Celebrating and remembering

The Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians) have had a formation program in Chicago since 1971. This summer, the formation community will become a part of Sacred Heart Monastery. Undergraduates will go to Milwaukee area universities and theology students will attend Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.

The move brings to end an era of formation in Chicago, an era that was celebrated during a gathering on Tuesday, May 15, at the Dehon Formation Community in Chicago’s Hyde Park. Starting in the lobby of the community house, Dehonians, neighbors and friends joined in prayer and shared stories.

“We gather to remember a formation community and a history of 47 years in which SCJs and candidates studied, ministered and lived in the city of Chicago,” began Fr. Bob Tucker, SCJ, a member of the formation team. He led the prayer service that moved from the lobby, to the kitchen, to the living room and finally, to the chapel.

“May our farewell express our affection for all who were a part of this history, to this place and the other places in Chicago where formation took place,” he continued, joined by others. “May our remembering and our prayers enable us to express gratitude, ease any sadness, sustain and strengthen us for the upcoming transition. Let us also be thankful for the gifts of God’s grace that flowed in and through the many people who passed through our SCJ formation houses in Chicago.”

At each stop in the prayer service –– the lobby, kitchen, living room and chapel –– items were chosen to be brought to Sacred Heart Monastery. At the end of the prayer service, these items were packed into a large box of memories and keepsakes.

“These will help us to remember our past as we move toward a new future,” said Fr. Bob.

Click here to view photos from the commemoration.

Congratulations and welcome!

S.K. Okechukwu Landericus Oledibe (Landry) and Kenneth Chidozie Anyanwu have been accepted as candidates for the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians). Landry (left) is 33 and has a bachelor’s in Philosophy/Arts and has studied at the Institute of Peace in Washington D.C and John Hopkins University, School of Public Health, in Baltimore Maryland. Originally from Nigeria, he currently lives in Texas. He is an officer with the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, a member of the American Philosophical Association and the American Heart Association, and is a Professional Licensed Medical Assistant.

Kenneth (right), 45, is also originally from Nigeria but has lived in the United States for three years. He recently completed an MA in Jewish Studies at Seton Hall University and works as an office assistant at the Foundation for Judaeo Christian Students as a part of his Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Both men will enter the formation program in fall and begin studies at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. Welcome!

No Fridge Notes on Memorial Day

The Provincial Offices will be closed next Monday, May 28, for Memorial Day. There will be no Fridge Notes (weekly e-newsletter) next week; the next issue will be published June 4. Also, please note that most members of the Provincial Office staff go on summer hours starting June 1. This means longer days in the office Monday through Thursday so that the office can close at noon on Fridays.

Keep in prayer

Please keep Fr. Johnny Klingler, SCJ, in your prayers as he continues to be treated for cancer.

June birthdays

Those celebrating birthdays in June include Fr. Vincent Suparman (55) on June 5, Fr. Louis Marie Kayamba Butari (62) on June 6, Fr. Ed Griesemer (88) on June 9, Fr. Roger Phaneuf (80) on June 12, Fr. Yvon Sheehy (68) on June 18, Fr. Nick Brown (76) on June 22, Fr Paul Tennyson (75) on June 23, Br. Matt Miles (79) and Fr. Francis Vu Tran (42) on June 26, and Fr. Claude Bédard (78) on June 28.

Click here to access the US-Canada Google Calendar, which lists the birthdays of SCJs in North America, as well the dates of congregational events.

The calendar can also be viewed on the homepage of the Members’ section of the US Province website, as well as from the Google icon link found at the bottom of each page within the site.

Remembering Fr. Joe

The Mass of Christian Burial for Fr. Joseph Doscher, SCJ, was Friday, May 18. Click here to view an online photo album. Click here to read Fr. John Czyzynski’s homily given at the funeral.

Next step approved

Congratulations to Fr. Andrzej Sudol, SCJ, whose proposal for his doctoral thesis was approved last week; he is preparing for a Doctor of Ministry at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. The topic of the thesis: “Challenges and Opportunities of Initial Formation for Interculturality in the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ) in the United States Province.”

