From South Africa to America’s Southland
Bishop Joe Potocnak spent much of his religious life serving in South Africa. Now, he is in Mississippi ministering with his novitiate classmate, Fr. Leonard Elder. Although the two have taken a number of similar paths in their lives, this is one of the few times that their paths are intersecting.
“Both of us were in the Air Force, but not at the same time,” said Fr. Leonard. “We were both in Africa as missionaries, but miles apart. I was in Congo and he, of course, was in South Africa.”
But now the bishop is a formal resident of the State of Mississippi after passing his driver’s test last week. He is retired but will be helping Fr. Leonard with ministry in and around Holly Springs.
Bishop Joe’s new address is: 325 E. College Ave., Holly Springs, MS 38635; Phone: 662-252-1522
A reminder to SCJs: The online personnel directory is available in the Members’ section of the province website. A PDF of the directory is also available from the Members’ page; this PDF is updated whenever changes are made to the directory.
New appointments
Congratulations to Fr. William Marrevee who was reappointed to a three-year term as superior of the Canadian Region.
In the Chilean Province, Fr. Johnny Esteban Li Mesías was named to his first term as superior, and in Madagascar, Fr. Mario Cuomo (no relation to the former New York governor, at least as far as we know) was named to a second term as the region’s superior.
Two SCJs honored posthumously
Frs. Charlie Bisgrove and Rick DiLeo were honored posthumously by Sacred Heart School of Theology with the seminary’s Distinguished Ministry Award for their contributions to the Church. Both SCJs died last year. Click here to read about Fr. Charlie and click here to read about Fr. Rick.
Also honored at the October 24 Awards Dinner was Archbishop Timothy Dolan, former archbishop of Milwaukee and current archbishop of New York. The archbishop received the Cousins’ Award, which honors an organization or individual who has demonstrated distinguished effort, involvement and promotion of vocations among men over the age of 30 to the Roman Catholic priesthood. The award was established by SHST to commemorate Milwaukee Archbishop Cousins’ 60th anniversary of priesthood and to recognize his leadership role in promoting vocations. This was the 25th year that the Cousins Award was presented.
Archbishop Dolan’s brother, Robert Donlan, accepted the award on his behalf since the archbishop had a prior commitment in Rome.
Peggy Kernohan, Fr. Charlie’s sister, received the Distinguished Ministry Award in her brother’s honor. Fr. Anthony Russo accepted Fr. Rick’s award, reading a letter from Fr. Rick’s sister, Betty Greene, when doing so.
Sharing gifts and talents with those we are called serve
“I believe that at Sacred Heart Southern Missions we are keenly aware that the mission of the Priests of the Sacred Heart and the mission of the Southern Missions is to be active agents of the love of Christ,” wrote Fr. David Szatkowski in a recent post on the province blog. “We all know that many people support us in this effort: donors, co-workers, volunteers, prayer partners, and many others. But, just as importantly, we too are part of that active love of Christ…
“The concrete experience of sharing the lives of those we work among gives us a window into the ways we can transform and change our communities and ourselves.”
Click here to read Fr. David’s full blog post.
Please remember
Fr. Marcel Deloddère, a member of the Franco-European Province, died October 23. He was born in 1923, professed in 1947 and ordained in 1952.
Congratulations!
Fr. Frank Wittouck was named Cypress Assistance Ministries’ October “Volunteer of the Month.”
“Fr. Frank has a huge heart and we are so fortunate to have him on our team,” wrote CAM staff in a tribute to him. “We appreciate his witty attitude and smiling face whenever he is here. Thank you for your service to us Fr. Frank and may God continue to bless you in all that you do!”
Cypress Assistance Ministries is a social outreach program in Houston sponsored by Christ the Redeemer parish, a parish once ministered to by the SCJs. Retired, CAM is just one of many activities in which Fr. Frank is involved. Among his other ministries: serving as a prison chaplain, work with Marriage Encounter, and ministry with Magnificat House, a outreach program to Houston’s homeless and chronically mentally ill.
Happy birthday!
Those celebrating birthdays in November include Fr. David Szatkowski (39) and Fr. Ed Kilianski (58) on Nov. 2, Br. Brian Tompkins (56) and Br. Luc Coursol (62) on Nov. 4, Fr. Greg Schill (37) on Nov. 14, Fr. Jan de Jong (75) and Fr. Joe Doscher (79) on Nov. 17, Fr. Tim Gray (64) on Nov. 18 and Fr. Larry Rucker (79) on Nov. 30.
Thank you
Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee recently wrote to express his thanks for the opportunity to take part in the blessing of Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake.
“It was a beautiful ceremony,” he wrote to Fr. Tom Cassidy. “The residence is a tribute to the vision of the SCJs. It will be a great ministry for years to come. God bless.”
Click here to view photos from the blessing.
Provincial’s time
Fr. Tom Cassidy is hoping to make his way back to from Rome tomorrow but much will depend on the impact of Hurricane Sandy. He re-routed his tickets to avoid the East Coast but the ramification of the storm may reach well beyond airports directly hit by the storm.
November 5-10 Fr. Tom will be in Mississippi for a visitation and November 12-17 he will be in Toronto for the North American councils’ meeting.
Upcoming meetings and events:
November 13-14, North American Councils meeting in Toronto
November 22-23, Provincialate Offices closed for Thanksgiving
December 18-19, Provincial Council Meeting
December 24-26, Provincialate Offices closed for Christmas
December 31 – January 1, Provincialate Offices closed for New Year’s
2013:
January 29-30: Provincial Council Meeting
March 13: Local Superiors Meeting
March 14: Provincial Council Meeting
April 8-9: Mission Education Conference, St. Joseph’s Indian School
April 30 – May 1: Provincial Council Meeting (budgets)
Week of June 3: Province Election Assembly.
2014:
July 7-11, 2014: Provincial Chapter
