The Society of the Divine Savior – Salvatorians joyfully celebrated the Priestly Ordination of Father Silas S. Henderson, SDS, at The Basilica of Saint Josaphat in Milwaukee, WI, on Monday, June 24th. The Most Reverend Bishop Jeffrey Haines, Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee was the Celebrant. Henderson celebrated his Mass of Thanksgiving the following day, June 25th at St. Pius X Church in Wauwatosa.
Father Silas is currently ministering as a member of the Society’s USA Provincial Council, as its Director of Planning and as the spiritual director for the Salvatorian Center. In 2023, Henderson was elected to serve as Chair of Region V on the Board of Directors of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men.
"Father Silas brings a rich background in liturgical ministry as well as skills for the written word that is both informative and accessible to the reader,” said Fr. Peter Schuessler, SDS, USA Province Provincial. “As a priest, he will make God's word come alive, a talent he has already shown many times by the retreats and talks that he has given around the country. I have no doubt he will be a blessing to the Salvatorian Family and to all those we serve."
With nearly 20 years in religious life (including 11 years as a Benedictine monk before becoming a Salvatorian), Henderson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Saint Joseph Seminary College, St. Benedict, Louisiana, a Master of Theological Studies from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Indiana, and an Ecumenical Doctor of Ministry degree from Catholic Theological Union of Chicago.
Henderson first became involved in adult faith formation and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults while serving in parish ministry in Louisville, Kentucky. Since then, he has offered parish missions, workshops, retreats, and other faith formation programs in more than a dozen states. In his ministry as the director of the Tucson-based Jordan Ministry Team (a collaborative Salvatorian ministry focused on initial and continuing faith formation and catechesis), he offered in-person and online programming for permanent deacons, parish leaders, religious educators, and catechists across the United States in both in-person and online programs.
He has been a featured presenter at the Southwest Liturgical Conference, the Dallas Ministry Conference, the Diocese of Fresno Diocesan Congress, and the “Together in Hope” Conference, as well as collaborating with Liturgy Training Publications for a special series of reflections on the liturgies of Lent and Holy Week at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. He has worked within the International Society sharing formation workshops for seminarians in Tanzania, Spain, and Italy.
In his retreats and workshops, Henderson focuses on discipleship and spirituality as he reflects on Mary and the communion of saints, the liturgy, Sacred Scripture, and the sacramental life of the Church.
Henderson is the author of four books, including Saint Aloysius Gonzaga: With an Undivided Heart (Ignatius Press) and Lights for a Waiting World: Celebrating Advent with the Saints (Abbey Press Publications), and he has published nearly 150 articles and reflections in a variety of prominent Catholic publications, including America Magazine, Give Us This Day, The Priest, Loose-Leaf Lectionary, Pastoral Review and numerous CareNotes and PrayerNotes (Abbey Press), and he written extensively for LPi and Aleteia.org, offering commentaries on the Readings for the Sunday Mass and Aleteia’s “Today We Celebrate” series.
ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD
FATHER SILAS HENDERSON, SDS
JUNE 24, 2024
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