Sep 10, 2026
Our heartfelt thanks to all who participated in our 2026 Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, which took place from Monday, August 31st to Tuesday, September 8th at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork, and was led by the wonderful Fr Patrick Younge OFM.
Fr John, Fr Patrick, and Fr Alix celebrate the 2026 Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork.
It was a great blessing to welcome mission friends and parishioners, both old and new, to the Sacred Heart Church for this year’s Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. A remarkable number of people also tuned in online, with over 10,000 people joining us in prayer via our live stream over the course of the nine days, reminding us of the extraordinary spirit of our extended Sacred Heart family, at home and across the world. It is always a real reminder of what a blessing it is to be part of this great sense of community, and of something bigger, a movement towards hope and faith in today’s troubled world. “People might say that Novenas don’t last,” reflected Fr John Fitzgerald MSC, “but there’s always somebody who wants to come to pray.”
“There’s a lot involved,” Fr John continued, “in the altars, with the teas, with the readings and singing, and everything else. Everybody makes a great effort, and it is always very much worth it.”
We always look upon our annual Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart as a very special time of the year, a blessed time dedicated to peaceful prayer and reflection before we come into the darker days of late Autumn and Winter, and it is with truly grateful hearts that we came together once again to celebrate the sacred tradition of prayer to our Blessed Mother. As Fr John said in our opening Mass, “We are praying for you all, with you all, with an eye to where Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is in our lives.”
The theme of year’s Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart centred on Mary’s Journey in Dark Faith: Following the life of Mary in the Gospel, and this year was led by Fr Patrick Younge OFM, a member of the Franciscan Order. “The burning love of God which burned in the heart of Mary is our reflection during these few days,” Fr Patrick reflected in our opening Mass.
Walking us through the Scriptures over the nine days, Fr Patrick brought us to Our Lady as she is presented in the Bible. “We can see how Fr Patrick read the Gospels and sat with them and prayed with them, and brought them back to life for us,” said Fr John in our closing Mass. “He also brought the spirituality of Our Lady alive to us, and acknowledged her life in our life today, and our life in her association with the Risen Jesus Christ.”
Each year, the MSC Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart offers a great sense of peace and comfort to all who take part, as we bring our personal intentions before the merciful heart of our Holy Mother – “a gentle, good, caring, and loving mother to us all,” as Fr Patrick reminded us. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Fr Patrick and everyone who took part in what was a truly blessed occasion this year, and for your ongoing friendship and support throughout the year. We end with Fr Patrick’s prayer that Our Lady of the Sacred Heart “may warm our hearts in our love of God”. God bless you all.
If you would like to watch this year’s Novena Masses,
please click here to view recordings of all nine days.
Sep 3, 2026
We’re sending congratulations across the miles, all the way to Ecuador! It’s a real blessing to share these wonderful photos from our mission there, where a new MSC, Fr Diego, was ordained in early August. Fr Marcelo writes from the mission in Ecuador to tell us about the occasion, and share videos and images of a very special celebration.
“These past few weeks have been filled with great joy,” Fr Marcelo writes. “Diego’s ordination was an immense joy. The bishop who performed the ordination was an MSC, Monsignor Moacir. The ceremony took place at one of our parishes, where the whole community could join us—it was truly beautiful.”
“A special highlight was that, during the ordination, we were able to bring together Kichwa and Mestizo cultures; that was really lovely.”
Fr Diego then celebrated his first Mass in his home place, in the community where he was born. “It was a beautiful occasion. We had to walk for about two hours through the countryside in 24-degree heat, but it was worth it,” Fr Marcelo tells us.
“Fr Diego comes from a hot region, while I am from the Andes,” explains Fr Marcelo. “Sharing these differences is a great richness. How could we not give thanks to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart of Jesus?”
Fr Diego will now be working among the indigenous communities of the Andes for the rest of this year, with a particular focus on youth ministry and vocation promotion. We wish Fr Diego, Fr Marcelo, and the mission in Ecuador great joy and success at the beginning of an exciting new chapter, with every blessing to our MSC brothers and the families and communities they serve.
Fr Diego (L) and Fr Marcelo (R) celebrate the ordination of Fr Diego to the MSC community in Ecuador, August 2026.
Fr Marcelo shares videos from Fr Diego’s ordination ceremony, and the occasion of his first Mass.
Aug 27, 2026
In a beautiful celebration of togetherness and faith, the Fr Jules Chevalier MSC Mission Centre in the Philippines spent the month of May marking Flores de Mayo, in honour of Our Lady.
As the month began, the Facebook page for the Fr. Jules Chevalier, MSC Mission Center sent a welcoming invite to all who might wish to participate:
“Join us in honoring Mama Mary through prayer, devotion, and community. Let us come together with hearts full of faith and gratitude as we celebrate this beautiful tradition.
