What's New?

The Finish Region has substantially revised its home page.  Several new sections have been added.  Of particular interest to the English speaking world may be the historical chronology of the congregation from 1879 to 1978 (cf. http://www.dlc.fi/~scjregfi/historia.html).  This site is also listed on our links page.

Theological Book Service, a ministry of the U.S. Province, has returned to the web with an all new site.  It can be reached at http://www.theobooks.org , or from our links page.

The congregational statistics for the first quarter have been published (cf.  First Quarter 1998).  If you wish to compare them to the fourth quarter 1997, you will find those on the news page for March 21, 1998, or simply link here to:  Fourth Quarter 1997.

What's Happening?

With the end of the spring meetings, the general council is on the move once again.  Carlos Alberto da Costa Silva left for Brazil on May 9^th . During this visit he will be attending the North Brazil provincial election assembly.  Umberto Chiarello left on May 23^rd for the meeting of Southern European Provincial and Regional Superiors in Poland.  Tom Cassidy left for North America on May 25^th. First on his schedule is a meeting of North American SCJ Vocation Directors in Chicago.  Later on the same day Ryszard Mis flew to Argentina. He will be conducting the consultation for a new provincial administration on behalf of the general administration.

With the end of classes, exams looming, and the summer diaspora not far off, the Rome I community held its annual year end evaluation and day of reflection on May 23^rd.  At the community meeting Fr. General announced the appointment of Czeslaw Konior (PO), as the new house superior.  Fr General said the announcement of a new house treasurer is still pending as the search for a replacement was still in process.

Jose Miguel Garcia Tutor (HI) has completed six years of service and will be returning to the Spanish Province.  Likewise Angelico Frattini (IS), the house treasurer, will return to the North Italian Province after serving two terms as house treasurer.

After consulting with interested parties, the General Secretary was informed by the French Canadian Province that it wishes to be known as the Region of French Canada, which will translate as CGA in our official shorthand.

Speaking of French Canada! We have had: Pardon our French and Pardon our Italian. This week the General Secretary points out we also have Pardon our Latin. In speaking about the change in the status of the French Canadian Province we used the phrase: "the following administration has been appointed ad nulum." It should have read ad nutum!

The general council approved the process developed by the French and Luxemborg-Walloon provinces for their merging into a single province, planned to take place next year. Since both provincial administrations are scheduled for change next year (May 15^th for LW and June 1^st for GA) this seems an opportune moment for them to commence the fusion process.

The general council also approved the erection of the novitiate house for the scj community in Madagascar at Antsibrabé. Recall that for a number of years novices from Madagascar made their novitiate in the Cameron.

The US province weekly publication Fridge Notes reported on the appointment of a new auxiliary bishop with scj ties:

Joseph N. Perry, recently named as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Chicago, is currently a professor of canon law at Sacred Heart School of Theology.  The Chicago native is also an adjunct canon law professor at Marquette University Law School as well as a pastor of a Milwaukee parish.  He became the 13th active black Catholic bishop  in the United States.

Fridge Notes

May 18, 1998

A House of Prayer

The Cloistered Carmelite Sisters arrived in Helsinki some ten years ago at the request of Bishop Paul Verschuren, scj.  The Finish Catholic community numbers about 7000.  The country is predominantly Lutheran, who represent about 87% of the population, with the Orthodox Church a distant second.

There are currently six sisters in the community, all but one are from the United States, the other is from England.  The community has had several candidates from the area, but they have not persevered.  The sisters do welcome visitors, as it is an ideal place for a quiet retreat. The Carmel is located about a half hour from central Helsinki in a wooded area and a nearby lake.  Not too far away, perhaps a kilometer or less, is the Ecumenical Center run by the diocese of Helsinki.

 

One way the community helps support itself is through icon painting.  Two of the sisters are engaged in this activity.  Pictured here is one recently completed icon of St. Michael.  With its proximity to Russia and a large (about 200,000) Orthodox community, it is no surprise that among the Finish people there is a keen appreciation for iconography.

The sisters are very interested in the history, charism and spirituality of the SCJs.  They would like to learn more about our community, but at the moment lack the needed materials.  The native language of all six sisters is English, thus they would very much appreciate materials in English.  However, several of the sisters know either French or Spanish, and would treasure materials in either of these languages as well.  Communities wishing to send materials on the life of the founder, our spirituality, charism, etc., can do so by sending these to:

Karmeliittasisaret
%Ylisisar: Virginia
Myllyjärventie, 3
302740 Espoo
Finland

St. George

Jesus and the Blessed Mother