Our Dehonian students
“I find community life to be life-giving, filled with joy,” wrote Frater Jonathan Nguyen Vuong, SCJ. “We bond and learn more about each other in community. I do find academic studies to be challenging in formation. But even though it is challenging for me and other SCJ students, I know that the knowledge we learn from our classes will help us in ministry.”
At 21, Frater Jonathan is the youngest member of the US Province; he professed his first vows in August. He and the rest of the students in the province formation community introduce themselves this week in the annual Formation Community Profile on the province website.
“I used to be a Minister of Care at the University of Chicago Hospital,” wrote Frater Hung Pham, SCJ, who worked as a Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) analyst before pursuing his religious vocation. “I completed the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston in the summer. These experiences have helped me to provide spiritual care for the sick… I look forward to requesting the Ministry of Acolyte with the Priests of the Sacred Heart in the Spring of 2023. And I am applying for a Pastoral Year in the summer of 2023 to experience parish life.”
The US Province formation program is based at Sacred Heart Monastery. Six students are seminarians at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology (Fra. Paul Hoang, Fra. Thuan Nguyen, Fra. Hung Pham, Alfonso Pizano, Fra. Truc Tran and Fra. Michael Wodarczyk) and two are completing their undergraduate studies (Fra. Jonathan Nguyen Vuong at Cardinal Stritch and Fra. Jacob Smith at Marquette).
Click here to read all of their profiles.
Click here to access the online album with this year’s group photo, individual photos, and a few pictures of our SHSST seminarians on campus.
In concert
Speaking of our seminarians, congratulations to Fra. Jacob Smith, SCJ, who is now a member of the Jubilate Chorale. Based in Milwaukee, Jubilate Chorale is an auditioned ensemble comprised of experienced and accomplished singers who perform classics, as well sacred and secular music from around the world written by contemporary composers. Yesterday, October 9, the group performed at the Basilica at Holy Hill, about 40 minutes north of Sacred Heart Monastery. The Jubilate Chorale is pictured above during their performance.
Please remember
+ Fr. Czesław Konior, a member of the Polish Province, died on October 5. He was born in 1936, professed in 1953 and ordained in 1962. He served as provincial superior of Poland from 1992-1998, and was local superior of the International College in Rome from 1998-2004.
+ Mario Querobin, the 79-year-old father of Fr. Rafael Querobin, SCJ, died October 6th at Sancta Maggiore Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Mr. Querobin had suffered from health concerns in his heart and kidneys. He left behind three children and three grandchildren. Fr. Rafael gave his father last rites a few hours before his passing; his sister was with him. Br. Duane Lemke, SCJ, represented the US Province at the funeral on October 8.
Keep in prayer
Last week we shared a prayer request from Fr. John Czyzynski, SCJ, whose sister, Kay Chaney, was hospitalized with extreme anemia. Doctors have diagnosed her with advanced Leukemia. Please continue to keep the family in prayer.
Greetings from the Philippines!
Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, shares the photo above from his recent meeting with members of the Theresian Missionaries of Mary (TMM), a diocesan women’s religious community. Also in the photo are Fr. Lukas Hadi Siswo Sasmito, SCJ (district superior) and Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ (treasurer). The SCJs and the TMM sisters have been discussing a possible ministry partnership in South Dakota. Fr. Vien will be in the Philippines through the end of the week.
Reminder
Cardinal Peter Turkson will be the main speaker at the October 19th Dehon Lecture at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. The title of his presentation: “A New Social Catechism for the 21st Century?”
Past president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Turkson is Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, Prefect emeritus of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and Archbishop emeritus of Cape Coast (Ghana). He was a presenter at the SCJs’ General Conference in February, speaking on the social doctrine of the Church.
“Cardinal Turkson’s insights on social justice are relevant and insightful,” said Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ. “During the Q & A session with SCJs at the General Conference, he made poignant points about social issues in our times.”
In-person attendance is limited; however, anyone is welcome to view the livestream of the cardinal’s presentation. Click here for more information, as well as livestream links to the events of the full day (Mass, lecture and panel discussion).
The cardinal will have a special evening with the SCJs the night before the lecture; it will take place at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake. An email regarding the visit will be sent to SCJs later this week.
Not forgotten
Daily, people contact us asking for updates on the search for Fr. Anthony Kluckman, SCJ, who disappeared from Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake on July 21. Unfortunately, no information has yet surfaced to help authorities in their search.
Last week, the Franklin Police Department flew drones around the SHML property to see if they may have missed something when the trees were in full bloom. As the leaves fall, more is visible at ground level. They also did an aerial search of the lake. Their plan is to do another search of the property in the next week or so. This will include more drone checks, another lake search by boat, and possible follow-up with dogs.
Multiple Silver Alerts have been issued, and media outlets in the Midwest have repeated the story of Fr. Anthony’s disappearance. Homeless shelters and hospitals have been contacted. But still, no clues have surfaced.
“I wish there was something to share, some new discovery,” said Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ. “It is hard to continue to live with the unknown.”
To some, silence may seem like forgetting. If something isn’t posted in our province communications, people may assume that we have “moved on.” But nothing could be further from the truth. There are no clues to share. But that doesn’t mean that we have simply “moved on.” Fr. Anthony is with us always in our prayers.
Thank you for your continued support and concern for Fr. Anthony.
If you have any information that you think may be relevant in the search for Fr. Anthony Kluckman, please contact the Franklin Police Department at: 414-425-2522.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and Happy Thanksgiving !
Federal offices are closed today for Columbus Day, but for many people in North America, October 10 has significance other reasons.
Happy Thanksgiving today to our neighbors in Canada!! They roast their turkeys a few weeks earlier than members of the US Province.
In the United States today is also Indigenous Peoples’ Day (in Canada, National Indigenous People’s Day is commemorated on June 21). The following is a prayer attributed to Lakota Sioux Chief Yellow Lark:
Oh, Great Spirit,
Whose voice I hear in the winds
and whose breath gives life to all the world.
Hear me! I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes
ever hold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand
the things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden
in every leaf and rock.
Help me remain calm and strong in the
face of all that comes towards me.
Help me find compassion without
empathy overwhelming me.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy: myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my spirit may come to you without shame.
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