THE NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF September 24, 2007...
Provincial’s time Fr. Tom Cassidy returns from a visit to Texas today (September 24) and then heads north to Baileys Harbor for a visit with the SCJ community at St. Joseph’s Retreat Center. September 30 - October 1 he has a visitation with the Villa Maria community, and then on October 3 he goes to South Dakota for a visitation there. A good neighbor St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, S.D., was named by Catholic Digest readers as the top charity of 2007 and the winner of a $5,000 cash prize. Over the past year, thousands of subscribers took part in Catholic Digest’s 4th annual Love Your Neighbor contest, choosing their favorite Catholic charity to win the award. St. Joseph’s Indian School helps children develop the skills necessary to live a balanced and healthy lifestyle through education, group-home living, the development and appreciation of spirituality and culture, and the promotion of personal growth and self-esteem. “I want to convey our thanks and gratitude for Catholic Digest’s Love Your Neighbor Award,” said the school’s director, Fr. Stephen Huffstetter, in a CD interview. “It is a great honor that so many people see us fulfilling our Lord’s command to love our neighbor. At St. Joseph’s we get to see the miracles that do happen every day up close and personal, but we know it is the many generous donors to all of our charities that make such miracles possible.” Finalists for the annual contest were: Catholic Church Extension Society (Chicago, Ill.), Catholic Charities USA (Alexandria, Va.), American Life League (Stafford, Va.), St. Labre Indian School (Ashland, Mont.), and Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers (Maryknoll, N.Y.). To be eligible for the award, organizations must be members of the National Catholic Development Council. The $5,000 prize will go into the school’s “regalia fund,” to provide traditional dance regalia for students who do not have the means to purchase or make their own. Such regalia is used at powwow performances. As noted below, the school hosted its annual Children’s Powwow this past weekend. More SD news This seems to be the week for news from St. Joseph’s Indian School. During the past weekend, the school hosted its annual Children’s Powwow. Events included the dedication of new homes to be named after Fr. Henry Hogebach and Fr. Yvon Sheehy. As you may remember, Fr. Hogebach was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame two years ago for his pioneering efforts among Native Americans. Fr. Yvon Sheehy, currently vocation director and vice provincial, spent many years ministering in South Dakota, first on the Cheyenne River Reservation and then with the Lower Brule Pastoral Team. He introduced the “team ministry” approach to both locations. Fr. Yvon traveled to South Dakota to take part in the dedication. Also in attendance were about 20 students from the summer ESL program who did a quick visit to St. Joseph’s and the Black Hills over the weekend. “Secretarial school” Br. Frank Presto sent an e-mail last week with a few reflections on his first days at “Secretarial School” (a workshop for provincial secretaries in the congregation). He writes: “I am finding the experience of being in Rome most interesting. I am not certain which is making the greatest impression on me: the constant flow of traffic and its noise, the way they park their vehicles here, the sense of history and age, the art and beauty within and of the buildings, the food, or these crazy computer keyboards that are set up just a bit differently than what I am used to at home. “‘Secretarial school’ has been a wealth of information and people. There are about 20 participants from around the congregation. Unfortunately, not every province, district or region is represented. The major drawback for me is that I only speak and understand one language. I hope to address this when I return. It would be rather helpful in the long term. “Monday was spent dealing with a host of legal issues, ideas and protocols concerning the authority of the major superiors and their councils. Fr. Marek Stoklosa presented a treasure trove of information regarding their roles, responsibilities, obligations and impact upon the role of the provincial secretary (and how the secretary impacts them). It was an exhausting day but worth it. He will have more to present later in the week when we discuss procedures for those leaving the community, etc. “Tuesday focused on archives and files. It was heartening and impressive that we do not have to reinvent the wheel. My various predecessors have accomplished a great deal in creating and maintaining a very good system (Thank you). I have only to add a few spokes to that wheel, not reinvent it. “As I think about the entire experience so far, including being an awe-struck tourist, sedate student and a fish out of water, I find it has been worthwhile. I remember that most of my life I did not think I had a need or desire to ‘cross the pond.’ Now being in the land of all my grandparents, I realize how limited my vision was. Now being at the Generalate, I realize how vast our congregation is. If I leave here with nothing else, those two take-aways will have been worth the trip.”