Meet Our Brothers and Priests

Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ

I was born and raised in Vietnam but, because of political and religious circumstances from the fall of Saigon in 1979, my family and thousands of other Vietnamese were forced to flee the country. I escaped by boat with 38 other people.

Under normal weather conditions the trip would generally take five to seven days. Those fleeing Vietnam sought to reach places such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore. From our point of departure the Philippines was the fastest and safest destination. There was a high chance of survival and less chance of encountering merciless pirates.

So toward the direction of the Philippines we headed. Our boat moved slowly, slowly. During the first three days of our journey the weather was great: a clear sky, light breeze and calm waves. At 14 I was amazed at the vastness of the ocean, the endless sky, the mysterious deep water. I was totally excited about the whole adventure, of seeing new things, new places and new people.

But on the fourth day of the trip the weather changed dramatically. The sky turned darker and darker each minute. Rain began to pour down heavily. The wind blew strong. Its hissing sound terrified everyone. Waves grew higher and higher. The crashing sounds of the waves against the boat intensified our fear of death. I could see how much the captain struggled to maneuver the tiny boat in the midst of the giant waves.

As darkness fell over us, our hope of survival diminished and our fear of death intensified. Alone on the vast ocean, we had nowhere to turn for help. There was no island to seek refuge, no commercial ship to rescue us. We knew that we could not survive the fiery weather. The heavy rain, the strong wind and the high waves were too overwhelming. Death was imminent. But in the midst of our fear and sadness, hope was once again restored. We saw light! We were saved.

The experience of escaping Vietnam gave birth to my vocation in religious life. I feel that because of it I have a deeper understanding of life and of God’s creative power in nature and people. My heart is set on fire whenever I think about the fact that I survived the ordeal of escaping Vietnam and was generously cared for by the people of the Philippines!

And here I am, a religious with the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ) since 1994. I professed my first vows in 1997 and perpetual vows in 2003. I was ordained a priest in September 2004, in Houston, Texas. I am currently a formation director in Chicago, Ill.

One of the things that drew me to the Priests of the Sacred Heart was Sacred Heart spirituality. Growing up in Vietnam, we had special devotion to the Sacred Heart. The parish church would hold adoration every night. There were organizations dedicated to the Sacred Heart, such as the Sacred Heart Family, which is also very popular among Vietnamese-American Catholics. The popularity of Sacred Heart spirituality in Vietnam was from the influence of French missionaries in the country.

In summer of 2003 I had an opportunity to get in touch with my “French connection.” I participated in an international program for SCJ seminarians who were preparing themselves for their perpetual vows with the congregation. The program took place in La Capelle, France, the birthplace of the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. In La Capelle I felt connected to Fr. Dehon, whose Christian dreams and visions we, the SCJs, are living out each day. I was emotionally moved and encouraged.

If you feel that God is calling you to participate in Jesus’ ministry of preaching, serving and witnessing to the Reign of God, respond to that invitation with a “Yes.” This “Yes” will enable you to live a life fully committed to service to God’s people. We, the Priests of the Sacred Heart, will welcome you and be glad to have you as a pivotal part of our work of building the Reign of God on earth.

Give yourself a chance to discover God’s call for you!

Fr. John Czyzynski, SCJ

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio (which we Clevelanders call “the best location in the nation”; others are not as gracious in the epithets they attach to my home town). I had two sisters, one of whom died two years ago. My other sister still lives in Cleveland.

I entered our minor seminary in Donaldson, Ind., two weeks before I turned 14, in 1951. I made my first profession of vows in 1956 and was ordained to the priesthood in December of 1963. I went through our whole seminary system and besides that, did studies in the classical languages at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. I also earned a license in theology from Catholic University and a license in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.

As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a priest. When I left home to go to the minor seminary I really did not know the difference between a religious and a diocesan priest. However, when my pastor asked if I wanted to go to the diocesan seminary, I said I wanted to go to Donaldson, because, thanks to our vocation recruiter, Fr. George Pinger, SCJ, I knew guys who were going to Donaldson and didn’t know anyone going to the diocesan place. So although I may have become associated with the SCJs by accident, I have come to a deep appreciation of the charism of Fr. Dehon, which he passed on to the SCJs.

I feel convinced that Fr. Dehon took the core of the gospel and made it the focus of the spirituality of the community he founded. For me to be an SCJ is to unite myself with Jesus in his offering to God, to be at God’s disposition, ready to do or accept what God asks of me so that people may know the tremendous love God has for us. And as SCJs we are asked, called to be present especially to those who have the hardest time believing in the love God has for them because of the circumstances of their lives-as Fr. Dehon put it: “ministry to the lowly and the humble, the workers and the poor.”

