministry with the diocesan parish of St. Paul near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The parish has much in common with Fr. Leo John Dehon’s first parish assignment in Saint-Quentin. The population that surrounds St. Paul is made up primarily of factory workers and young migrant families. Many have come from the poorest areas of the country, seeking jobs and a better life near the city.
The families come for jobs, but often do not earn enough money to send their children to school.
In 2000, St. Paul rented a small parcel of land and put up four classrooms. Migrant parents were invited to send their children to the make-shift school. Through the contribution of volunteer teachers –– Catholics from the area –– these children, who otherwise spent their days on the street, were able to follow the same educational plan as students in government-operated schools.
Huong Tam now operates at its capacity of approximately 200 students, grades 1-5, at a total cost of $13,350 a year. In 2010, the U.S. Province committed to funding the school for three years. Fr. Joseph Tran Quang, SCJ, recently sent a thank you note and update on the school.
“On behalf of the teachers and the pupils of Huong Tam Charity School, I would like to express my deep gratitude to you for your love, care and financial support of Huong Tam Charity School,” writes Fr. Joseph. “I also would like to report about the school’s activities in the year 2011.
“Since the beginning of 2011, Fr. Paul Pham Trung Dong, the Founder of Huong Tam Charity School, gave the Vietnamese SCJ community the authority to run this school. Therefore, the community assigned me, Br. Ngoc, SCJ and Br. Phu, SCJ, to the school. In the educational spirit of Fr. Dehon, we promised to do our best to improve the quality of the school. We now have eight teachers for our 212 children from kindergarten to grade five. There are 34 children in the kindergarten (five years old); 60 pupils in grade one (two classes); 36 pupils in grade two, 36 pupils in grade three, 31 pupils in grade four and 15 pupils in grade five.”
Click here to read more about he school and the rest of Fr Joseph’s letter
Please remember
Fr. Ferdinand Hermanto Riyadi: a member of the Indonesian Province, Fr. Ferdinand died on February 28. He was born in 1974, professed in 2000 and ordained in 2008.
Robert Dean: Robert, the brother of Fr. Joe Dean, died March 2 in California. Mr. Dean went into home hospice care last year after being diagnosed with two aggressive tumors.
Keep in prayer
Fr. Stephen Huffestetter: Fr. Steve was hospitalized last week with a bowel obstruction. By Friday, medication was beginning to have some effect and he was doing better. He will continue to be monitored.
Fr. Jerry Sheehy: As we noted last week, Fr. Jerry Sheehy of the British-Irish Province, was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. Fr. Hugh Hanley, provincial superior of the British-Irish Province wrote that Fr. Jerry’s health continues to deteriorate. His family has been with him.
“In recent weeks, in visiting other communities and communicating with people by phone and email, I have become even more aware of how much the life and death of each of us can have a great impact on one another,” wrote Fr. Hugh. “I can’t remember who it was that said the thought of death concentrates the mind – I’ve always understood that as referring to the individual who was approaching death, but I see clearly in Jerry’s case that all of us have felt the impact of his last days and it has changed our perspective on things, or perhaps more it has reminded us of some of the core values which we profess as Christians and Religious. And that is why we need to continue to be united in our prayer and our common hope.
“May the sufferings and example of Jerry inspire us to continue to be prophets of love and forgiveness to each other and to the world.”
Calling all IHM alumni
Mike Shuler is planning a reunion for IHM, Lenox, alumni. He writes:
“I am planning another reunion in Lenox this May. It will be the weekend before Memorial Day (May 18-20). I have a block of rooms reserved at the Econolodge on Lenox/Pittsfield Road, 413-637-4244,130 Pittsfield Rd, Lenox, MA 01240.
“It is the same place we stayed at for the last reunion. The block is under ‘Bellefontaine.’ It will be $85 per room. Friday night they will open the bar for us for a private party (cash bar). The bar and restaurant are not open anymore so they are going to open the bar just for us. Saturday I am trying to work on something at Canyon Ranch (Bellefontaine), but that is still in the works. Saturday from 6-10 p.m. we will have the reunion at St. Joe’s new hall in Pittsfield. I will be getting more info on food and prices soon. After that, we can go back to the hotel, where they will open the bar again for just us.”
