Fr. Jerome Schaad (US) 

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Fr. Jerome Schaad, SCJ, treasurer of the U.S. Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart for almost 30 years, died February 26. He was 62.

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Fr. Schaad professed his first vows with the SCJs in 1957.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Kilroe Seminary in Honesdale, Penn., did his theological studies at Sacred Heart Monastery in Hales Corners, Wis., and earned a master’s in physics from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.  He was ordained to the priesthood in 1966 at St. Mary’s parish in Hales Corners, Wis. 

From his many years in Finance, Fr. Schaad’s name has become synonymous with the Province Treasurer’s office.  However, before entering that role, he taught math and science, first at Divine Heart Seminary in Donaldson, Ind., and later at Kilroe, where he had received his own undergraduate education.

As treasurer, Fr. Schaad served on several corporate boards of directors in the province, including the board of Gregory Productions, which was responsible for the production of The Spitfire Grill.   As a board member, Fr. Schaad played an active role in seeing the movie to completion.  Proceeds from the production later went to on to fund the building of Sacred Heart School in Mississippi.

Fr. Schaad also served for many years on the General Finance Commission for the congregation.  His work on the commission took him around world, including the General Conference in Brazil last year, where he delivered a presentation.

However, his travels weren’t always work related.  In 1982, Fr. Schaad celebrated his 25th anniversary of religious life by riding his bike from Hales Corners to Hyder, Alaska.  It was the longest of several bicycle journeys that he had taken.  “It was a good time to get a lot of prayer in,” he said in a Milwaukee Sentinel interview done soon after the ride.  “The contact with nature brings to mind your creator.”

Approximately two years ago, Fr. Schaad was diagnosed with Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia, a rare form of blood cancer.  Due to increasing health problems, Fr. Schaad left his duties as province treasurer just this month. 

He was a member of the Sacred Heart Monastery Community.

Funeral Arrangements:

Wake:  Friday, March 2, 7 p.m.

Funeral Mass:  Saturday, March 3, 10:30 a.m. 

(there will be a brief period of time before the Mass for a wake)

All arrangements will take place at 

Sacred Heart Monastery

7335 S. Lovers Lane Road

Hales Corners, Wisconsin

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Letter to the Congregation from the Vicar General

To All SCJs

Dear Brothers,

Even if not unexpected, it is always sad to receive the news of the death of Fr. Jerome Schaad, provincial treasurer of the United States Province. Not expected was to learn that he suffered for the last two years from a rare form of cancer of the blood.  In the last few months the disease reached a point that it became necessary for him to resign from office.  Yesterday the Lord called him home from Wauwatosa (Milwaukee) at the age of 62, after 44 years of religious profession and 35 years as a priest.

After teaching mathematics and science at our college seminary he was named provincial treasurer and served in that office for the next thirty years.  This long service demonstrated his administrative abilities and his capacity in managing financial assets.  The confidence that various provincial superiors showed in him led to him being repeatedly being reconfirmed in his office.  It was also an indication of his great ability to carry out his duties.

The General Administration owes a big debt to Fr. Jerome Schaad.  He was a member of the General Finance Commission for 1991 and advised us on the management of the financial assets of the Congregation.

In the name of Very Rev. Fr. General, who is currently on a pastoral visit to Argentina, I express the heart felt condolences of Fr. General and his council to our brother scjs in the United States Provinces, as well as their provincial superior and his council.  It is a serious blow to lose the services of such a sage and faithful administrator of God’s goods. 

As always, in the name of Fr. General I ask scjs from the Provinces, Regions and Districts, especially the many who know Fr. Schaad personally, to offer their prayers and suffrages to the Lord on his behalf.

Today is Marti Gra, and in the congregation we recall Jesus in the Garden of Olives, were he submitted himself to the will of the Father.  We pray to the Lord, who through this disease united Fr. Schaad in His agony and death, and has now called him home to share in the Resurrection.

Sincerely yours

p. Umberto Chiarello, scj

Vicar General

Schaad could always be counted on as treasurer for Sacred Heart priests

By AMY RABIDEAU SILVERS
of the Journal Sentinel staff
Last Updated: Feb. 27, 2001

Father Jerome Schaad probably never figured that he'd be involved in financing a motion picture, but that's what happened a few years ago.

Schaad was the longtime treasurer for the Priests of the Sacred Heart, with its United States province based in Hales Corners. The movie was The Spitfire Grill starring Alison Elliot, Ellen Burstyn, Marcia Gay Harden and Will Patton, which won the 1996 Sundance Audience Award.

The project was developed with two objectives: one, to produce a movie with a somewhat more spiritual message than many movies; the other, to tackle a creative fund-raiser with the potential to raise money for the Sacred Heart congregation's work.

"He kept waiting for the other shoe to drop on the cost, but he saw the potential of it," said Father Michael Burke, vocation director. "And he got behind it all the way."

