1. Fr. Hansel due for operation:

As we all know that Fr. Benno Hansel was due to have a triple bypass and his dates were being postponed, this time the date is certain; Wednesday, 10 August 2005. Everyone is requested to remember him in a special way that day in your prayers. Take courage Benno!

 

2. Fr. Jan de Jong in South Africa:

Fr. Jan de Jong, scj, a member of the US province arrived in South Africa on the 27^th July upon the invitation of the St. Joseph’s Institute’s (Cedara) staff to help conduct a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) course for three weeks. He is presently residing at the International formation house (Dehon House) in Pietermaritzburg. Welcome Fr. De Jong.

 

Fr. de Jong has been to see Bishop Emeritus, Baaij in Port Elizabeth and they had a smashing time together. They both enjoyed the company of each other after a long time, so said Fr. de Jong in our telephone conversation.

 

He also said that he is looking forward to the CPE course at the Institute, which will end on the 26^th August and thereafter he will go back to the US. We wish him the best of times.

 

3. Dehon House (Pietermaritzburg):

The student-confreres are back to school after a short but very fruitful holiday period.

 

Not all are already back though. Rigobert, from the CM province is still in Cameroon waiting for the 15^th August, the day in which he will be taking his final vows.  Similar applies to Michel from Congo. Let’s remember them in our prayers too.

 

4. Out of the Provincial Council's bag:

 

a) Delay in selling of our house 10 Flander’s Crescent in Merrivale

Due to certain problems that the buyer was experiencing, he asked the province to extend the time of payment for the purchase of the house

 

The council decided to extend the time with two months till the end of August and also to increase the rent. This whole matter will be dealt with legally.

 

b) The AM 2005 contributing to FAG

The General Treasurer has sent us a letter reminding us of our contribution to the FAG as every province or region is expected to, despite its status. The council agreed on contributing $5000

 

d) Contracts between the AM SCJ Province and the dioceses (brief overview)

    The papers are already sent to the confreres and the responses were expected by the end of July. Since non arrived, the AM confreres are requested to send those responses with immediate effect.

 

5. Presentation and discussion of the research report by Fr. Chwaja concerning fundraising in South Africa:

Fr. Chwaja presented the 57-page report he prepared on fundraising in the province. There were clarifications made to some questions posed by the council members. One big question still to be responded to was: “What do we want to present to our correspondents?” This still needs to be studied well. We already have Sacred Heart Auto League (SHAL) as a ministry, which is seen as part of the total fund raising projects. What others can we include?

 

The provincial will extract some information from the document and send it to the US province to update them on our efforts towards fund-raising.

 

It was further proposed that copies of this file be sent to other confreres in the province so that whatever steps are taken they are well informed.

 

6. Meeting of financial matters of the religious bodies in South Africa 13 May 2005

   

Five important points dealt with in the meeting:

 

i.                    Completion of the SARS forms.

They expect us to do an income and expenditure forms. They have to be signed by two office bearers.

 

ii.                  Asset register:

This needs to be filled up too. The local municipality has all the records and they can be consulted for the information.

 

iii.                Contract between diocese and clergy.

It is necessary that every clergy signs a contract with the diocese.

 

iv.                Last will and Testament and the Living will.

 

Every clergy has to have a last will and testament. They also need to have a living will.

 

v.                  Building a Manual

The provincial superiors must write a manual dealing with everything about the Congregation.

 

7. Fr. Bojar SCJ – Update and planning his future:

He feels ready to be part of the AM SCJ province. It is proposed that he improves on his spoken English, that he celebrates mass at Fatima and prepares homilies.  Fr. Provincial has also arranged some teachers to continue helping him with his spoken English. It is also proposed that he learns Xhosa in the near future at a place the provincial would still search for.