28 July 2001
28 July 2001
What's
New?MissionsWe are adding a page on the Philippines to this week's mission section in preparation for the November meeting of mission secretaries to be held at the Generalate upon the conclusion of the meeting of SCJ Major Superiors. This will be the last page to be added. Please note due to the date this page was originally created it does not include the new scj house in Manila.
Notice
A number of our readers have inquired about what has happened to our guest book and counter. For several months neither have functioned. Our webmaster, Zdzislaw Huber, in Helsinki is working to find replacements. This may take several more months. We ask for your patience. Why would it take so long? Please keep in mind everyone who works on our website is a 'volunteer' and as such can only devote so much time to it each week.
Tom Cassidy, scj
tomc@scj.org
What's
Happening?Congratulations!Archbishop Eusébio Oscar Scheid (BM) has been appointed by Pope John Paul II as the new Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro replacing Archbishop Eugênio de Araújo Sales. Archbishop Scheidt has been serving as the Archbishop of Florianópolis. He can be reached at:
R. Esteves Junior 447
88015-130 Florianópolis - SC
Brazil
fax: 48. 224.47.99
email: arqfln@arqfln.org.brBritish-Irish Province
David Marsden in the 'tall' fellow on the left
Exactly halfway through the month long ongoing formation course in Malpas the participants were presented with a choice of weekend breaks to either Scotland or Ireland to experience our SCJ reality in one of these two countries. I accompanied the group who had chosen to visit Scotland. A Trip To Scotland
The scene was set on the eve of the day we were to set off by Paul Murphy SCJ, a native of the Scottish Highlands. He gave us an interesting cultural and historical presentation on the development of the Scottish people up until the present day. A pleasant and informative evening was topped off by a wee dram of the good stuff (a small glass of Whiskey).
We set off the following morning in good spirits aiming to arrive in our first port of call some 4 hours later. We presently have two bases in Scotland, Smithstone House, an adult retreat center and the parish of St. John Oligvie about 10 minutes drive by car. Both houses are in the Ayrshire, an area in the southwest of the country. We arrived at Smithstone house in the late afternoon, a little weary from the journey, to receive a wonderfully warm welcome by Fr. Con Botter SCJ who settled us all in to pleasant rooms and peaceful surroundings. The large, spacious house easily accommodated the group and we could rest and refresh ourselves before the evening meal.
After an eagerly awaited supper we went for a short visit to the seashore about 15 minutes away in the car. It was blustery and windswept but great to see the beautiful, rugged scenery of the West coast of Scotland. It was a perfect way to end the long day of travel.
On Saturday, the group was presented with two options. One was a trip the Edinburgh, the Scottish capital and the other was a trip around the spectacular countryside, covering the lochs and the mountains. I was in the group who chose to go around the countryside and I was not disappointed. The weather was mixed but it didn't ruin the experience of a magical trip around the mountains and lowlands, crossing seas and walking around lochs. We arrived back tired but inspired by all we had seen. The trip to Edinburgh seemed to have gone equally well.
After sharing our day together over the evening meal, Con shared a little of his life and ministry with the group and we all asked questions about the SCJ presence here in a predominantly Protestant area. The night and the Whisky rolled on.
On Sunday morning we were all due to visit our parish down the road. With all 11 of the group around the altar concelebrating the Eucharist the congregation certainly got a surprise. We had another very warm welcome from the local community as we spoke with them after the celebration in the parish hall. They were amazed to hear that we were from every corner of the globe and proud to meet so many SCJs .
We had a final buffet lunch in the parish house and then said our good-byes. We were on the road again after a full and rewarding experience, a brief insight into our life and work in Scotland. It couldn't have been more pleasant. We arrived home to Malpas tired but completely satisfied and happy. The only complaint being that we couldn't have stayed up there for longer.
(David Marsden BH)
Chile
In Hernan Leemrijse third of four Ancud Chronicles he talks about the great tidal wave of 1960 that inundated Ancud.
Portugal
July 28, 2001 in the Cathedral of Funchal (Madeira) the following SCJs from the Portuguese province will be ordained:
To the Priesthood:
To the Diaconate:
- Nélio João de Freitas Rodrigues Tomás
- Manuel Domingos Nunes Pestana
- Juan Marques Noite
Salamanca
- José Nélio da Silva Gouveia
- Luís Manuel Pestana de Jesus
The following article was taken from Fridge Notes, a weekly publication of the US Province. To date it is the only information we have on the recently completed Dehonian Educators Conference. Hopefully we will have additional information available in the coming weeks.
[Fr. John Klingler, Sally Smits (Sacred Heart School of Theology) and Mary Jane Alexander (St. Joseph's Indian School) attended the international SCJ education conference in Salamanca, Spain, July 2-11. Before leaving Spain, Fr. John sent an e-mail with his reflections on the gathering:]
"There were 61 participants from Canada, Indonesia, Congo, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Chili, Venezuela, Mozambique, Germany, Poland and Belgium.
"The meeting was very good. It took place at the major seminary and novitiate in Salamanca. Main speakers and their topics included: 'The School, Place of Evangelization,' David Quintal Vieira, SCJ; 'Laity in Our Schools,' Simon Reyers, SCJ; and 'Fr. Dehon, The Educator,' Heiner Wilmer, SCJ.
"Also, each province and region gave a presentation on education within its country. There was much discussion within the main hall and with linguistic groups.
"Some conclusions: It was a joyful moment that we experienced together despite our differences. We are distinct but we are not far apart. Faithful to our founder, we hold education to be a privileged moment of evangelization. We do not impose our faith on anyone but we assume the responsibility to offer the conditions and the means to find it. As educational institutions we wish to be known for our availability to all, particularly people most in need.
"There are many kinds of apostolic works in the congregation. All are valued as a means for evangelization. We hold that the educational ministry must be promoted and strengthened and reinforced as much as possible. More than ever in today's secular world, the ministry of Dehonian Education is needed.
"A declaration regarding Dehonian Education will be put together, as well as a synthesis of what Dehonian Education is. These will be distributed to the congregation.
"The hospitality of the Spanish Province was overwhelming. On the weekend we went on tours of Madrid, Avila and Toledo. We visited some of the schools of the province, including the business school, ESIC, in Madrid and the college, Fray Luis De Leon in Madrid, and the college seminary of Alba de Tormes in Salamanca. At each of these we had gala dinners.
"In the evenings after the meetings we had some fun parties. Liturgies took into account the many languages.
"The provincial, Aquilino Mielgo, SCJ, was the perfect host; his care and awareness could not have been greater. The superior of the seminary in Salamanca where the meeting was held, Joaquin Izurzu, SCJ, along with Pedro Garcia, SCJ, and the entire staff took care of all our needs."
John Klingler (US)
Fridge Notes July 16, 2001
