Meet the 2016-17 Dehon Formation Community

The Dehon Formation Community in Chicago is home to an international, intergenerational community of professed SCJs and those discerning religious life with the congregation. The community not only houses the initial formation programs (candidacy, philosophy and theology) of the province but also welcomes SCJs from around the world on sabbatical or in graduate programs.

This year the community welcomes several new members, including Fr. David Szatkowski and Fr. Bob Tucker on the Formation Team. After nine years in formation, many of them as superior of the Dehon Formation Community, Br. Duane Lemke is on sabbatical this year. “On behalf of the province I thank Br. Duane for his dedication to and work for the formation program,” said Fr. Ed Kilianski. “He has done much to make the Dehon Formation Community a house of welcome to many, not only in the province but to the congregation.”

As they do each year, members of the community –– candidates and SCJs –– introduce themselves on the province website. Among them is Henry Nguyen who is a second-year candidate. Born and raised in Orange County, Calif., he earned a bachelor’s in psychology before beginning his theological studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

“I am interested in being a Dehonian as they seek to work with the poor and are to be among the people,” wrote Henry. “This past summer I was able to visit and work with the SCJ community in Mississippi at Sacred Heart Southern Missions. This experience deepened my desire to be an SCJ as I had the opportunity to work along and among those who are a part of the SCJ presence. It was a great experience to see SCJs in action.

“I have been involved with parish ministries for many years now. I am currently a Youth Leader at St. Henry’s Parish and Queenship of Mary where I assist youth with their journey of faith and to grow closer to God.”

Henry is one of four candidates living in the community, along with three SCJs in temporary vows and six in final vows.

The community also includes Frater Juan Carlos Castañeda Rojas, who is doing his pastoral year in Brazil, and Angel Romero, a candidate starting with ESL at SHSST before beginning his studies in Chicago.

“What interests me in this religious community are the ideals of the founder, Fr. Leo John Dehon, in regards to spirituality and social justice,” wrote Angel, who prior to candidacy worked in law. “Today, I see this reflected in the defense of human rights and civil rights of people.”

Click here to read more about the members of the formation community.

Do you know of someone who is discerning a vocation to religious life? Contact the province vocation office for information about a Come and See experience with the formation community. Call 800-609-5559 or click here to email the vocation director.

 

Dehon Lecture

Donna Grimes, the Assistant Director for African American Affairs for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, was this year’s speaker at the annual Dehon Lecture at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology on September 28. The focus of her presentation was interculturality. In her role with the USCCB she has led workshops on “intercultural competency” around the country. The sessions are designed to help parishes more fully become places of welcome to all in an increasingly diverse church.

“It’s very important that they [seminarians] pick up the skill, knowledge and attitudes, I would say, to be interculturally competent,” said Ms. Grimes in an article published by Catholic News Service in July. “We’ve got a lot of challenges out in the community that people are frustrated about, black and white and other races as well,” she continued. “The church is not immune to that.”

The USCCB has mandated that all who are involved in ministry be trained in Intercultural Competencies.

The Leo Dehon Library at SHSST has prepared a guide to resources for building Intercultural Competence for Ministry. Click here to access it.

Please remember

+Jesse Gomez, who was a maintenance worker for many years at SCJ parishes in Houston (Holy Name, St. Matthew, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and Our Lady of Guadalupe), died September 24. His wife also worked as a housekeeper/cook for many SCJs.

Centro Studi newsletter available

The most recent issue of the Centro Studi Dehoniani (Dehon Study Center) newsletter is now available online. The lead story is the North Italian Province’s recent “Dehon Week.” An ongoing formation project, the theme for the week was “Devotion to the Sacred Heart: history, images and the future.” Other newsletter topics include a review on how devotions impacted Fr. Dehon’s life, the deadline for applying for Dehon scholarships, summaries of recent meetings of the continental theological commissions, and new materials available on Dehondocs.

The electronic newsletter is produced in Italian and English (scroll past the Italian to view the English in the second half of the publication) and is produced by the Centro Studi Dehoniani in Rome. Click here to view it.

Click here to subscribe.

Bet you didn’t know…

We bet you didn’t that October is Theological Libraries Month! Thankfully, we happen to have a theological library across the drive from the Fridge Notes offices, the staff of which let us know about the national celebration. The Leo Dehon Library at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology will celebrate Theological Libraries Month with a number of events including “Spirituality Coffee Breaks” on Monday mornings from 10:15-10:30 with brief presentations on spirituality (Fr. Paul Kelly was today’s presenter), and classes in using PowerPoint on Oct. 3 at 2:15 pm in Room 1 and on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 3:30 pm in Room 3.

Questions? Call 414-529-6990 or email: [email protected]

Click here to visit the newly developed Leo Dehon Library Facebook page.

Provincial’s time

Fr. Ed Kilianski starts the week in Chicago where he will install Fr. David Szatkowski as local superior of the Dehon Formation Community. On the weekend he leaves for Mississippi to take part in Mission Education, and from there, flies to South Dakota for board meetings October 12-13. A few days later he goes to Buffalo, NY, to visit family before heading to Toronto for the North American council meetings October 17-18. October 20-21 he has meetings with the SHSST Board of Directors and October 23-26 he will be in San Antonio for CMSM meetings.

Closing shot

Fr. Francis Vu Tran, district superior of Vietnam, was the main celebrant at the vow renewal ceremony for Vincent Bat on September 28; the liturgy took place at the SCJ theology house in the Philippines.