Click here to view the full gallery of photos from the Mississippi visit to St. Joseph’s Indian School.

“Ours is a mission to be compassionate, meet people where they are, and share the good news”

Claire Nehring, Houseparent, St. Joseph’s Indian School

“I have not been able to stop thinking about the Mission Education trip to South Dakota,” said Cynthia Johnson, housing coordinator for Sacred Heart Southern Missions. She summed up well the comments of many who took part in the April 23-24 Mission Education experience at St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, S.D.

Nicole Mosley, the cook at the SCJ community in Nesbit, prepared two southern lunches for St. Joseph's students and staff. She is pictured here with some of her admirers.

Twenty-three students and staff from Sacred Heart Southern Missions in Mississippi were in South Dakota, sharing a bit of Mississippi –– including GENUINE SOUTHERN COOKING –– with their counterparts at St. Joseph’s. While teachers and staff heard presentations about the history, ministries and people of Sacred Heart Southern Missions, students at St. Joseph’s learned about Mississippi history and culture from three pairs of students from SHSM’s Holy Family School in Holly Springs and Sacred Heart School in Southaven.

The Mississippi visitors also learned a bit about South Dakota, first during a day of site-seeing as they traveled from Rapid City to Chamberlain (including stops at Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse monument, and the Badlands), and later, during a tour of the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Reservations.

For over a dozen years the U.S. Province has hosted national Mission Education gatherings at ministry locations around the United States. Held every two to three years, they are a time for staff, volunteers and others associated with the Priests of the Sacred Heart to spend time together and learn about the congregation, Fr. Dehon, SCJ spirituality, and the many ministries of the province.

Generally, just a few representatives from each ministry attend Mission Education on the national level. It is difficult and costly to bring everyone from a local ministry to the province gatherings.

Briget Brotherton Martin, principal at Sacred Heart. Both she, and the principal of Holy Family (Clara Isom) are alumni of the schools they now lead.

Looking for a way to extend the Mission Education experience beyond the larger conferences, staff from St. Joseph’s Indian School and Sacred Heart Southern Missions teamed up to expand the Mission Education experience between them.

“We couldn’t bring all of our staff to St. Joseph’s so we brought St. Joseph’s to Mississippi,” said Fr. Jack Kurps, SCJ, executive director of SHSM.

In 2010, approximately 20 students and staff from South Dakota gave an in-service day to SHSM staff. This year, it was SHSM’s turn.

However, given the nature of the school, the program had to be expanded from one day to two. St Joseph’s is a residential institution. It wasn’t possible for all of the teachers, houseparents and other staff to do an in-service at the same time. So the Mississippi program was split between two mornings; half of the staff attended Monday morning’s presentation and half attended on Tuesday.

Kathryn from Sacred Heart demonstrates an art project for St. Joseph's students.

St. Joseph’s students also were split, with the younger students having the treat of spending Monday morning at the movies while the older ones were taught by Mississippi students. Tuesday, it was the older students’ turn to head to town while the younger ones learned about the history and culture of the South.

Using multimedia presentations and hands-on projects, the students from Holy Family School and Sacred Heart School, taught the St. Joseph students about blues and gospel music, Mississippi artists, and about Mississippi authors.

Speaking to a class of first-graders, two students from Sacred Heart talked about famous people from Mississippi, including several who had started their own businesses; they were “entrepreneurs,” said one of the Mississippi students. Stepping in to lend a hand, Bridget Brotherton Martin, Sacred Heart principal, explained to the first-graders that an entrepreneur is “basically someone who comes up with an idea and then makes something from it.”

“Like God?” blurted one of the first graders. “He had the idea to have people and then made us!”

While the Mississippi students tried to explain what entrepreneurs were to primary school students, teachers, staff and houseparents learned not only about the history and ministries of Sacred Heart Southern Missions, but about the experience of growing up as an African American in Mississippi and the impact of the civil rights movement on the state.

Sr. Emily Morgan, Clara Isom and Orlando Parham share a laugh while preparing for the opening prayer.

“I grew up in an all-white rural small town in Illinois and it is incredible to me to think how different our lives were,” said a St. Joseph’s staffer after a presentation by Karen Jeltz, SHSM human resources director. Karen, an African-American, spoke about a time when the law mandated the separation of people based on their color. She recalled her mother reprimanding her for going to a “whites-only” bathroom and talked about other lived experiences of segregation as well as the turmoil that came during the civil rights movement.

“I was shocked to learn that while segregation is no longer law, there are still two very different worlds in Mississippi, with so many African Americans living in poverty,” said a teacher from St. Joseph’s. “I was amazed to learn how many people are living below poverty level and the conditions that many still live in.”

Many participants, both from Mississippi and South Dakota, noted similarities in their ministries of reaching out to the poor and disenfranchised, of learning the needs of an area –– not just those of Catholics – and seeking ways to address those needs.

