Sep 5, 2019
At the end of July, the Philippine Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart unveiled their newly renovated MSC house in Surigao City, which now takes the form of the new MSC College Formation House.
The launch of the new MSC Formation House also saw the formal acceptance of seven new formands to the college formation programme.
At the Eucharistic celebration, Fr Cabrera, the Provincial Superior of the Philippines, addressed the new formands as they embarked upon this new and exciting stage of their missionary journey. “You are MSC formands because we hope that you imbibe the MSC Spirituality and charism in your initial formation years,” he said, encouraging and motivating the seven new formands for the journey ahead.
The following week also saw great excitement for the Philippine Province, as their Profession Day was held on August 6th, the Feast of Our Lord’s Transfiguration. Two novices, Frt Franz Kim Pelare and Frt Diomuel Carpenteros, made their first profession of vows, while five confreres made their perpetual profession: Frt Ace Yu, Frt Julieto Amaneo, Jr., Frt Ronie Botona, Frt Chris John Awa, and Frt Michael Angelo Dacalos. In addition, three MSCs, Frt Janray, Bro Florris, and Frt Jyrnell, renewed their religious vows at the ceremony.
It was a wonderful day for all involved – and as the Facebook page for the MSC Scholasticate Community in the Philippines noted, “If their sweet smiles imply anything, it might just be, in the words of Fr Provincial, that they did it in joy, in freedom, and in love.”
Our prayers are with each of these men in our MSC family, on the different stages of the missionary journey.
Keep up to date with the MSC Missions Office Philippines on Facebook.
Visit the new website for the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines.
Jul 25, 2019
Congratulations and very best wishes to Bishop Toussaint Iluku Bolumbu MSC, who was ordained bishop of the diocese of Bokungu-Ikela in the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 21st.
His ordination took place in Bokungo, celebrated by Bishop Fridolin Ambongo Besungo, Archbishop of Kinshasa and Apostolic Administrator of Mbandaka Bikoro.
We are delighted to share the first official photograph of Bishop Toussaint, whose ministry in his new diocese has now begun.
Previously named superior of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart for the French-speaking African region, Bishop Toussaint is the first MSC African bishop. He was appointed fourth bishop of the diocese of Bokungu-Ikela by Pope Francis in April, following a rich and varied missionary journey since his ordination as a priest in 1995. Some of his previous roles include parish priest, vice rector, bursar, and later superior and director of formation of the MSC School in Yaoundé, teacher of philosophy and theology, vice president of the Association of Major Superiors of the ecclesiastical province of Mbandaka-Bikoro, assistant to the secretariat general of the General Chapter of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Rome, and moderator of the General Conference of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Yaoundé.
Please join us in sending well wishes to Bishop Toussaint, and we keep him in our prayers as he embarks on his new ministry.
May 23, 2019
Sincere congratulations to Rev Luis Gonzales MSC, who was ordained a Deacon in Caracas, Venezuela, on Saturday, May 4th.
We were delighted to receive these pictures of the celebration in Caracas – a wonderful occasion for all involved.
The people of Venezuela are currently in the midst of the worst political, social, economic, and humanitarian crisis in the history of the country. In January of this year, MSC Missions Office Director FR Michael O’Connell visited MSC parishes in Maraciabo and Caracas, where Rev Luis and our Venezuelan MSC community are tireless in their efforts to bring support and relief to local families who are struggling in the current climate.
“At a time when the country is going through such a difficult period politically, socially and economically, it is a sign of great hope that a young man such as Luis commits himself to the service of the people of Venezuela with the deep desire to be for all a living, tangible presence of God’s heart for his people,” wrote Irish Provincial Leader Fr Carl Tranter MSC, on the occasion of Rev Luis’ ordination.
Vocations Director for the Irish Province, Fr Alan Neville MSC, also added his good wishes on the MSC Vocations Facebook page, posting: “Congratulations to Rev Luis Gonzalez MSC who was ordained a Deacon in Caracas, Venezuela, today. May the Lord bless your ministry, Luis, and always give you a big heart for his people, modelled after His own heart.”
We would like to add our congratulations, and send our very best wishes to Rev Luis from the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart!
Find out more about our missionary outreach in Venezuela
May 16, 2019
Sincere congratulations to the Rev Fr Toussaint Iluku Bolumbu MSC, who has been appointed by Pope Francis as bishop of the diocese of Bokungu-Ikela, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Currently acting as superior of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart for the French-speaking African region, Bishop-Elect Toussaint is the first MSC African bishop.
