News & Events | October 06, 2025
Youth day in Mississippi
On Sunday, September 28, families came together from all six parishes served by Dehonians in northern Mississippi for a Wild West-themed youth day.
Held at Queen of Peace parish in Olive Branch, the event began with Mass celebrated by Fr. Jack Kurps, SCJ, spiritual director of Sacred Heart Southern Missions. Participants included a young adult choir, and students serving as lectors, ushers and greeters. Children from grades 3-6 accompanied Fr. Jack throughout the liturgy, processing in alongside him at the start of Mass, and continuing at his side during the homily and the consecration.
After Mass everyone moved outside for water balloon fights, a petting zoo, train rides, and plenty of raffle prizes, including a television, gift cards and various items from the Priests of the Sacred Heart.
Fr. Hendrik Ardianto, SCJ, rubbed a [temporary] Dehonian tattoo on his face and soon, others were following suit.
The day ended with an evening meal provided by the Queen of Peace Hispanic community and desserts prepared by the parish’s Guamanian group.
“A HUGE thank you to everyone who came, helped, and made this event possible!” said Victoria Stirek, director of Religious Education and Youth Coordinator at Queen of Peace.
The next six-parish youth day is scheduled for March, 2026 (exact date TBA) at St. Joseph parish in Holly Springs, MS.
SCJ makes his way to “Jeopardy”
There was a familiar name in one of last week’s Double Jeopardy questions on the famed television game show: “After a chance meeting in Rome, Fr. Michael van der Peet became a spiritual advisor to this ‘saint of the gutters.'” The answer? Mother Teresa.
Today’s question: Who was Fr. Michael van der Peet?
It was during a visit to Rome in 1975 that Fr. Michael said that he “saw Mother Teresa with another sister. I didn’t want to disturb her but I decided it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I introduced myself and asked her if she would pray for me.”
“Father, I would be happy to,” she said. “Will you pray for me?”
It was the beginning of a close friendship that included regular correspondence, and retreats given to Mother Teresa’s Sisters of Charity.
“She once told me, ‘You know and understand our spirituality, that’s why I keep in touch with you,’” said Fr. Michael. “That meant a lot to me, to know that she felt that we were on the same wavelength. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I am as holy as she, but she felt that I did understand who she was and what she was about.”
And it was because of that friendship that Fr. Michael was asked to go to Rome in 2002 to work on the commission that prepared Mother Teresa’s cause for beatification. On October 19, 2003, he had VIP seating at her beatification ceremony at St. Peter’s Square.
Fr. Michael, a member of the US Province, died in 2010. Click here or on the image below to view a video interview with him in which he reflected on his friendship with Mother Theresa.
Please keep in prayer
Please keep Fr. Christianus Hendrik, SCJ, in your prayers. He was admitted to the hospital in Chamberlain, SD, due to respiratory difficulties. Today he is reported to be doing better and may soon be discharged.
October birthdays
Belated birthday wishes to Fr. John van den Hengel, who celebrated his birthday last Wednesday, Oct.1, Fr. Ed Zemlik (Oct. 3), and Fr. Bob Naglich and Fr. Tony Russo (Oct. 4). Other October birthdays include Fr. Tom Cassidy on Oct. 13, Br. Dieudonné Tchouteu on Oct. 14, Fr. Maurice Légaré on Oct. 15, Fr. Christianus Hendrik on Oct. 21, Fr Bob Bossie on Oct. 23, Fr. Richard Johnston on Oct. 27, Fr. Marius Ari Saputra (Oct. 29) and Fr. Christian Hoper on Oct. 30.
WSJ Letter to the Editor
Yesterday, October 5, Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, had a Letter to the Editor published in the Wall Street Journal. It was a response to a WSJ article titled “Catholics Confront Manpower Problem.” Fr. Vien wrote from his perspective as provincial superior of a Catholic religious order that operates a seminary that serves students from around the world.
“First, as seen by Pope Leo’s XIV’s outreach to encourage vocations, there is still hope,” wrote Fr. Vien. “Our seminary, Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology in Hales Corners, WI, has tripled enrollment in the last three years. It is thriving with vocations from across the United States and also serves international priests, religious brothers and religious sisters who come to study English and Culture. Among our seminarians are many men who pursue their vocation after careers in business, education, medicine, and other areas. They bring their life experience to future ministries in very pastoral ways.”
