Giving thanks, and remembering those who came before
For Dehonians in the US Province, this week includes two special moments for expressing gratitude. Thursday, November 28, is American Thanksgiving. Officially it is a day to give thanks for our many blessings, but also a time to be with family, friends, or to simply relax in front of a football game, giving thanks for a day on the couch.
Two days prior, Dehonians commemorate “SCJ Memorial Day.” In 2004 the General Administration established November 26 as SCJ Memorial Day, a time of remembrance for members of the Priests of the Sacred Heart who gave their lives as martyrs. It was on taht day in 1964 that Bishop Joseph Wittebols, along with six other SCJs, were martyred in Congo. They were among 28 members of the community who were killed during the country’s Simba Revolution. In total, there are 49 SCJ martyrs.
The day of remembrance has evolved into a more general moment of giving thanks for all deceased members of the Priests of the Sacred Heart; men throughout the world who devoted their lives to the congregation, and in particular, the Dehonian charism.
A reminder: the Provincial Offices will be closed November 28-29 for Thanksgiving weekend. However, keep in mind that some staff take vacation time on Wednesday.
Thank God!
Last week middle students at Sacred Heart School in Southaven, MS, were led in a retreat by NET Ministries. The students are pictured above during Mass, celebrated by Fr. Paul Phong Hoang, SCJ. His message to them: “Take a moment to thank God for all of the gifts you’ve received!”
The challenge and blessing of fraternal dialogue
“Fraternal dialogue” was the theme of the November issue of As a Rule. Fr. Joseph Thien Dinh, SCJ, lead formation director, has a unique perspective on the topic. He is with Dehonian students in their first years, helping them to both give and receive fraternal dialogue in community. About it he writes:
“Fraternal dialogue, as indicated in Cst. 109, is essential for community life and ministry. Community life can be challenging, as it involves navigating different personalities and ideologies. We come from diverse cultural and generational backgrounds with varying ways of expressing ourselves and upholding essential values. We disagree with each other. We don’t listen to one another. We ignore each other’s presence. Superiors sometimes find themselves in the difficult position of navigating disagreements among members and finding solutions that work for most, if not all. This task can be quite challenging.
“Fully aware of the challenges of living and working together, what unites us as Dehonians and helps us rise above our differences? We believe and embrace God’s boundless love for us, revealed in the Sacred Heart. Imperfect as we are, we commit ourselves to serving Christ in His Church as an expression of our gratitude for His love. Through our communal life, we foster a sense of belonging and opportunities for self-discovery and spiritual growth. Recognizing that we are a work in progress in God’s hands, we acknowledge that there is always room for improvement and development, both in ourselves and in our commitment to communal life and mission, inspired by the Gospel and strengthened by the Eucharist (Cst. 25).”
Click here to read Fr. Joseph’s full reflection.
Writing about the spirit of Fraternal Dialogue in everyday life, Laura Grisham, the PR/Communications and Grants Manager at Sacred Heart Southern Missions, notes that “We each have opportunities to speak, to share perspectives, foster unity and understanding, and attempt to resolve conflicts in the world. These issues are wide and varied—from climate disruption and the plight of animals to strains on the economy and beyond—but they also include things much closer to home, such as disruptions in our families or tensions in our workplaces.
“It takes courage to speak. It takes courage to listen and remain open. By finding common ground and working together, we can make a difference. With open hearts and open minds, we bring about God’s kingdom.”
Laura’s full text can be found at the same link as Fr. Joseph’s.
NCYC recap
Click here or on the image above to view a short video recap of our Dehonians’ experience at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Long Beach, CA, the weekend of November 15. The NCYC is a three-day experience of prayer, community, evangelization, catechesis, service, and empowerment for Catholic teenagers and their adult chaperones. This year’s theme was El Camino, or “The Way.” The video was put together by Corrie Christiaansen, Vocation Office Marketing and Office Manager.
Jubilee year in Madagascar
In August, the Region of Madagascar kicked off a jubilee year, celebrating 50 years of the Dehonian presence in the country. The celebrations took place at Notre Dame De Fatima Parish in Ambohimirary Antananarivo. In October, the region inaugurated and blessed a community burial place for the region.
Click here to read more on the general website, which also includes several photos from the celebrations.
Happy birthday!
Those celebrating birthdays in December include Fr. Chuck Wonch on Dec. 5, Fr. Gary Lantz on Dec. 8, and Br. Clay Diaz on Dec. 19. Happy birthday!
Welcome Fr. Vando!
On November 18, Fr. Gustave Lulendo, SCJ, regional superior of Canada, received news that the General Council officially accepted the transfer of Fr. Vando Marques Gomes, SCJ, from the BRE Province to the Region of Canada. Fr. Vando is pastor of St. Helen’s parish in Toronto.
Please remember
+Fr. Alexander Miskat Sim Lagajaya, a member of the Indonesian Province, died on November 11. He was born in 1951, professed in 1979 and ordained in 1982.
Also, we remember Bishop Richard Sklba, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Milwaukee who died on November 20. Bishop Sklba was familiar to many Dehonians for his presence and collaboration. He is pictured above (left) at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology with Fr. Jan de Jong, SCJ (then, SHSST president-rector) and William Patrick Callahan, Bishop Emeritus of La Crosse. Bishop Sklba taught Scripture at SHSST from 2006 through 2009. He was also very active with Jewish-Catholic dialogue in the archdiocese, and in particular with SHSST’s Lux Center.
Funeral arrangements: Visitation will take place on December 3 at St. Richard Church, 1503 Grand Avenue, Racine, WI, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. with Evening Prayer at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will take place again on December 4, 2024 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 812 N. Jackson Street, Milwaukee, WI, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be in the Cathedral crypt immediately following the Mass. Priests are invited to concelebrate. Please bring an alb and white stole. If you do plan to concelebrate, please use the following link to register with the archdiocese:
https://archmil.regfox.com/concelebrationvest-funeral-mass-bishop-sklba
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