The ESL Program (English as a Second Language) is an initiative of the United States Province, which is being offered at the Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners. The Religious Director is Fr Paul Grizelle-Reid SCJ. Miss Allegra K. Troiano is the coordinator of the program and also one of the permanent teachers together with Miss Nancy Patten. A third teacher works with them.
There is a one-year course, from October to June, and also an intensive three month course, from July to October. The course is divided into three levels: beginners, intermediate, and advanced. School hours occupy the whole morning from 8.30 to 12,00 with three teaching periods. There are also one or two hours of lessons in the afternoon. The course is open to everyone, not only to SCJ religious from other Provinces.
This year, 18 students took part in the three month summer course. The SCJ participants were: 2 Brazilians, 2 Camerounese, 3 Indonesians, 1 Vietnamese, 2 Portuguese, 1 Italian, 2 Spanish, 2 Polish, and 2 General Councillors. There was also one Polish religious from the Congregation of the Missions (CM).
Besides English language study: comprising grammar, vocabulary, dictation, conversation, listening, and the American culture, there are also guided visits conducted by the teachers, Allegra and Nancy, to the city and to places typical of American life. The months of July and August were devoted to school work; in September the students had a week's holiday at a lake, and took part in the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Dehonian presence in the mission of South Dakota.
The animation of community life was conducted with much care and dedication by Fr Paul Grizelle-Reid. He helped the group in the preparation of the Liturgy, with practical exercises in reading the liturgical texts. He animated their living together, encouraging the different national groups to prepare their culinary specialties for the community meeting on Tuesday evenings; he was always available to accompany one or other to do the shopping. Two theology confreres (Douane and David) were a support to the community life of the students, being there to meet all their needs.
The cost of the course for the participants was financed by the US Province, for which the group is very grateful.
(Fr U. Chiarello)
On the feast of St Ursula, 21 October last, another sister left us, one who had dedicated almost all her life to the Priests of the Sacred Heart, working from 1951 at Cristo Re (Rome), then in Bologna, and once again in Rome, at the Curia of the International College, until June 1993 when the sisters withdrew.
Sr Celsa Duci was born on 15 May 1910. She was 88. After leaving Rome, she lived in a Home for the old and sick sisters of her Congregation at Ranzanico (Bergamo). However, she died at Gandino.
Sr Celsa was a woman who lived her religious life with joy, serenity, unconditional availability and a simplicity characteristic of the "little ones of the Kingdom". She was a witness to us of the primacy of God and the importance of fraternal service. She loved the Church and showed a great attachment to the Priests of the Sacred Heart, so much so that she would not allow the least criticism of them. She was happy every time the sisters took part in some celebration together with "the Fathers". One little saying of hers is well-known: "the feast continues", encouraging everyone to enjoy the time of communal fraternity and festivity.
We are certain that the feast is continuing now for her in the glory and joy of the Father, whom she loved with her whole heart and served in the religious brothers and priests.
In remembering her we feel once again the need to thank the whole Congregation of the Ursulines of the Immaculate of Gandino for all they have done for so many of us and for the love with which they have done it.
Sr Celsa worked mostly in the linen room. She was an excellent knitter. While she sewed and weaved she prayed for us and for the Church. May our prayer accompany her before the Lord, and obtain for us her intercession, that we may learn from her example, especially her simplicity, because the Kingdom of God belongs to little ones.
The Dehonian Justice and Peace Commission of the IS Province organised a national Convention on the theme "What foreign policy for peace?" which took place in Milan, on 17 October this year.
Fr Angelo Cavagna, President of the Commission, summarised as follows the substance of the theme discussed in the Convention: The world power today is economic-financial, not political. "Today we are facing the so-called globalization of the economy", writes Pope John Paul 11 in the encyclical, Centesimus Annus, "a phenomenon which is not to be dismissed ... There is a growing feeling, however, that this increasing internationalization of the economy ought to be accompanied by effective international agencies which will oversee and direct the economy to the common good, something that an individual state, even if it were the most powerful on earth, would not be in a position to do" (n.58). If this is true, it follows that the old international law based on the idea of sovereign armed states, which in reality are no longer sovereign, is out-dated. The foreign policy of individual States is being worn down by the attempt to guarantee national interests in any part of the world. Such, for example, is the declared aim of the NATO countries, that is, of the richest countries to the detriment of the impoverished countries (...) A foreign policy of peace must aim to build an authentic UNO, truly democratic and effective, able to safeguard all the rights of individuals and peoples, delivered from the perverse dynamic of the uncontrolled liberalistic competitiveness of the multinationals, who exploit the 'military system' for their own opposite interests.
Among the participants at the Convention were experts in the various facets of the complex yet coherent culture of peace, including professor Antonio Papisca, Mons. Gianfranco Bottoni and the honourable Patrizia Toia, at that time vice-secretary for Foreign Affairs.
Also taking part was the Superior General who presided at the Eucharistic Celebration, highlighting the evangelical demands of peace and the binding Dehonian social commitment. Presenting the Eucharistic mystery as the "mystery of peace", he emphasised the believer's commitment to a foreign policy of peace, a commitment expressed as presence, communion and liberation.
The speakers, eight in all, covered the theme from different viewpoints: juridic, political, socio-economic, religious, missionary, voluntary work, conscientious objection, testimony, etc... In this way, the meeting was not limited to the diagnosis of problems, in doctrinal and theoretical reflection, but sought also to establish adequate solutions and concrete undertakings. Among these, is the commitment to promote a new reordering of the UNO and of the concept and accepted practices of international defence and of solidarity and humanitarian intervention.
The Convention was particularly sensitive to the complexities of the situation in Kosovo, as already for some years there have been people committed to a presence of solidarity in view of peace in the region. The intitiative of "non-violent international mobilization for peace and human rights in Kosovo and in the world. Prishtina 10 December 1998", entitled " I CARE", has been noted and encouraged. Prishtina is the meeting place and 10 December next is the date.
The Commission for Justice and Peace of the IS Province intends to support the initiative. Anyone who wants more information will find it in n.35 of Settimana del Clero, EDB.