“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”

– Albert Camus

 

SCJ News available online

The October SCJ News is available as a PDF download from the province website. Click here to access it, as well as previous issues of the publication.

Included in this month’s issue are stories on Frater Justin Krenke’s first profession, the Dehonian Youth Initiative, Fr. Benedito de Moraes Machado (recent addition to the international community in Toronto), Frater James Nguyen’s reflection on his experience working with victims of human trafficking in Cambodia, and a profile of a consecrated virgin who has dedicated her life to living in the Dehonian charism.

The printed copy will be in mailboxes soon.

Keep in prayer

John Reed, the brother of Kathleen Dahlgren (province attorney), was hospitalized with symptoms of a severe form of pneumonia. He suffered seizures yesterday and it is now thought that he may have meningitis.

Dehon Lecture

Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology hosts its annual Dehon Lecture on Wednesday, October 22. Sr. Katarina Schuth, OSF, Ph.D, a will speak on “Serving Today’s Church as Priests and Lay Ministers.”

As a researcher and teacher, Sr. Schuth’s primary interests are in theological education and the relationship between the Church and American culture. A widely consulted authority on the education of priests, she has studied and written extensively on the impact of the U.S. priest shortage, cultural challenges of international priests ministering in the U.S., the future of Catholic ministry, and other trends and teachings within U.S. seminaries.

She holds the Endowed Chair for the Social Scientific Study of Religion at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. Previously she was director of Weston School of Theology (now Boston College School of Theology and Ministry) and was a professor of social and behavioral sciences and admissions dean at the College of St. Teresa.

The Dehon Lecture begins at 10 a.m. at the Provincial Conference Center. Follow-up will be at 1:30 p.m..

Congratulations

Fr. Michael Udoekpo, assistant professor of Scripture Studies, recently had two articles published.

“Habakkuk’s Faith and God’s Sovereignty: A Paradigm for the Suffering righteous Today,” was published in the American Journal of Biblical Theology (volume 15, no. 36). Click here to read it.

“Biblical Reflections on the Identity of the Catholic Priesthood Today: Essay in Honor of an African Bishop” was published in the most recent edition of the International Journal of African Catholicism 6:1 (pp. 26-65).

Congratulations!

Dehonian Social Justice

As noted previously, Mark Peters, province director of Justice, Peace and Reconciliation, launched a website that features reflections on social justice from a Dehonian perspective, links to Catholic teachings on social justice, parish ministry resources and information about legislative advocacy.

“I especially want to invite people to go to the new Advocacy page, and look at the information on family detention of Central American immigrants,” writes Mark. “There are also links to a petition and a letter-writing campaign.  This is a quick and easy way to become more informed and take action that can make a difference.”

Other resources on the site include a panel discussion of the U.S. Bishops’ “Economic Justice for All” 25 years after its release. Under Immigration, there are several new pieces on the border crisis.  There is also a link to an interview by National Public Radio’s Leslie Stahl with an 11-year-old from Ferguson, MO, speaking eloquently on racial issues.

Questions about the site? Click here to contact Mark Peters.

Reminder for SCJs

Br. Frank Presto, provincial secretary, reminds SCJs in the U.S. Province that one of the requirements needed for Praesidium reaccreditation is that each member in public ministry must document that he has had training for mandatory reporting.

Those who are affected by this requirement should have received a letter detailing how to access the one-hour training module. The deadline for completing this is October 31.

Questions? Click here to contact Br. Frank by email or call him at the Provincial Offices.

Did you see it?

Milwaukee’s Catholic Herald newspaper did a feature on Frater Justin Krenke in its most edition of “My Faith.” Click here to read it.

Justin professed his first vows with the Priests of the Sacred Heart in August.

 

Indian Chapter

Fr. Tom Cassidy wrote about the Indian District Chapter on the province blog last week (Fr. Tom served as moderator of the chapter). Click here to read his text and view photos from the gathering.

One of the final tasks of the chapter was to elect delegates to the 2015 General Chapter in Rome. Those named: Fr. Thomas Vinod (district superior) and Fr. Vimala (Vimal) Thiyagarajan. The alternates are Fr. McQueen Mascarenhas and Fr. Marianand Gargarapu.

After six weeks in India, Fr. Tom is now making his way back home.

Have you “liked” it yet?

Information about the Indian chapter, as well as those of other entities, has been posted on the Generalate’s Facebook page, “Dehonians Worldwide.”

Click here to go to the page, and if you are a Facebook member, be sure to “like” it and share it with your friends.

The page does not replace the US Province Facebook page. There may be some overlap now and then, but generally the two will have unique posts.

 

Online facelift for Province Development Office

The Province Development Office gave its website a new look last week. Click here to view it.

Update

Fr. Peter Mastrobuono has a new email address: [email protected]

 Devotion to Sacred Heart began early

“My devotion to the Sacred Heart began before I even knew what it was,” writes Fr. Tom Westhoven on last week’s Dehonian Spirituality page on the province website.

“In grade school, I went with my Mom and Dad to our country parish,” continues Fr. Tom. “On the First Fridays of each month, the pastor celebrated Mass at 5:30 a.m. which allowed the farmers to be home in time to milk the cows and do other regular chores. The main purpose of participating in this Mass, as I understood it then, was to honor the Sacred Heart and to fulfill all the conditions to enjoy the fulfillment of the promises the Sacred Heart made to St. Margaret Mary…

“Serving the Lakota showed me new dimensions of “devotion to the Sacred Heart.” From Lakota traditions I learned a person was highly favored if s/he gave and shared, even if that person had very little. Our Lord shared His all for me and for each person who ever lived. He invited me to reach out in compassion and understanding to each person…”

Click here to read the full reflection, as well as other items and prayers based in Dehonian Spirituality.

Also, starting this month the weekly updates to the Dehonian Spirituality section of the province website will be available as an “e-blast” similar in style to the e-newsletter that is done for the Fridge Notes (weekly news of the U.S. Province).

Click here if you would like to be put on the mailing list for the Dehonian Spirituality e-mailing. Just as with the Fridge Notes, anyone is welcome to be on the subscription list.

Provincial’s time

Fr. Stephen Huffstetter and the US Provincial Council members of the Canadian administration for a joint meeting on October 21 at the Provincial Conference Center.

On Wednesday, October 22, the U.S. Province Council meets.