“We are both fighting a centuries-old battle against inequality, discrimination, poverty and despair,” said Claire Nehring, a houseparent at St. Joseph’s. “In both places oppression is more deeply ingrained in the fabric of the culture than the laws that were meant to relieve it.  What struck me most was the commitment to join in community.  I tend to shudder when I hear the word ‘missionary.’  Out here in Indian country, that’s kind of a loaded word, full of images of wrong-minded people trying to do the right thing and tearing the place up in the process.

“When the speakers talked about being part of a mission church I realized that they were talking about something else entirely different. Ours is not an arrogant mission to ‘swoop down’ and save people. Ours is a mission to be compassionate, meet people where they are, and share the good news.  So whether people are in the Delta or on the ‘Rez,’ they can have a good school for their children and a church that responds to their needs… If we are going to be called Christians, it should show not just in our words but in our actions.”

The spirit of Claire’s words were echoed not only by her co-workers at St. Joseph’s, but by several of the Mississippi visitors.

“This visit reinforced for me the idea that even though we live and work in very different areas, what we are doing is similar,” said one of the Mississippi staff. “It all follows the call of the SCJs’ founder, Fr. Dehon, to ‘get out of the sacristies.’”

Students from St. Joseph's taught their Mississippi visitors about archery and Native American dance.

After being treated to demonstrations of Native American dances, archery and crafts (demonstrations that included an invitation to the Mississippi visitors to learn and take part in the various activities), Sr. Nancy Hubeny of SHSM said that she was “especially impressed with the way the culture and heritage of the Native Americans is being taught to the children… what a powerful experience to have witnessed the love, care and understanding that is lived out at St. Joseph’s Indian School.”

Of course, it wouldn’t have been southern hospitality without a good dose of southern food. Nicole Mosley, cook at the SCJ community house in Nesbit, prepared southern-style lunches both Monday and Tuesday. Three barbeque grills, including a restaurant-sized extended grill, were put to use on Tuesday to accommodate all the meat for that day’s pulled pork sandwiches.

In return, the kitchen staff at St. Joseph’s treated their Mississippi visitors to buffalo burgers before they headed off to Sioux Falls for their flight back home.

“What did I like about this?” said one of the Mississippi students about the Mission Ed experience.

“Everything, I liked EVERYTHING!”

The next national Mission Education gathering will also be at St. Joseph’s Indian School. It is scheduled for April 8-9, 2013.

One of several banners made to celebrate the life of Fr. Tom Fix, SCJ

Fr. Johnny Klingler, SCJ, who has been in the Philippines for the past several weeks teaching English, represented the U.S. Province at the funeral for Fr. Tom Fix in Indonesia. An American SCJ, Fr. Tom spent all but three of his 53 years of ordination as a member of the Indonesian Province.

Fr. Johnny writes the following from Jakarta, Indonesia, where he was preparing for his return to the Philippines

“We have lost a Prince of a Man but we have gained another Saint!”

On Saturday night, April 21, we received the call that Fr. Tom was in critical condition. Sunday morning, around 9:00, another call telling us he died. Soon after, Fr. Francis Pupkowski, superior of the region, called Fr. Vincent Sri Herimanto, superior in Manila, to arrange a ticket for me. I left Cagayan de Oro at 11:30 a.m. for Manila and then to Jakarta. I arrived at 2:30 a.m. Fr. Aloysius Suyoto met me at the airport. He told me that we had to fly to Palembang at 4:00 a.m. I caught about 45 minutes of sleep.

When we arrived at the airport there were a significant number of people waiting to go Palembang for the funeral. I believe most were from the SCJ parish of St. Steven. What touched my heart were the number of people who came to the airport just to say goodbye with wishes for a good flight. It was their way of going with us. Fr. Hadrianus Wardjito, a former general councilor, was there. He brought water and food for our refreshment. The plane ride took only an hour.

We arrived at the SCJ community and the seminary of St. Paul. The Mass of the Resurrection would take place in the chapel. There were many people, many SCJs waiting for the body of Fr. Tom to arrive for the visitation. The community prepared food and drink for all.

Fr. Johnny Klingler speaking at the Funeral Mass for Fr. Tom Fix

His body lay in a white coffin and looked so peaceful. The people came and the visitation continued up to the Mass, which would take place at 3:00 p.m. I went to the community of the Sisters of Charity where a room was prepared for me. I got about an hour of sleep before we returned for the Mass. The chapel holds approximately 500. It was overflowing with extra chairs in the side and back and many chairs placed outside at the open sides of the chapel.

