Fr. Tom Cassidy is in Hales Corners for much of the week where he will take part in the funeral for Fr. Jim Cunniffe (see below). Next weekend, Fr. Tom goes to South Dakota.
Please remember…
Fr. Jim Cunniffe, who died August 30 in Memphis, Tenn., following a stroke. He was 77 years old.
A Philadelphia native, Fr. Jim first came to the Priests of the Sacred Heart as a minor seminarian at Divine Heart Seminary in Donaldson, Ind. After graduation, he entered the novitiate and professed his first vows a year later in 1949.
He started his seminary studies at Sacred Heart Monastery in Hales Corners, Wis., but went to Rome in 1954 to complete his STB and STL in theology at the Gregorian University. In 1957, he was ordained in Rome.
When he returned to the United States, Fr. Jim served at several of the province’s seminaries. He taught at Sacred Heart Monastery and was rector of Dehon Seminary in Great Barrington, Mass.
In 1967, he moved from academics to parish ministry. He was pastor at Sacred Heart parish in Walls, Miss. Fr. Jim also ministered at St. Denis in Louisville, Ky., Our Lady of Guadalupe in Houston, and St. Joseph’s in Holly Springs, Miss., before moving to Canada in 1979 to minister at St. Rose of Lima parish in Toronto. From 1986 to 1993, he served at St. Patrick parish in Caledonia, Ont. While there, he was also superior of the SCJ community in Toronto.
In 1994, he returned to the United States and took up ministry once again in northern Mississippi. He served the parishes of Holy Spirit in Hernando and St. Gregory in Senatobia. From 1998 to 2005 he was director of parish ministries for Sacred Heart Southern Missions.
In 2006, Fr. Cunniffe retired from active ministry, but continued to live in Nesbit.
A Mass will be held for Fr. Jim on Monday at Holy Spirit Church in Hernando, Miss. At Sacred Heart Monastery there will be a vigil on Wednesday September 5, at 7 p.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, September 6 at 10:30 a.m.
Fr. Jozef Janssen, a member of the Dutch-Flanders Province, who died August 29. He was born in 1925, professed in 1946 and ordained in 1952.
Br. Armando Honorat Corcetti, a member of the South Brazilian Province, who died August 26. He was born in 1925 and professed in 1947.
ESL Cultural Fair
The ESL program at Sacred Heart School of Theology is having its annual Cultural Fair on Wednesday, September 5, from 12 - 2 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend. The fair features food from the countries represented by the ESL?students, as well as educational materials.
New school year
Sacred Heart School of Theology held its opening Mass for the new academic year, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the seminary. Among those in attendance were Fr. Tom Cassidy, Archbishop Timothy Donlan, and the mayor of Franklin, Wis. –– the Milwaukee suburb in which the seminary is located.
As we noted previously, Fr. Paul Grizzelle Reid represented the U.S. Province in Finland at the SCJs’ 100th anniversary celebration there.
“The SCJs in Finland expressed their great appreciation and gratitude to members of the U.S. Province for their generosity and kindness over the years,” said Fr. Paul. “They are especially grateful for recent financial assistance given toward projects at St. Olaf’s parish. The community especially noted their appreciation for the support of Fr. Tom Cassidy and Dn. David Nagel.
“The celebrations were many; actually two wonderful days. Many SCJs from around the world, and members of other religious orders, attended the festivities.”
More information can be found on the congregational website: www.dehon.it.
Update
Br. Mike Fette
(September through February)
Lebh Shomea House of Prayer
P.O.Box 9
La Parra Ranch
Sarita, TX 78385
Phone: 361-294-5369
Fr. Ed Kilianski has begun his sabbatical, during which he will study Spanish and work in Oacaca, (southern) Mexico. He will be in Oaxaca from August 31 - November 26, 2007 at which time he will return for a two-week break in Houston. For now, the only way to contact Fr. Ed is by email at Fredkscj@sbcglobal.net or ekilians@sonic.net.