Congratulations Fr. Tom!
On August 28, during the Opening Mass for the 2024-25 academic year, Fr. Thomas Cassidy, SCJ, was installed as the 11th president-rector of Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. A position that Fr. Tom has held previously, he is serving as interim president-rector. Fr. Stephen Huffstetter, SCJ, former vicar general, will assume the position full-time next year. Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, provincial superior, installed Fr. Tom. Two of SCJ seminarians also took part in the ceremony: Frater Hung Pham, SCJ, was the cross bearer and Frater Jacob Smith, SCJ, was cantor.
Among the concelebrants at the Mass was Fr. Luke Strand, rector of St. Francis de Sales Seminary of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. SHSST partners with the seminary, providing the academic component of seminary education for the five dioceses served by St. Francis.
At the end of the liturgy, SHSST administration and support staff, faculty and students were commissioned for the year.
Keep in prayer
After diagnosis in 2022 of a melanoma in his left eye, Fr. Tony Russo, SCJ, underwent radiation treatment to shrink this tumor. Unfortunately, the growth of that tumor has progressed to the point where he needs to have his eye removed. Fr. Tony is having surgery today, September 9, at UI Health in Chicago. It is anticipated he will return to Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake by the end of the day.
Please keep him in prayer.
Please remember
+ Fr. Yohanes Sono Pribadi, a member of the Indonesian Province, died on August 27. He was born in 1950, professed in 1980 and ordained in 1979.
+Fr. Geradus Strijbosch, a member of the Dutch Region, died on September 3. He was born in 1931, professed in 1954 and ordained in 1960.
+ Sylvie St-Jacques, the sister-in-law of Fr. Richard Woodbury, SCJ, died on September 3 from cancer. She was 66. Fr. Richard is a member of the Canadian Region, attached to the community in Montréal.
SEVENTY years in vows!
On Saturday, September 8, Fr. John Strittmatter, SCJ, celebrated his 70th anniversary of religious life. Originally from Pennsylvania, Fr. John has spent most of those years as a missionary in South Africa. “I don’t even think that I have a US passport anymore,” said the SCJ priest when he retired in 2012. For him, South Africa is home. But even though he has not been back to the US in many years, Fr. John is well-remembered by his SCJ brothers. A few of them – with the help of Br. Andy Gancarczyk, SCJ – recorded a video greeting for his jubilee. Click here or on the image above to view it.
Happy anniversary Fr. John and thank you for your many, MANY years of religious life and ministry!
Learn about the Hebrew-Jewish calendar
Discover the origins and structure of the Hebrew-Jewish calendar and explore the significance of the upcoming High Holydays as the Jewish year begins. Liran Gerassi, newly named director of the Lux Center at SHSST, will host a presentation in the seminary lobby on September 25 from 1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
Click here to RSPV by Monday, September 23.
Thank you
As he travels through the province celebrating Masses of Thanksgiving at Dehonian parishes, Fr. Paul Phong Hoang, SCJ, also wishes to extend his thanks to the many people who supported him in his ordination to the priesthood on June 1.
“I appreciate and am grateful to my fellow SCJ brothers – and many others – who were able to be at the ordination in person, but also those who were far away, but still with me in prayer on that day, and who continue to support me. Thank you.”
Photos from several of the Masses of Thanksgiving have been posted on the province Facebook page. Click here to access it.
Calendar items
Please note these upcoming events:
OCTOBER 7-10: The Dehonian Conference on the Dual Threats of Climate Change and Nuclear Weapons; Olive Branch, MS. The registration deadline has passed, but if interested in taking part, please contact Carole Johnson at [email protected] for more information.
NOVEMBER 12: Zoom presentation by Dr. Paul Ashton on how to better welcome international members in community. The one-hour session begins at 10:00 a.m. (central). The Zoom link will be shared with SCJs closer to the presentation date.
