Conference concludes month-long visitation
It may have been the NORTH AMERICAN Continental Conference but it reflected an internationality that went well beyond Canada and the United States. SCJs from Africa, South America, Europe and Asia were among those in the conference room not only as guests but primarily as fellow SCJs of the Canadian Region and US Province.
Among them was Fr. Gustave N’dotoni Lulendo, a Congolese member of the Ottawa community; Fr. Zbigniew Morawiec, a Polish SCJ who serves at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Houston; and Fr. Vincent Suparman from Indonesia, a member of the Lower Brule Pastoral Team in South Dakota.
Over a dozen countries were represented among conference participants.
Of course, the participants also included Fr. José Ornelas Carvalho, superior general, and Fr. John van den Hengel, vicar. The North American Continental Conference was the concluding moment of their general visitation of the United States and Canada. At least once in his six-year term a superior general is expected to visit each of the locations of the congregation. North America was Fr. Ornelas’ final stop as he nears the end of his second administration.
A continental conference has been held at the end of each of the visitations. The North American conference took place September 24-27. Participants split their time between the Provincial Conference Center on the grounds of Sacred Heart Monastery/School of Theology and across the road at the newly completed Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake.
“Dehonians in North America: Celebration. Reflection. Action,” was the conference theme.
Click here to read more about the conference.
Photo links:
North American Continental Conference
High-resolution copy of the group photo from the conference
Photo album from the North American visitation
Follow-up
A variety of follow-up activities to the North American Continental Conference are anticipated. Among them will be an online survey. SCJs are asked to watch their email boxes for the survey and complete it as soon as possible.
A video of Fr. Stefan Tertünte’s presentation on “Fr. Dehon’s spirituality and social engagement” will soon be available, as well as his written text.
Update
Fr. Pat Lloyd
Cell phone: 715-880-0225
Celebrating religious life
The night before the North American Continental Conference began SCJs gathered at Sacred Heart Monastery/School of Theology to celebrate the 50th and 60th jubilees of five of its members: Fr. Johnny Klingler, Br. Peter Mankins and Fr. Jim Schroeder (50 years) and Fr. Frank Clancy and Fr. Larry Rucker (60 years).
Fr. Frank, 81, is originally from Chicago and ministered first as a brother with the community in assignments at St. Joseph’s Indian School and Divine Heart Seminary. His next assignment was also at a school, but this time as a student. He became a seminarian at Sacred Heart School of Theology and was ordained in 1974. He ministered in South Dakota, Wisconsin and Texas, with his last assignment before retirement as a hospital and prison chaplain.
Fr. Larry Rucker, 79 was born in New York State but spent much of his adult life in South Dakota. His first assignment after ordination was at St. Joseph’s parish in Cherry, Creek, SD; he continued ministry in South Dakota for almost 30 years. In 2001 he headed south for parish ministry in Mississippi until his retirement in 2001.
Fr. Johnny Klingler, 78, is from Paterson, N.J., and was ordained in 1967. Although he served in parish ministry in St. Louis and on the Cheyenne River Reservation, as well as in education, much of his religious life has been in administration. From 1977 – 1983 he was provincial superior and from 1985 – 1991 he was a member of the General Council in Rome.
Br. Peter Mankins, 84, is a Chicago native. His first assignment was at Divine Heart Seminary and it became a stepping stone to a lifetime devoted to formation ministry. Br. Peter served at Bellefontaine in Lenox, Mass., Dehon Seminary in Great Barrington, Mass., Dehon Seminary in Lanesboro, Mass., the SCJs’ undergraduate program in San Antonio and finally in his hometown of Chicago with the Dehon Formation Community.
Now retired, as are Frs. Johnny, Frank and Larry, Br. Peter is a member of the Sacred Heart Community at SHML.
Fr. Jim Schroeder, 69, is from southern Illinois and has spent many years of ministry not too far from where he grew up. A licensed psychotherapist, he has been based in St. Louis since 1989, focusing on the treatment of priests, religious and other church ministers through individual and group therapy. His doctorate in clinical psychology is from Loyola University, Chicago. He also did sabbatical studies in France. At the province and international levels Fr. Jim has served on the Religious Life Commission, the North American Spirituality Commission, the Province Finance Commission and twice as a delegate from the U.S. Province to the General Chapter in Rome.
Click here to read more about the jubilarians on the province website.
Click here to view photos from the celebration
Please remember
Clyde Murray, the father of Fr. Greg Murray of the Canadian Region, died September. He was 88 years old.
Fr. Félicien Le Douaron, a member of the Franco-European Province, died September 24. He was born in 1929, professed in 1948 and ordained in 1956.
Powwow 2013
The video from St. Joseph’s Indian School’s 37th annual wacipi –– powwow –– is available on YouTube.
Click here to view it.
Personnel Directory
Nancy Gray, province administrative assistant, wants to let SCJs know that the printed version of the SCJ personnel directory is completed and will be mailed soon. Please let her know if you need more than one copy. You can call her at 414-427-4261 or email her at [email protected].
An online personnel directory is also available in the Members’ section of the province website. For assistance in accessing the directory, contact Mary Gorski.