It was the same methodical enthusiasm that he brought to his 6,000-mile bicycle ride, undertaken to celebrate his silver jubilee as a priest.

But that is getting ahead of the story.

Schaad died Monday of a rare form of blood cancer. He was 62
.
Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Schaad professed his first vows with the community in 1957. He received his bachelor's degree from Kilroe Seminary in Honesdale, Pa. He did his theological studies at Sacred Heart Monastery in Hales Corners. He earned a master's degree in physics from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

He was ordained as a priest in 1966 at St. Mary's parish in Hales Corners.

Schaad first taught math and science for two seminaries, then became involved in provincial finances. He served as treasurer for 30 years.

"And he sat on the international finance board," said Brother Ray Kozuch. "He was one of six men who represented the congregation, including in Rome."

Schaad also served on the board of Gregory Productions, which was responsible for the production of "The Spitfire Grill." The movie ended up costing more than $6 million but netted about $10 million for the congregation. Proceeds were used for a school project in Mississippi.

Yet another movie project is now in the works, Kozuch said.

"He was the man who oversaw all our financial operations," Burke said. "He was a very practical man - he was a year behind me in the seminary - and I always found him very easy to approach, even as treasurer. He was just so good at helping people with financial stuff. He was very generous with his time."

In 1982, for his 25th anniversary as a priest, Schaad took a ride on his bike.

He methodically planned every part of the trip for years. He went into training with thousand-mile jaunts to see his parents in Ohio. Then he set out for Alaska, later saying he had never been there and thought the trip sounded "exotic enough and weird enough" to be a special remembrance of the anniversary.

In keeping with his frugal nature, he rode the Italian-made bicycle that he had purchased for $150 nine years before. His parents learned of the trip when they received his card from Hyder, Alaska. Schaad didn't want them to worry. "It was an excellent vacation," he told a Milwaukee Sentinel reporter at the time. "It took your mind off your regular job so very, very completely."

He biked an average of 135 miles and 13 to 14 hours a day, wearing out five tires.

"It was a good time to get a lot of prayer in," he said. "The contact with nature brings to mind your creator."

Schaad is survived by a sister, Sister Elizabeth Anne Schaad of Cincinnati, and two brothers, Thomas of Columbus, Ohio, and Lawrence of Kingston Springs, Tenn.

Visitation will be at 7 p.m. Friday. The funeral Mass is set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Both will be at Sacred Heart Monastery, 7335 S. Lovers Lane Road, Hales Corners.
Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Feb. 28, 2001.
 

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Prot. N. 30/2001
Roma, 27 febbraio 2001

anche se non improvvisa, sempre triste ci giunge la notizia della morte di p. Jerome SCHAAD, Economo provinciale della Provincia SCJ degli Stati Uniti d’America.

Notizia non improvvisa, in quanto da oltre un anno era stata diagnosticata al padre una rara forma di cancro del sangue. Di recente, l’aggravarsi del male è stato tale che, agli inizi di febbraio, egli aveva rinunciato all’ufficio di Economo. Ieri, 26 febbraio 2001, il Signore lo ha chiamato a sé da Wauwatosa (Milwaukee), all’età di 62 ani compiuti, dopo 44 anni di professione religiosa e 35 anni di ordinazione sacerdotale.

Dopo alcuni anni di insegnamento di matematica e scienze nei nostri Seminari, p. Schaad fu nominato Economo provinciale, svolgendo tale ufficio ininterrottamente per circa trenta anni.

Questa lunga permanenza dimostra le capacità amministrative del padre e il suo intuito nella gestione finanziaria dei beni. La fiducia, che i diversi Superiori provinciali hanno avuto in lui, riconfermandolo nello stesso ufficio, è segno della responsabilità con cui egli svolgeva l’ufficio in piena sintonia e alle dipendenze del Governo provinciale.

Anche il Governo generale deve molto a p. Jerome Schaad, e come membro della Commissione generale finanziaria (CFG), dal 1991, e come consulente per la gestione finanziaria dei beni della Congregazione.

A nome del Rev.mo Padre Generale, attualmente in visita pastorale in Argentina, esprimo le sentite condoglianze del Superiore Generale e suo Consiglio ai confratelli della Provincia SCJ degli Stati Uniti d’America e al suo Superiore provinciale e Consiglio. È una grave perdita: è venuto a mancare un servo saggio e fedele nell’amministrazione della casa di Dio.

Sempre a nome del Padre Generale, chiedo ai confratelli delle Province/Regioni e Distretti, in particolare a quanti lo hanno conosciuto e se ne sono giovati, di rivolgere preghiere di suffragio al Signore per il p. Schaad.

Oggi, martedì grasso, ricordiamo in Congregazione la memoria di Gesù nell’orto, che si offre e accetta la volontà del Padre. Preghiamo il Signore che, come attraverso la malattia ha unito p. Schaad alla sua agonia e morte, lo renda ora partecipe anche della sua risurrezione.

Fraternamente nel Signore,

p. Umberto Chiarello scj
Ass. Gen.

