1 Congregation of the Sacred Hearts United States Province May 2018 Newsletter Dear SS.CC. Brothers and Sisters, Warm greetings to you from Hawaii. I am happy to report that on Saturday, April 28th we held our second annual fundraiser, “Fund our Future” on the campus of St. Ann Church, Kaneohe, Hawaii. Before Mass began, those who were in attendance saw a brief video of our SSCC students from Fiji, who spoke of their journey and discernment, expressing gratitude to the good people who had come out to support the efforts of the day. A special guest was Cardinal Mafi, who presided at the Eucharist along with ten concelebrating SSCC priests. Echoing the recent pastoral letter of Pope Francis, Cardinal Mafi’s message from the pulpit emphasized the need for all of us to have faith and to live that faith with joy. Although the skies were gray, the spirit was in jubilant color. Music filled the church with joyful noise and our praise and worship provided the foundation for the day’s event. All in all, a very good day – thanks be to God! Special thanks to our Development Office, Margaret and Soane Uiagalelei, and all those who assisted them in this endeavor. Their report and some wonderful pictures follow. We have begun an evaluation of the day and are already starting to plan for next year. May the Sacred Hearts continue to be loved and honored by all who share in our SSCC charism. On a more somber note for the US Province, at our April Provincial Council meeting, after much deliberation, the decision was made to withdraw our three SSCC Brothers from the Mission in Tonga and to request suppression of our religious house from the Superior General. We received some reflection from our men about our presence there, all of whom indicated an abundance of Catholic priests on the island. The Cardinal also confirmed that he has sixteen young men in the seminary. However, in the final analysis, it was economics that drove us in this direction. We need to have our three men providing an income to the Province and not receiving a subsidy to sustain the mission, as has been the situation for the last five years. We are really trying in every way possible to balance our budget, remaining compliant to one of our Provincial Chapter decisions, and this is, unfortunately, a step we felt compelled to take. I had the opportunity to speak with the good Cardinal about our decision and he was very gracious and understood our position. I also asked for his help with our house in Tonga. Our hope is that we can sell it and recover some of the funds that we invested. As for our SSCC men, Fr. Paul Zaccone will be assigned to Damien High School in La Verne, California and Fr. Brian Guerrini to Queen of Peace Parish in Harlingen, Texas. Both begin their ministries on August 1, 2018. Fr. Clyde Guerreiro will remain in Tonga for a little while longer. We thank all three brothers for their presence and for the blessings they have shown to the people of Tonga. On a final note, I will be on vacation from May 17-28 and making my canonical visitation in Fairhaven from May 29 through June 16. When I leave Fairhaven, I journey to Kolkata, returning to Hawaii on July 2. I am looking forward to meeting with all of you on my visits. United with you in the Sacred Hearts, Very Rev. Herman Gomes, ss.cc.
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Congregation of the Sacred Hearts United States Province
May 2018 Newsletter
Dear SS.CC. Brothers and Sisters, Warm greetings to you from Hawaii. I am happy to report that on Saturday, April 28th we held our second annual fundraiser, “Fund our Future” on the campus of St. Ann Church, Kaneohe, Hawaii. Before Mass began, those who were in attendance saw a brief video of our SSCC students from Fiji, who spoke of their journey and discernment, expressing gratitude to the good people who had come out to support the efforts of the day. A special guest was Cardinal Mafi, who presided at the Eucharist along with ten concelebrating SSCC priests. Echoing the recent pastoral letter of Pope Francis, Cardinal Mafi’s message from the pulpit emphasized the need for all of us to have faith and to live that faith with joy.
Although the skies were gray, the spirit was in jubilant color. Music filled the church with joyful noise and our praise and worship provided the foundation for the day’s event. All in all, a very good day – thanks be to God! Special thanks to our Development Office, Margaret and Soane Uiagalelei, and all those who assisted them in this endeavor. Their report and some wonderful pictures follow. We have begun an evaluation of the day and are already starting to plan for next year. May the Sacred Hearts continue to be loved and honored by all who share in our SSCC charism.
