What's New

The provincialate in Poland has a new email address: kuriaprow@sercanie.org.pl . It will be added to our email page. Please note, because of the number of changes that take place on this page updates are made at the start of each month.

Also please note that the correct website address for Formiga (BM) is http://members.xoom.com/psvferrer . It will be posted to our links page.

The English, French and Spanish translations of the working document for the General Conference (ECONOMY AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD) have been posted to the General Conference page.

In addition in preparation for the conference Leonard Zaworksi (IND) has prepared a paper (India Paper for the General Conference: "The Economy and the Reign of God") for conference participants. This document will be posted to the General Conference page.

In honor of Fr. Dehon's birthday this week's Meet an SCJ features a short article by James Steffes (US) on Fr. Dehon titled: . The Five Qualities of the Spirituality of Fr. Leo John Dehon ,

We are posting to the Letters and Documents page a listing of those who took their final vows in 1999 prepared by the general secretary's office (cf. Final Vows).

What's Happening

Congratulations

Manuel Antonio Teixeira Sequeira (VEN) who, after making his final vows, will be ordained Deacon on March 25, 2000, in Caracas.

8th Day Center

8th Day has lent its name to the following statement, which has been written in preparation for demonstrations in Washington, DC during the joint meeting of the World Bank and IMF, April 16-17. The external debt of developing countries would be a good focus for our congregation since the debt affects all countries in which we minister, is the most powerful tool neoliberalism has for controlling those countries. Also, the campaign calling for the cancellation of the debt has offices in most countries.

from Bob Bossie (US)

Central Studies

Stefan Tertünte has prepared an interview with Rafael Conçalves da Costa, president of Central Studies (LU) which took place in Rome several weeks ago - P. Rafael Gonçalves da Costa, presidente del Centro Studi a Roma .

North America

The three councils in North America met in Montréal. on March 22-23, 2000, to continue their ongoing dialogue on scj cooperation in North America.

India

group picture of SCJs and students after celebration of "Indian Mass" in Aluva

Fr. General and Wardjito (CU) have completed their pastoral visit to India and are currently in the Philippines. Leonard Zaworksi was kind enough to send photos to Rome on the visit to India. We will publish several of them over the next few weeks.

Mozambique

In addition to all that has been shown on TV and stated in the press, here is some information concerning the SCJs in Mozambique, given by Fr. Madella on March, 5. He describes a situation which is not different from what we see on TV news.

Concerning the SCJs:

• Most of SCJs live in Zambezia (North) where rains haven't been too great.
• The confreres of Quelimane have given great assistance by the Red Cross.
• We have a house in Maputo and another in Matola (nearby Maputo) within the flood area. The house of Maputo hasn't suffered any damage.
• In the seminary of Matola (scolasticate) water destroyed the outside walls, and reached 80 cm in the lower pavement including the chapel.
• In the surrounding area, damages have been great, including 12 dead and a lot of destruction.

Our own damage is:

1. Furniture, computer: US$ 12,500
2. Outside walls: US$ 8,000
3. Other damages: sports field, gardens (not so urgent) US$ 25,000.

How we help the local people:

• We have given small aid to our neighbours
• We have helped in recovering houses (US $ 5,000 each family)
• We have provided some support for those who have to start all over again: help to buy seeds to replace the destroyed crops: US $ 500 each family)
• We have tried to secure medicines against malaria and other diseases (US $ 5,000)

From Madella Maggiorino (MZ) and
Alessandro Capoferri (MZ)

The complete report is available in Italian and English (Cf. Mozambique 2000).

In strange places

Sometimes preparing the weekly news updates can be like a juggling act. In order to publish it by 6:00 PM on Saturday (local Helsinki time) it is necessary to send the typical English edition to our translators in Montréal, Caracas, Milan, Rome and Raymondville by Monday evening. This weeks issue, for example, was written on the #42 train traveling from Toronto to Ottawa, Canada.

Dehon Photo of the Week

For the position of Leo Dehon within the society of St Quentin the foundation of a Catholic college in 1877 was not without consequences....

So begins this weeks commentary on the foundation of St. John's College by Stefan Tertünte (Cf. St. Jean).

Dehon in Canada and America

On the 2nd we take a trip to Santa Catalina; it's the Isle of Capri of this area, a beach resort eight kilometers off shore. The season is coming to an end. A large park is covered with tents for the bathers; they are cooler, airier and healthier than hotel rooms...

In this week's diary selection before returning to San Francisco Fr. Dehon visits Santa Catalina located off the cost of Los Angeles (cf. Santa Catalina).

The Isle of Capi