Giving Tuesday
Following Black Friday, Shop Local Saturday and Cyber Monday, on November 28 people are invited to open up more than just their wallets, but their hearts as well for Giving Tuesday. Begun in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, it is a movement that encourages people to give of themselves –– time and/or money –– to others.
Several entities within the US Province have special projects tied to Giving Tuesday. At St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, SD, staff are promoting Giving Tuesday as a way to raise funds to send children on a cultural trip to prominent Native American landmarks, including the Crazy Horse Memorial, the sites of the Battle of Little Big Horn and the Wounded Knee Massacre, as well as sacred lands such Mato Tipila (Devil’s Tower). Click here to donate toward the $9,000 needed for the trip.
The Province Development Office, which focuses much of its fund-raising efforts on supporting overseas missions, is dedicating its Giving Tuesday donations to support homeless children in Congo. On Giving Tuesday, donations will be matched, meaning that a $25 donation to the needs of children in the Congo will be doubled to $50. Click here to give.
Sacred Heart Southern Missions is also encouraging people to give toward its work in northern Mississippi, including schools, social service and parish ministry. Click here to give.
Reflections for the season
Throughout the seasons of Advent and Christmas the Dehonian Associates Office is offering one-minute reflections that come from the writings of Fr. Leo John Dehon, founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. They will focus on the “Christian belief in the Incarnation –– God becoming human in the person of Jesus,” said David Schimmel, province director of Dehonian Associates.
The reflections will be sent by email on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from December 5 through January 13. All who subscribe to the Dehonian Spirituality email (sent most Fridays) will automatically be added to the Advent-Christmas mailing.
If you are not on the Dehonian Spirituality mailing list and would like to subscribe to the Advent – Christmas mailing, click here. ANYONE is welcome to receive the e-mail.
Not a Dehonian Spirituality subscriber? Click here to add yourself to the list. As with the Advent – Christmas mailing, anyone is welcome to receive Dehonian Spirituallity.
Advent reflections from SCJs
The Province Vocation Office also offers a series of Advent reflections, complied in a booklet. Beginning on December 3 (1st Sunday of Advent) and running through December 24 (the final Sunday of the season), the booklet features daily reflections written by members of the US Province, beginning with Fr. Ed Kilianski, provincial superior.
“As we begin Advent, we light one candle in the midst of all the darkness in our lives and in the world,” begins Fr. Ed. “The candle symbolizes our longing, our desire, and our hope. We want to be renewed in our understanding that Jesus came to save us from our sin and death. We want to experience Jesus coming to us now, in our everyday lives, to help us live our lives with meaning and purpose…
“Advent is more than our preparing for the Church’s celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas. Advent is also about preparing ourselves for Christ’s return in glory at the end of time… Our faithfulness to God, through the good times as well as the difficult times, shows us to be ready for the coming of the Son of Man.”
All SCJs in the US and Canada, as well as those who have been in contact with the office for vocational discernment, will receive a printed copy of the booklet. Click here to access an electronic version (PDF).
Tomorrow at SHML
As we noted last week, the North American Migration Commission invites SCJs to hear Cendi Trujillo Tena, Youth Organizer for Voces de la Frontera, speak about the potential repercussions of the elimination of the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program and the campaign for a “clean” DREAM Act. Voces is the migrant advocacy organization that worked with the committee last year to bring two presenters to SHML to speak about why they came to the United States without papers and what it is like living as an undocumented person.
Cendi is trying to arrange to bring one or two DACA students with her to share their personal stories. The presentation will take place in the first floor recreation room in the SCJ wing at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake on November 28, from 7 – 8:15 p.m.
Questions? Please contact Mark Peters, province director of Justice, Peace and Reconciliation at 414-427-4273
European meetings conclude
Fr. Ed Kilianski and Dn. David Nagel return to Hales Corners this week following meetings that each had in Europe. Fr. Ed took part in the two-week Major Superiors Colloquium in Rome and Dn. David attended the General Finance Commission meetings in Neustadt (Germany).
Among the topics discussed at the General Finance Commission meeting: the creation of an economic policy for the congregation, guidelines for the General Aid Fund (a means in which entities can help to support projects and special needs among each other), and the continuing need to seek funding sources for the congregation and its ministries throughout the world.
One of the highlights of the second week of the Major Superiors Colloquium was being seated near Pope Francis during the general audience on Wednesday. Fr. Ed Kilianski is pictured above with SCJs in St. Peter’s Square.
Happy birthday!
Those who celebrate birthdays in December include: Fr. Chuck Wonch (71) on Dec. 5, Fr. John Strittmatter(82) on Dec. 6, Fr. Gary Lantz (82) on Dec. 8, and Br. Clay Diaz (53) on Dec. 19. Happy birthday!
Please remember
+Linda Burr, the sister of Fr. Jim Brackin, died on November 22 after a brief struggle with cancer. Fr. Jim said that she was surrounded by family at the time of passing.
Provincial’s time
Fr. Ed Kilianski returns from Rome today. On December 3 he leaves for Vietnam, where he will tour the district and discuss collaborative possibilities. He gets back to the United States on December 17, just in time for the Provincial Council meetings December 19-20.
Closing shot
From November 17-19 Fr. Mark Fortner gave a retreat to the Indonesian Catholic community in Toronto with the theme: “Living the Resurrected Life in Christ in Daily Life – The Path to Fulfillment in all our Relationships.”
“I was touched not only by their joy and enthusiasm but even more so by their desire to delve more deeply into their faith,” said Fr. Mark.
He, and Fr. Johannes Yuliwan Maslim, pastor of the Indonesian community, are pictured here with retreatants. Fr. Mark, now retired and living at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake, served in the Indonesian Province for many years.