He also wrote about how the seminary serves the needs of lay students adding that “partnering more fully with the laity is vital not just as a way to meet the needs of a church with fewer priests, but to create a church that represents and is the responsibility of all.”
Click here to access the letter online. You need a WSJ subscription to read it in full, but you can listen to the whole letter via the audio option. To do so, look for the headphone icon in the upper right corner above the image that appears with the letter.
New assignments in the US Province
Several SCJs will be starting new assignments soon. They include:
Fr. Henry Nguyen, SCJ, has been assigned to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Houston, effective December 1.
Fr. Christian Hoper, SCJ, will join the pastoral team in Mississippi, beginning January 1.
Frater Long Nguyen, SCJ, following his diaconate ordination, will serve as a deacon at Divine Mercy Parish in South Milwaukee, while also continuing part-time chaplaincy ministry.
Frater Hung Pham, SCJ, after his diaconate ordination, will be assigned to Mississippi as part of the pastoral team, effective January 1.
Fr. Ricardo Teixeira, SCJ, from Portugal, will join the pastoral team at Our Lady of Guadalupe, effective October 20.
New general treasurer
This time the title of the news item is correct. Our apologies for last week misidentifying Fr. Robert Galla, SCJ, as the new general treasurer. As noted in the correction, he was recently named as the new Procurator General.
The new General Treasurer is Fr. Leonardo Javier Zampa, SCJ, from the APU Province (Argentina-Paraguay-Uruguay); his term beings on November 15. He has served as a local treasurer and provincial treasurer in his home entity, as well as two terms as provincial superior. Fr. Leonardo has a licentiate in Spiritual Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
And a new CSD coordinator
On October 3, Fr. Aloysius Yudistiro Adi Fitri Tyasanto (Fr. Yudis), a member of the Indonesian Province, was named coordinator of the Centro Studi Dehoniani (Dehonian Study Center) in Rome.
Fr. Yudis has been a member of the International College community since 2022, during which time he collaborated actively with the Study Center.
Saying good-bye to Fr. Chuck
“He saw each person AS a person. He really saw into your heart; I believe that was a gift that he had.”
The quote is from SCJ Fr. Chuck Wonch’s sister, Mary, who was speaking about her brother prior to the Mass of Christian Burial for him last Tuesday, September 30. As noted earlier, Fr. Chuck died on September 22; he was 78.
“What I came to experience about Chuck was the graciousness of this man,” said Fr. Jim Walters, SCJ, reflecting at the wake about his time with Fr. Chuck in Lower Brule, SD. “He felt completely relaxed with the people. He could go out and visit some of the most challenging people in the communities and sit with them for hours talking. Chuck was very gracious that way; truly adept at being present with people.”
Fr. Quang Nguyen, SCJ, noted that 25 years ago Fr. Chuck – then a seminarian – served at Fr. Quang’s ordination. “Now, I have the opportunity to serve him,” he said at the start of his homily.
“He had great integrity, he had an ability to listen,” he continued. “In all he did he showed us how to live and love life, the greatest gift that God has given to us… today in Fr. Chuck we celebrate the culmination of a rich life, a life of love.”
Click here to view photos from the funeral. They are also on the US Province Facebook page.
Dehon Book Club
Last Friday, October 3, the Dehon Book Club met to continue its discussion of the Christian Social Manual by Fr. Dehon. This month’s focus was on Chapter VI: The True Solutions: Actions by the Church, which covers the Church’s response to social issues caused by the French Revolution and the negative effects of industrialization. Chapter VI emphasizes that various groups are involved in addressing social problems, including the Church, the state, employers, and occupational associations. Fr. Dehon writes that “the role of the Church is represented by the priest who acts as its authorized representative, spokesperson, hands, heart, and minister of the sacraments that confer divine grace,” said Fr. Joseph Mukuna, SCJ, director of the Dehon Study Center, which hosts the monthly book club.
The main takeaway from Friday’s book club discussion was the emphasis on the importance of the Church being attentive to people’s needs and adapting its pastoral strategies to current challenges. Click here or on the image above to view a recording of the session. Please note that the audio is quiet at first but improves during the opening prayer.
The Dehon Book Club meets in person and via Zoom on the first Friday of each month. The next meeting will be held on November 7 and the book to be reviewed is Father Dehon and the French School by William Recker. Please contact Fr. Joseph to receive a copy of the text or if you have questions about the Dehon Book Club. Write or call him at Jmukuna@dehoniansusa.org or 414-427-7265
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