The following is a quick introduction to them:

San Antonio

Vien Nguyen, SCJ: As are all of the students in San Antonio community this year, Vien, 25, is originally from Vietnam. When he was 15, Vien escaped Vietnam by boat. After spending four days and five nights in the ocean, he was rescued by a commercial ship, which brought he and his fellow refugees to a relocation camp in the Philippines.

His mother had escaped shortly after he did and within a few weeks, they were reunited (his father died in a boating accident when Vien was six) . They stayed in the Philippines for two years until they were able to relocate to Houston in 1990. His brother and sister, already living in Houston, sponsored them. Once he got to the United States, Vien began high school. He graduated in 1994.

"During my junior year I felt attracted to religious life," he said. "After months of discerning, I decided to join the Priests of the Sacred Heart in 1994. In 1997, I professed my first vows." He is now a senior, majoring in philosophy at the University of the Incarnate Word. Besides his required coursework, Vien also takes piano and voice lessons. He plans to graduate in May, 1999, and then begin theological studies in Chicago.

"From one of the personality assessments, I found that I am neither an introvert nor an extrovert," he said. "I am in the middle of the spectrum. Personally, I consider myself an introvert when I sleep and an extrovert when I am awake." When he is awake, Vien adds that he likes to play sports with others in the house, especially tennis, volleyball and basketball. He also likes to rollerblade, swim and ice skate.
 

David Szatkowski and Vien Nguyen during last year's US Province Days

Thi Pham: Thi is 23 and is the youngest of eight children, two of whom are now deceased. His family arrived in the United States in August, 1991. Soon after, Thi started high school, graduating in May, 1995. He attended San Antonio College for two years and now attends the University of the Incarnate Word full time. This is his second year with the SCJs' formation program in San Antonio.

"My summer went very well," writes Thi. "I was in South Dakota for two weeks doing my Christian Summer Experience. I really enjoyed working with Native American children. It was an honor for me to visit some of the SCJ mission sites, such as Chamberlain and Lower Brule. After I finished working there, I left for Hales Corners to be a part of the ESL program. During those two months, I met many priests and brothers from all over the world. I studied hard in the program but we also had a lot of fun.

"And what do I usually do for fun? I love to do gardening work, even though few know that I am a floral designer. I can do any style you wish. You name it, I do it, especially Oriental styles. Also, I love to travel, meet different people and to make friends."

----------------

Francis-Vu Anh Tran, SCJ: Francis-Vu, 22, was born in a city near South Saigon. He and his mother fled the country on a small fishing boat in 1988. Two years later, they arrived in the United States, where they were reunited with his father and two sisters, who had left before them.

During his high school years, he learned about the SCJs through a magazine advertisement. "I contacted Fr. Jack Kurps, the vocation director, and requested more information about the community," he wrote. After two years of correspondence with Fr. Jack, he entered the San Antonio formation program. "Living in the formation house has helped me learn a lot of things about my spiritual life and my personal life. I am grateful and appreciative for the many gifts that God has given to me; for the people that I have met and interacted with on a daily basis," he added.

In 1997, Francis-Vu entered the novitiate. "I wanted to become an SCJ because I felt support, love and strength from the Priests of the Sacred Heart," he wrote. "I believe that I am called to live with the SCJ community. I wanted to learn more about religious life and Fr. Dehon's charism. On August 15, 1998, I celebrated my first profession and became a member of the SCJ community.

"I have a lot of motivation and desire to become an SCJ. Fr. Dehon's charism of being a 'prophet of love and servant of reconciliation' is appealing to me. He was concerned with and willing to work for justice and social change during his lifetime. Fr. Dehon worked tirelessly to meet the needs of others. I am willing to learn and practice Fr. Dehon's charism. Also, I want to be close to God. I want to share everything I have with Him. I am willing to let God touch me and direct me throughout my life. I want to do God's will. I want to use my talents to serve God and the people I have contact with each day."

----------------

Br. Ha Tran, SCJ: Born in a small village in South Vietnam, Ha is 30 and has been with the SCJs since 1992. He entered the novitiate in 1995 and professed first vows in 1996. He is now completing his final semester of studies at the University of the Incarnate Word. In December, he will graduate with a degree in political science. Before beginning theological studies at Catholic Theological Union, Ha plans to do his cross-cultural year of ministry. "I enjoy studying most of the time, but I don't want to make a career out of it," he joked.

"In 1986, I left Vietnam by boat with 17 other people and we reached an island in Indonesia called Ranai after 12 days and nights on the Pacific Ocean," Ha said. "Soon we were transferred to a refugee camp in Indonesia called Galang. There, I volunteered and began to learn some English from other Vietnamese refugees while waiting to be accepted to go to other democratic countries. At first I applied for a U.S. visa but I was not successful. I then applied for a Canadian visa, was accepted and then settled in Vancouver in June, 1988. I stayed home learning English most of that first year in Canada. Later, I got a job at a paper recycling company, where I worked for three years."

While in Canada, he began corresponding with the SCJ vocation office. His brother, Fr. Andrew Hai Tran, had left an SCJ vocation card with him. "I felt the SCJ community was a friendly and welcoming community, so I decided to join," he said. "I was accepted in 1992 and moved to San Antonio for the formation program that same year."

