What's New

Last Tuesday the US Province marked the 75th anniversary of scj presence in a two day celebration at Lower Brule, SD. On Palm Sunday, 1923, Fr. Forman officially took up the duties of parish priest at St. Mary's Catholic Church on the Lower Brule Indian Reservation. A copy of Fr. General's letter to the province can be found on the documents and letters page, or by linking here to USA Letter.

Second Quarter 1998 Congregational Statistics will be published next week to the web site.

Finnish Region Meets

From September 7-9 at the Diocesan Retreat Center, Stella Maris, Finland the annual meeting of the SCJ Finish Region took place. As in years past, the scj community in Finland gathered for prayer and discussions of important issues they face in service to the Finnish Church.

This year the main topic was community life as suggested by Fr. General in his letter to the Finish Region as well as from documents of the Church on religious life. Also present at the meeting were Jan Strazalka (PO), vice provincial representing the Polish Provincial and Zenon Strykowski (PO) who will serve in Finland after a year long preparation in Dublin, Ireland.

From W. Sweich (FIN)

News from the Congo

This weekend, the Provincialate received the following letter from Br. Jerry Selenke, who is stationed in Kisangani:

Greetings from the rebel-held territory of the Congo. Due to circumstance beyond my control I may have to delay my trip to the United States and may not be able to make the celebration in South Dakota. I do not know if you get much news about what has been happening over here but for the last month or so, we have been in the middle of the fighting and at the moment there are no civilian airplanes coming in or going out. Since the only way open is by air, we may be stuck here for awhile. So far, there have been no SCJs injured or even severely threatened. My personal preference is that they should take the fighting and go settle their differences elsewhere.

The city of Kisangani is completely cut off and the shortage of drinking water, medicine and food is becoming critical. The most immediate problem is the chemical for the water treatment plant. We have enough for about six more days even though now they are supplying water for four hours a day. It would be catastrophic to have a city of half a million people without drinking water. I managed to arrange to bring in a cargo plane with 35 tons of chemicals. It took quite a bit of diplomatic maneuvering and getting a number of concessions from the various parties but, barring any last minute complications, it should arrive here on Wednesday. At the moment we are trying to organize an airlift for food and medicine. This should be a little easier since we were able to open the door with Wednesday's flight.

If anyone inquires, you can tell them that everyone is okay although each of us has to make a few concessions to the war. Dave Maher is still in government-held territory, although Jean-Claude and Andre (the confreres who normally work with him) are stuck here. They were here on retreat when the war broke out. I guess Dave will have to do double duty until they can find a way to get back up there. Take care and say hello to everyone.

From Fridge Notes 08/09/98

Earthquake in Ecuador

In the short time since arriving in Ecuador the Dehonians haven't missed the trials and difficulties caused by Mother Nature! First the heavy floods caused by El Niño, and now in early August, a number of earthquakes varying in intensity (from 5.0, 7.0, to 7.1 on the Richter scale). The epicenter was located in the province of Manabí, where our new community of Bahía de Caráquez is located. Fortunately deaths from the tremors have been few. However the infrastructures (houses, roads, electricity, water, etc.) were heavily damaged so that many families have been forced to live outdoors.

The three scjs did not suffer any personal injury, but the construction of the future community house did suffer some damage (at the moment the group is temporarily living in the house of a local family).

Despite the current difficulties Frs. Artremio and Ramón and Br. José María continue to face each day with enthusiasm, generosity and in service to the people, willingly sharing their sufferings and great difficulties.

From Carlos Suarez (HI)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS (http://www.vatican.va/news_services/pns_en.htm)

VATICAN CITY, SEP 18, 1998 (VIS) - The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Helsinki, Finland, presented by Bishop Paul Verschuren, S.C.I., in conformity with Canon 401, paragraph 2, of the Code of Canon Law.
RE/.../VERSCHUREN VIS 980918 (50)

Please Remember

+ P. Carolus Joannes Maria van GISBERGEN  NE
born: 05 May 1913
first profession: 08 Sept 1933
ordination: 14 July 1940
died: 11 Sept 1998 at Rotterdam

+ F. Johannes Cecilius VOGELERS - NE
born: 08 Aug 1925
first profession: 19 March 1943
died: 15 Sep 1998 at Maastrich