Queridos Hermanos y Hermanas,

Que celebracion mas hermosa! Me allegro compartir este momento con todos Ustedes.

Dear Brothers and Sisters. What a wonderful celebration this is. I am happy to share these moments with you.

1.     It was September 4, 1969 when I first entered this chapel. I had just arrived as a fresh moral theologian from Rome to teach moral theology to our SCJ scholastics. At that time they numbered about 20 students. Father Thomas Cassidy, Father Paul  Grizelle-Reid and Dr. John Gallam were among them. As I entered the chapel, immediately my attention went out to the beautifully colored, stain glassed window with the simple figure of the Sacred Heart right behind the tabernacle. In the morning sun this image lightened up. The image made a deep impression on me. Since my time in the minor seminary with the SCJs in Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands, the Heart of Jesus has been the focus of my spiritual life. This was the reason why I chose the votive mass of the Sacred Heart for this installation service. The key text of John’s Gospel today is: “They will look upon him whom they have pierced.” Even though today is a joyous liturgical celebration, we want to remember that the source of our salvation is the “Pierced One” on the cross. (cfr. Deus Caritas Est 19). The pierced Heart of Jesus on the Cross is the revelation of God’s Love for us. And so the contemplation of the Pierced Side of Christ is the center of the human-spiritual, academic, and pastoral formation at Sacred Heart School of Theology. We are the School of the Heart of Christ. This divine love helps us to form a “heart that sees.” (Deus caritas Est, 38). This heart sees where love is needed and acts accordingly. (Deus Caritas Est, 31)

2.    Another date. This time, August 18, 2007. The Provincial Secretary, my house mate Brother Frank Presto, had set this date for an appointment with Father Thomas Cassidy, “who wanted to see me.” In this meeting Father Tom asked me to take on the leadership of Sacred Heart School of Theology. I must confess that I didn’t leap for joy. But I also realized that it is difficult to say no to a call from a Provincial whom we had just elected. He asked me to succeed him as President-rector of Sacred heart School of Theology. I could not see any major reason to say no to his request. On October 19 the Board of Directors approved my appointment. The rest is history. I was moved and humbled by the warm, extended applause with which I was welcomed when I was presented that same day as the new President-Rector to the SHST community in this very chapel. It helped me greatly to get over my initial fears and anxieties.

3.    In accepting the position of President-Rector of Sacred Heart School of Theology I am deeply motivated by Father Dehon’s passion the priesthood. For Father Leo John Dehon, the Founder of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, the formation of priests was one of the most important apostolates of his Congregation. (“l’oeuvre des oeuvres”). In 19^th century France, Father Dehon founded his congregation of the Oblates of the Sacred Heart. He envisioned priests, inspired by the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who are learned, virtuous and zealous. The Mission of Sacred Heart School of Theology, the formation of adult, mature men for the Priesthood, is solidly grounded in Father Dehon’s vision of the Priesthood. In the 75 years of its existence Sacred Heart School has successfully responded to the changing circumstances in the Church of the United States and globally. It has grown from a local seminary of the Priests of the Sacred Heart into a nationally and internationally recognized seminary. We are committed to educate competent leaders for our Church whose faith is grounded in the Gospel and Tradition, in faithfulness to the teachings of the Magisterium.

4.    A good CPE question is: How do I feel about this assignment?  How do I feel about being the president-rector of Sacred Heart of Theology and how do I reflect theologically about the challenge? These were standard questions as I moved through the stages of supervisory training in CPE. Let me attempt to briefly answer these two questions.

The first question: How do I feel? My simple answer is that I feel excited about this new opportunity to serve Sacred Heart School of Theology which became my first love when I arrived from Holland in 1969. (However, I must confess, SHST is not my only love). I feel affirmed and appreciated for what I am able to bring to Sacred Heart School of Theology during “my second adulthood,” people between 70 and 90 years of age.  I am appreciative of the support I received from numerous colleagues, students, sponsors, bishops, provincial superiors, vocation directors.  May I quote one e-mail I received from a recent graduate of Sacred Heart School of Theology: “Fr. Jan, I know the new job will be challenging but I believe they have the right man for the job. I really enjoyed the classes I had from you and also enjoyed your sense of humor. I am hoping to come down to SHST before classes end this spring, but unless I can pull a priest out of the hat, I doubt it would be possible. I have a cluster of 3 parishes and every weekend have 5 masses and sometimes it is seven which includes 2 funerals. (This happened twice).” (Fr. Ron Levra). This parish priest is one of our many graduates who in their second adulthood responded to an urgent need of the church.

The second question is: how do I reflect theologically on the challenge?  In answering this question, the image of a Pastor comes to my mind, possibly because I grew up on a farm in Holland. My dad had also a herd of sheep. Often I was called upon to bring the sheep back from fields to the barn. From a polder-boy who herded sheep, I became the pastor now of Sacred Heart School of the Theology. I feel full of excitement because never before did I serve as a full-time pastor in a parish. And I missed that. I pledge to you, the Scared Heart School of Theology community, to serve as your pastor by making my pastoral skills of listening and caring available to each one of you, even in the midst of the administrative duties connected with this position. Together we are a community of faith who form pastors and leaders for the Church. Since I have moved into the seminary I am   experiencing first hand the power of this spiritual community that is centered in the daily Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours and many additional expressions of prayer meetings. In these prayer experiences we are nourished by the love of God. The Eucharist is the center of our community life. The Eucharist unites love of God and love of others. (Deus Caritas Est 14). This liturgical life expresses itself in a second strong characteristic of our school community life: that is our concern for justice issues in the city, the nation and the world. Father Dehon spoke of the “Reign of the Sacred Heart in souls and societies.” Our love needs to express itself in work for a just world.  Love of God and Love of neighbor go hand in hand. “Love of God and love of neighbor are (thus) inseparable, they form a single commandment. Both live from the love of God who loved us first (Deus Caritas Est 18).

5.    Facing the future of Scared Heart School of Theology, I am filled with hope. I am excited about exploring new growth opportunities for Sacred Heart School of Theology. Our collaboration with St. Francis de Sales seminary under the new leadership of Father Don Hying, has given our seminary a strong boost. My dream is that Sacred Heart School of Theology develop into a theological center that serves the formation of priests and leaders for the local church of Milwaukee, the Church in the USA and beyond.  We have a school that provides the students academic excellence, holistic human-spiritual formation, and solid pastoral formation.  I am proud of our committed administrators, competent faculty and dedicated staff at SHST. But above all, the students are our “human documents” who, along with their varied life experiences, bring their gifts and talents. Students and faculty together form an inspiring learning environment. With the presence of the ESL and the Hispanic Studies programs we are a truly multi-cultural community. These factors together make Sacred Heart a unique School of Pastoral Formation. Sometimes I feel that Sacred Heart School of Theology is the best kept secret in Milwaukee and in the USA. We need to tell our story. We have a fascinating story to tell. If I were to choose one slogan for our School, it would be: Let your light shine!

6.    Thank you for your confidence in me. With God’s help we will succeed.

Gracias por su appoyo. Con la ayuda de Dios tendremos buen exito. Gracias por su presencia.