----------------

Dzao C. Vu: This is Dzao's second year as a candidate with the San Antonio formation program. Dzao joined the SCJs after he graduated from high school in Omaha, Neb. His parents and a younger brother are still living in Nebraska; three older sisters and another brother remain in Vietnam.

Dzao participated in the summer day camp sponsored by St. Joseph's Indian School this summer. He said that he was glad to know and to visit with SCJs in South Dakota. He had a good experience working with the kids on the reservations, although he admits that they questioned and teased him a bit about his accent.

Currently, Dzao attends the University of the Incarnate Word. Besides his studies, he is involved in campus ministry and several academic clubs. He enjoys the opportunity the extracurricular activities provide for reaching out and meeting new people.

He adds that his hobbies include watching movies, traveling and surfing the net.

Chicago

Joseph Dinh SCJ: Joseph was born in Saigon in 1969. He and his eight brothers and sisters grew up in Vietnam during the country's civil war. He fled to Thailand in 1985 and has lived in the United States since 1987.

"I was grateful that I was among the people who had a chance to seek freedom," he said. "I was luckier than those who would die on the way or those who were caught by the Communists and put in jail with hard labor and treatment like slaves. I had to face many difficult consequences, but I always recognized that God was there to provide, protect, and shield me from danger."

The family resettled in Massachusetts, where his father still lives. His mother died in 1988.

After graduating from high school, he entered the SCJs' candidacy program in 1992. In 1995, he professed his first vows and last year, he completed his undergraduate studies on the University of the Incarnate Word. He is now into his second year at Catholic Theological Union. Joseph says that when he isn't studying he enjoys listening to music, drawing, cooking, reading, watching television, playing volleyball, being outdoors and being with friends.

In Vietnam, Joseph "grew up and worked in the Church with the priests, brothers, and sisters," he said. "I was influenced by the way they lived, worked and acted. In my mind, I know that there was no chance for me to be like them due to the fact that the Communist government did not allow anyone to join the seminary or give permission for priesthood or religious life. I did have a dream but I knew that my dream would never come true in Vietnam. Fortunately, at home my parents always taught my brothers, sisters, and I how to be better people in society and with their basic knowledge of religion they taught us about God and the church. It was a big decision for me to escape from Vietnam. I had to leave my family, friends,

country and everything I knew behind to find freedom."
 

- Joseph Dinh does a reading during Mass

Quang Nguyen, SCJ: Quang, 33, is the middle child from a family of eight and was the last of his siblings to flee Vietnam. He arrived in the United States in 1989 and resettled in San Jose, Calif., where his parents joined their children five years later.

He was accepted into the undergraduate candidacy program in San Antonio in August, 1992, and after two years in San Antonio, he came to Chicago for his novitiate year. After professing vows in 1995, he returned to San Antonio to finish his undergraduate degree in psychology, and then took some theological courses on the graduate level.

"In September, 1996, I went to Mississippi to do my cross culture year of ministry under the supervision of Fr. James Cunniffe," he wrote. "I worked as a CCD and substitute religion teacher at the parish and at Sacred Heart Middle School. I also worked as a Catholic Social Services minister . It was a difficult year, but it also was a very rewarding year for me both theologically and spiritually." Following his year in Mississippi, Quang joined the Chicago community and began his studies at Catholic Theological Union. "During my first year at CTU, I also worked as a math tutor at a private middle school for disadvantage students." He is now in his second year at CTU.

Outside of studies, Quang says that he likes reading novels, watching television, going to the movies, listening to music and swimming.
 

Quang Nguyen and Ed Zemlik leave the Sacred Heart Chapel after a province gathering last summer

David Szatkowski, SCJ: Dave is 24 and comes from a military family. "I grew up mostly in Virginia and Oklahoma and graduated from Zama American High School, DODDS (Dept. of Defense Dependent Schools)," he wrote.

Dave entered the San Antonio formation program in 1993. He spent three years as a candidate, where he completed his bachelor's degree in psychology, with a minor in philosophy at the University of the Incarnate Word.

In 1996, he entered the novitiate, and professed first vows in 1997. That fall, he began his studies at Catholic Theological Union. He is now in his second year, pursuing a master's of divinity. In 1999-2000, he hopes to do his cross-cultural ministry year.

He has taken part in several SCJ programs and ministries, including CSE in Raymondville and in Lower Brule, and most recently, the summer ESL program in Hales Corners. In Chicago, he has also done ministry at St. Benedict the African parish, where he visited with the homebound.

Dave's favorite pastimes include reading science fiction and mysteries, watching movies, listening to county music and spending time with friends.

----------------

Chuck Wonch, SCJ: Originally from Colville, Wash., Chuck, 51, joined the U.S. Air Force in 1966. After completing 4.5 years in military, Chuck settle in Crystal Springs, Miss., where he earned a bachelor's degree in Industrial Management from Jackson State University. In 1989, he returned to school to earn a master's in theological studies from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alab.

