Day of the Dead

Last week an “altarcito” was set up in the chapel at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. It is a small shrine similar to those prepared in the homes of Mexican and Mexican-Americans to remember their deceased loved ones on “Day of the Dead,” which Catholics observe in the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day).

“The flowers, candles, and small sugar skulls (calavercitas) remind us of the reality of death and our hope in the resurrection,” said Fr. Jim Walters, SCJ, director of Hispanic studies at SHSST.  Members of the seminary community placed photos of deceased relatives and friends on the altarcito to be remembered in prayer.

SCJ bishops take part in synod on the Amazon

The three-week Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon region completed its work on October 27. Among the participants were two Dehonian bishops: Bishop Vital Chitolina of Diamantino and Bishop Vilson Basso of Imperatriz. Both are very involved in the complex realities of the region. But they are not the only ones from the community; approximately 40 SCJs are present in nine dioceses within the Amazon.

Following the Synod, the two bishops visited with Dehonians at the Generalate in Rome. They spoke about the many ecological issues that were discussed during the synod, noting that they are issues not just for the people of the Amazon, but for the entire world. The pope encouraged a missionary spirit among priests and religious, reminding them not to wait for the faithful to come to them but to get out and go where they are found. As Fr. Dehon is often quoted as saying: “Get out of the sacristies and go to the people!”

Come for a visit, and bring a “dish” to pass

The US Province has several homes on the internet and we hope that you make time to visit them.

The “main house” is our province website: www.dehoniansusa.org. From there you can find links to many of our other homes. At the top of the site is a banner image with the “Open Heart and Mind” logo. Above it are two lines of links, one in red and one in white. In the red are links to the Members Section, the Dehonian Social Justice website, the province blog, a donate button, and the Canadian Region’s blog. Below those are links to information about the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians), features and news (“weekly news” is where the content of each week’s Fridge Notes can be found), vocation information, Dehonian Spirituality and contact information.

The North American Necrology is available in the Members section. Click here to access it directly.

Scroll below the banner image and there are four boxes. These are the direct links to the most recent Fridge Notes, feature story, a “Meet our Members” section, and Dehonian Spirituality. Continue to scroll down and find another link to our vocation section, an interactive prayer space and a link to our photo galleries. At the very bottom of each page in the site are links to the North American Google Calendar, the province Facebook page and the province Instagram account.

The direct link to the US Province Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/PriestsoftheSacredHeart. Our name on Instagram is “@DehoniansUSA.” To view Instagram photos on the web, go to: www.instagram.com/dehoniansusa.

Periodically, we post brief reflections from SCJs and candidates on our province blog. The direct link: www.scjusablog.org

Most published photos of the province are posted first on Facebook or Instagram. However, online photo albums are also available at: www.scjusa.smugmug.com

Since you are reading this we assume that you receive the Fridge Notes. However, feel free to invite others to subscribe. The subscription link: http://eepurl.com/gggWfH

So come for a visit, and feel free to bring a dish to pass. In other words, send news and photos about you, your community and/or your ministry to share with others. The “dish” does not need to be large. A single photo with a caption is sufficient. Examples: an SCJ leading a retreat, a community birthday celebration, a prayer request, an SCJ landing in the dunk tank at the parish festival, or a school liturgy. Longer stories and reflections are also welcome, as are story ideas.

Click here to send information for any of our online resources. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing!

New Dehoniana published

The 2019 edition of the Dehoniana, a publication of the Centro Studi Dehoniani in Rome, is now available. The primary theme of the issue is Marcello Neri’s book, Giustizia della Misericordia. Included are reflections on the book by the coordinators of several of the continental theological commissions and the vice-director of the Centro Studi Dehoniani. Other articles in the publication include a reflection by Fr. João Carlos Almeida, SCJ, on Sr. Nicla Spezzati’s perspective on the Dehonian charism, which she delivered at the 2017 theological seminar in Yogyakarta and at the 2018 General Chapter. Also, two members of the African Dehonian Theological Commission offer a contextualized understanding of the wounded heart as an icon of the 21st century.

Click here (2019) to access the articles on www.dehonianadocs.org. They are offered in their original language. The text by Fr. John van den Hengel, SCJ, on Neri’s book is in English; click here to access it directly.

The print edition of the 2019 Dehoniana will soon be in the mail.

A note for SCJs

The US Province will end its contract with Enterprise Fleet Service as of January 1, 2020. After that date the maintenance cards for Enterprise can no longer be used. Members of the province should use their personal credit cards for auto repairs as of January 1. If you have questions, contact Kevin Stanke in the Provincial Treasurer’s office at provtreas3@usprovince.org or call 414-333-8750.

Corrections

Our apologies for including Fr. Joseph Doscher in the birthday listings last week. He was born on November 17 as noted, but passed away on May 14, 2018.

Calendar reminders

International Conference on Sacred Heart Devotion –– The conference will take place November 8-9 in Rome. Organizers plan to offer live streaming of speakers in the three languages of the conference (English, French and Italian). Details will be at the conference website:  www.sacredheartconference.org

Dehon Lecture –– The next Dehon Lecture is set for Wednesday, November 13, at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. Austen Ivereigh is the featured speaker. His topic: “Wounded Shepherd: the Sacred Heart and the Reform of Pope Francis.” The lecture will begin at 9:00 a.m., Eucharist will be at 11:15 a.m. and the Response Panel will begin at 1:00 p.m. Respondents include Fr. Stefan Tertünte, SCJ (director of the Centro Studi Dehoniani in Rome), Kurt Martens (Catholic University of America) and Peter Casarella (University of Notre Dame). The afternoon session ends by 4:00 p.m. Click here to register.

A Pastoral Response to Human Trafficking –– On November 18, the North American Migration Committee is sponsoring a presentation by Dn. Steve Przedpelski, executive director of Franciscan Peacemakers in Milwaukee. Dn. Steve will speak about his 24 years of ministering to women involved in street prostitution, how much of the sex trade is connected to human trafficking, and what can be done to address this problem, especially by pastors and those involved in pastoral ministry. The presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Provincial Conference Center. It is free and open to the public. Click here to access a flyer with more information; feel free to share it with others.

Provincial’s calendar

Fr. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, will be in Rome November 6-16 for the major superiors’ meeting, as well as the conference on Sacred Heart Devotion. On December 6 he will be in Toronto (Mississauga) for the meeting of the North American administrations.

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