Apr 9, 2026
There’s something powerful about these wonderful pictures shared by the Facebook page for the Fr Jules Chevalier MSC Mission Centre in the Philippines.
Together, the community at the Centre, which is located in Lapu-Lapu City, celebrated Earth Hour on Saturday, March 28th. This year’s Earth Hour was a particularly special one, as it marks the 20th anniversary of the event, which encourages people all over the world to switch off their lights for one hour, instead learning about, promoting, or helping the environment in ways that have a positive impact on the world around us.
“The MSC Center joined Earth Hour last Saturday from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM. We turned off all lights, using only candles and a bonfire to create a calm and reflective atmosphere,” posted the Facebook page.
“The evening began with the Holy Rosary, followed by a sharing on how we can help care for the Earth, and concluded with a joyful praise and worship through song. It was a meaningful reminder of our faith, unity, and responsibility for creation.”
Earth Hour is a particularly meaningful event for the community in the Philippines, where the MSC Centre for the Poor and their accompanying agricultural co-operative are devoted to creating sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyles, nurturing our natural world and living in harmony with the earth. Earth Hour is the perfect opportunity to join in with a global movement championing our environment and our world, and to pause for prayer in a moment that is so beautiful in its simplicity.
Images via the Facebook page for the Fr. Jules Chevalier, MSC Mission Centre.
Apr 8, 2026
It is with joyful and grateful hearts that we thank everyone who took part in our Holy Week and Easter ceremonies and celebrations this year, at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork.
Our well- beloved Easter Dawn Mass took place once again this year, with mission friends and parishioners gathering to pray together in the light of the rising sun on Easter Sunday.
Over 7,000 people prayed with us via our live stream over Holy Week and Easter, including viewers from Ireland and the UK, across Europe, America, Canada, and Australia, and far-flung corners of Asia, India, and Africa. On Easter Sunday, over 1,100 people tuned into our live stream to join in with our Easter celebrations, beginning with our Easter Dawn Mass at 6.30am.
“The dawn is the most wonderful feeling in the world.”
Director of the MSC Missions Office, Fr John Fitzgerald, celebrated this year’s Easter Dawn Mass with Fr Seamus Kelly MSC. This beautiful ceremony was a truly uplifting reflection on hope and light, and the dawning of the light, both literally and symbolically, on Easter Sunday morning.
“No matter where we started from this morning, we started in the dark,” said Fr John. “And there was an expectation that the sun would rise again this morning, and it has, it’s getting brighter and brighter here.”
“The dawn is the most wonderful feeling in the world,” he continued.
In a thought-provoking reflection about nature, hope, and the Risen Christ, Fr John explored the idea of the dawn in all its different iterations.
“You know, there’s a verb and there’s a noun, but when something dawns on us – even if it is something that’s wrong – when it dawns on us, there’s a truth in it.”
“This kind of dawning is wonderful for us,” reflected Fr John.
He went on to say, “Every night that comes in nature, whatever way the world turns, or whatever way the world was made, a new dawn comes into our life if we are alive in the world.”
“These dawns, they should be massive things in our world, because we don’t usually see the dawn. We live in a world of artificial light, in a world of artificial news.”
“But the real truth is in the dawn itself, because no matter what we do, no matter how we cover off the windows, the dawn is there, the sun is somewhere in there in the cloud, and the brightness is happening.”
This very special message of Easter hope and light came to us as the sun lit up the sky on Easter Sunday morning, a glorious dawn indeed, bringing the grace and hope of the Risen Christ into our spirits and lighting up the shadows that we all find blighting our worlds at times.
Easter traditions at the Sacred Heart Church
In keeping with tradition, our annual Easter Garden lit up the altar of the Sacred Heart Church, while our outdoor Easter Garden at the MSC House and Missions Office was in full bloom. This garden stands on the Western Road year-round, and visitors are always very welcome to come to pause and pray here. As always, we are sincerely grateful to everyone who took such great care with the construction and maintenance of our Easter Gardens, inside and out, adding such beauty to our Holy Week and Easter ceremonies. The Family Tree of Life Book also took its special place on the altar, in a celebration of the joy, love, unity, and strength to be found in family, as our MSCs prayed especially for all those enrolled in this year’s prayers.