Bishop Aloysus Sudarso presided. At the altar with him were the provincial of the Indonesia Province, Fr. Andreas Madya Sriyanto, former provincial Fr. Sapta Dwi Handaka, Fr. Nico Steekelenburg, one of the few Dutch priests still in Indonesia, and myself. It appeared to me that the whole province of SCJs was there as there were so many. There were also many religious sisters and many lay people. The presence of so many people was overwhelming and spoke so much of Fr. Tom. The choir of young seminarians was so beautiful. Hearing them was like hearing music from heaven.

Bishop Sudarso spoke about Fr. Tom, about when he first arrived, his various ministries and of his beautiful heart. Then the provincial spoke of Fr. Tom and the gifts he brought to his SCJ community and all the people he served. I was asked to speak and this is what I said as I recall it now:

“I am very happy to be here with all of you who knew and loved Fr. Tom. I thank the Lord that I was able to come. It is a privilege for me to be here with you, Bishop Al, and you my SCJ brothers.

“It is an honor for me to represent my SCJ brothers in the United States Province and the family of Fr. Tom.

“When I think of Fr. Tom, many words come to my mind: he was a loving person, compassionate, spoke only about the good of persons, did not judge others,  loved to laugh, and smiled so much. He was happy man.

“He was man of prayer, who loved his Lord so much. He was a holy man, and he loved being an SCJ with you, his brothers. He loved Indonesia and its people.

“We have lost a Prince of a Man but we have gained another Saint!”

Tom was buried in a crypt in the convent of the Sisters of Charity.

The sisters prepared a meal for all. When supper was over, I and Fr. Donatus Kusmartono, visited with the bishop at his home.

Click here to view photos from the Funeral Mass

Videos from the Mass:

More videos are available from the YouTube links above.

Fr. Tom Fix, SCJ

He followed his childhood dream

Diagnosed with cancer in January, Fr. Tom Fix, SCJ, died April 21 in his adopted home of Indonesia. He was 79 and had been a member of the Priests of the Sacred Heart for over 60 years.

During a visit back to his hometown of Milwaukee several years ago, Fr. Tom joked that he was like “an old library book; but I’m happy that I can still be lent out.”

The “library” that was lending him was a place that Fr. Tom called home since 1962:  Indonesia.  For all but three of his 53 years of ordination he was a member of the Indonesian Province. To whom was he being lent? The young District of India.

“When Fr. General asked for personnel for India I immediately volunteered,” said Fr. Tom. “I am grateful that my superior allowed me to go and that I could still offer myself to a new experience, to a new ministry. I am so lucky that I can continue to follow my childhood dreams.”

Being a missionary is something that Fr. Tom dreamed of doing since he was in third grade.  “A missionary from Japan came to speak to our class,” he said.  “He talked about the missions and even taught us to count in Japanese. [Fr. Tom quickly demonstrated that he still remembered how.] I thought to myself, ‘That’s what I want to do; I want to be a missionary!’”

And while many people lose enthusiasm for their childhood dreams, Fr. Tom never did.  Four years later when Fr. Jim Alexander, SCJ, visited Fr. Tom’s school, Fr. Tom was anxious to study with the Priests of the Sacred Heart. “I learned they had missions –– I wanted to join them,” said Fr. Tom.  That was in seventh grade.  A year later he went to Divine Heart, the province’s minor seminary in Donaldson, Ind.

Blessing a newly ordained Indian SCJ; Fr. Tom had several assignments in the Indian District's formation program.

Fr. Tom professed his first vows in 1951 and was ordained in 1958, still holding onto the dream of serving in the missions.  When he heard that there was a need for priests and brothers in Indonesia he quickly volunteered.  He became one of eleven SCJs from the United States to serve in the country.  Among the first to arrive, he was the last American to remain in the Indonesian Province.

“Indonesia is home for me now,” said Fr. Tom years before his death.

Fr. Tom went to Indonesia hoping to do pastoral ministry.  After three years as a priest, he was looking forward to his first pastoral assignment.  “I had no parochial experience when I went to Indonesia,” said Fr. Tom.  His initial assignments after ordination were in formation, serving at the minor seminary and novitiate.  Fr. Tom said that he relied on the Dutch SCJs in Indonesia to not only guide him in his new assignment in a new country, but in a whole new ministry, a ministry he came to love.

But often, the needs of both his province and later, the Indian District, were in formation.  In Indonesia, he was on the formation team of the minor seminary and at the novitiate.  During the past dozen years he had several assignments in India, assisting with its formation program.

“I loved parish ministry and would have been happy to continue in it but when there is a need I am also happy to serve,” said Fr. Tom.  “It was very good for me to be with all those young people in formation and help them on their way just as others helped me so long ago…

“The Lord arranges things. The Sacred Heart has been such a blessing to me, watching out for me, always, throughout my life. Always, I am happy to give back for the many blessings I have received.”

A Memorial Mass will be held for Fr. Tom on Thursday, April 26, at 10:30 a.m., at Sacred Heart Monastery, 7335 S. Lovers Lane Road, Hales Corners, Wisconsin.