Here - Priests of the Sacred Heart

SCJ NEWSa newsletter of the U.S. Province of the Priests of the Sacred HeartIn this issue...Remembering Br LarryGauthier, p. 5SCJs return to first missionin South Africa, p. 6LAST MINUTE NEWS:Congolese novitiateattacked, p. 8August 2010A second term for Fr. Cassidy;new faces on Provincial Council“We all know the many challengeswe face, the difficultiesthey cause us andthe limits they place upon us,” said Fr.Tom Cassidy, SCJ, in his opening remarksto members of the province atthe election assembly. “That beingsaid, if we listen to the Spirit in thedepth of our hearts, and if we are respectfuland attentive to what ourbrothers are saying to us, perhaps wecan begin to wonder, and out of thatwonder imagine, and out of that imaginingwe can change. In that changewe just might truly become prophetsof love and servants of reconciliation.”A day after he made those remarksFr. Tom was elected to his secondthree-year term as provincial superiorof the U.S. Province.He and the newly elected fivemembercouncil were installed duringa July 26 liturgy at Sacred Heart Schoolof Theology.Familiar face in administrationFr. Cassidy, 67, was first elected asprovincial superior in 2007. At thetime of his election, he was presidentrectorof Sacred Heart School ofTheology in Hales Corners, Wis.Before assuming duties at SacredHeart, Fr. Cassidy served two termson the General Council of the Priestsof the Sacred Heart in Rome. Prior tohis first-term election in 1991, he wason the provincial staff for the U.S.Province. He came to theProvincialate after serving as principalABOVE: Fr. John Czyzynski, SCJ, a former provincial superior and councilor, congratulates Br. Duane Lemke, SCJ, on his election to theProvincial Council. BELOW: as it did following the previous election, the province gathered for a transitional assembly during whichthe new administration was installed. It began with a prayer service to remember those who had died during the past three years.

SCJ NEWSThe new administration: Br. Duane Lemke, Fr. Ed Kilianski, Fr. Byron Haaland, Fr. TomCassidy, Fr. Jack Kurps and Fr. Bill Pitcavage.and then as superintendent of St.Joseph’s Indian School inChamberlain, S.D. Fr. Cassidy was alsoprincipal of Divine Heart Seminaryin Donaldson, Ind., and spent severalyears teaching.Fr. Cassidy is a 1971 graduate ofSacred Heart School of Theology, andalso holds a master’s degree in politicalscience from Catholic University inWashington, D.C., and a second master’sdegree in religious studies fromMundelein College in Chicago. In1978, he earned an EducationSpecialist (EdS) degree in SchoolAdministration from Ball StateUniversity in Muncie, Ind.Currently, Fr. Cassidy is also presidentof the Conference of MajorSuperiors of Men (CMSM) in theUnited States.A Milwaukee native, Fr. Cassidyprofessed his first vows with the communityin 1962 and was ordained tothe priesthood in 1971.New facesOnly one of the five elected haspreviously been on the ProvincialCouncil: Fr. Jack Kurps, SCJ, whoserved during the past two administrations.The rest of the council includesFr. Byron Haaland, SCJ, Fr. EdKilianski, SCJ, Br. Duane Lemke, SCJ,and Fr. Bill Pitcavage, SCJ.Fr. Bill was the first to be electedand following tradition, as the first hewill also serve as vice-provincial.Originally from Long Island, NY,Fr. Bill was in the Navy medical corpsbefore entering candidacy with thePriests of the Sacred Heart. He wasprofessed in 1969 and ordained in1976. Fr. Bill is a graduate of SacredHeart School of Theology.Along with his call to religious lifehe said that he almost always felt a desireto serve as a missionary, “alongwith the grace needed to go with it, theability to be in a different environmentand adapt to it,” he said.His first assignment after ordinationwas at St. Joseph’s Indian Schoolwhere he was a resident director andchaplain. Two years later, he was ministeringat a technical school inLesotho, a