On a more somber note for the US Province, at our April Provincial Council meeting, after much deliberation, the decision was made to withdraw our three SSCC Brothers from the Mission in Tonga and to request suppression of our religious house from the Superior General. We received some reflection from our men about our presence there, all of whom indicated an abundance of Catholic priests on the island. The Cardinal also confirmed that he has sixteen young men in the seminary. However, in the final analysis, it was economics that drove us in this direction. We need to have our three men providing an income to the Province and not receiving a subsidy to sustain the mission, as has been the situation for the last five years. We are really trying in every way possible to balance our budget, remaining compliant to one of our Provincial Chapter decisions, and this is, unfortunately, a step we felt compelled to take. I had the opportunity to speak with the good Cardinal about our decision and he was very gracious and understood our position. I also asked for his help with our house in Tonga. Our hope is that we can sell it and recover some of the funds that we invested. As for our SSCC men, Fr. Paul Zaccone will be assigned to Damien High School in La Verne, California and Fr. Brian Guerrini to Queen of Peace Parish in Harlingen, Texas. Both begin their ministries on August 1, 2018. Fr. Clyde Guerreiro will remain in Tonga for a little while longer. We thank all three brothers for their presence and for the blessings they have shown to the people of Tonga. On a final note, I will be on vacation from May 17-28 and making my canonical visitation in Fairhaven from May 29 through June 16. When I leave Fairhaven, I journey to Kolkata, returning to Hawaii on July 2. I am looking forward to meeting with all of you on my visits. United with you in the Sacred Hearts,
Very Rev. Herman Gomes, ss.cc.
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Nearly 600 guests and volunteers participated in our 2nd Annual "Fund Our Future Sacred Hearts Priests" fundraiser held at Saint Ann Church and School in Kane'ohe, Hawaii on April 28, 2018. Volunteers from Chaminade University of Honolulu greeted our guests and directed them in the parking lot and church entry
areas.
His Eminence Soane Patita Paini Cardinal Mafi, of the Diocese of Tonga and Niue, presided at the Mass with our local Sacred Hearts priests concelebrating. The music ministry was comprised of musicians and singers from the Sacred Heart parish communities on O'ahu with a prelude performed by the Saint Augustine Church Tongan Choir and a post-Communion Meditation hymn performed by the Saint Patrick Samoan
Choir.
After Mass, the attendees proceeded to the fundraiser lunch where a gift shop, silent auction and private vendor offered a
variety of shopping options to support our seminarians. Hawaiian plate lunches were served by the Chaminade University
Campus Ministry students. Entertainment was provided by our Sacred
Hearts parishioners: Joshua Kapika, St. Michael Church and School,
served as our Master of Ceremonies; Brother Richard Kupo performed
with He'eia; Peter Uiagalelei and Celso Barbasa, St. Augustine Church
performed local contemporary music; Aunty Leimomi and her halau,
Keli'ikaapunihonua Ke'ena A'o Hula (say that quickly three times!)
performed the hula to our Hawaiian favorite melodies; and the Lataki of
Saint Augustine Church Tongan Community closed the day with their
performance.
Provincial, Fr. Herman Gomes presented the appeal for ongoing, monthly support to which a number of families have
submitted their personal pledges and one-time contributions.
A debt of gratitude to all who helped promote this event especially those from Saint Ann Church and School: Ryan and
Mandy Brown, Barbara Honda, Bob and Lesley Noguchi and sons, Dona Clamucha, and Daniel and Phyllis Pires.
In the meantime, please enjoy the photos that we have to share with you. More will be available on our web-
site: www.sscc.org and on our Facebook page: "Picpus Brothers". Thank you all for your continued support of our efforts
on behalf of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts—United States Province.
Margaret and Soane Uiagalelei
A REPORT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
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Our Sincere Thanks to All
Who Helped to Make This a
Wonderful Day !
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