Author Archives: scjphil

Sep 14 2018

Seminar – Workshop in Manila

On September 10 -13, 2018, 32 perpetually professed religious and 2 on temporary vows, members of the Philippine Region, participated in a four day on going formation seminar, held at St. Camillus Pastoral Healthcare Center, 18 Nicanor Reyes Street, Loyola Heights, 1108 Quezon City.

The first two days of the seminar was facilitated by Rev. Fr. Lauro V. Larlar, OAR, School Prior of the Recoletos School of Theology. The theme of his input was about “Renewed Servant-leaders for the New Evangelization” using the Dehonian ways of evangelization focusing on how to strengthen the spirituality and Dehonian identity in doing our mission in the Philippines.

The other two days of the seminar was facilitated by Sr. Julie Micosa, MCSH, board member of the Galilee Center and CBCP center for Human and Spiritual Development, Tagaytay. The focus of her input was more on self awareness in connection with emotions, thoughts, mood, anger, loneliness, sexuality, intimacy and anxiety that would allow the participants to come up with an effective features of on-going programs that members of the Philippine Region need to go through to address the different needs in order to become more effective Dehonian missionaries.
The seminar was concluded with a regional meeting to discuss important matters of the region.

By: Fr. Joseph Butlig, scj

Sep 2 2018

The consecration of Fr. Wilmer

On September 1, thousands of people, including Dehonians from around the world, filled the cathedral of Hildesheim and two nearby churches to be a part of the episcopal ordination of Heiner Wilmer, SCJ, as the 71st bishop of the German diocese.

Archbishop Stefan Heße of Hamburg was the ordaining bishop. The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, presented the papal certificate of appointment to the new bishop. Among the concelebrants were Bishop José Ornelas Carvalho, who served as Dehonian superior general before Bishop Heiner, and Fr. Carlos Luis Suarez Codorniú, the newly elected superior general.

Until his appointment, Bishop Wilmer was the superior general of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians). His coat of arms prominently features the Dehonian cross, which is also his bishop’s cross.

His motto, “Adiutores Gaudii Vestri,” based on 2 Corinthians 1:24, encompasses his understanding of his service as bishop. St. Paul writes: “Not that we lord it over your faith; rather, we work together for your joy, for you stand firm in the faith.”

The Diocese of Hildesheim, which includes the city of Hanover, is one of the oldest dioceses in the world. It was founded in 815 and is located in northern Germany; it is over 18,5000 square miles and includes approximately 610,000 Catholics and 200 priests. Bishop Wilmer succeeds Bishop Norbert Trelle, who headed the diocese from 2006 until 2017.

Bishop Wilmer was provincial superior of the German Province when he was elected superior general in 2015. He was born on April 9, 1961 in Schapen, Germany, was ordained in 1987, and professed his first vows with the congregation in 1982.

Prior to his service as provincial superior Bishop Wilmer held a number of positions in education. From 1998 – 2007 he was headmaster of Gymnasium Leoninum in Handrup, Germany. Before that, he spent a year teaching German and history at the Jesuit’s Fordham Preparatory School in New York (USA).

From 1995 – 1997 he served at Liebfrauenschulem, a school in Vechta, northern Germany, as a teacher of religion, history and politics, as well as a school chaplain.

Bishop Wilmer has also taken part in several social initiatives with the poor and disenfranchised. In 2006 he spent three months in Caracas, Venezuela, doing catechesis among the city’s barrios. From 1996 – 1997 he worked to develop a training initiative for women at a penitentiary in Vechta (Germany).

During his year teaching in New York he served in the Jesuits’ soup kitchen. And in 1993 he spent four months in Toronto, Canada, serving as a chaplain at “L’Arche Daybreak,” a residential home for people with disabilities.

His studies have included French Philosophy at Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and Fundamental Theology at the University of Freiburg, where he earned his doctorate. The title of his thesis: “Mystik zwischen Tun und Denken. Zum Ort der Mystik in der Philosophie Maurice Blondels” [Mysticism between doing and thinking. The place of mysticism in the philosophy of Maurice Blondel].

Pater Dr. Heiner Wilmer erhält in einem Festgottesdienst am 01.09.2018 im Dom zu Hildesheim die Bischofsweihe. Foto: Jens Schulze (Nur zur redaktionellen Verwendung – Werbung auf Anfrage!)

After the episcopal ordination, thousands moved to the cathedral courtyard for an outdoor party. A German band played as German-themed foods were shared with the crowd, including German beer!

By: Mary Gorski

Aug 13 2018

Celebration of the Founder in Cagayan de Oro

On August 12, 2018, the formation community of Cagayan de Oro, together with the SCJs from nearby communities, members of the Dehonian Family and friends of the Congregation, celebrated the 93rd Death Anniversary of Fr. Leo Dehon, the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. The concelebrated Mass was presided by the Regional Superior, Fr. Lukas Hadi Siswo Sasmito, SCJ, while the homily was delivered by Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ. Fr. Francis recalled the last moments of the life of Fr. Dehon, summarized his activities and reflected on the challenges lying ahead of his spiritual sons and daughters. As usual the celebration was concluded with a common meal.

Jul 22 2018

Installation of the new Parish Priest in San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish

On July 21, 2018 Most Rev. Antonio R. Tobias, D.D. the Bishop of Novaliches Diocese installed Rev. Fr. Niño B. Etulle, SCJ as second SCJ Parish Priest of San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish, Tierra Verde Homes I, Brgy. Culiat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

The celebration started at 5:00PM that lasted for one hour and thirty minutes. There were more than 200 people attended the installation. A good number of Parishioners and leaders from the different organizations of San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish attended the celebration together with the cooperation of some religious men and women coming from different religious congregation, guests, family members and close friends of Fr. Niño and SCJ’s coming from different communities were present to witness the installation.

The celebration ended with simple dinner prepared by the Parish Pastoral Council of San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish.

By: Fr. Joseph Butlig, SCJ

Jul 21 2018

New Administration of the Congregation

On July 21, 2018, members of the General Chapter elected the following councilors:

1. Fr. Leopold Mfouakouet from Cameroon. The former provincial superior who also served on the previous General Council. Born in 1968, he was professed in 1988 and ordained in 1995. He has served in parish ministry, in formation, and as a professor at the Catholic University in Yaundé.

2. Fr. Stephen Huffstetter from USA. He is 59 and was re-elected to the General Council of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. The former provincial superior of the US Province professed his first vows in 1982 and was ordained in 1989. Before service as provincial superior he was director of St. Joseph’s Indian School in South Dakota. He has also served in formation, and in pastoral ministry on the Indian reservations of South Dakota.

He has a Master’s in Divinity and a Doctorate in Cross Cultural Ministry from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

3. Fr. Artur Sanecki from Poland has been re-elected to the General Council. The former provincial superior of the Polish Province is 52, professed his first vows in 1985 and was ordained in 1991. He has served in formation and has taught theology, including at the Pontifical University in Krakow. Fr. Arthur holds a doctorate in Biblical Theology from the Gregorian Pontifical University in Rome and speaks six languages.

4. Fr. Alexander Sapta Dwi Handoko  the Provincial Superior from Indonesia.  He was born in 1963, professed in in 1984 and ordained in 1993.

5. Fr. Levi dos Anjos Ferreira from Brazil. Fr. Levi at the time of election was not a member of the General Chapter. Originally from Brazil, he has served in the German Province for several years. Fr. Levi was born in 1972, professed in 1994 and ordained in 2002. He is currently novice master in Freiburg, Germany. Fr. Levi will join the chapter as soon as possible.