Bring your flowers, rosary, and joyful spirit as we offer love and devotion to the Blessed Mother. ”
The photographs shared throughout the month showed a wonderful display of unity and community in honour of Our Lady, “where every smile, flower, and moment reflects devotion and joy. ”
From artwork, processions, and prayer, to games, music, and song, this was a truly special event, bringing local youths and their families together in a touching tribute to the Blessed Mother.
“Under the flowers and prayers, we celebrate faith, beauty, and devotion. ,” posted the Facebook page for the Fr. Jules Chevalier, MSC Mission Center.
“Flores De Mayo 2026 — a tradition filled with grace, love, and gratitude to our Blessed Mother. ”
Images via the Facebook page for the Fr. Jules Chevalier, MSC Mission Center.
Aug 25, 2026
Warmest congratulations to our 2026 Jubilarians! This summer has marked very special celebrations for four of our MSCs here in the Irish Province, as they commemorate various Jubilee years.
Congratulations to our 2026 Jubilarians! L-R: Fr Kevin Shanahan MSC (40 years), Fr Tom Mulcahy (60 years), Fr Mick Curran (60 years), and Fr Pat Glanaghy (50 years).
Fr Kevin Shanahan, from Bishopstown, Co. Cork, marked 40 years as an MSC, Fr Pat Glanaghy, from Letterkenny, celebrated 50 years since his ordination, and Fr Tom Mulcahy (Limerick) and Fr Mick Curran (Waterville, Co. Kerry), each celebrated 60 years.
Each of our Jubilarians was celebrated for the different skills and talents they bring to their ministry, as each has travelled a different path towards a common goal – sharing God’s love wherever and whenever it is needed most.
In a wonderful celebration of fellowship and community, the Jubilee ceremony paid tribute to the years gone by, while looking ahead to a positive future filled with hope and love.
2026 MSC Jubilarians, Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. L-R: Fr Kevin Shanahan MSC (40 years), Fr Tom Mulcahy (60 years), Fr Mick Curran (60 years), and Fr Pat Glanaghy (50 years).
Congratulations to our Jubilarians, with our gratitude for their years of dedication, brotherhood, and care in their ministry, and with every good wish for enduring health and happiness as their individual and shared journeys continue.
Aug 21, 2026
A THANK YOU FROM THE MSC POSTULANCY OF THE PROVINCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO, FOR FUNDING TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION OF ITS FORMATION HOUSE
Fr Pablo Moura MSC writes from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where three MSC candidates, Marllon, João Pedro, and Tiago, are currently studying under Fr Pablo’s guidance as formator. With anticipated growth in the community, alongside struggles with space and structural issues, Fr Pablo and the team have needed to raise funds to support the construction of a formation house for its students.
“By 2027, we hope to welcome five Brazilian candidates and one candidate from Mozambique,” Fr Pablo writes. “This prospect is one of the reasons that prompted us to begin construction on a new house capable of housing a group of up to fourteen candidates.”
Thanks to the great friendship and generosity of our mission friends and benefactors here in the Irish Province, we have been able to contribute to the construction project, and support these hopeful MSC candidates at the beginning of their missionary journey.
Fr Pable has sent the below letter to explain more about the project and its progress. “We would also like to express our sincere gratitude for the contribution you have allocated to this project,” he writes.
BACKGROUND AND MOTIVATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW FORMATION HOUSE
In 2008, the Postulancy formation house of the Rio de Janeiro Province was moved from Belford Roxo (Rio de Janeiro) to Vila Velha in the state of Espírito Santo. The purpose of this move was to provide better conditions for the Philosophy Course at a college accredited by the Ministry of Education and to establish a missionary house within the outlying parish that the Province was taking over.
During the first year, the formation programme operated out of a rented house belonging to the Archdiocese; however, not only were the conditions of the house precarious, but it was also located in a neighborhood far from the MSC parish. Some time later, the Province acquired a house in one of the parish’s neighborhoods and made some necessary alterations to establish the formation house there. However, over the years, the house ceased to meet the demands of formation due to insufficient space and serious structural problems.
After an extensive search, we found another house with all the necessary documentation in order and located within the boundaries of the MSC parish. The house was purchased in 2024, and the renovation and expansion process began in April 2025.
With the renovation and expansion of this house, we will be able to offer higher-quality formation to the candidates of our Province and will also be prepared to welcome candidates from other MSC entities for the Postulancy stage. The house was designed to accommodate up to fourteen candidates plus the formator, as there are plans to increase the number of candidates in the Province and to receive candidates from the mission in Mozambique.
