Fr. Luca Zottoli, a member of the North Italian Province, has been named as the new general treasurer for the Priests of the Sacred Heart. He is 42, and professed his first vows in 1992. Fr. Luca is currently the superior of the student community in Bologna.
In 1997 -1998, Fr. Luca made his one year of exposure in the Philippines, particularly in the island of Mindanao and speaks the local language Cebuano quite well.
One of the deadliest typhoons that passed through the Visayas Region on November 8, 2013, was typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), that left thousands of dead, destroyed completely many properties and houses leaving tens of thousands with nothing. The most affected places were Tacloban City and Bantayan Island.
Thanks to the former General Superior, Fr. Jose Ornelas Carvalho, scj,who sent a letter to the Congregation asking for help, many entities answered positively and because of this the SCJs were able to help many people in Tacloban area (Leyte Province) and Bantayan Island (Cebu Province), to build or rebuild their houses. In Leyte Province, the SCJs have provided new houses and materials to help rebuilding people’s houses for a total of 167 families (66 in Kananga and 101 in Tanauan and Tacloban). In Bantayan and Botong Islands 29 plus 47 houses respectively.
Recently, the office of the regional superior received a poster from the Holy Family Parish in Kananga in Leyte with the words of gratitude, which the SCJs from the Philippine Region want to share with all who have helped the victims of typhoon Yolanda.
On June 5 the chapter members began the day with Eucharist, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ordination to the priesthood of Fr. John van den Hengel.
Then it was time for the group photo before walking to the corner to catch a bus to the Vatican to have an audience with the Holy Father, Pope Francis.
The Holy Father set aside the talk he had prepared earlier, saying that the speeches are boring. At first, he recalled the story of his long time friend, Fr. Virginio Bressanelli, one of the General Superiors and now bishop in Argentina. Also, the Pope Francis expressed his hope that the beatification process of Fr. Leo Dehon will end soon. He was very happy with the theme of the XXIII General Chapter “Merciful, in community, with the poor” and asked all the members of the congregation to be carriers and servants of mercy, also in the confessionals. In the end, the Holy Father reminded all about the importance of the Eucharist, adoration and prayer asking to pray for him also.
Prepared address of Pope Francis to the Dehonians
At lunch the chapter continued to celebrate Fr. John’s anniversary before heading back to the meeting hall to review and approve the synthesis document.
After the approval of the final document of the Chapter, the outgoing General Superior, Fr. Jose Ornelas Carvalho, thanked all for the opportunity to serve the congregation for the past 12 years. The assembly awarded Fr. Ornelas with a long applause. Prior to this, one of the former general superiors, Fr. Antonio Panteghini, now a missionary in Cameroon, expressed his joy of seeing the Congregation growing, especially in Africa and Asia.
At the very end, the general superior elect, Fr. Heiner Wilmer, expressed his thanks to all, who contributed to the success of the XXIII General Chapter.
On May 29 the General Chapter held a Mass of Remembrance to honor those SCJs who have died since the last General Chapter in 2009. The Mass began in the meeting hall to allow for translation assistance and ended in the main chapel of the “Collegio Internationale.”
“It has become part of our General Chapters to remember those who have gone before us, who, through death, were joined with Christ,” said Fr. John van den Hengel, the main celebrant and homilist. “We remember the dead of the last six years, we join with them and ask the Lord of mercy and of love to embrace them and be their joy…
“These members have all been part of our life line, our story. Their lives built up part of our identity. They were and are part of our story. We tell our current story by retelling theirs, what they did, their dying in the midst of life, their sacrifices, their foibles and faults.”
Speaking of the slide show that would follow, Fr. John said that “You will probably, as I will, have these moments of recognition: ‘ah, yes, it is so good to be reminded of you again,’ ‘thank you for what you did,’ ‘sorry that I did not always recognize you for the gift you gave to the community,’ ‘thank you for the joy you brought,’ ‘you were a great grace to the church and to the community.’
“Allow our minds and our hearts to tell the story again, to feel it in our hearts, to shed a tear at the sadness of their loss … but always with the awareness and the faith of the power of their life in Christ.”
On May 27, Fr. Heiner Wilmer, newly elected superior general, was the main celebrant at a Mass of Thanksgiving. Joining him at the altar was the newly elected council.The Mass was broadcast live on TeleDehon.
SCJ Philippines Region 