THE NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF April 2, 2007...
Provincial’s time Fr. MacDonald is spending Holy Week in Raymondville. The next weeks are filled with board meetings in South Dakota and Mississippi, as well as a combined meeting of the North American councils and superiors in Montréal, April 15-16. Please remember… Fr. Tom Westhoven, who is doing better, but will continue to be treated at a Chamberlain hospital for some time for a variety of health concerns. His hearing is improving, but there has been difficulty in treating an infected bedsore. Cards can be sent to Fr. Tom at the community house in Lower Brule. Fr. Tom expresses his thanks to those who have sent him cards and letters. He added that the kindness shown to him has been “overwhelming.” Pinellas Park hosts retreat Fr. Charles Yost recently conducted a day-and-half retreat for five couples at the Sacred Heart residence in Pinellas Park, Fl. The retreatants are members of “Teams of Our Lady,” an organization that promotes and helps develop Catholic spirituality for Catholic spouses. Fr. Charles is chaplain for a “team” in Clearwater and serves as the southeast sector chaplain. This area includes Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. He will speak at the National Convention in Minneapolis on July 6. His topic will be “Simple Prayer for Married Couples.” Speaking out Bishop Andreas Henrisoesanta, an SCJ bishop serving the diocese of Tanjungkarang, Indonesia, was quoted in the March 16th National Catholic Reporter. “An ordination Mass was the occasion for a bishop to urge his priests to take stock of criticisms leveled by laypeople rather than take offense,” began the NCR news item. “At the same time, he urged laypeople to try to understand the challenges priests face and to pray for them “’The large attendance during these ordinations shows how people pray for and support you,’ the bishop remarked at the recent ordinations of a diocesan priest and four deacons. “’They know well how hard your work is,’ he said. Citing St. Paul as an example, he exhorted his priests to be willing to let God convert them “Henrisoesanta asked laypeople to get to know their priests better and to pray for them. ‘Please, understand their efforts and challenges,’ he urged.” Updates Fr. Chuck Kelly Villa Maria 7330 S. Lovers Lane Road Franklin, WI 53132 414-425-5968/5981 x255 Come and See! The Vocation Office, along with the Chicago Formation Community, hosted six men for a Come and See weekend. Come and See is a time for young men interested in the community to get a closer look at religious life, and in particular, SCJ religious life. They also have an opportunity to learn a bit about candidacy, formation and academic requirements. Those who took part in the past weekend’s gathering included: Andrew Hoai Phuc Pham (16, Houston), Kevin An Thien Nguyen (18, Houston), Donovan T. Atencio (23, Vanderwagon, NM), Luis Fernando Orozco Cardona (32, Columbia), Juan Carlos Castaneda Rojas (24, Columbia), and Richard Rivera (39, Winter Springs, Fl.). Easter The Provincialate Offices will be closed Friday, April 6 through Monday, April 9 in commemoration of Easter. The Fridge Notes will be published (both the electronic and mailed versions) on Tuesday, April 10. Of course, Fridge Notes’ news can be sent to Mary Gorski at ANY TIME: marygorski@sbcglobal.net or 414-427-4266. Former SCJ is published Fr. Mike Ortiz, a former SCJ, recently had his autobiography published. With a Passion (published by AuthorHouse) tells Fr. Mike’s story from his beginnings as the first of 15 children in a Kansas family. He entered the SCJs’ minor seminary at 14, professed vows with the SCJs at 19 and was ordained to the priesthood at 27. In 1966, Fr. Mike volunteered for the U.S. Army’s Special Forces, where he trained as a paratrooper, HALO jumper and as a scuba diver. He served as a chaplain in the military until his retirement in 1966. His assignments took him around the world, including Japan, Vietnam, Germany and Panama. Following his retirement from active duty (he had risen to the rank of colonel), he served as associate pastor at St. John the Evangelist Parish in San Diego, as pastor at Holy Family in Linda Vista, Calif., as pastor at St. Anthony’s in National City, Calif., and as a hospital chaplain at the University of California in San Diego. For information on the book, go to: www.authorhouse.com.