Missionaries from Europe headed to North America in 1929
The North American Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart was established on April 25, 1934 –– 82 years ago today. Fr. Richard Kiefer, an SCJ originally from the German Province, was the first provincial superior. Early ministries were in South Dakota among Native Americans (reservation ministry and St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain), Wisconsin (Sacred Heart Monastery), Illinois (Mission House and Novitiate in Ste. Marie) and Indiana (Divine Heart Seminary in Donaldson).
Pictured above are missionaries from Europe coming to North America in 1929: M. Schaefer, C. Thelen, R. Kiefer, F. Thomas, J. Hackman and C. Schmid.
As for those in North America today, many of them are celebrating birthdays in May, including: Fr. Charles Yost (84) and Fr. Mark Fortner (76) on May 4, Fr. Byron Haaland (67) on May 6, Fr. Bryan Benoit (54) and Fr. Jack Kurps (65) on May 7, Fr. Guy Blair (65) on May 8, Fr. Anthony Kluckman (69) and Fr. Elie Munzungu Ngoy (49) on May 12, Bishop Joseph Potocnak (83) on May 13, Fr. Thi Pham (41) on May 14, Frater Justin Krenke (25) on May 16, Fr. Jim Casper (77) on May 20, Fr. Bob Tucker (63) on May 21, Br. Andy Gancarczyzyk (41) on May 24, Fr. Wayne Jenkins (69) on May 25 and Fr. Stephen Huffstetter (57) on May 31.
