On August 12, four SCJs of the U.S. Province made their final profession of vows at Sacred Heart Monastery in Hales Corners, Wis. They were received by newly elected provincial superior Fr. Richard MacDonald, SCJ.

Those making their final profession included: Joseph Thiên Dinh, David Szatkowski, Hà Mình Trân and Charles Wonch. In their own words, they talk about themselves and their vocations:

Joseph Dinh: I was born in Saigon, Vietnam and I am 31. My mother is deceased (1988) but my father is living in Waltham, Mass. I have four brothers and four sisters. They are all living in different parts of the United States. I came to this country in 1987 and settled with my family in Springfield, Mass.

I have been associated with SCJs since 1992. During these years, I have had the opportunity to meet SCJs throughout the province by living, visiting, and working with the community. Especially during the novitiate year and my ministry year last year, I have had more of an opportunity to get to know the SCJ community, ministries, way of life, and spirituality. I professed my first vows in 1996 and studied at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

What attracted me to religious life and especially to SCJs is the charism, ministry, spirituality, the spirit of the SCJ community life, and most of all, the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This special devotion is from the love of God through the Sacred Heart of Jesus. SCJs then bring God's love to other people and particularly to the poor and those who are neglected by society. Moreover, the daily devotion of adoration helps me to enrich my life. It is this love that calls me to answer my vocation as well as God's call. Living in the SCJ community, I feel a sense of purpose, future, goal, meaning in religious life, and fulfillment to my vocation.

David Szatkowski: I am in my ninth year in SCJ formation. I was with the San Antonio formation community as a candidate and then in temporary vows while I completed my undergraduate work, and then two years ago, I did my apostolic year. For most of the year, I was in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, living with the Raymondville Community. Fr. Steve Pujdak, SCJ, was my supervisor.

I elected to go to the Valley for two reasons. First, I always felt very welcome and at home there. Also, I wanted to get out of the urban situation for a while and try rural ministry. The Valley gave me that chance.

I was involved with a team teaching second year confirmation and

I was a substitute teacher with CCD at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Two days a week I taught ESL (English as a Second Language) to Spanish-speaking women at Project ARISE. I spent time as well ministering to the dying in a hospice-like setting called Comfort House. Finally, I worked at creating a social service handbook that could be used by parish staff in helping people who need to be referred to the social service agencies that exist in the Valley.

Now, I am back at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Besides my studies, I am also teaching scripture at St. Benedict the African parish and teaching scripture there as well.

If all goes as planned, I'll be completing my studies at CTU in 2002.

Ha M. Tran: .I was born in Phan Thiet, South Vietnam on August 15, 1968, and am the ninth child in the family. All members of my family are either in the United States or Denmark.

I graduated from high school in San Antonio in 1993, attended the University of the Incarnate Word, also in San Antonio, and right after that finished college in December, 1998, with bachelor's in political science. While I was a student at Incarnate Word, I was also a candidate and then a professed member with the SCJ formation community.

I am attracted to religious life because I saw the sisters, priests and brothers do a lot of good work with the people in my village in Vietnam. Since there was no welfare, Churches and their leaders were the only resources available to poor Christians like people in my village. Impressed by the works of the religious, I wanted to be like them. So in August, 1992, I joined the SCJs. Being in a religious community has given me the opportunity to know God and myself better. I have experienced God's love in a way that I have never felt before. I have found the SCJ community hospitable, generous, and open to accepting minorities and having various kinds of ministries. I have also liked the dynamic aspect of the SCJs. The congregation in the United States is small in number, but it has a great impact on the Church.

Now I am in Chicago, studying at Catholic Theological Union. I am also active in youth ministry here, leading Bible study at a local parish as well as other activities.

Charles "Chuck" Wonch, SCJ: I am originally from Colville, Washington, but lived for many years in Crystal Springs, Mississippi. When I was 20, I joined the US Air Force in 1966. After my discharge, I moved to Crystal Springs and obtained a bachelor's in Industrial Management in 1979 from Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. I went back to school again in 1989, to obtain a master's in Theological Studies in from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama.

The years of candidacy in Milwaukee and Chicago, as well as the novitiate, have been a great help for me in making the transition from living alone to living in the SCJ community. It has given me time to change the pace of my life from the business world. I have been given wonderful opportunities for ministry in Milwaukee and Chicago, and two years ago, I worked full-time with the Pastoral Team in Lower Brule, SD. I did a variety of work, including teaching at the local junior college, helping with CCD on the reservation parishes and ministering to the elderly.

I had a fantastic time in South Dakota and while I hated to leave the prairie, I was also anxious to get back to Chicago, where I needed to complete my studies at Catholic Theological Union. But now my studies are behind me, and I am on my way back to Lower Brule for ministry.

These years with the SCJs have been a wonderful time to interact with other religious and lay people from different walks of life and with different life stories to tell.