The bishop-elect was born in Monieka, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), in November 1964, the seventh in a family of eleven children. He entered the novitiate of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and was ordained a priest in 1995, having professed his religious vows the previous year. He holds bachelor’s degrees in both philosophy and theology, and has served in a wide range of pastoral roles including parish priest, vice rector, bursar, and later superior and director of formation of the MSC School in Yaoundé, teacher of philosophy and theology, vice president of the Association of Major Superiors of the ecclesiastical province of Mbandaka-Bikoro, assistant to the secretariat general of the General Chapter of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Rome, and moderator of the General Conference of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Yaoundé.
In April, Rev Fr Toussaint was appointed fourth bishop of the diocese of Bokungu-Ikela. His ordination will take place on July 21st in Bokungo, by Bishop Fridolin Ambongo Besungo, Archbishop of Kinshasa and Apostolic Administrator of Mbandaka Bikoro.
We send our very best wishes to Bishop-Elect Toussaint
from the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart!
May 2, 2019
We have great joy in announcing that on Saturday, May 4th, Luis Gonzalez MSC will be ordained a Deacon in Caracas, Venezuela.
At a time when the country is going through such a difficult period politically, socially, and economically, it is a sign of great hope that a young man such as Luis commits himself to the service of the people of Venezuela with the deep desire to be for all a living, tangible presence of God’s heart for his people. We pray for Luis on this significant step in his vocational journey, that he may serve the Lord, the Church, and all of society with love and generosity. Congratulations to Luis, his brother MSCs in Venezuela, and his family.
As we keep Luis especially in our prayers these days, we also continue to pray for the whole country of Venezuela.
– Fr Carl Tranter MSC
Irish Provincial Leader
Find out more about our missionary outreach in Venezuela
Feb 7, 2019
Every three years, young Catholics from all over the world gather together to celebrate World Youth Day – and this year, Panama was lit up in the spirit of faith, prayer, and an overwhelming joy.
Fr Alan Neville and the MSC Vocations team travelled to Panama to join this year’s celebrations, and even the intense heat and early starts couldn’t dampen their enthusiasm!
A 2.30am start for their flight to Panama on January 18th was no deterrent to these early birds, and on the first day of the event, they met with fellow pilgrims from Venezuela, Poland, and the USA.
This was the perfect chance to explore Panama City, and Day 2 offered the opportunity to visit the BioMuseo, where our MSC team met with a group of pilgrims from Guatemala along the way.
January 22nd marked the official opening of World Youth Day 2019, and what an event it was! Prayer, music, good food, and new friends made for a day to remember in the Panama sunshine.
A morning of catechesis with Bishop Edward Burns, from Dallas, Texas, proved powerful for our MSC group. “Bishop Ed spoke about the joy he encounters in living his vocation,” says Fr Alan as he recalls the bishop’s words: “To say ‘Yes!’ to the Lord is to enter into the mystery of God’s love for us.”
January 26th saw the MSC team join pilgrims from over 140 countries at the St John Paul II Park for the Vigil Mass, while the following day demanded a 5.00am alarm clock ahead of the Papal Mass at 8.10am.
Fr Alan was up with the lark and ready to go! “I’ve got the gúna (it’s Irish – you might need to Google it),” he posted on the MSC Vocations Facebook page, “and we’re good to go.”
In a beautiful Mass, Pope Francis spoke of the necessity of building bridges rather than walls, and said that although the celebrations were coming to an end, the fruit of World Youth Day continues in parish and communities around the world as pilgrims make their way home. Cardinal Farrell also announced that plans for the next World Youth Day celebrations are already well underway, due to take place in Lisbon in 2022.
January 29th brought Fr Alan and our MSC group back to home soil. “What an amazing week and a fantastic group,” wrote Fr Alan. “Thanks Panama – you were amazing. Roll on World Youth Day in Lisbon 2022!”
If you’d like to read more about World Youth Day celebrations in past years,
take a look at these posts from Rio de Janeiro in 2013 and Krakow in 2016.
World Youth Day 2013 – Celebrating Faith With Millions
World Youth Day 2016 – The Road to Krakow
World Youth Day 2016 – The Gathering