small, economically depressedcountry surrounded by SouthAfrica. The Lesotho project didn’t lastlong, but going to Africa confirmed Fr.Bill’s desire for missionary service.After a short stint back in the States, Fr.Bill returned to Africa, first filling in forMsgr. Aloysius Dettmer, SCJ, inMiddelburg (American SCJ Fr. JohnStrittmatter now serves there). In 1983,Fr. Bill began ministry at St. Patrickparish in Port Elizabeth. He alsoserved two terms as superior of whatwas then the Region of De Aar.In 1999 he returned to ministry inthe United States, first on the CheyenneRiver Reservation. In 2001 he wasnamed pastor of St. James parish inChamberlain, SD, where he continuesto minister.Always wanted to be a priestFr. Ed Kilianski, 55, has served invocations, in ministry to those livingwith HIV/AIDS, as province justiceand peace director and in parish ministry.He was professed in 1975 and ordainedin 1983.“When I was seven years old, PopeJohn XXIII died and on the radio theysaid that he wanted to be a priest whenWith out-going and incoming councilors looking on, Fr. Tom Cassidy renews his commitment to province leadership.

August, 2010, Vol. 31, No. 4 3he was 11 years old,” said Fr. Ed. “Isaid to my mom and dad that, ‘I’m onlyseven and I want to be a priest, doesthat mean that someday I’ll be thepope?’“They laughed as everyone doeswhen I tell the story but somehow Iknew that one day I would be apriest.”He told that story to parishionerswhen he introduced himself as thenew pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupeparish in Houston, Texas in 2008. Hecame to the assignment after a sixmonthstudy sabbatical in Mexico toimprove his Spanish language skills.Although he had done several monthlongstudy sessions, it was the extendedtime in Mexico that strengthenedboth his language skills and his call toHispanic ministry.“To be immersed in Spanish for sixmonths; to celebrate the Mass and getto know the people; this made a hugeimpact on me,” said Fr. Ed. “I just feltthat it was where the Lord was leadingme, where I was being called in ministry.”Now he is being called to anotherministry: provincial leadership.“It was both humbling and affirmingwhen my name was brought forthduring the election assembly,” he said.At the same time it made me a littlenervous. My thoughts were ‘how am Igoing to do this and be the pastor atOur Lady of Guadalupe?’ In the end, Igave it over to the Holy Spirit andtrusted that if this is what the communitywanted, I was willing to serve…“For me, I see provincial administrationas a ministry of service. InSpanish, there’s an expression that isused everywhere in Mexico whichsays, “Para servirles” (in order to serveyou). As a Priest of the Sacred Heart, Iam here to serve.“Our Constitutions state that the‘service of authority is a true ministry.’[#107] Also, I firmly believe that‘Within our communities, it is in trueand fraternal dialogue, in the light ofand with a view toward the commongood, that we search together for thewill of God.’ [No. 109] I hope to besomeone who listens to and who collaborateswith all our brothers for thecommon good.”Home-grownvocationBr. DuaneLemke, 38, is a“home-grown”SCJ. Professed in1997, he grew upin an SCJ parishin South Dakotaand as a teen,worked for theSCJ communitywhen it had apastoral team inEagle Butte, SD.“I came to thePriests of theSacred Heart inJanuary, 1995, aftermy collegiate yearsat the University ofMary in Bismarck,N.D.,” said Br. Duane.He earned a master’sdegree in Pastoral Studies fromCatholic Theological Union inChicago, but said that in formation healso “began to learn how to be a Priestof the Sacred Heart: one who is calledto promote God’s love in the heart ofpeople and society.” Unlike CTU, hisstudy of the later has no graduationdate. He adds that it is a “lifelongcourse of study!”His first ten years of ministrywere in and around Lower Brule, S.D.