Fr. Andrzej writes that “there are three elements of the thesis: interculturality, the Dehonian charism, and initial formation, which I will have to research, understand and present in the context of the US Province. Perhaps the biggest challenge of my thesis-project is to examine to what extent interculturality is central to the Dehonian charism and how can it be effectively implemented within initial SCJ formation in the United States.

“I am excited about this topic and I believe it will help me, as well as the formation program, to become more intercultural and Dehonian. I am grateful to the US Province for its support.”

Graduation day!

Frater Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojas graduates from Catholic Theological Union (Chicago) on Thursday, May 24, with a Master of Divinity degree. Anyone is welcome to attend; graduation begins at 5:00 p.m. A native of Colombia, Frater Juancho said that he will be carrying the Colombian flag at the ceremony.

Bishop-elect Heiner Wilmer writes to the Dehonian Family

Posted on the general website last Friday is a letter from Fr. Heiner Wilmer, SCJ. In it he reflects on his appointment as bishop of Hildesheim, his time as Superior General of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, and in particular, the programmatic letter of the administration which listed what he and the General Council identified as the priorities for the congregation at this time in history.

Click here to access the letter in a variety of languages, including English.

Reminder

Barbara Graham, Director of Legal Services for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese Milwaukee, will speak on the current state of immigration policy and faith-based responses on Tuesday, May 29. The program will take place from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Provincial Conference Center in Franklin (Hales Corners), WI.

She will focus on current enforcement policy and practice (particularly the role of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE), and how the Church is responding.  Graham will also explain the difference between “sanctuary cities” and the “New Sanctuary Movement” among churches, and what involvement in sanctuary can mean legally and practically.

The program is sponsored by the North American Migration Committee. It is free and open to the public. For more information, contact  Mark Peters.

Doctor Vien!

Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, graduated May 19, with his doctorate in Sacred Theology (STD) from the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara in Berkeley, CA. He successfully defended his doctoral thesis on November 14; the title of his dissertation: “Extending the Boundaries of Gender and Ethnicity in the Wilderness: a Spatial Reading of the Ethiopian Eunuch Narrative in Acts 8:26-40.” He is pictured above with his mother and one of his professors.

The Gift of the Eucharist

The Dehonian Associates Office is offering one-minute reflections on the Eucharist sent by email Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday throughout June. Taken from the writings of Fr. Leo John Dehon, they center on the “Gift of the Eucharist.”

Everyone who receives the Dehonian Spirituality e-publication will be added to the “Gift of the Eucharist” mailing list. Click here to add others.

The electronic mailings will begin June 2 and conclude June 30.

Why I went to Capitol Hill

“Last week, I had the privilege to travel to Washington, D.C. for a ‘lobby day’ to protect foreign aid,” wrote Mark Peters, director of Justice, Peace and Reconciliation for the US Province. “CMSM [Conference of Major Superiors of Men] is a member of the Interfaith Working Group for Foreign Assistance, which paid all expenses for the trip through a grant. Unfortunately, the organizers were not able to get me an appointment with Paul Ryan, but I did meet with my own representative, F. James Sensenbrenner, as well as Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson.”

Click here to read more about Mark’s visit in Washington, as well as an Op-Ed that he wrote.

Out of the office

Dn. David Nagel, SCJ, is in Madrid, Spain, this week for meetings of the General Finance Commission. He will return to the office after Memorial Day. He can be reached by email, otherwise, please contact John Kuxhause or Kevin Stanke for finance questions.

Provinical’s time

Fr. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, returns from a visitation in Houston in time for a meeting with the SHSST board on May 23. Provincial Council meetings are June 5-6. June 16 is the diaconate ordination of Frater Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojas, June 18 is the Provincial Chapter and June 19-22 is the Province Election Assembly.

Brothers in arms

Br. Peter Mankins, SCJ, and Br. Duane Lemke, SCJ, smile for the camera after taking part in final prayers for Fr. Joe Doscher, SCJ.

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