This past spring, our Salvatorian priests and brothers elected a new leadership team. This team will officially take office on June 1, 2025 and be installed on June 29, 2025. Here we share a bit about each of them.
Fr. Tom Tureman, SDS - Provincial
Fr. Thomas Tureman, SDS , leads the new team. Fr. Tom brings a rich history of mission, parish ministry, and leadership into the fold as he assumes this pivotal position for a term of three years.
Fr. Tom shared his hope for the future term, saying, “We move The USA Province Provincialate into an exciting time in the life of our community, both on the national and international level. With a charism that calls us to action, kindness, and hope, we have a calling that is a gift to the Church. My dream is that we will deepen Blessed Francis Jordan’s vision through social action, collaboration within our Salvatorian Family, and the proclamation of God’s word. With this witness, I hope to see a future of young men passionate about sharing the love of Jesus Christ with the people we will be privileged to serve.”
Fr. Silas Henderson, SDS
Fr. Silas Henderson brings a rich history as a published author, national and international facilitator, and presenter in Rome, Italy; Madrid, Spain; and Morogoro, Tanzania. He has been integral to province leadership, serving as director of planning and spiritual director for the Salvatorian Center.
“As vicar provincial and director of planning, I hope to offer an expanded vision for the members of the USA Province as we continue to review our reality and plan for the future,” he said. “As we do this, I look forward to helping to bring new life to our Salvatorian ministries and what it means for us to live out our Salvatorian vocation as part of the Society around the world.”
Fr. Dennis Thiessen, SDS
Fr. Dennis Thiessen has ministered as a Salvatorian priest for nearly 50 years, focusing many of those years on teaching at all-girls and all-boys high schools in California and Wisconsin. Fr. Dennis has been very involved with leadership, serving as Vicar Provincial (1991- 1994 and 2012-2015), Provincial (1994-1999), Provincial Consultor, and Director of Planning.
As he reflected on hopes for the coming term, he shared, “I hope to assist the Provincialate with my years of experience in the Society’s governance.”
Fr. Patric Nikolas, SDS
Fr. Patric Nikolas has been involved with nursing homes, schools, and parish ministry through the years, to mention a few. He has also participated in an archeological expedition in Bethsaida, Israel, and a Colombian mission experience in the summer of 2017.
Currently living in California, Fr. Patric serves as Parochial Vicar at our Salvatorian-led Divine Savior Church in Orangevale, CA. “As we look forward to the future in a spirit of hope, I am particularly motivated by living with an increasing sense of internationality,” he shared. “This is especially the case with staffing and formation. In terms of staffing, I hope to bring interested and available Salvatorians from other countries to work in the United States. Regarding formation, I look forward to working with our international units and sending formandi from the USA Province to be trained in foreign countries throughout their initial formation.”
Fr. John Tigatiga, SDS
Fr. John Tigatiga, ordained to the priesthood in Tanzania in 2015, was quickly appointed Vicar Procurator at the Salvatorian Provincial House in Masasi, Tanzania. He went on to serve as Pastor of St. Maurus Parish in Kurasini, Tanzania, until he was asked to serve beyond African borders for a new phase of his Salvatorian ministry. He arrived in the USA in June 2018 to serve as the Mission Director for the USA Province of the Society.
Thinking about the future, he shared, “I live in hope, trusting that new life will always rise wherever Christ is. I believe that the strength of our future lies not only in numbers but also in the depth of our commitment and authenticity of our witness, knowing that we are not called to build walls, but bridges and sacred spaces where wounded hearts may find healing.”