I taught sacred scripture at Sacred Heart Monastery/Sacred Heart School of Theology for five years, but eventually became more and more involved in spiritual formation. I asked that I be able to do formation ministry, and so Dr. Richard Lux was hired to take over the scripture classes I taught, freeing me to do formation ministry.

I have been involved in formation ministry since 1973 (except for six years when I served as provincial superior). Most of those years were with students at Sacred Heart School of Theology who belonged to various dioceses throughout the United States. Some of the students were members of other religious communities. More recently (since about 1990), I have been involved in the formation of candidates and young religious for our own community.

I have an interest in sports, and my favorite teams are the Cleveland Indians, the Cleveland Browns and the Notre Dame football team. Hobbies include golfing, doing counted cross stitch and following the adventures of Harry Potter.

This year we have three novices for our community, and it is great to be journeying with them at this very special time in their lives.

Br. Duane Lemke, SCJ

I am biased. The best two views in the world can be found in Lower Brule, SD, and Chicago, Ill. Nothing compares to the Missouri River dominating the Dakota horizon as seen from the bluffs overlooking Lower Brule, nor the skyline of steel, glass and light as seen after dark from Chicago’s Adler Planetarium. Of course, I am biased.

I spent my first ten years of ministry with the Lakota, Dakota and settlement people in and around Lower Brule. As a member of the Catholic Pastoral Team, I ministered to youth and elders, taught religious education to youth and adults, and was a pastoral associate to St. Michael’s Parish in Kennebec. Memories of the people, events and experiences I had there will always be with me, and continue to influence my ministry.

I am now in my third year as a formation director in Chicago. Amid the hustle, bustle and energy of Chicago’s Hyde Park, I help form candidates: men who are seriously discerning a call to become a Priest of the Sacred Heart. Formation ministry is quite different from parish ministry, but I count myself fortunate to be with these young men as they celebrate, struggle and study at school while preparing themselves for novitiate and religious life at home. I also count myself fortunate to be a formation director with Frs. John and Vien. As a team, we — I hope — make the Dehon House of Studies a place of prayer, study, support, challenge and laughter.

I came to the Priests of the Sacred Heart in January 1995, after my collegiate years at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. During my own years in formation, I earned a master’s degree in Pastoral Studies from Catholic Theological Union and, more important, professed vows as a brother in 1997. During my own years of initial formation I began learning how to be a Priest of the Sacred Heart: one who is called to promote God’s love in the heart of people and society. Of course, this latter school is one that never offers a graduation and has a lifelong course of study!

I couldn’t close without mentioning one final view: the water tower of Lantry, SD, silhouetted against a fiery sunset (this tower being the sole line in Lantry’s prairie sky). This view can be seen from the farm where I was raised, and still welcomes me home when I return to see parents and family. My parents, John and Judy, continue to live and work in and near Lantry. My siblings Marta and Brandon (with his wife Phoebe and their five children) live and work in Pierre and Dupree, SD. At this view, my story comes full circle, for it was there that I met the Priests of the Sacred Heart, who married my parents, baptized me, ministered to me in my youth, and first taught me about the love found in Christ’s Heart. Without them, I wouldn’t have seen Lower Brule nor Chicago, nor been introduced to the people who also call these areas home.

Fr. Yvon Sheehy, SCJ

I was born in a small town near the Canadian border in northeastern Vermont; my father was a dairy farmer. I spent my first three years of grade school in a classroom of 10 children for all three grades. Our town had one street that had a single multi-business building with a gas station, grocery and post office. Much of our life centered on the parish for both spiritual and social outlets.

When I was four, my oldest brother entered the seminary of the Mariannhill Missionaries. Our family was often around priests, brothers and sisters, including the local pastor and the sisters who taught at our school as well as priests from my brother’s community.

We moved off the farm when I was in fourth grade to what was considered — for us — a big town. It was 16 miles away, with a population of 1,100. This was big in comparison to the 240 of the previous town. My dad became a day laborer in a factory. I began as an altar server. The local pastor often invited us to the rectory for food and games.

I began to receive literature in the mail from the Priests of the Sacred Heart; they had two houses in western Massachusetts, including a minor seminary. Thirty-five miles meant a major trip in my life. Massachusetts — some 200 miles away — seemed like it was at the end of the world. But I corresponded with the SCJs — I think that Fr. Steve Wiese, SCJ, was one of my first contacts.