“As a member of the CatholicPastoral Team, I ministered to youthand elders, taught religious educationto youth and adults, and was apastoral associate to St. Michael’sParish in Kennebec,” he said.“Memories of the people, events andexperiences I had there will alwaysbe with me, and continue to influencemy ministry.”Br. Duane is now director of theprovince formation program inChicago. “Formation ministry is quitedifferent from parish ministry, but Icount myself fortunate to be with theseyoung men as they celebrate, struggleand study at school while preparingthemselves for novitiate and religiouslife.”Clockwise from upper right: Frater DuyNguyen does a reading; Fr John van denHengel, general councilor, was the maincelebrant at the opening Mass of theelection assembly; Novice Joseph Vucounts voters present; Fr. Greg Murray ofthe Canadian Region was moderator ofthe election assembly.Continuing to serveReturning to the council after servingin Fr. Tom’s first administration, aswell as during the term of Fr. RichardMacDonald, SCJ, is Fr. Jack Kurps.Originally from Chicago, Ill., Fr.Jack professed vows with the Priests ofThe SCJ NEWS is published by the U.S.Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart(SCJs). Articles, photos and suggestions arealways welcome. Editorial offices are locatedat P.O. Box 289, Hales Corners, WI53130-0289(414) 427-4266.Email: marygorski@sbcglobal.netMary Gorski, editor.Postage prepaid.Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.Priests of the Sacred Heart

August, 2010, Vol. 31, No. 44SCJ NEWSthe Sacred Heart in 1972 and was ordainedin 1977.His first assignment landed him ina place that he still enjoys callinghome: Mississippi. Starting in 1980 atQueen of Peace parish in Olive Branch,Miss., he is now executive director ofSacred Heart Southern Missions,which is a combination of what usedto be SHSM and the Sacred HeartLeague.For eight years Fr. Jack was directorof the province vocation office. Hehas also served the province on a varietyof committees and commissions,and was a delegate to the 1997 generalchapter.“I have always found it to be affirmingto be nominated for the council;it is even more so to be elected,”said Fr. Jack. “The past six years haverequired a commitment of time and energynot only for the council meetingsthemselves but for meeting preparation,teleconference calls, emails andtravel. But, I have enjoyed it and foundit to be rewarding as well as challenging.I consider service to the provinceto be an important part of who I am. Ilook forward to serving as a member ofthis administration as the province togethercreates our future.”Based in SCJ spiritualityFr. Byron Haaland, 61, was the fifthcouncilor elected. A California native,he professed vows in 1970 and was ordainedin 1977.Formation, spirituality, and retreatministry have been the mainstays of Fr.Byron’s life as an SCJ. He was on theformation team of the Chicago Houseof Studies, of the undergraduate formationprogram in San Antonio, andfor the North American novitiate inDetroit.However, it is retreat ministrywhich has had a special place in hisheart since he directed his first retreatas a deacon. For many years, his retreatwork was based out of St Joseph’sRetreat Center in Baileys Harbor, Wis.But he has also traveled the country,and internationally, giving retreats fora wide variety of groups and organizations.In the 1980s and 1990s Fr. Byronserved on the Wisconsin State Boardfor Adult Children of Alcoholics. “Wefocused on getting information toteachers, administrators, counselorsand parents to help them understandhow alcohol and drugs affect children.”Out of that experience came a retreatseries that Fr. Byron developedfor adult children of alcoholics. Hespent eight years presenting the retreataround the country, including atSacred Heart School of Theology,where it was done as a part of the continuingeducation program.He has also presented retreats toparticipants in Alcoholics Anonymous.“There are many similarities in 12-stepprograms and SCJ spirituality,” he said.