Filled with the hope and gladness of Easter, we welcome the light and brighter days ahead with joyful spirits. With every grace and blessing of the Sacred Heart to our mission friends everywhere, this Easter season and throughout the year ahead.
Click here to watch a recording of our 2026 Easter Dawn Mass.
Apr 5, 2026
In a wonderful celebration of the Easter season, the First Holy Communion boys and girls at the Colégio Nossa Senhora do Sagrado Coração in São Paulo, Brazil, sent some very special pictures to share with school children here in the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
The Colégio Nossa Senhora do Sagrado Coração is a Catholic school run by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and was founded in 1949 before moving to its current location in Vila Formosa in 1961. At the moment, there are around 500 students at the school, ranging in age from nursery infants to high-school teenagers.
“The school is not only a place to study, but also a place where students learn about faith, kindness, respect, and helping others,” writes Sr Renisa. “Many parents work long hours in the city, so the school becomes an important place where children feel safe, cared for, and supported.”
There are several different types of challenges facing many of the children who attend the school, including living in a very busy urban area, not having space to play outside, parents having to work long hours away from home, and great differences in what families can afford, with poverty being an issue for many. The school offers a safe space to nurture strong friendships, to learn, play, and grow with friends, to be part of a community that helps one another, and to be guided by carding teachers and Sisters.
“For many children, the school is like a second home,” says Sr Renisa. “It helps them learn, dream about the future, and feel loved and supported.”
The First Holy Communion classes at the school were kind enough to send us a fabulous selection of pictures, showing traditional Easter scenes from Brazil, perfect for colouring in. Wishing all the staff and students at the Colégio Nossa Senhora do Sagrado Coração a peaceful, happy, and blessed Easter!
Apr 2, 2026
As we approach the blessed season of Easter, we are glad to share these beautiful pictures of Lenten celebrations at the parish of St John the Evangelist in Palmira, Ecuador.
Here, Fr Marcelo Campoverde MSC commemorated Lent with his indigenous community, with a particularly special ceremony marking the beginning of the season.
“We started with a large gathering, where more than 600 people participated,” Fr Marcelo wrote. “It was a beautiful experience, a truly beautiful encounter with God.”
“We don’t have a parish kitchen or dining hall here,” Fr Marcelo continued. “You’ll see from some of the photos that the women cook in an open space. But the weather was kind to us; if it rained, we wouldn’t have eaten. It was a unique experience.”
“My next dream is to see if we can build a kitchen and dining hall for these events,” Fr Marcelo finished. “I’ve placed this dream in God’s hands; we’ll see what happens in the future. In the meantime, with great joy, I want to share our Lenten celebrations with you.”
We are very grateful for the support of our mission friends and benefactors here at home, which goes such a long way in helping Fr Marcelo and indigenous communities in Ecuador. May God bless you all, with our heartfelt wishes for a blessed Easter season.
Apr 1, 2026
CONGRATULATIONS
TO ALL OUR 2026 MSC EASTER DRAW WINNERS!
1st Prize: €2,000
A. Kiernan, Portarlington, County. Laois
2nd Prize: €1,500
P. McAdam, Monaghan Town.
3rd Prize: €1,000
P. Dunne, Mornington, County Meath.
4th Prize: €1,000
M. O’Brien, Caherlistrane, County Galway.
5th Prize: €1,000
F. Farrelly, Kingscourt, County Cavan.
6th Prize: €1,000
B. O’Conaill, Farranree, Cork.
7th Prize: €1,000
I. McConigley, Ballylar, County Donegal.
Click here to see all winners of €500
8th €500
C. Comerford, Castlecomer, County Kilkenny.
9th €500
M. O’Shea, Inver, County Donegal.
10th €500
M. Lavelle, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Roscommon.
11th €500
Kearney Family, Mullingar, County Westmeath.
12th €500
M. Loftus, Mulrany, County Mayo.
13th €500
N. Lynch, Rathmore, County Kerry.
14th €500
K. Bailey, Kilbehenny, County Limerick.
15th €500
F. Cahill, Enniscorthy, County Wexford.
16th €500
R. Murphy, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
17th €500
M. Ryan, Ennis, County Clare.
18th €500
M. Murray, Dunmurry, Belfast.
19th €500
C. McDonagh, Sligo Town, County Sligo
20th €500
P.A. O’Donohue, Killiney, County Dublin.