DECEMBER 5: Advent Hour of Recollection for SCJs led by Fr. vanThanh Nguyen, SVD. The topic will be migration; the one-hour session begins at 10:00 a.m. (central). The Zoom link will be shared with SCJs closer to the presentation date.
DECEMBER 10: Advent Hour of Recollection for employees and collaborators via Zoom (SCJs welcome!) will begin at 10:00 a.m. (central). The Zoom link will be shared publicly closer to the presentation date.
International smiles!
The Sacred Heart Monastery community, SCJ seminarians, and Dehonian students from around the world in the ECS program at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology enjoyed an informal dinner at a local Mexican restaurant to celebrate the start of a new school year. If you look close, you can even see our SHSST president-rector tucked in the back.
Newly ordained deacon at St. Martin of Tours
On Saturday, September 7, several SCJs were among those who attended the ordination ceremony of 11 men to the permanent diaconate. Among the newly ordained was Dn. Tien Pham, from St. Martin of Tours parish in Franklin, WI. The parish is served by the Priests of the Sacred Heart.
Instrumental to his vocational discernment, and to his ministry at the parish, has been Dn. Tien’s participation in the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement. Fr. Henry Nguyen, SCJ, who has also been active in VEYM, wrote a reflection about the diaconate ordination and how it reminded him of his own vocational journey. The following is excerpted from that reflection:
“Recently, CARA, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University published a report on the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement (VEYM): Impact on Faith Life and Vocation Discernment.
“I thought about the report this past weekend as I and other SCJs had the privilege and honor of attending and concelebrating at the Diaconate Ordination of Dn. Tien Pham and other permanent deacons.
“Dn. Tien has served at St. Martin of Tours for many years with its VEYM Chapter and with the Vietnamese choir before his diaconate formation. VEYM aims to form holy men and women as well as inspire many to pursue their vocation. He and I have both been youth leaders, which helped us develop skills for ministry.
“Yesterday (Sept. 8) Dn. Tien preached for the first time at his Mass of Thanksgiving; it reminded me of my own vocation as a Dehonian priest, which was also rooted in VEYM. In his first homily, he spoke about God, and how the word itself makes up two other words: ‘Go’ and ‘Do’. These two words reminded me of the call of mission and service.”
Dn. Tien is pictured above with his wife, front row, fourth from left. The photo of the newly ordained deacons is from the Facebook page of the archdiocese of Milwaukee.
The gift of music
“Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology received a truly remarkable gift: a 1964 Bösendorfer Model 275 9’ concert grand piano for Sacred Heart Chapel,” wrote Dr. Benjamin Stone, SHSST Director of Liturgy and Music. “The piano comes to Sacred Heart from Augustine Academy, who acquired the piano when they purchased the campus of the former Cardinal Stritch University. The Academy did not have the space or use for the instrument and was glad to donate it to Sacred Heart so it will continue to be used for beautiful music and the glory of God.”
Bösendorfer has been making pianos in Vienna, Austria, since 1828, and is the oldest continually operating high-end piano maker in the world; 200-300 are produced each year.
A dedication recital is being planned.
Walk the Rosary with us
The Province Development Office is hosting a “Walk for the Rosary” at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology on October 5. Anyone is welcome to join in the walk, which will include members of the SHSST community, as well as other Dehonians. The walk will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will include spiritual presentations, as well as time for personal prayer and reflection. Lunch will be served at noon. The cost is $10. Please call Pam or Jessica at 1-866-268-0157 to reserve a spot. The RSVP deadline is September 25, 2024.
Hallo from the Netherlands!
Fr. Jan de Jong, SCJ, is pictured here with his sister- in-law, Ria, taking a break after they toured Amsterdam’s Royal Palace. Fr. Jan is visiting family in the Netherlands as a part of his celebration of his 60th year of priesthood (he was ordained on March 7, 1964). Br. Brian Tompkins, SCJ, is traveling with him. Both are members of the SCJ community at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake.
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