“I think that SCJ spirituality kind of ‘catapults’you into a poverty of spirit thathelps you to see your powerlessness.”And from that sense of “powerlessness,”said Fr. Byron, one realizes that itis only through God that “we can doanything.”With a full schedule that includesministry at St. Ann Center forIntergenerational Care in Milwaukeeand serving with the formation departmentat Sacred Heart School ofTheology, Fr. Byron has had to lessenhis retreat schedule a bit in recentmonths.But whatever he does he said thatollowing a tradition began in 2007,members of the U.S. Provincewere invited to a two-day assembly asa sort of “kick-off” for the new provincialadministration.Meetings took place at theProvincial Conference Center on thegrounds of Sacred Heart Monthebasis is always the same: SCJ spirituality.“Welcoming the spirit, respondingto Christ’s love, seeking unionand communion with Jesus, and cooperatingin the work of redemption.That is SCJ spirituality in a nutshell.”It’s the base of his retreat ministry,and the base of everything else he does.Continuing in administrationSeveral appointments were madeby the new administration soon afterits election. Dn. David Nagel, SCJ,will continue to serve as provincetreasurer and Br. Frank Presto, SCJ,will remain as provincial secretary.Other provincial appointments will bemade in September.Walkingtogether towardthe futureThe newest member of the province, Fr. Hendrik (center) voted in his first election assemblyF

August, 2010, Vol. 31, No. 45SCJ NEWSastery/School of Theology July 26-27.The new administration was blessedand installed during an evening liturgyon the first day. Fr. Vien Nguyen,SCJ, the youngest member of the outgoingcouncil, was the main celebrantand led the installation ceremony.A significant focus of the Julygathering was discussion of aprovince “program.” The general administrationput together a plan for itssix-year term. Similarly, provinces, regionsand districts have also beenasked to develop a plan or program.Using the general plan as a startingpoint for a province program, thenewly elected provincial administrationidentified eight areas of focus forthe U.S. Province: 1) spirituality, 2)our life in common, 3) vocations, 4)formation –– both initial and on-going,5) justice, peace and reconciliation,6) ministries, 7) mission and internationalcollaboration, and 8) communication.Those at the assembly discussedthe eight headings. They reflected oneach topic in general, and then gavespecific suggestions for action.Much of the talk focused on thesharing of SCJ spirituality. How canSCJ parishes and other ministries becomemore “Dehonian?” How can SCJspirituality be shared with others?And, how can SCJs better learn aboutand discuss their spiritual heritage?Over and over, SCJs came back tothe same conclusion: everything flowsout of spirituality. Ministry, life incommunity, prayer, communication,vocational development –– “everythingthat is SCJ,” said a member atthe assembly, “everything that we doand who we are flows out of our spirituality.”There was a call to be “more international.”It is hoped that more membersof the province can experience thewider congregation, both those in formationand those who have been invows for many years. Hand in handwith that, there was a call for moremembers of the province to try tolearn a second language.Vocational development as aprovince commitment –– not simplythe task of a few people in the vocationoffice – was discussed. How canthe membership learn to better welcomeothers to the community? Cannew methods of outreach be utilized?How can the province make the bestuse of the internet?Reflecting on past efforts with justiceand peace several SCJs suggestedthat the province focus on one or twoareas where it can have impact, suchas immigration.And while present communicationstructures have served theprovince well, including provincepublications and web-based resources,SCJs called for better