What's New

We have posted the report on Justice and Peace from the Anglo Canadian Province to our Justice and Peace section. This is available in four languages (English, French, Portuguese and Italian).

Many thanks to Stefan Tertünte (GE) for providing us with an English translation of Fr. Wilhelm Spätgen (GE) obituary published by the German Province.

There is a correction to the posting of the notice on October 24th regarding Edizioni Dehoniane. The original text reads as follows:

We have received the web site address for EDB (Edizioni Dehoniane), www.getnet.it/ed/index.html. The site has been added to the Links page along with an email address to which queries can be sent: francesco@getnet.it

It should be Edizioni Dehoniane (Rome), not to be confused with EDB (Edizione Dehoniane Bologna). It will be so indicated on the links page.

The US Province recently published biographies on students in formation: 1998-99 Year of Formation United States Province, Priests of the Sacred Heart. The following is taken from the introduction:

This year there are 12 SCJs and candidates in initial formation. Five are undergraduate students in the San Antonio program, four are theology students in Chicago, two are doing their cross-cultural ministry year, and one (Br. Lyle Hennen) is in full time ministry as a religious brother.

The following is a quick introduction to them:

New Necrology Published

The General Curia, under the direction of the office of the general secretary, has published Necrologium S.C.J. 1998, covering the congregation from its birth in 1878 through August 31, 1998. In addition to a daily necrology the book contains an Alphabetical Index of deceased scjs.

The scj web site (www.scj.org) has adopted this new format, and it can be linked here at Necrologium S.C. J. 1998. We will endeavor to keep the online necrology's index of names and daily calendar up to date.

According to the new Necrologium, as of 31 August 1998 the number of deceased scjs numbered 2077. This can be broken down as follows:

2,046 professed religious and 31 novices

• 13 Bishops
• 1,493 Priests
• 2 Deacons
• 448 Brothers
• 89 Scholastics
• 31 Novices

Masion Dehon

During its ten years of existence, Maison Dehon, in Montréal, has welcomed many people who wished to learn more about AIDS ministry, or to receive training in this area. People have come not only from the Province of Québec, but also from other Provinces in Canada, as well as other countries like USA and France. Last summer, Gabon was added to this list. A delegation, led by the Minister of Health, came to visit Maison Dehon and its director, Fr Claude Bédard (CGA).

The government in Gabon wants to set up programs to help people living with AIDS. As a result of last summer's visit, on October 30th a TV team from Gabon was at Maison Dehon to shoot a 30 minutes video which will be used during a telethon to be broadcast later this year in Gabon designed to help people living with AIDS. There are also some discussions between Gabon and Maison Dehon about providing formation and training.

From Maurice Légaré (CGA)

Please Remember

+ P. Antoine Tankwé CM

born.: 30 November 1923
first profession: 29 September 1954
ordination.: 7 July 1957
died: 25 October 1998 at Nkongsamba, Cameroon
 

Picture from Curia Archives Fr. Tankwé is first seated on the right hand side front row.

Dear Father General:

I am sorry to inform you that our confrere Antoine Tankwé died last Sunday around 11.00 am. He was concelebrating the Sunday mass with Bishop Pierre Tchouanga, Fr Siou and Fr Le Douaron, who is resting in Nkongsamba. During communion, he felt faint. Close to him was an altar boy who held him up. Br Camillo drove him immediately to the hospital at Ndoungué. Unfortunately, he died in the car between Nkongsamba and Ndoungué.

I think that Fr Antoine died serenely and went to the Father without suffering. A few days before he died, he had felt some discomfort and said that the time of his departure might be nearby.

The wake will take place in the shrine of Nkongsamba from Saturday to Sunday. The Requiem Mass will be on Saturday, October 31st at 10.00 am in the cathedral of Nkongsamba. He will be buried in our cemetery in Ndoungué.

I think that many people will participate in this Mass and wave goodbye to our confrere. For Antoine worked very hard among the poor as a pastor. When he was a young priest, he made monthly rounds to the Mboos Plain in order to visit the most distant Christians and spread the Good News.

Fr Antoine is the first Cameroonian SCJ to die.

Reverend Father, we are united in prayer during the Provincial's Assembly in Rome. We hope that it will bear fruit. Here in Ndoungué, there's a good atmosphere; we hope that young religious who are preparing to enter our Congregation will take up the void left by Fr Antoine.

Next week I will send you a letter to inform you how the burial was.

 

In the name of the Province, Fraternally Fr A. Huisken Ndoungué, 28th October 1998

Translation from the French by

Leopold Mfouakouet (CM)

Editor's Note: We have received additional information which will be published next week pending translation.

+ P. Bouritius Gerben NE

born: 21 August 1920
first profession:   3 December 1940
ordination.: 11 September 1949
died: 28 October 1998, at Tilburg, Netherlands

+ P. José de Bairos Braga LU

born: 02 September 1944
first profession: 29 September 1963
ordination: 04 July 1971
died: 01 November 1998, at East Providence, Rhode Island USA
 

Please note on last week's news page at the request of Bernard Rosinski (US) we asked for your prayers on behalf o fFr. José. Before his illness he had served for a number of years in Madagascar and then on behalf of that mission undertook studies in Rome in order to work in formation.

We also received the following information from Tony Amaral, brother-in-law of José Barios Braga:

Father José Bairos Braga died yesterday, Sunday, November 1, at 23:15. He spend the first half of the day without much discomfort. At 18:30 his cousin, Father José Andrade (LU) celebrated Mass at his bed side. Later on he started to be in discomfort. After some medication he felt slightly better and at 23:15 he died.