In the fall of eighth grade I received a letter asking if I wanted a visit from a Priest of the Sacred Heart. I promptly returned the card with an affirmative answer.

On a cold Friday afternoon, December 20, my mother came running over to the community skating rink where I was playing hockey to tell me about this priest who was about two hours away and was coming to see me. The first language in our home was French, and both my parents spoke only a few words in English. My mother went to get a friend of hers to act as a translator. Fr. Dick Johnston, SCJ, did arrive and in the evening talked with my parents, gave us a slide presentation and basically signed me up. Up to this point, I had never said anything to my folks nor had I indicated an interest. My parents were very supportive.

In the fall of 1964, I entered the minor seminary in Lenox, Mass. I entered the novitiate in 1968 and professed vows a year later. I attended college in Pennsylvania and later, Chicago. I then taught in our high school seminary at Donaldson, Ind. for two years. In 1975, I began my theology studies at Sacred Heart School Theology in Hales Corners, Wis. I was ordained a deacon in 1977 and a priest in 1978.

I spent many of my years of ministry in South Dakota serving the Lakota and Dakota Sioux. I have also been province director of vocations and served as vice-provincial of our province. Now, I am pastor of St. Martin of Tours parish in Franklin, Wis.

In retrospect I see a few things that helped me in my journey. My family was religious and well-balanced. We liked a good time and fun. Our small town revolved around church with lots of activities.

I was born in June, the month of the Sacred Heart, after a hard pregnancy for my mom. My mother later told me she had given me to the Sacred Heart to look after me. Being around priests and religious helped me become acquainted with what a religious vocation meant. Being independent and wanting to forge my own way, I was led to seek a community other than my brother’s. I always had an interest in foreign missions but grew to recognize missions in our own country. There are lots of places for reaching out to people in need.

I have learned much and been blessed by the people I minister to and those I minister with.

Fr. Rick DiLeo, SCJ

As I was growing up in New Jersey during the mid-1960s, I believed I had made some good plans for myself. I wanted to enter the archdiocesan seminary program after graduating from St. Mary’s Elementary School. But for some reason, I was not accepted into their program.

After reading vocation literature about the SCJ community, I began corresponding with them. Sooner than I realized it, Fr. Steve Weise, SCJ , one of the vocation directors from the office, came to visit my family’s home to inform my family and me about who the SCJs were. Following my graduation from grade school in 1966, I was accepted as a freshman to their high school seminary in Lenox, Mass.

During college, foreign languages became my strength. This led me to think that I would return to the high school seminary program and teach Spanish and Latin as an SCJ. But during my years in theology, the high school programs were closed. Knowing my facility with Spanish, one of my former teachers invited me to consider serving as an SCJ deacon and then priest in our Spanish-speaking parishes of the Rio Grande Valley. This was my introduction to what has become my first love as an SCJ: service to Spanish-speaking Catholics with our SCJ confreres.

Having had a variety of ministry experiences in the first 20 years of my SCJ priesthood, I had the opportunity to plan for a sabbatical. After a few months of personal study and the writing of articles on Sacred Heart Spirituality at our headquarters in Rome, I was preparing to head to Argentina to meet my extended relatives and meet SCJs from that province. But then I was asked to help start a seminary program in southwestern India, where the SCJs had recently begun a mission in October 1994. There was need for an English-speaking SCJ to help get our programs started.

Once again, it wasn’t what I had planned. But after talking with confreres whose opinions I valued, and prayerfully reflecting, I went to India instead of Argentina for the latter part of my sabbatical.

The common link in each example is that God’s plans led me into relationships, ministry and experiences as an SCJ that I would never have thought possible. Instead of studying with the archdiocese, I studied with the SCJs in Lenox. Instead of being a Spanish/Latin teacher in the SCJ seminaries, I was sent to serve Spanish-speaking people in our Texas parishes. Instead of enjoying leisure time with my relatives and meeting SCJs in Argentina, I made India my home and mission, even if for a short time, to help students who eventually would become the newest confreres in our worldwide SCJ congregation.

Rather than wonder about what would have happened if I followed my plans, I remain in awe of what God’s plans have revealed to me. As an SCJ priest, I have met SCJ confreres who love and accept me. While we live among God’s people of different ethnic groups and regions of the world, we share in the same mission of sharing God’s loving heart and compassion. The people in these diverse ministry locations reveal God’s loving heart and compassion for us. Reflecting on my SCJ vocation, it seems more and more evident that God’s plans for me have always gone far beyond whatever I could have imagined possible.