Chuck professed his first vows with the SCJs in 1997 and last May, completed his philosophy requirements at St. Xavier University in Chicago. He is now at CTU, pursuing his master of divinity degree.

"The years of candidacy and novitiate and the first year at Woodlawn in Chicago have been a great help in making the transition from living alone to living in the SCJ community. It has given me time to change the pace of my life," said Chuck. "During the last three years, I have been given wonderful opportunities to work in ministries around the Milwaukee and Chicago areas. I have worked with the poor at SET Ministries, the nursing home with St. Catherine's, taught CCD at Sacred Hearts parish and got to know a lot more about AIDS ministry through lectures at St. Camillus Hospital and visiting Maison Dehon in Montreal.

"In Chicago, I worked with the St. Symphorosa parish ministries and at Port Ministries. During my first year of full college studies with the SCJs, I was also able to work with Campus Ministry at St. Xavier &endash;&endash; working mainly with the Service Club, which is a community outreach group. This last year has been a wonderful time to interact with other religious and lay people from different walks of life and with different life stories to tell."

Chuck adds that his hobbies include bowling, golf, reading, biking and enjoying nature.

Cross cultural year

Br. Duane Lemke, SCJ: Duane became familiar with the SCJs through their ministry at Sacred Heart parish in Dupree, South Dakota, where he was born and raised. Duane knew many of the SCJs who served on the Cheyenne River Reservation &endash;&endash; he was baptized by Fr. Joe Ford and spent four summers working for Br. Frank Presto at the Eagle Butte Community House. He considered a vocation with the congregation for many years and eventually applied and was accepted as a brother candidate after his graduation from college in the fall of 1994.

His first months of candidacy were spent in Lower Brule, S.D., where he ministered with the pastoral team. He then moved to Chicago in 1995, where he earned a master's in pastoral studies at Catholic Theological Union. In 1997, he professed his first vows.

Duane's ministries during formation have mainly been in catechetical work, but he also spent a month working at Maison Dehon in Montreal. This past summer, he was in Hales Corners, helping with the ESL program, a ministry which he says was "fun and rewarding."

In September, he returned to Lower Brule, where he will spend a year working as a parish minister. "My ministry there is primarily with Native American youth and elders, a ministry I expect to challenge the basic assumptions, stereotypes and prejudices I learned while growing up in the culture of the settlers," he said.

In his free time, Duane enjoys listening to music that varies from Garth Brooks to Aretha Franklin. He also enjoys working with his hands &endash;&endash; woodworking, and most recently, drawing with charcoal. His most time-consuming interest of late has been astronomy. And he adds that he is "eagerly awaiting the coming of the next Star Trek movie early this winter."

----------------

Edward J. Zemlik, SCJ: Ed, 41, professed his first vows in 1995. He has studied at Sacred Heart School of Theology and at Catholic Theological Union, where he is close to finishing his master of divinity degree.

This year, Ed is in Chamberlain, S.D., where he is doing his cross-cultural year at St. Joseph's Indian School. He is serving as an associate chaplain under the supervision of Fr. Anthony Kluckman, SCJ. Ed writes that "in addition to that responsibility, my duties also include religious education (I teach 9th grade religion and I am a CCD teacher -- 6th and 9th grades -- at our neighboring SCJ parish, St. James, in Chamberlain, where Fr. Anthony Kelly, SCJ is pastor). I am also serving as a coordinator of St. Joe's Hospitality Center, a spiritual outreach center for our adult staff and personnel. My additional aspirations are to be a support to our Native American missions at Lower Brule, Crow Creek, and Cheyenne River Reservations."

Following his year at St. Joe's, he will return to CTU and complete his theological studies.

"My pastimes and hobbies include photography (I am putting my talents to

good use here at St. Joe's), reading, music (especially classical and folk), traveling, movies, walking, bicycling, and meeting people," he added. "I feel truly blessed and privileged to be ministering (and being ministered to in the rich Lakota spirituality) with our community at St. Joe's."

Last but not least...

Br. Lyle Hennen, SCJ: Lyle, 52, has been a professed member of the community since 1995. Originally from Minnesota, he was a successful sales consultant before entering the SCJs' candidacy program six years ago. He also taught junior and senior high school art for two years.

For almost two years, Lyle has been a member of the St. Michael community at Nesbit. In Mississippi, he has primarily ministered in the Holly Springs area, working with Catholic Community Outreach. Much of what he does, he is proud to say, is a continuation of the work started by Bob Herauf (a former SCJ who ministered in the area for many years before his death). Lyle often works with the elderly, poor and handicapped, building ramps, porches and stairs for their homes. Lyle is also the assistant manager of the Br. Bob Homeless Shelter, and he serves on the board of directors for the local Habitat for Humanity.

In all these tasks, much of what Lyle does revolves around helping people become self-sufficient. He works with Sr. Noel, trying to find jobs for those in the shelter, or find ways to teach people the skills they need to get jobs. "Many people do not know the resources available to them for jobs or alternative housing," he said.

Lyle earned his master's degree in theology at Sacred Heart School of Theology. He is in his third year of vows.
 

Lyle Hennen and Ed Zemlik assist at the altar during a province celebration