15 December 2001

What's New?

Rome

Fr. General's Christmas message to the dehonian family can be found on the Letters and Documents page. This year's theme:

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S: UNDER A SIGN OF FRAGILITY, FRATERNITY AND HOPE

South Brazil

From January 7 to 25, 2002, there will be another course in Taubaté, South Brazil, on The Social Teachings of the Church,. The theme this year will be "Mystic and Solidarity". Fr. Carlos Albero da Costa Silva, from the general council and responsible for the sector on Justice and Peace will be one of the course presenters.

NB: A reminder that next week will be our last scj news update for the year. We will take a short break and return on Saturday, January 12, 2002.

What's Happening?

Argentina

Bishop Marcelo Palentini, bishop of the diocese of Jujuy in Argentina had two articles published in VIDIMUS DOMINUM on December 5, 2001. Vidimus Dominum is the religious news information site sponsored by the Union of Superior Generals in Rome.

Argentina: Bishop Palentini (SCI) invites Christians to have a massive political commitment

Argentina: religious bishop preaches hope and justice in a moment of difficulty

Congratulations

To the following deacons from the South Brazilian Province ordained to the priesthood in Brazil on December 15, 2001:

Fabio de Melo ordained by Archbishop Alberto Taveira Corrêa, of the archdiocese of Palmas in the parish of São Vicente de Ferra, Formiga, MG.

Marcelo Alves dos Reis ordained by Archbishop Cláudio Hummes, ofm, of the archdiocese of São Paolo in the parish of N.S. da Candelária, Vila Maria, Sp.

Aldecir José Piai ordained by Bishop Antonio Wagner da Silva, scj, auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Guarapuava, PR, in the parish of Curato Sant'Ana, São José, SC.

Antônio Jezufino da Silva Neto, by Bishop Vital Chitolina, scj, bishop of the Premature of Paranatinga, MT, in the parish of Santo Antonio, Nova Monte Verde, MT.

To the following from the British-Irish Province ordained deacons on December 15, 2001, by Bishop Brian Noble of the diocese of Shrewsbury in St. Joseph's Parish, Malpas, England:

• David Marsden
• Lliam Rooney

To the following from the United States Province ordained deacons on December 16, 2001 by Bishop Joseph Perry, auxiliary bishop of Chicago in St. Benedict the African Parish:

• Joseph-Thiên Dinh
• David Troy Szatkowski
• Charles Anthony Wonch

To the following from the Portuguese Province who were ordained deacons on December 8, 2001 in the Cathedral of Porto:
 

• Amândio José Leal da Rocha
• Armindo Martins Rodrigues

Portugal

Last week (December 3-4, 2001) Justice and Peace coordinators from the Southern SCJ European Provinces met in Lisbon. It was in preparation for "Montreal 2002", as well as an opportunity to discuss the reality in which we live after the events of September 11th.

Unfortunately there were only two provinces present Portugal and Northern Italy. Poland and Spain justified their absence, but we received no word from Southern Italy. It was a pity as we could have had a nice opportunity for dialogue.

Next April the meeting on Justice and Peace for Latin America will take place.

You may link here for the message from the Lisbon meeting to the Congregation, COMPROMETIDOS NUMA NOVA CIVILIZAÇÃO, for now it is only in Portuguese, but we will have translations in other languages available soon.

General Secretariat for Justice and Peace
p. Carlos Alberto da Costa Silva scj
01.12.2001

Rome

Alceu Kuhnen (BM) defended his dissertation on December 12, 2001, at the Gregorian University. He earned his doctorate in Church History by writing on: The Development of the Church in Brazil during the Period of Portuguese Colonization 1500 to 1550. Returning to Brazil after the first of the year he will join the new faculty of Theology, in Taubaté, Brazil.

Members of the general council have begun their winter visits to the congregation. Zolile Mpambani left for South Africa on December 8th, Thomas Cassidy leaves today for North America. After Christmas Umberto Chiarello will visit The Congo, Wardjito will head for India and other parts of Asia and Carlos Alberto da Costa Silva will begin visits to the Latin American provinces and regions.

Fr. Dehon's meetings with the students of St. John's College

FIFTEENTH MEETING OF THE ALUMNI FROM ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE

Fr. F. Suavez, from the Major Seminary in Soissons and an alumnus of the college, presided at Mass. Fr. P Delgoffe preached a homily on Christian dignity. Fr. Dehon was unable to attend the meeting as he was recuperating from an illness he contracted while in Switzerland when he officiated at the Arrachat marriage (NQ XIII, 5). He sent a card to Fr. Delloue excusing himself. In the same note, he encouraged the students to remain firm in faith just as the heroes from the Taban Legion. These were zealous men like St. Francis de Sales with their apostolate in Chablais, and charitable like St. Bernard of Marthon, the founder of the houses of refuge in the Alps.

Please Remember

+Mrs. Zofia Mis, the mother of Riszard Mis, of the general council. Mrs. Mis died on Saturday, December 8, 2001, in Poland from injuries received in an auto accident last August.