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P. Jerome Schaad (US)

Le P. Jerome Schaad, SCJ, économe de la Province U.S. des Prêtres du Sacré-Coeur pendant près de 30 ans, est décédé le 26 février, à l'âge de 62 ans.

Originaire de Columbus, Ohio, le P. Schaad a fait ses premiers voeux chez les Dehoniens en 1957. Diplômé du Séminaire Kilroe à Honesdale, Penn., il a fait ses études théologiques au Sacred Heart Monastery de Hales Corners, Wis., et a obtenu une maîtrise en physique de la Catholic University of America à Washington, D.C. Il a été ordonné prêtre en 1966, à la paroisse St. Mary de Hales Corners, Wis.

S'occupant des finances depuis tant d'années, le nom du P. Schaad était devenu synonyme d'Économe provincial. Mais avant d'occuper ce poste, il avait enseigné les mathématiques et les sciences, d'abord au Divine Heart Seminary de Donaldson, Ind., puis à Kilroe, où il avait lui-même étudié.

Comme économe, l P. Schaad siégeait sur de nombreux conseils de direction dans la province, dont celui de Gregory Productions, le producteur du film The Spitfire Grill. Comme membre du conseil, le P. Schaad a joué un rôle important dans la production du film dont les profits ont servi, plus tard, à la construction de l'école Sacred Heart School au Mississippi.

Pendant plusieurs années, le P. Schaad a également siégé à la Commission Générale des Finances de la Congrégation, ce qui l'a amené à voyager à travers le monde. L'année dernière, il a ainsi participé à la Conférence Générale au Brésil, où il a donné une présentation.

Mais ses voyages n'étaient pas tous reliés à son travail. En 1982, le P. Schaad a célébré son 25è anniversaire de vie religieuse en voyageant à vélo de Hales Corners à Hyder, Alaska. Ce fut le plus long de tous ses voyages en vélo. "Ce fut une excellente occasion pour prier" dit-il au journaliste du Milwaukee Sentinel après son retour. "Le contact avec la nature vous fait penser au Créateur."

Il y a environ deux ans, on diagnostiqua chez le P. Schaad une forme rare de cancer du sang. Ses problèmes de santé s'aggravant, le P. Schaad dût démissionner de son poste d'économe provincial le mois dernier.
Il était membre de la communauté du Sacred Heart Monastery Community.

Arrangements funéraires:
Veillée: Vendredi, 2 mars, 19h00
Funérailles: Samedi, 3 mars, 10h30 au
Sacred Heart Monastery
7335 S. Lovers Lane Road
Hales Corners, Wisconsin
 
 

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Lettre de l'Assistant-Général à la Congrégation

 

À tous les religieux SCJ

Chers confrères

Même si on pouvait s'y attendre, la nouvelle du décès du P. Jerome Schaad, économe provincial de la Province des États-Unis, nous attriste grandement.

On pouvait s'y attendre parce que depuis deux ans, il souffrait d'une forme rare du cancer du sang. Au cours des derniers mois, l'évolution de la maladie l'a forcé à démissionner de son poste d'économe provincial. Hier, le Seigneur l'a rappelé à lui depuis Wauwatosa (Milwaukee), à l'âge de 62 ans, après 44 ans de vie religieuse et 35 ans de sacerdoce.

Après avoir enseigné les mathématiques et les sciences à notre séminaire, il a été nommé économe provincial, poste qu'il a occupé pendant presque trente années. Ces longues années de service témoignent de ses talents d'administrateur. Il fut constamment confirmé dans ses fonctions, résultat de la confiance que les différents supérieurs provinciaux mettaient en lui. Cela démontre aussi qu'il savait très bien remplir ses fonctions.
L'Administration Générale doit aussi beaucoup au P. Schaad. Il a été membre de la Commission Générale des Finances depuis 1991 et nous a conseillé sur l'administration des biens de la Congrégation.

Au nom du p. Général, qui est actuellement en visite pastorale en Argentine, je veux exprimer les sincères condoléances du P. Général et de son conseil à tous nos confrères de la Province des États-Unis, ainsi qu'au supérieur provincial et à son conseil. C'est une perte énorme que le décès d'un sage et fidèle administrateur de cette trempe.

Comme toujours, au nom du P. Général, je demande aux confrères des Provinces, Régions et Districts, et particulièrement ceux, nombreux, qui ont connu personnellement le P. Schaad, d'offrir leurs prières et suffrages au Seigneur.

Aujourd'hui, Mardi Gras, nous nous souvenons dans la Congrégation de Jésus au Jardin des Oliviers, se soumettant à la volonté du Père. Nous prions le Seigneur, qui, dans cette maladie, a uni le P. Schaad à son agonie et à sa mort, de lui faire partager maintenant sa résurrection.
 
 

Sincèrement,

p. Umberto Chiarello, scj
Assistant-Général

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Fr. Jerome Schaad (US)