17 March 2001

What’s New?

Please note

Due to the computer crash several weeks ago the current web pages are being done on a new (and more complicated) html program.While it has many advantages and features they take time to learn and adjust to. If you notice any ‘strange’ characters, etc., in the pages, or your own web browser cannot accept the formatting kindly report them to your editor at: tomc@scj.org. 

XXth Century SCJ Martyrs

In honor of the March 11th Beatification of Fr Juan de la Cruz García Méndez scj of our Spanish Province (HI) we have been presenting a weekly series on our "SCJ Martyrs of the XXth Century." This series has been prepared by Stefan Tertünte (GE) using the work of Fr. Bernd Bothe (GE) Märtyrer der Herz-Jesu-Priester (SCJ Martyrs). 

This week we present the story of the Dutch SCJs in Indonesia duinrg interred by the Japanese in 1942 during World War II.

13.01.01 Introduction

20.02.01 Frs. Josef Benedikt Stoffels and Nicolas Wampach

27.01.01 Fr. Mariano Johannes Garíca Mendez

03.02.01 Fr. Franz Stanislaus Loh

10.02.01 P. Kristiaan Hubertus Muermans

03.03.01 Fr. Nicola Martino Capelli

10.03.01 An Accidental Saint: Fr. Mariano Johannes García Mendez

17.03.01 Dutch SCJs in Indonesia

24.03.01 SCJs in the Congo

India

Leonard Zaworski (IND) has notified us that the Indian SCJ website was recently updated with some new photos and can be viewd athttp://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/DharmaDr/scjindia

Justice & Peace

Carlos Alberto da Costa Silva forwared a letter from theAFRICA-EUROPE FAITH AND JUSTICE NETWORK dated March 5, 2001 and addressed to the President of the Italian Council of Minsiters concerning the agenda for the G8 summit scheduled to be held in Genoa, Italy in July.

As a faith based organization, representing priests and religious women and men from 39 religious congregations present in Africa and Europe, AEFJN looks to Italys leadership of the G8 in 2001, to bring the members of the G8 Summit of July in Genoa to heed the calls of the millions of Africans, their civil and religious leaders and their numerous civil society groups.

What’s Happening?

Ecuador

Several weeks ago Jose Bravo, the scj superior in Ecuador wrote a short article on the current situation there.Ecuador is the newest scj mission and is staffed by members of the Spanish province. There are currently two communities working in the county the original mission at and the other in the capital of Quito.Due to our computer crash we were not able to present this article in a timely fashion (Cf. The Situation in Ecuador).

Maranhão 

On March 14th, a new administration was installed in the Region of Maranhão, Brazil. Alcides Pedrini is the new Regional Superior replacing Celson Altenhoffen. andAntônio Santos Silva and Ângelo Figueira will serve on the council.

Rome

Several scjs from the United States and Canada joined with their European confreres in Rome on Sunday March 11, 2001, in St. Peter’s Square for the beatification ceremony of the 233 Spanish Civil War Martyrs, including Fr.Juan de la Cruz García Méndez scj.Fr. General returned from his pastoral visit to Argentina-Uruguay to attend the beatification. Fr. Juan is the first scj to be so honored.

We are also posting today Pope John Paul II’s beatification homily in the original Spanish on our website.For other languages please check the Vatican website at: www.vatican.va.

United States 

When +Jerome Schaad (US) fell ill and was no longer able to function as provincial treasurer Br. Ray Kozuch, provincial secretary, temporarily filled in for him.On March 1, 2001, the provincial superior with the consent of his council appointed Brian McCullough as the new provincial treasurer effective immediately.

SCJ artist illustrates second book geared toward deaf children

Fr. Guy Blair, SCJ, a minister to the deaf community for manyyears, has collaborated on a second book geared toward deaf children. My Name is God is the story of creation, told simply, through sign language, art and words. It was written by Patricia Dyreson and illustrated by Fr. Guy.The writer and artist had previously collaborated on A Very Special Egg, a story about the meaning of Easter, designed for deaf children.

"'Can God sign?' 'Can God finger-spell?' 'Is God deaf?'

"These questions are a part of the spiritual experience of deaf children," wrote Sr. Maureen Langton, CSJ, in the foreword for My Name is God.Sr. Maureen is executive director of the Ministry Formation Program."Deaf children want to pray, but they are not sure whether God understands them when they pray in sign language or when they finger-spell.Deaf children often need assurance that God not only understands them, but also can communicate with them...

"This book, depicting God communicating directly in sign language and finger-spelling to deaf children, will bring delight to young readers... My Name is God offers an opportunity for the families of deaf children to discuss the Bible story of creation." 

The book, funded by the Priests of the Sacred Heart, will be available at major bookstores such as Barnes and Noble and Borders.

Patricia Dyreson is director of Religious Education for Deaf Children in the diocese of Madison and the director of Madison Deaf Ministry.Deaf since birth, she is a graduate of Gallaudet, the university for the deaf in Washington, D.C.

Fr. Guy was formerly a chaplain to the deaf community in Madison, and has done ministry with deaf and hearing impaired Catholics in Wisconsin and Illinois.Currently, he is a member of the formation team in Chicago.

Please Remember

+P. CELESTINO ALFONSO MERELLI (IS)

Born: 25/10/1916
First Profession: 27/11/1937
Ordained: 25/06/1944
Died: 11/03/2001 at Bolognano (TN)