Fr. Stephen Huffstetter Elected As Next Provincial Superior New Administration to Be Installed on August 1, 2013
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June 2 In this 013 issue... Understa u nding AN nderstoo D bein gu d in a n g age, p. 4 ew lan- How “no” be to came a religious “yes” life, p. 6 Ano ther SCJ bis named Sa newslCetter of tJhe U.S. ProvNince of theE Priests Wof the SacredS Heart hop, p. 7 as Fr. Steve returned to South Dakota in 2001 and served with the Lower Brule Pastoral Team until 2004, when he was named president of St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, SD. He has continued in that position. Among his other roles, Fr. Steve also serves on the Native American Com - mission of the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Talking about his ministry with Native Americans he said that “a chal - lenge of working on the ‘Rez’ is the poverty and social problems that we see around us. Yet in my years here, what inspires me is people’s strength to keep trying and struggling to make life better in spite of the odds. “The people I serve encourage me to have greater hope and trust in God. They show me what it means to pick up your cross and to embrace suffer - ing rather than trying to run away Out-going provincial superior, Fr. Tom Cassidy, congratulates Fr. Stephen Huffstetter on his election. from difficulties.” Fr. Stephen Huffstetter elected as next provincial superior New administration to be installed on August 1, 2013 uring their election assembly Fr. Steve has had a commitment to the first week of June, mem - ministry among Native Americans D bers of the U.S. Province of and the people of South Dakota since the Priests of the Sacred Heart elected his initial years with the community. Fr. Stephen Huffstetter, SCJ, as their Before completing his seminary stud - Fr. Hendrik addresses SCJs after his election as next provincial superior. ies Fr. Steve worked for two years the fifth councilor. Fr. Steve, 54, is currently execu - with the Cheyenne River Pastoral tive director of St. Joseph’s Indian Team in Eagle Butte, SD. New council reflects the School in Chamberlain, S.D. Following his ordination in 1989, Originally from South Bend, Ind., Fr. Steve returned to Eagle Butte, internationality of SCJ s Fr. Steve studied at and earned degrees where he had also served as a deacon. All but one of the newly elected from Loyola University and Catholic In 1997, he moved from pastoral work councilors served during the past ad - Theological Union in Chicago. At to formation and became the director ministration. The fifth, Fr. Christianus CTU, he received a D.Min. in theology of the undergraduate program in San Hendrik, brings the internationality of and a D.Min. in cross cultural ministry. Antonio from 1997 to 2001. the congregation to province adminis - June 2013, Vol. 34, No. 3 SCJ NEWS 2 in the fourth year of my studies at the seminary!” Ordained in 1998, Fr. Hendrik did his seminary studies in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. His first assignment was in a small parish on the border between South Sumatra and Bengkulu. He was there for four years before serving as the di - rector of a retreat house in Palembang and later, in Lampung. His last year of ministry before coming for ESL studies was as a missionary in West Papua. He loved his work as a missionary priest, but malaria cut has assignment short. Fr. Hendrik has been a member of the Lower Brule Pastoral Team for the past three years. ABOVE: Bishop Joseph Potocnak (left) joined SCJs during assembly liturgies, he is pictured at the altar with Fr. Tom Cassidy (middle) and Fr. Bill Pitcavage (outgoing vice provincial). BELOW TOP: Br. Duane Lemke gets a good laugh out of the provincial-elect. BOTTOM: SCJs took a break from the Pastor of OLG re-elected elections to go to a Brewers baseball game with province staff and residents of Sacred Heart at Fr. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, 58, has been Monastery Lake. Those pictured here include Fr. Johnny Klingler, Fr. Duy Nguyen, Fr. John Czyzynski in vocation work, in ministry to those and the family of province accountant Kevin Stanke. living with HIV/AIDS, served as province justice and peace director tration. suggested a change in plans. He still and in parish ministry. He was pro - Originally from Indonesia, Fr. wanted him to be a missionary, but fessed in 1975 and ordained in 1983. Hendrik came to the United States in instead of the Philippines, Fr. Hendrik “When I was seven years old, 2009 to learn English in preparation was asked to consider South Dakota. Pope John XXIII died and on the radio for ministry in the Philippines. And The U.S. Province was short on per - they said that he wanted to be a priest then he stayed. sonnel for reservation ministry. when he was 11 years old,” said Fr. It was during his studies that Fr. It didn’t take much consideration; Ed. “I said to my mom and dad that, Hendrik’s provincial superior Fr. Hendrik quickly said “yes.” ‘I’m only seven and I want to be a “I am happy to go where priest, does that mean that someday needed,” he said. I’ll be the pope?’ Professed in 1990, Fr. Hendrik has “They laughed as everyone does known the Priests of the Sacred Heart when I tell the story but somehow I all of his life. His home parish was knew that one day I would be a served by SCJs and it was their exam - priest.” ple that inspired him to pursue a vo - He told that story to parishioners cation. when he introduced himself as the “I had a dream to be like them, it new pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe was just a child’s dream at first, parish in Houston, Texas in 2008. He but they were such good exam - came to the assignment after a six- ples,” said Fr. Hendrik. “They month study sabbatical in Mexico to were very kind.” improve his Spanish language skills. When an SCJ asked if he Although he had done several month- would like to join them, he im - long study sessions, it was the extend - mediately said “Yes!” just as he ed time in Mexico that strengthened did when asked to go to South both his language skills and his call to Dakota. Hispanic ministry. “But I didn’t know what “To be immersed in Spanish for six that meant,” said Fr. Hendrik. months; to celebrate the Mass and get “And I didn’t really realize to know the people; this made a huge what it did mean until I was impact on me,” said Fr. Ed. “I just felt June 2013, Vol. 34, No. 3 SCJ NEWS 3 PHOTOS: Fr. Peter McKenna of the Canadian Region served as assembly moderator (top); Fr. Terry Langley, provincial secretary, gives the tellers last minute details; and Fr. John van den Hengel of the general council congratulates Fr. Ed Kilianski on being the first to be re-elected to the council. that it was where the Lord was lead - ing to Christ’s love, seeking ing me, where I was being called in union and communion with Je - ministry.” sus, and cooperating in the “For me, I see provincial adminis - work of redemption. That is tration as a ministry of service,” said SCJ spirituality in a nutshell.” Fr. Ed. “In Spanish, there’s an expres - sion that is used everywhere in Mexi - co which says, ‘Para servirles.’ in or - Third term on council der to serve you. As a Priest of the With his election to the next Sacred Heart, I am here to serve. provincial administration, Fr. Jack Kurps, SCJ, begins his third consecutive term on the council. SCJ spirituality is constant guide His first term was during Fr. Fr. Byron Haaland, SCJ, 64, is a Richard MacDonald’s second California native. He professed vows term. in 1970 and was ordained in 1977. Cur - Originally from Chicago, Ill., rently he is Vice President for Mission Fr. Jack professed vows with the at Sacred Heart School of Theology. Priests of the Sacred Heart in 1972 Formation, spirituality, and retreat and was ordained in 1977. ministry have been the mainstays of His first assignment landed him Fr. Byron’s life as an SCJ. He was on in a place that he still enjoys calling the formation team of the Chicago home: Mississippi. Starting in 1980 House of Studies, the undergraduate at Queen of Peace parish in Olive formation program in San Antonio, Branch, Miss., he is now executive and for the North American novitiate director of Sacred Heart Southern in Detroit. Missions. However, it is retreat ministry For eight years Fr. Jack was which has had a special place in his director of the province vocation heart since he directed his first retreat office and also sat on national as a deacon. He has traveled the vocation boards. He has served country, and internationally, giving the province on a variety of retreats for a wide variety of groups committees and commissions, and organizations. and was a delegate to the 1997 gen - He has also presented retreats to eral chapter. Often, he is called on to participants in Alcoholics be province liturgist, as he was at this Anonymous. “There are many simi - year’s Election Assembly. The SCJ NEWS is published by the U.S. larities in 12-step programs and SCJ “I have always found it to be af - Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart spirituality,” he said. “I think that SCJ firming to be nominated for the (SCJs).