More to “like!”
The Generalate recently created a Facebook page to help share news of the congregation. Although much of the initial focus will be on preparation for the 2015 General Chapter, it will also include links to stories and photos from and about SCJs throughout the world.
The primary language of the Generalate Facebook page is English; however, stories linked from the websites of our provinces, regions and districts will remain in their original language. The Facebook address is: www.facebook.com/dehoniansworldwide
This does not replace the Facebook page of the U.S. Province. There may be some overlap now and then, but generally the posts on each will be unique.
Stop by and visit the page! If you are a member of Facebook be sure to “like” it and share the page with your friends. You do not need to be a member of Facebook to view either page. However, only Facebook members can make comments on posts.
Another new face in Montréal
Last week Fr. Maurice Légaré informed us of the arrival of Br. Zebaze Kifack Vermont Bengourion from Cameroon. This week he shares news of another new member to the French-speaking community: Fr. Engelbert Fotsing. Originally from Cameroon, Fr. Engelbert did pastoral work for several years in La Capelle, France (the founder’s family home, which is now a retreat center). Fr. Engelbert will be doing pastoral ministry; his initial assignment is for three years. He is 52, professed his vows in 1985 and was ordained a priest in 2000.
The email addresses of the new members of the Montréal community:
Fr. Engelbert: efotsing2003@yahoo.fr and Br. Vermont: vermontscj@yahoo.fr
Please remember
+Yohana Titik Sundari, the mother of Fr. Aegidius Warsito of the Toronto community, died on September 29. Fr. Jim Casper writes that “Fr. Aegi received word that his mother was critically ill; she suffered two strokes previously and had lost her ability to speak. Fr. Aegi had already made plans to leave on October 6 so he advanced the time of his departure to Tuesday, September 30. Just as he was boarding he received word from his brother that his mother had died in Pringsewu, the province of Lampung.”
+Thomas Wilkes, a former SCJ, died September 29. His son Charles writes that Mr. Wilkes “was a brother in your ministry from 1960-1977 serving in Hales Corners and at St. Joseph Indian School in Chamberlain, SD. During this time, he was known as Br. Thomas Aquinas. I regret to inform you that my father lost a year-long battle with cancer at the age of 71. He was a devoted Catholic man and taught us as a family the same values.”
+Luigi Panteghini, the brother of former superior general Fr. Antonio Panteghini, died at the end of September.
Thank you
Fr. Anthony Kluckman writes: “On behalf of my sisters and brothers, I would like to thank all of you for your prayers and condolences on the passing of our mother, Donna M. Kluckman. The funeral services were held in Fredericksburg, TX ,and the burial was at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio. She’ll be missed but we rejoice that she is now with dad in the heavenly kingdom. Thank you for the cards and e-mails. They were much appreciated.”
Which language?
In one of Fr. Tom Cassidy’s recent blog posts from India he writes about the challenge of the country’s dozens (hundreds) of languages:
“One of the problems the district faces is the many languages spoken where we live and work,” writes Fr. Tom. “In Kerala it is Malayalam, which I am told is not an easy language to master. Both Frs. Vimal and Emmanuel come from Andhra Pradesh where Telugu is the official language. The main languages spoken in Andhra Pradesh are Telugu, Urdu, Hindi, Banjara, and English followed by Tamil, Kannada, Marathi and Oriya. Telugu is the principal and official language of the state.
“Because of the language situation pastoral work depends on what languages one knows and what language may be required. Unlike we Americans, Indians tend to know several languages and dialects; it’s in the nature of the people and, of course, Mother Necessity helps out as well. Fr. Emmanuel, for example, has taught himself to read, write and speak Malayalam, something I would find extremely difficult at any age, but it just seems to come naturally to people who learn several languages from birth on. The language issue for the Indian SCJ District will get more complicated as it expands to other areas of India. Hindi will be important in many parts of the country, but even then the local language is the one more likely to be used in liturgical situations.”
Click here to read the rest of this and other entries on the province blog.
General Chapter preparation
Br. Frank Presto reminds SCJs that each local community needs to submit the results of its discussion and responses to the three questions raised by the Preparatory Committee of the General Chapter. The synthesis committee for the U.S .Province needs local input by November 14 to meet the December deadline. Responses should be sent to Br. Frank at provsec@usprovince.org.
Preparatory information about the General Chapter is in the Members’ section of the province website. Information is also on the general website; click here to view it.
Fr. Dehon and the social question
As noted last week, Mark Peters, province director of Justice, Peace and Reconciliation, launched a website centered on JPR issues. His latest addition is to a series he began titled “Leo Dehon and the Social Question.”
Introducing the series he wrote “We don’t seem to use the phrase ‘the social question’ anymore, which is telling. Apparently there’s no longer any question that the Church should be concerned about social issues and the social life of society, nations, and the world – though there is certainly no agreement about what she should do about it. In Leo Dehon’s day, the social question was huge and much debated, for many reasons.”
In the second part of the series Mark writes about Fr. Dehon’s first years in the social apostolate when he met people like Leo Harmel, a prominent business owner and devout Catholic.
“Of this time, Dehon wrote: ‘There were latent injustices in society of which we were well aware. We had to re-create an entire social awareness. This required time and suffering. All those [charitable] works were fragile and insufficient because they did not attack the roots of the problem. The overall organization of the economy was a violation of the natural law.’ But his [Dehon’s] involvement in the social arena would soon take a back seat to a new passion,” wrote Mark.
Click here to read the rest of the text.
Directory correction
Fr. Jim Schroeder’s correct phone number is: 314-968-3765.
Provincial’s Time
Fr. Stephen Huffstetter is in the office for a few days before going to South Dakota later in the week for the board of directors meeting at St. Joseph’s Indian School.
Closing shot
Both the Province Development Office and Sacred Heart Southern Missions are leading pilgrimages in Europe this month. Fr. Dominic Peluse and Fr. Jim Schroeder are in France with province benefactors, visiting many of the historical sites of the congregation and the founder. Fr. Jack Kurps and the SHSM group are visiting Italy, including a stop at the Generalate to celebrate Mass and meet the community there.
