Workshops help those new to home ownership stay in their homes

In March, Sacred Heart Southern Missions Housing Corporation will begin a series of workshops on the use of credit, especially in regards to mortgages. The series runs through August.

“The classes have become very popular in the past four to five years because the majority of the lenders have made this workshop a requirement before closing on a home loan,” said Cynthia Loyd-Johnson of SHSM-HC. Class participants are often those who are considering home ownership –– and the mortgage that goes with it –– for the first time. Many are just beginning to build their credit history; some come from families that have never had the means to take out a home loan.

“The numbers vary in attendance,” said Cynthia.  “I have conducted workshops with 40 people and I have also held the workshop for two people.”

Between 2009 and 2010 approximately 30 people took the workshop and went on to purchase their first home.

“SHSM-HC is a HUD-approved counseling agency and we are expected to offer workshops to the public,” said Cynthia.  “The need for the class is great.  People understand the process of purchasing a home a lot better once they have completed the class.

“The classes were developed by housing institutes such as NeighborWorks and HUD.  The housing staff learns the basics of conducting a workshop by attending training institutes sponsored by these organizations.  Currently, our new housing counselor, Joyce Moore, conducts the home-buyer education workshop and I conduct the ACE [Adults Continuing Education] workshops for the Dehon Village residents.  The ACE workshops are a requirement of the lease for our Dehon Village residents.  We hope that the ACE classes will assist them with their budgeting and credit needs.”

As Cynthia noted, the workshops are for the general public. Last year, that general public included fellow employees at SHSM. With the challenging economy “I had employees inquiring about housing, foreclosure prevention and credit,” she said.

Employees, just as SHSM clients, face a variety of challenges in today’s economy. “We are in the business of serving,” said Cynthia. “Including our employees.”

Sacred Heart Southern Missions, based in northern Mississippi, is an apostolate of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. Fr. Jack Kurps is the executive director.

Bishop Evert Baaij's funeral and burial were February 9 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The bishop lived in South Africa for the past 55 years but remained a member of the US Province.

Remembering Bishop Baaij

Fr. Sanil Michael, SCJ and Fr. Gabryel Kazimierz Angel, SCJ, of the South African Province, as well as Judy Boland, manager of the Nazareth retirement community where Bishop Baaij spent the past 25 years, contributed to this story

A cool and slightly overcast summer’s day was the setting for the Funeral Mass of Bishop Evert Baaij, SCJ, on February 9. The Mass was celebrated at Corpus Christi Church in Humewood, Port Elizabeth.

With a church full of fellow clergy, SCJ confreres, friends and loved ones, especially from Nazareth House where the bishop was chaplain for the past 25 years, the Mass began with a favorite hymn of the bishop’s, “Our God Reigns.”

With the bishops of Aliwal North and De Aar in Rome for a meeting, Bishop Joseph Potocnak, SCJ, served as the main celebrant.  Concelebrants included the vicar general and current apostolic administrator of the Port Elizabeth Diocese;  Fr. Peter Surdel, SCJ, provincial superior of South African Province;  and  Msgr. Joseph Kizito, vicar general  of Aliwal North Diocese. Nearly 50 clergy took part in the funeral.

In his homily Bishop Joe Potocnak recalled his early missionary life in South Africa with Father Evert Baaij. Bishop Joe was with him in Colesburg and he spoke of his fond memories of going with Bishop Evert to home Masses, including those on rural farms. Bishop Joe said that after driving all day, celebrating the Eucharist in many locations, Bishop Evert would come home late and then make an hour of Eucharistic Adoration for all those people whom he had visited.

Bishop Evert was instrumental in helping international workers stationed at the large Xhariep Dam maintain their faith, said Bishop Joe. He had a wide knowledge of languages. Many of the workers, living near the dam during its construction, came to Bishop Evert for spiritual direction, blessings and prayers. Bishop Joe also spoke of Bishop Evert’s constant availability to the sick. He was a “wounded healer,” said Bishop Joe. Living at Nazareth House the past 25 years, dealing with his own health concerns, Bishop Evert “always found time for the sick and tried to make them cheerful and happy,” said Bishop Joe.

Tributes were shared at the funeral, including letters from Fr. José Ornelas Carvalho, SCJ, superior general, and Fr. Tom Cassidy, SCJ, provincial superior of the U.S. Province. Although Bishop Evert was born in the Netherlands and lived in South Africa for the past 55 years, he remained a member of the U.S. Province.

Other tributes came from Pope Benedict XVI via the Prefect of the Pontifical Office of Evangelization of Nations, and another from the Prefect of Propaganda Fide. There were also letters from the South African Catholic Bishop’s Conference, the archbishop of Durban, the bishop of Aliwal North, and Aliwal North’s Bishop Emeritus Lobinger.

The tributes made it clear that while the bishop may have had his challenges, he will be dearly missed by many throughout the country and that he had an incredible desire to do good for others.

Throughout the Mass Bishop Baaij’s favorite hymns were sung with enthusiasm, including “All That I Am,” “Sweet Heart of Jesus,” “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace.” and “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.”

“On the way back to our parish, we visited a friend of Bishop Baaij,” said one of the SCJs.  “He told us that he could not sing the communion song, ‘Lord Make Me a Channel of Your Peace.’ With tears in his eyes Mr. Tony told us, ‘I could not sing that song because that song is never to be sung; it is to be lived and Bishop Baaij showed us by living it.’”

Bishop Baaij’s final resting place is, at his request, with Sisters of Nazareth at the South End Cemetery.

Fr. Peter Surdel, provincial superior of South Africa, with Bishop Evert Baaij during a visit in 2010.

He called South Africa home

Bishop Evert Baaij, SCJ, retired bishop of Aliwal North, South Africa, died January 31. He passed away at Nazareth House, a senior living community, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Struggling with heart issues in his last days, the bishop was surrounded by many of the religious sisters whom he knew at Nazareth, who prayed the rosary at his bedside in his last hours.

At 90, Bishop Baaij was the eldest bishop in the congregation. A member of the Priests of the Sacred Heart since 1942 (this year he would have celebrated his 70th anniversary of profession!), Bishop Baaij was born in the Netherlands, became a citizen of Canada, is a member of the U.S. Province but has called South Africa his home for the past 55 years.

Evert Baaij was ordained a priest on July 20, 1947.  After his ordination, he went to France for language studies in preparation for an assignment in French Canada. He arrived in Canada in 1949.  There, he had his first experience with hospital chaplaincy, a ministry that remained close to his heart. He taught in Canada and the United States, and in 1957, left for the missions in South Africa. In 1974, Pope Paul VI named him bishop of Aliwal North, South Africa. His bishop’s shield carries the Latin words: Veni Creator (Come, O Creator). Bishop Baaij said that he chose it because “God is the creator of the universe and we are God’s co-creators.”

Bishop Baaij served as bishop of Aliwal North until 1981 when health concerns prompted him to resign. In recent years he served as chaplain to Nazareth House.

An article about Bishop Baaij, on the occasion of his 90th birthday, was posted on the province website last year. Click here to read it.

Funeral arrangements are pending but Fr. Peter Surdel, provincial superior of South Africa, thought that the bishop would most likely be buried in Aliwal North, where he served.