Provincial’s time

Fr. Tom Cassidy returned from Rome last Thursday just in time for Sacred Heart School of Theology’s graduation on Friday. May 9-11 he has council meetings (including the annual budget reviews), and then heads to Washington, D.C. for more meetings. May 21 he will be in San Antonio for Dn. Greg Schill’s ordination to the priesthood, and May 23-24 he and the rest of the council will be in Chicago for a meeting with the administration of the Canadian Region.

This was Fr. Tom’s last visit to the Vatican in his role as president of CMSM; his term comes to an end in August. Fr. Tom is pictured above with Pope Benedict XVI during the visit.

Also home

Fr. Tom Cassidy wasn’t the only one coming home from Rome last week. After a 10-week sabbatical program at the North American Collage, Fr. Mark Fortner is back in the U.S. Province. His program was one sponsored by the U.S. bishops and included lectures, tours and time for reflection. During one of the weeks, participants were based in Assisi.

“I found that there were a lot of good professors from the pontifical colleges who lectured in the program,” said Fr. Mark. “The experience was excellent.”

Fr. Mark is now with the Villa Maria community. His phone is 414-409-4834.

Congratulations!

Br. Brian Tompkins professed his final vows last Thursday (May 5) at Resurrection of Our Lord Church in Ottawa, Canada. A member of the Canadian Region, Br. Brian did his novitiate in Chicago with Brs. Long Nguyen and Clay Diaz. The three professed their first vows in 2007.

Br. Brian, 54, said that his “vocation to the religious life began over 40 years ago.” Though initially, he felt that he was called to diocesan priesthood.

“That is what I knew of priesthood growing up in rural Cape Breton, Nova Scotia,” wrote Br. Brian in a reflection about his vocation posted on the Canadian Region’s website. “However, such obstacles as shyness and a lack of confidence hindered any response to what I felt to be God’s call. It was not until my late thirties, and after many years in the work force, that I sincerely began to pursue what I truly believed: that God was still calling me to religious life.

“Was it possible that I could begin a whole new phase of life at 42 years of age? My personal life had changed in a dramatic and positive way. Could my ‘professional’ life change, too? Would I have the courage? The answer to both those questions resulted in a resounding ‘yes!’

“It was with confidence in 1999 that I applied to the Seminary of Christ the King in Mission City, British Columbia. The application process was rather complex and more so for an ‘older’ or ‘delayed’ vocation (my preferred term). I was accepted for the fall term of that same year.

“Within the last two years at the seminary I began to think of religious life as opposed to diocesan priesthood. I became interested in several monastic or semi-monastic communities. But how could I live a cloistered life and with little outside contact for the rest of my life? I wanted to minister in a more open forum and yet try to maintain a monastic sense of calling and spirituality.

“God entered further into my discernment when a brochure arrived during my last weeks at the seminary from the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. Though not a monastic community it certainly addressed my personal sense of ministry within the context of a daily life of prayer and service to others.

I made application. The process was a long but necessary one. I joined the SCJ community in February, 2004, as a candidate, and enrolled in theology studies at St. Paul University in Ottawa.”

Two years later, he was in Chicago, beginning his novitiate. Br. Brian is a member of the SCJ community in Toronto.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Next Sunday, May 15, is World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

“It is a challenging and uplifting invitation that Jesus addresses to those to whom he says: ‘Follow me!’” writes Pope Benedict XVI in his message for this year’s day of prayer. “He invites them to become his friends, to listen attentively to his word and to live with him. He teaches them complete commitment to God and to the extension of his kingdom in accordance with the law of the Gospel: ‘Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit’ (Jn 12:24). He invites them to leave behind their own narrow agenda and their notions of self-fulfillment in order to immerse themselves in another will, the will of God, and to be guided by it. He gives them an experience of fraternity, one born of that total openness to God (cf. Mt 12:49-50) which becomes the hallmark of the community of Jesus: ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’ (Jn 13:35).

“It is no less challenging to follow Christ today. It means learning to keep our gaze fixed on Jesus, growing close to him, listening to his word and encountering him in the sacraments; it means learning to conform our will to his.”

Click here to read the pope’s message in full.

And keep in mind that Vocation Central has a variety of resources available for those discerning a vocation to religious life and the priesthood. Click here to go to the vocation section of the province website, or contact the vocation office at 800-609-5559, vocationcentral@wi.rr.com

Clean bill of health

Fr. Stephen Huffstetter writes that he got a clean bill of health from his recent follow-up visit to the Mayo Clinic, where he was treated for cancer last year. “The doctors said the scans and tests showed nothing; no signs of cancer,” he wrote in an email. “My nerves are somewhat sensitive in certain areas, which is actually progress and a sign that there may yet be more healing and strength there as well. They told me to keep up the exercises and come back and see them in five or six months.”

Blog updates

Fr. Bernie Rosinski has posted several entries on the province blog about his time in the Philippines, where he is teaching English and assisting with administrative work.

Click here to read recent posts.

SCJ News

A PDF of the most issue of the SCJ News has been posted on the province website. Click here to download it.

If you would like to be added to the mailing list of the printed newsletter, click here to contact Mary Gorski.

Legacy.com

An obituary for Fr. Charlie Bisgrove has been posted at Legacy.com. Click here to read it.

Upcoming meetings and events:

May 9-11: Provincial Council meeting (budgets)
May 17 & 19: 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)
June 11: Ordination of Dn. Duy Nguyen to the priesthood (Sacred Heart Monastery)
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.