Questions? Contact Mike at [email protected], 724-406-0661 (home), or 724-496-3884 (cell).
All you need is love
Click on the link below to see a cute video put together by students and SCJs from Colegio Fray Luis de León, a school operated by the Spanish Province. The song, in English, should be familiar to many.
Hello from Argentina
Fr. Bernie Rosinski recently received a letter from his old boss, Bishop Virginio Bressanelli. The bishop was superior general when Fr. Bernie worked in Rome. The original letter was in Italian, but Fr. Bernie summarized it in English, sharing what the former superior general shared with him. Bernie writes:
“As noted earlier, Bishop Bressanelli is once again an ordinary in his own diocese, this time in Neuquén, Argentina (as of November 8, 2011). Earlier, Pope Benedict transferred him from the diocese of Commodoro Rivadavía and made him coadjutor bishop there.
“His former diocese of Commodoro Rivadavía is located in the eastern part of southern Argentina, along the Atlantic seaboard. The diocese of Neuquén is entirely on the other side of the country and has a common border with Chile in the Andes. The diocese comprises the entire province of Neuquen and is about 36,325 miles, or about the size of the state of Indiana.
“For this province/diocese with its 600,000 inhabitants, Bishop Bressanelli can only supply 44 priests, of which 27 are diocesan and 17 are religious. Six are elderly and/or ill, so unable to help as much as they would like. Eighteen of his parishes have no priest. He said his greatest concern is for the parishes and their missions.
“Bishop Bressanelli has a system in place where the laity exercise many of the pastoral ministries: celebration of the Word and prayer, along with communion services on Sundays. ‘But,’ writes the bishop, ‘I need priests who can personally partner with and form those faithful who have greater spiritual yearning. As you know, holiness of life develops in large measure through the sacrament of reconciliation and spiritual direction.’
“Besides being bishop of a huge geographical territory with few priests, his fellow bishops have elected him to serve as the vice-president of the episcopal conference in Argentina. And he has been chosen by the conference to be their representative at the upcoming Synod of Bishops that will meet in Rome to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vatican Council II. It is no wonder, then, that Bishop Bressanelli asks for prayer so that he might be faithful to the Lord and a useful instrument of His merciful love.
“Bishop Bressanelli expressed concern about environmental issues that play out in his province/diocese, particularly with ‘mega-mining.’ He worries about fresh water usage, strip mining, and shale fracking. He says he tries to keep before him a Christian vision of the use and protection of nature. Contending with large companies and politicians, the bishop has to choose well what to say and when. ‘Till now, I have been able to speak freely. I tend to be cautious but I do not hold back on what has to be said.’”
“Bishop Bressanelli noted his standing invitation to visit the U.S. Province. Decrying the fact that he is so busy he can no longer keep up with many of the SCJs he has come to know, he expressed fond memories of his history with the U.S. Province.”
Provincial’s Time
Fr. Tom Cassidy will attend the meeting of local coordinators/superiors today and tomorrow (March 5-6), and then on March 8 Fr. Cassidy goes to the Philippines to take part in celebrations tied to the district becoming a region.
Upcoming meetings and events:
March 5-6: Local Coordinators/Superiors Meeting, Hales Corners
March 27-28: Provincial Council Meeting
April 15: Easter Concert at Sacred Heart Monastery/School of Theology
May 2-3: North American Councils meeting, Hales Corners
May 15: Mass for the Anointing of the Sick, SHM/SHST
May 30-31: Provincial Council Meeting (budgets)
June 15: Feast of the Sacred Heart
June 28: Provincial Council Meeting (conference call re: formation)
July 9-12: Province Assembly, Hales Corners
July 16-21: General Conference, Neustadt, Germany
July 23-25: SCJ Major Superiors Meeting, Neustadt, Germany
2013:
April 8-9: Mission Education Conference, St. Joseph’s Indian School
Week of June 3: Province Election Assembly
