THE NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF December 17, 2007...
Provincial’s time Fr. Tom Cassidy returns to the office after a weekend in Kentucky for Fr. Mark Mastin’s ordination. CONGRATULATIONS! Congratulations to Fr. Mark Mastin, who was ordained to the priesthood on Saturday at St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, Ky. Bishop Robert Joseph Foys of Covington was the ordaining bishop. Originally from the Cincinnati area, Fr. Mark initially began studies with the Priests of the Sacred Heart in high school. He attended the community’s minor seminary in Donaldson, Ind. However, in 1979 he returned home to attend to a variety of family needs. While working, he completed a degree in theatre from Loyola University and a second in business at DePaul University. He assumed that his vocation was outside of ordained ministry. “But after spending some 20 years in the corporate world, I decided to find a more fruitful way to live my life,” said Dn. Mastin. He revisited his earlier call to the Church and applied to be a priesthood candidate with the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois.  “God writes straight with crooked lines,” goes the old saying. As Fr. Mark was preparing for diocesan priesthood, he became reacquainted with the Priests of the Sacred Heart as a seminarian at SHST and re-connected to his love for religious community. “I found so many parallels in the SCJs’ spirituality and my way of life,” he said. “It dawned on me that God had brought me back to the SCJs via the diocesan path.” Fr. Mark professed his first vows with the Priests of the Sacred Heart in 2003, and his final vows shortly before his diaconate ordination in June. Since his diaconate ordination, he has served at St. Martin of Tours in Franklin, Wis., where he will continue until the summer. He will then join the staff at the province vocation office. More congrats Congrats as well to Br. Frank Presto who received his MBA during Marquette’s graduation exercises December 16. Unfortunately, his folks got caught in the travel hassles brought on by last week’s snow storms and were unable to attend. Get them in! The provincial secretary writes: Twas days before Christmas and throughout SCJ houses, few pens were stirring, let alone computer mouses. The surveys had arrived, probably under a pile, “I’ll fill it out, perhaps in a little while.” The council awaited thoughts from the men, hoping these surveys they would send. Your thoughts are important, yes this is so. Reply very soon and thus we will know. It will not take too long, just a minute or two. Pick up your pen, soon you will be through. Your computer screen can also glow, via the internet the survey can go. Send it soon to the provincial secretary. Do not delay, try not to tarry. Merry Christmas to each of you, and a happy new year too! Happy birthday! Those celebrating birthdays in January include: Fr. Leonard Tadyszak (86) and Fr. Mike McMillen (66) on January 5, Fr. Tom Westhoven (67) and Fr. Rein van Leeuwen (79) on January 9, Fr. Don Barnd (86) on January 19, Fr. Ralph Intranuovo (71) and Fr. Paul Vernoy (68) on January 20, Fr. Bernie Rosinski (74) on January 22 and Fr. Andy Lewandowski (74) on January 26. A new birthday calendar, including the birthdays of those professed this year (Br. Clay Diaz - Dec. 19, Br. Long Nguyen - July 15, and Br. Brian Tompkins - November 4), will be mailed with the first Fridge Notes of the new year on January 7. Updates Fr. Justin Guiltnane is scheduled to move to Clement Manor today, December 17, and Fr. Joseph Gole is scheduled to move to Villa Maria by the end of the year. At Villa Maria his phone will be 414-425-5968, ext. 276. News from India The website for the District of India was recently updated. Please go to: http://www.indiascj.net Among the news shared is the December 10th ordination of six men to the diaconate. Please remember… Fr. Johannes van den Nieuwenhof, a member of the Dutch-Flemish Province, who died December 3. He was born in 1917, professed in 1937 and ordained in 1948. Fr. Theodor Schulte, a member of the German Province, who died December 10. He was born in 1912, professed in 1934 and ordained in 1939. Holiday break There will be no Fridge Notes mailed December 24 or December 31 because of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. News that needs to be disseminated before January 7 will go out via e-mail to the membership, or be posted on the Fridge Notes website. Please note that the Provinciate Offices will be closed December 24-26 and then again from December 31 through January 1. Merry Christmas!