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Last year on May 20, 2002, I celebrated the 35 th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. 
This year on September 8, 2003, I will celebrate my 40th anniversary of
profession of my first vows. I thank God for the gift of my vocation as a Priest of the Sacred Heart!
It has been a grand adventure these past forty years. I entered the novitiate of the Priests of the Sacred Heart in August of 1962. After profession of first vows I began four years of theology studies at our old monastery in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. After my profession of final vows and my ordination I was hoping to minister to the poor at our missions in Mississippi or South Dakota. Instead, my first ministerial assignment was to go to our college in Honesdale, PA and become a formation director and teacher of Communication Arts. I had a bachelors degree in Communication Arts before I entered novitiate. My four years spent with our college seminarians was a very good experience. Young people help to keep you young and they taught me much about the meaning of respect for all
people.
When our college program moved to Chicago, I was assigned to an inner-city parish in St. Louis. Here I received my first taste of parish ministry among the African Americans. It was a fulfilling and rewarding three years. I was sad to leave when I was assigned to the position of Mission Secretary. My sadness did not last long as I began a new adventure in life of traveling to Africa and Indonesia and many countries of Europe. I learned that the Priests of the Sacred Heart minister in so many countries throughout the world and I had the opportunity to experience so many different cultures.
In 1977 I was elected Provincial of the United States Province and I served my brothers in the province for six years. After a sabbatical, I was elected a General Councilor of the Congregation and appointed Director of Justice and Peace. I served my brothers throughout the world for six years.
In these busy years of ministry I was able to leave in community and share prayer, meals and recreation with my brothers. I grew in my understanding and love of Jesus- his heart of love.
Especially in my ministry to the African Americans in St. Louis and my service of helping my SCJ brothers to understand a ministry of Social Justice and Peace I encountered a suffering Christ in the midst of suffering people.
The gift of the presence of Christ in the poor and suffering was again given to me after returning from Rome and going to live with my community on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. For six years I tried to bring a presence of the Heart of Christ to the Native Americans. I was enriched by their culture and humbled by their love in the midst of so much personal suffering.
At 67 years of age, I continue to look forward to giving the gift of myself to my brothers in community and the people I serve in my ministry and to receive the gift of them in return. I look forward to ever growing in love of the Heart of Christ.
My life as a Priest of the Sacred Heart has been a grand adventure and wondrous journey
----If you have a desire to discern priesthood, brotherhood and religious life, please contact our vocation office. 1-800-609-5559 . You can lead a life of fulfillment and have the opportunity to do a variety of ministries with the Priests of the Sacred Heart.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU DISCERN YOUR CALL.
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