More anniversaries!
Last week the province honored Dehonians who celebrated 60, 50 and 30 years of vows with the Priests of the Sacred Heart. On September 14, the Sacred Heart Community at SHML hosted a celebration for SCJs noting 60, 50 and 40 years of ordained ministry. To accommodate the number of guests, the anniversary Mass was moved across the street to Sacred Heart Monastery / Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
This year’s priesthood jubilarians include Fr. Tom Lind and Fr. Richard Johnston (60 years of ordained ministry; Fr. Richard is pictured at the top of the page with Fr. Quang Nguyen), Fr. Mark Fortner (50 years) and Fr. Jim Walters, Fr. Tim Gray and Fr. Yvon Sheehy (40 years). Fr. Tom and Fr. Tim were unable to be at the celebration but were remembered in prayer.
Click here to view photos from Friday night’s Mass.
Click here to read more on the province website.
“We would like to thank the Provincial Administration and members of the U.S. Province for your support and participation in the celebration of our ordination anniversaries on Friday, September 14,” wrote the jubilarians. “Many in attendance remarked how moving was the celebration of Eucharist. Relatives, friends, former colleagues and parishioners from a number of local parishes were impressed by the spirit of SCJ hospitality. Our gratitude to the ESL SCJs who helped coordinate and serve at Mass, to Barb Haag and the Sodexo food staff for the excellent meal and care provided to our guests, to Mary Gorski who helped prepare the liturgical aids, and to many others who helped with the celebration. All of you helped make it memorable.”
Fr. Tadyszak, eldest member of province, dies
Fr. Leonard Tadyszak, SCJ, the eldest member of the US Province at 96, died September 16, at the Congregational Home in Brookfield, WI. He recently celebrated his 74th anniversary of profession.
A Milwaukee native, Fr. “Tady,” as he was often called, learned of the Priests of the Sacred Heart through an advertisement in a religious magazine. “It was so small I could barely see it,” he said of the ad. “But I felt like I was called to serve the Sacred Heart so I contacted them.”
His first assignment was as a Latin teacher at Divine Heart Seminary.
“I didn’t know Latin all that well,” he said, looking back on that first year. “But I stayed about two days ahead of the class so I could figure out what they were going to ask. After seven years I actually got to know the language pretty well!”
In 1961, he took on a totally new assignment – he left for De Aar, South Africa. Fr. Tady enjoyed being a missionary and stayed for four years. He then returned to education before becoming the province’s regular “help-out man,” filling in at parishes when others were on vacation, or serving until a permanent SCJ was assigned to a location. He retired in 1992.
Funeral services for Fr. Leonard are scheduled for Thursday, September 20, at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake in Franklin, WI. Reception of the body/visitation will begin at 9:30 am. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 am. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Mausoleum.
Please remember
Please keep in prayer the family of Fr. Zbigniew (Ziggy) Morawiec. His mother, Maria Morawiec, died September 13, in Poland. She was 85 years old.
Dehonians called to build bridges in divisive times
“And so for you who are Dehonians, wherever you are, how are you prophetic?” asked Fr. Jose Gonzales of SCJs. “Are you faithful to the charism of your congregation? Are you being faithful to reparation? As you know, when reparation happens, reconciliation is possible.”
During an informal presentation September 11 at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake, Fr. Jose, a Milwaukee diocesan priest, shared his experience of ministering to undocumented migrants at St. Adalbert parish in Milwaukee. He is pastor of the parish, one of the largest Latino parishes in the area, as well as a member of the Hispanic Ministries staff at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
“As Dehonians, you must remind us that there is a heart,” he said. “You are called to be bridge-builders among cultures calling forth the beauty of humanity and yet it is so hard to do. We seem to be more and more polarized, even with our table conversations, they have become so politicalized. Often, we just want to get away from the table and yet the invitation is to stay at the table and stay in the conversation.
“In these moments, I am discovering more and more the importance of drawing strength from being present to the Blessed Sacrament.”
Teacher inspired by Fr. Dehon
In last Friday’s Dehonian Spirituality e-newsletter, Joe Tyrell, a religion teacher at St. Joseph’s Indian School, reflected on how he is inspired in his work by the founder.
“The love for all people is what really stands out to me when I think of Fr. Dehon,” wrote Joe. “Here at St. Joseph’s Indian School, we get a variety of students that come from different reservations. I remind myself that I need to love everyone as Jesus did and as Fr. Dehon tried to imitate. Respecting and showing love to all students, whether they have been at St. Joseph’s Indian School for eight years or only four weeks, helps to promote a sense of belonging or welcome…
“Reminding my students that Jesus can bring them peace in their lives is very important. This is similar to what Fr. Dehon did for the workers in France, reminding them through all their tough times the love of Jesus will always be with them.”
Click here to read his full reflection, as well as the rest of the September 14 issue of Dehonian Spirituality.
Click here to subscribe to the weekly publication, sent by email most Fridays.
Save the date!
New to the calendar is SHSST’s second annual Preaching Conference scheduled January 7-9, 2019. Fr. Mark Mastin, SCJ, will be one of the presenters, discussing preaching to the military and their families. The overall theme of the 2019 conference will be “Preaching Profound Possibilities on the Lukan Parables.”
More information will be available soon. Questions now? Contact Dn. Steve Kramer, Director of Homiletics and Assistant Professor of Pastoral Studies at SHSST, at skramer@shsst.edu, 414-858-4767.
Other calendar items to note:
January 8-10, 2019: Provincial Conference (“Our Future: Together in Community and Ministry, Part 2,” Second Provincial Conference of those in active ministry).
June 10, 2019: Province Jubilee Celebrations
June 11-14, 2019: Province Assembly
Also, don’t forget the Pope Francis Symposium, which is scheduled for October 8-11, 2018, at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. For more information about the symposium, click here. If you have questions about registration, please contact Kimberly Gardner at kgardner@shsst.edu or call her at 414-529-6967.
Closing shot
Fr. Jim Schroeder, SCJ, shares the photo below of Fr. Wayne Jenkins, SCJ, saying good-bye to the community in Indonesia. As reported earlier, Fr. Wayne went to Indonesia, where he had previously studied and ministered, for his 50th jubilee trip. Unfortunately, he became ill soon after his arrival and had to spend part of his visit in the hospital with a respiratory infection. He is doing better but still recovering; he will be returning to the United States this week.
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