interpersonalcommunication. How canlocal communities discuss provinceconcerns and give feedback to othercommunities and province administration?How can the internet be betterused to share the SCJ message withothers?The council will review the inputit received at the assembly and use itto formulate the province program. Itis hoped that the program can be finalizedby the end of the year.PHOTOS: More photos from boththe Election Assembly and theTransition Assembly can be viewedat: www.scjusa.smugmug.comRemembering Br. Larry...Br. Larry Gauthier, 83, died earlier this summer. Professed in 1952,he had been with the SCJs for almost 60 years.Originally from Montana, Br. Larry was a man who quietly workedin the background of the province. His first assignment was at SacredHeart Monastery where worked the farm that was once associated withit. He then went to the SCJs’ Kilroe Seminary in Pennsylvania, wherehe did similar work.He continued to take care of maintenance, carpentry and farmneeds at Divine Heart Seminary and later at Immaculate Heart of MarySeminary.Eventually the farms thathelped to support the seminarieswere phased out and Br. Larrymoved to support roles atSacred Heart School ofTheology, St. Lawrence parish inSan Antonio and with the SCJcommunity in Raymondville,Texas.In 2001 Br. Larry retired andjoined the Villa Maria community.During the past year he livedat the Congregational Home inBrookfield, Wis., where he died.A familiar site in the VillaMaria chapel for many years:Br. Larry at prayer

August, 2010, Vol. 31, No. 46SCJ NEWSSCJ ministryreturns to St.Teresa MissionRoots of South AfricanProvince in rural missionAfirst-time visitor to St. TeresaMission in the Diocese ofAliwal North, South Africa,notices many things. First, there arethe children. Young children andteenagers; laughing, playing gamesand practicing music for an upcomingMass.There are ladies in purple, representingthe St. Ann Society. Otherwomen pour out from the kitchen,hands busy, preparing a feast-daymeal.And soccer balls. During 2010 ––the year of the World Cup –– it seemsthat soccer balls are everywhere.Two young SCJ priests –– Frs.Ntsikelelo Bambatha and JoshuaMorosi Mpiti –– wander between thejoyful chaos. Ordained in December,2009, they are the reason that thePriests of the Sacred Heart are back atSt. Teresa following a five-year hiatus.“God is very good to us,” said Fr.Peter Surdel, SCJ. The provincial superiorof the South African Province, Fr.Peter has a special fondness for St.Frs. Joshua and Ntsikelelo with some of St. Teresa's youth. Human trafficking and smugglingis an incredible problem. 187 young people from St. Teresa Mission were a part oflarger youth gathering working to bring to light the issue in the wake of the World Cup.Here some of the young people hold up the posters that encourage teens not to fallprey to traffickers.Teresa Mission. As a young missionaryhe spent several years there in ministryand remembers a time in the not-toodistantpast when there were no pavedroads or electricity in the area. For himpersonally, and for the province, it wasa difficult decision to leave St. Teresa.But there simply were not the personnelto staff the parish. It’s a familiar storyheard in many parts of the world, notjust in South Africa’s rural countryside.Frs. Ntsikelelo and Joshua ––South Africans who grew up in townsnear St. Teresa –– were the first prieststo be ordained for the South AfricanProvince since 2002.When Fr. Peter said that “God isvery good to us,” he was not only gratefulfor the two new SCJ priests, but SCJpriests whose language skills were aperfect match for St. Teresa. Half of thepeople of the parish speak Sesotho andhalf speak Xhosa. “Coincidentally, oneof our new priests speaks Sesotho andFr. Peter Surdel, provincial superior, teases Fr. Ntsikelelo abouthis South African soccer jersey a week before the World Cup.Children lead the way during an outdoor Corpus Christi processionat St Teresa Mission.

