NEWS FROM ROME 
December 19, 1998

What's New

A letter from Tom Cassidy (CU), with several inclosures was sent to provinces, regions and districts announcing the forthcoming August vocation conference in Brazil.
DEHONIANS TOGETHER FOR VOCATIONS
LAVRAS - MG - BRAZIL AUGUST 1 - 20, 1999
The letter can be accessed here, or by going to the Letters & Documents section.

The Justice & Peace report from Chile has been posted to the Province J&P Page. It is available in the following for languages and can be accessed from here: English - French - Italian - Spanish.

Dehoniana Informationes #8 has been posted to the News section.

What's Happening

The General Council has concluded it's fall schedule of meetings. During the next three months members of the council will be visiting various parts of the congregation.

Fr. General

Fr. Umberto Chiarello: Fr. Carlos Alberto da Costa Silva Fr. Ryszard Mis Fr. Wardjito Fr. Thomas Cassidy

March: British Isles (BH) - United States

Fr. Zolile Mpambani

January - March Paris for French Studies

Council Member Responsible at Rome

The General Council made official what has been in the works for quite some time. Effective on January 1, 1999 the following changes in Curia Personnel will take effect:
  1. General Secretary: Marek Stoklosa (CU)
  2. Assistant General Secretary: Odilo Leviski (BM)
  3. Procurator to the Holy See: Claudio Siebenaler (CU)
  4. Postulator: Oliviero Girardi (IS)
Congratulations to the new provincial administration appointed for the British-Irish Province. They will begin their mandate on March 1, 1999. We would also like to thank Hugh Hanley, who will be completing nine years of service as provincial superior. He plans on taking a well deserved sabbatical after leaving office.

Provincial Superior: Michael Walshe

Provincial Council:

  1. Andrew Ryder -- pastor St. John Vianney, Dublin, Ireland
  2. Robert Mann -- formation director, Dublin, Ireland
  3. Owen Wynne -- assistant pastor St. John Ogilvie, Irvine, Scotland
  4. Stephen Motroni -- director Residential Youth Centre, Little Sutton, England
You may have noted above the use of the term "district" in the phrase provinces, regions and districts. One of the last acts of the general council before ending its fall term was to approve ad experiment districts as part of our governing structures. Umberto Chiarello is putting the finishing touches on a document Strutture della Congregazione e forme di governo which will spell out the councils actions in light of the XXth General Chapter's directives and the consultation with major superiors during last month's meeting here in Rome.

On December 8th the South Italian Province marked the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of Ascension Parish (Rome IV). The scjs have served this parish since its foundation. It is located in a poor section of the city and is made up of working class people.

Fr. General and members of the South Italian Province marking the 50th anniversary of Ascension Parish

The SCJs in South Africa are celebrating this week the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the first scjs in South Africa. 1923 was an important year in the development of the congregation. German scjs went to the United States and South Africa, while Dutch scjs went to Indonesia.

Please Remember

+Fr. Elemar Scheid, BM

Born: 17 January 1936
First Profession: 2 February 1956
Ordained: 23 December 1961
Died: 14 December 1998 at St. José dos Campos, Brazil

Born in Lageado, RS, Brasil, in 1936, he studied in various seminaries of the South Brazil province. He did his theological studies, specializing in Canon Law, in Rome where he was ordained in 1961. Upon his return to Brazil, he taught at the SCJ Institute of Theology, in Taubaté, SP, while at the same time earning a degree in Civil Law. Later, he worked in different parishes in Santa Catarina and Rio de Janeiro.

He was a provincial counselor from 1978 to 1980 and 1988 to 1991, as well as provincial secretary for the Missions.

From 1980 to 1983 he was Superior of the International College, in Rome.

His most recent assignment was to the parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, in São José dos Campos, SP., while at the sametime continuing to teach at the school of Theology, in Taubaté, and was serving as a member of the Ecclesiastic Tribunal of Aparecida, SP.

Diagnosed with cancer about about a month ago, he died at the hospital of S. José dos Campos on Monday, December 14, 1998.