A new church AND a new parish - Priests of the Sacred Heart

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February, 2010, Vol. 31, No. 14SCJ NEWS“Being an SCJ and all it embodiesis my way life”-Frater Duy NguyenFrater Duy Nguyen, SCJ, didn’thave to go to far whenhe joined the province formationprogram. Born andraised on thenorth side of Chicago,Frater Duy now livesand studies only a shortdrive from hischildhood haunts.He first came incontact with the SCJs in1999 when his familywas invited to a gatheringat the province’sformation house. “Atthat time, I did notknow who they were orwhat they were allabout,” said Frater Duy.It would be anotherthree years –– at a youth gathering inToronto –– before Frater Duy wouldformally meet the community and“eventually discover my calling andthe charism of the SCJs.”He had to go to another countryto discover the religious communityof which he would be a part, the onewith a community house just a fewmiles from his childhood home.He professed his first vows in2006. On January 30, Frater Duy, 31,made his final profession with thePriests of the Sacred Heart during aceremony at Sacred Heart Monastery.“This is a milestone for our U.S.Province,” said Fr. Tom Cassidy, SCJ,in his homily at Frater Duy’s final professionceremony. “With your finalprofession, Duy, you become the firstAmerican-born Vietnamese to do so.We, in a nation of immigrants, notethe importance of this moment. Youbring to our community values fromyour ancient homeland now mixedwith values you developed as a childgrowing up in Chicago, and as a candidateand young SCJ religious.”Frater Duy NguyenBefore entering candidacy, FraterDuy studied at the University ofIllinois in Champaign. He later transferredto the University of Chicagoand earned a bachelor’sdegree in Informationand Decision Sciences(he describes it as a mixof computer andbusiness skills).Frater Duy has onesemester at CTU left beforegraduation. Hebroke up his studies twoyears ago with a pastoralyear based in LowerBrule, S.D.Three years ago, asFrater Duy was preparingto profess his firstvows, he was asked towrite a reflection for the provincepublication To the Letter. The topic forhis reflection included a letter by Fr.Dehon regarding SCJ candidates whowere preparing for profession in 1919.Frater Duy thought of what thefounder might be saying to him as hewas preparing for profession in thecommunity 87 years later.“Amidst the concerns and stressesof daily activities in our lives,whether it’s preparing for the ceremonyor completing a ‘to-do’ list beforethe academic year starts, I’m remindedto focus on my prayer life, to continuallyfoster a deep and realrelationship with God.”It’s a focus that Frater Duy hascontinued to strive for while completinghis studies at Catholic TheologicalUnion and preparing for final vows.“Before any type of ministry canbe done, one must unite with Godfirst,” wrote Frater Duy. “All goodworks will flow as a result of thisunion…“Fr. Dehon’s life is proof thatunion with God is not far-fetched. Allit takes is hard work, discipline andthe grace of God.”As Frater Duy prepared to makehis perpetual commitment with thecommunity he compared final vowswith those first vows he professed in2006.“They are the same vows,” hesaid, “yet they are different. The differenceis in commitment. In temporaryvows, leaving is always an optionif life as an SCJ doesn’t work out,if God calls you somewhere else. In asense, it’s like test-driving a vehicle.But with final vows, the commitmentis life-long.“It’s a complete dedication toserve God and the Church throughthe lenses of Fr. Dehon.“Will I feel different after professingfinal vows? In substance, I won’tfeel any different. I’m still the sameperson. But my perspective haschanged. Being an SCJ and all it embodiesis my way life from now on.”In closing his homily, Fr. Tom remindedFrater Duy that he is one ofmany. “You do not go alone today.Around the province your fellowSCJs, including those who are notpresent this morning, are praying foryou and rejoicing with you. Knowthat we will sustain you by ourprayers and support in the days andyears ahead. In their name I congratulateyou and welcome you as ournewest finally professed member ofour beloved U.S. Province of thePriests of the Sacred Heart.”Making his first profession in 2006.
February, 2010, Vol. 31, No. 15SCJ NEWSMuch of the SCJs’ January gathering centered on one-on-one and small group sharing.Here, novice Luis Fernando Orozco Cardona and Fr. John Klingler talk about their visionfor the U.S. Province. MORE PHOTOS AT: www.scjusa.smugmug.comContinuing the conversationThe conversation ends, and theconversation continues.From January 18-21, approximately45 members of the U.S. Provincecame together at Our Lady of theSnows in Belleville, Il., for the third ofthree province gatherings. The firsttook place in January, 2009, and the secondin July. The purpose of the gatheringswas to further the dialogue begunat the 2008 Provincial Chapter. There,directional statements on Community,Aging and Ministry were formulated.Sr. Barbara Stanbridge, IHM, facilitatedthe three gatherings. She alsoserved as moderator at the 2008Provincial Chapter.In dialogue with Fr. DehonIn this, the last gathering, Sr.Barbara asked SCJs to spend time indialogue with Fr. Leo John Dehon,founder of the Priests of the SacredHeart.“Share with Leo what is in yourheart,” said Sr. Barbara. “Tell him yourgrief, your longings. And after youhave revealed yourself to him, ask himhow he sees things. How does he seeyour mission?”From personal reflection, SCJsmoved to one-on-one conversationswith a partner. Sharing then tookplace in small groups and finally, withthe whole. This was a process that wasoften repeated throughout the days.Reflections would start in one-on-onepairings and then move to smallgroups. To allow SCJs to hear a varietyof voices, the small groups were oftenrearranged but always with a concernto maintain a variety of generations ateach table.“It was intriguing to hear aboutthe dialogues with Fr. Dehon,” said aparticipant. “It was an interesting exercisefor me personally but it was justas interesting to hear about others’‘conversations’ with the founder.”Listening to each otherAs noted above, much of the days’activities centered around reflectionand sharing. None of the gatheringsfocused on concrete answers. Instead,they laid the groundwork for futuredecision-making. They helped SCJsget to know one another better, andbetter know their hopes and dreamsfor the future of the province.“We used to be caught up in ourministries; our dialogue focused onministry,” said a participant. “Now, Ihear an emphasis on mission. What isour MISSION as SCJs in the UnitedStates?”In looking toward the future, SCJssaid that they need to be open to newmodels of ministry. “We need to beavailable to models that encourage usto better collaborate with laity and otherreligious,” said an SCJ. “We need tobe able to let go of control in some ofour ministries and let others set direction…that doesn’t mean that they willbe less ‘SCJ’ but that we will allow others– in some instances – to carry forthFr. Dehon’s dreams.”“We enable people to do good,”said another during the shared reflections.“Through our work we enablemany people to do good things.Perhaps this is our mission, our call.We are just a handful of people but wecan impact many.”“Fr. Dehon had a dream; if we liveit, people will follow our charism,”added another. “I was impressedwhen I was at the dedication of GoodShepherd Church in Robinsonville,Miss. The SCJs brought these twocommunities together [Sacred Heart inWalls and St. Anthony’s in Tunica]; theSCJ charism is among these people.Through our ministry we touch thelives of many with our charism.”Continuing the conversationThe three scheduled gatheringshave been completed. Plans are nowunderway to continue the conversationson the local level with the hope ofcoming together as a province for continueddialogue and spiritual renewalon a yearly basis.
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A new church AND a new parish - Priests of the Sacred Heart

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