August, 2010, Vol. 31, No. 47one speaks Xhosa,” said Fr. Peter. “It isProvidence."With Frs. Ntsikelelo and Joshua,the Priests of the Sacred Heart returnedto one of the community’s first ministriesin South Africa, for it was nearSt. Teresa’s that the SCJs establishedtheir first mission in the country.Pope Pius XI asked Fr. Leo JohnDehon, SCJ founder, to send missionariesto South Africa. In 1923, fourmembers of the German Province arrivedin Aliwal North (now the locationof the South African provincialate).Today, sitting in a church with pewsfilled from end to end, it is hard to imaginethat when the SCJs first came toHerschel District that Catholicism wasgenerally unknown among the localpeople. The Dutch Reformed andAnglican Churches introducedChristianity to the area but it was not untilthe SCJs arrived that Catholic Churchhad a presence in the district.Apartheid wouldn’t be institutionalizedin South Africa until 1948,but even in the 1920s civil laws madeit difficult for European missionariesto have a presence in a predominantlyblack area. Land could only be purchasedfor business reasons.After several years the SCJ missionariesfinally got a foothold in thearea when a “colored” (the SouthAfrican term for people of mixed race)man decided to sell one of his businessesin the area because it had beenplagued by floods. Knowing that theSCJs wanted to acquire property he offeredto sell it to them, though at a pricefar higher than the flood-prone propertywas worth.Even though the cost was inflated,the SCJs jumped at the opportunity.A check was written and the businessmanlooked at it for a few minutes.He then he tore it up and declared thatthe four-acre plot of land would be hisgift to the Church.Providence is often present at St.Teresa.The “Mission Among the Ruins” asit was known, started in 1927 with twoSCJs based in a tent pitched between ashed and a few other dilapidated outbuildings.Weather permitting, Masswas celebrated in theopen air.From that “MissionAmong theRuins” came St. TeresaMission, which now includes aschool that serves 1,300 students and aclinic staffed by the Sisters of Charityof Ottawa. There are also several outstations,as well as dozens of smallChristian communities.Besides Frs. Ntsikelelo and Joshua,many others are vital in keeping thedreams of those early SCJ missionariesalive. Fr. Anthony Austin, SCJ, one ofthe first South Africans to join thePriests of the Sacred Heart, came out ofretirement to mentor the new priests.And then there is CeciliaMcKenzie, a long-time pastoral ministerand constant presence at theparish. Theyouth in particularknow her andrespect her. All ittakes is a quickglance fromMcKenzie to refocusa couple ofteens horsingaround in theback of church.Young peoplewith questions,young people introuble andFr. Joshua speaks to the people.young peoplesimply with a desireto participate in their church cometo “Mama Cecilia” as she is called;“Mama Cecilia” being the SouthAfrican equivalent to “Miss Cecilia” inthe American South.The energy found in a feast-dayliturgy is contagious. The enthusiasmand sense of welcoming at St.Teresa is more than obvious. Butthere is also much challenge. Locatedin a small township about a 45-minute drive from Aliwal North,most of those who worship at thechurch are poor. There is always concernfor local youth and how theirlives can be better. Worried thatyoung people in the area would fallprey to human trafficking during theWorld Cup, parish leaders took 187View more photos fromSouth Africa at:www.scjusa.smugmug.comThere are three South African albumsprior to the Election Assembly photos.young peoplefrom St. Teresa’s to join ina larger youth gathering to learnhow to avoid becoming another statisticin the human trafficking tragedy.Jobs are scarce, and the problemsfrequently found alongside povertyare prevalent.Yet amidst the challenge, there isstill an incredible sense of community,of welcoming and hospitality; a sensethat Providence is very present at St.Teresa Mission.The U.S. Province has long had aspecial relationshipwith the South AfricanProvince since it wasone of the two “motherprovinces” of the entity(the other being theGerman Province).Many Americans haveserved in South Africa,including Fr. JohnStrittmatter, SCJ, whocontinues there, as wellas Bishop Joe Potocnak,SCJ. The bishop, nowin retirement, is currentlyfilling in for vacationingSCJs.Other SCJs with ties to the UnitedStates include many alumni of the ESLprogram at Sacred Heart School ofTheology. Fr. Sandro Capoferri, SCJ, amember of the formation team inPietermaritzburg, is an alumnus, aswell as the newly appointed bishop ofDe Aar, Bishop Adam Musialek, SCJ.In future issues of the SCJ News,and on our website (www.sacredheartusa.org),we will share more storiesabout South Africa.To view photos taken at severalSCJ locations in South Africa earlierthis summer, including the celebrationof Corpus Christi at St. Teresa Mission,please go to the province photo site at:www.scjusa.smugmug.com and clickon the appropriate galleries.