June 21, 2017

By Deacon Kevin Mastellon
Staff writer

Watertown --- Bishop Terry LaValley was the principal celebrant June 4 at the 50th Anniversary Mass of the Sacred Heart Foundation celebrated at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Watertown. 

Missionaries of the Sacred Heart provide pastoral leadership to that parish as well as the Roman Catholic Community of Cape Vincent, Rosiere and Chaumont.

In his homily Bishop LaValley  applauded the one and three quarter million dollars the foundation has raised and distributed worldwide for the education and formation of seminarians for the Missionary order since it was founded in 1967.

The Foundation was formed principally through the work of Father Pierre Aubin, a Missionary of the Sacred Heart currently serving in Cape Vincent, and a Syracuse based dentist, Dr. Jack Callahan.

In 2017 the Foundation Board awarded $80,000 in scholarships to 85 MSC deacons and seminary students. The amount awarded this year "is the highest annual award the Sacred Heart Foundation has given in scholarships in our history," according to Jayme M. St. Croix, the Foundation' current President.

"We are grateful," Bishop LaValley noted," to the MSC for their pastoral ministry among us."  Concelebrating with the Bishop were Father Raymond Diesbourg, MSC. the Provincial of the Order who resides in Aurora, Illinois; Father Vincent T. Freeh, MSC, the Superior for New York State and Father. Richard Kennedy, MSC, the Superior for Pennsylvania. Fathers Freeh and Kennedy are both former Pastors of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. 

The current Pastor, Father. Jonas Tandayu, MSC; former Superior and Foundation founder Father Pierre Aubin, MSC; Father Pushpadason Santanthony, MSC who is assigned to St. Patrick's and St. Anthony's in Watertown and Deacon William Johnston of OLSH also celebrated the Mass with Bishop LaValley.

The Board of Directors of the Foundation, comprised of lay men and women, clergy and religious, hosted a reception following the Mass.  The Foundation maintains an office on Thompson Street in Watertown.  Julie Moots is the Foundation Business Manager.  The Foundation web site is www.sacredheartfoundation.com.