We are a Province entirely dedicated to serving parishes, social works, and MSC formation. Formation has always been one of our priorities; we seek to form Missionaries of the Sacred Heart with excellence for our Congregation and for the Church. However, our financial resources are limited; therefore, we would like to express our gratitude through this report for the contribution your benefactors has made to help move this project forward.
PROJECT REPORT
On April 22, 2025, we began construction of the formation house in Vila Velha, in the state of Espírito Santo (Brazil), which will house the postulancy phase for the Province of Rio de Janeiro.
We had purchased the lot, which included a house, and intended to expand it. However, when we began the renovation, the engineers discovered that the house did not have a structure strong enough to support a second story. To build the second story, we had to construct eighteen footings to ensure proper support. We had to demolish about 70% of the house and rebuild practically everything from scratch.
Below you can see what the house looked like before we began the work, as well as some images of the construction of its foundation.
When we started, the project was budgeted at R$ 579,658.39 (in Brazilian reais), but as new demands arose throughout the construction process, that amount nearly doubled. That’s when we began organizing events and seeking partners to sponsor this project. Therefore, we would like to emphasize here just how important and essential your contributions have been to keeping the project to build this religious formation center moving forward. We are working to ensure that it is completed by the end of 2026.
Current images of the construction site:
A THANK-YOU NOTE FROM ONE OF OUR STUDENTS
Dear benefactors,
It is with a joyful heart that I extend this gratitude to you for helping us with a generous donation to support the ongoing work of the Postulancy Formation House of the Rio de Janeiro Province.
The construction of this house has long been a dream of ours, as it represents a crucial stage in our formation. It is a house designed and envisioned to meet the needs of a seminary, offering not only a quality place to live but also dignity and a space that can accommodate the demands of the postulancy. We are very close to moving into this house, and your help is essential for us to complete the project.
On behalf of my formation community and on behalf of the future generations who will pass through this house of formation, I want to thank you; your contribution will be etched on the walls of our house and, above all, in the formation of each new Missionary of the Sacred Heart. Your contribution will help build men whose hearts are filled with the desire to follow Jesus and answer His call!
Thank you very much for believing in this dream and in our vocations. This is God’s project; may He richly bless the generosity of your hearts.
Tiago Barbosa – MSC Postulant
Aug 20, 2026
It has been a busy summer for our MSC community in the Philippines, with the MSC Centre for the Poor hosting community development sessions and their annual Scholars’ Summit, while the Philippine Province also welcomed four new postulants for the new formation year.
Community bonding
June saw a two-day community bonding programme for the staff, scholars, and volunteer community of the MSC Centre for the Poor, in a “meaningful and joyful” experience in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur.
From June 12th – 13th, the team worked on a communication programme, meditation sessions, and fun team-building activities. One of the main focuses was on “the importance of honest and trusting communication as the foundation of a healthy community,” explains the Facebook page for the MSC Centre for the Poor.
“Filled with laughter, fellowship, and valuable insights, the two-day gathering strengthened relationships and renewed the community’s commitment to journey together in unity and service.”
Celebrating a new missionary journey
On July 14th, the Philippine Province formally welcomed four new postulants for the new formation year, in a special Mass celebrated by Provincial Superior Fr Edwin Borlasa MSC.
The Facebook page for MSC Philippines shared photos of this wonderful event, posting from Valenzuela City: “Join us in praying for our brothers Nichols Miano (Pagadian City), John Paul Nudalo (San Francisco, Camotes, Cebu), Mark Lemuel Plata (Batangas City), and Jennel Barzo (Bantayan Island, Cebu).”
Scholars’ Summit 2026
Finally, the end of July brought the 2026 Scholars’ Summit for the MSC Centre for the Poor, at Kamalig Rest House in Brgy. Sabang, Butuan City, with the theme: “Committed to Grow, United to Serve, Building a Better Community Together”.
This gathering takes place every year, and serves as a “meaningful and successful” way for the scholars to “reflect, grow, and prepare for the year ahead”.
“The program began with a meaningful formation on self-awareness and life’s processes, followed by the planning of the scholars’ activities for the entire year,” posted the Facebook page for the MSC Centre for the Poor. “The summit concluded with a creative Group Mandala artwork, symbolizing unity and shared purpose. The following day, the activity culminated with the blessing of our scholars during the Holy Mass.”
As ever, our prayers are with our brothers in the Philippines as they continue in their remarkable work, from emergency aid in the face of natural disaster, to dedicated sustainability practices encouraging self-sufficiency and ecological awareness while providing poor and disadvantaged communities with the skill sets and means to build a positive and productive future.
Images via the Facebook:
The MSC Centre for the Poor
MSC Philippines