Click here to see all winners of €200
- Hayes Clonakilty, County Cork.
- Spillane Athenry, County Galway.
- Keane Kilfenora, County Clare.
- Davern Coolock, Dublin 5.
- O’Connell Portmagee, County Kerry.
- McMenamin Lifford, County Donegal.
- Aherne Rockchapel, County Cork.
- Martin Killeshandra, County Cavan.
- O’Donovan Ardagh, County Limerick.
- Finegan Mell, Drogheda, County Louth.
Click here to see all winners of €100
- E.Swan Enniscorthy, County Wexford.
- McGuinness Glasgow, Scotland.
- O’Brien London, England.
- Ryan Lisnagry, County Limerick.
- Doherty Eglinton, County Derry.
- O’Leary Little Island, County Cork.
- Gallagher-Kelly Lifford, County Donegal.
- Coughlan Dunmanway, County Cork.
- Cornyn Drumshanbo, County Leitrim.
- A.N. Colwell Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan.
- McCarthy College Road, Cork.
- Lawlor Blackrock, County Dublin.
- Harman Templeogue, Dublin 6W.
- O’Donoghue Killarney, County Kerry.
- Fleming Ferrybank, County Waterford.
- Carroll New Ross, County Wexford.
- Watson Borrisokane, County Tipperary.
- Moran Timahoe, County Laois.
- Trainor Darkley, County Armagh.
- McAdam Monaghan, County Monaghan.
- King Derry, County Derry.
- M.B. McGartland Omagh, County Tyrone.
- Fox Mitchelstown, County Cork.
- Rice Maynooth, County Kildare.
- McAdam Braddox, County Monaghan.
- Byrne Clonsilla, Dublin 15.
- Lambe Tullamore, County Offaly.
- O’Flynn Ballineen, County Cork.
- Hilley Gorey, County Wexford.
- Jennings Clonakilty, County Cork.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who took part in this year’s draw.
This year’s MSC Easter Draw took place on Wednesday, April 1st 2026.
Happy Easter to all! 💛 🤗
Mar 31, 2026
This year, we’re celebrating the 60th anniversary of the MSC Missions Office on the Western Road, Cork, and as part of our anniversary commemorations, we’re looking back on old issues of our newsletter, the MSC Message, on a walk together down Memory Lane.
This month, in keeping with the season, we’re rewinding almost 30 years, to the Spring of 1997, and a special Easter message from the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
An Easter message from the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart – from the MSC Message, April 1997.
Easter: A Fresh Start
“The Easter message is that we do have another chance, we can make a fresh start. That comes to us in the Gospels, but in lots of other ways too. When Jesus appeared to His disciples in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, He gave them the Holy Spirit and told them whose sins you forgive they are forgiven. Through His Holy Spirit Jesus makes all things new, including all of us.
Often enough the second chance, the fresh start, can be achieved in terms of this world. The sick get better, the unemployed find new jobs, those troubled in mind find peace and those at variance are reconciled. All of this is ultimately Jesus’ work.
But the world of the risen Jesus is seen even more clearly when there is no human hope at all. It is seen in the cheerfulness of the incurably sick and dying, in the joy of those who have little, in the conversion of those who have been great sinners all their lives. Eastertide urges us never to give up hope, whatever our situation, because Jesus’s Resurrection shows us that nothing is impossible for God.
So still in the shadow of Easter as Missionaries of the Sacred Heart we give thanks to each of you for your continued support both in your prayers and in your very generous offerings. Be assured that this support brings lots of hope and joy to our MSC priests here in Ireland and in all our places of work across the world.
As Missionaries of the Sacred Heart we take new hope from Easter which entices us to make many new fresh starts. As you are the people making the journey with us, our prayer is that the Sacred Heart of Jesus will guide you all in making new starts.”
This beautiful message, written almost 30 years ago, is just as relevant and fitting today as the day it was printed. In a world so deeply troubled by war and violence, we continue to pray for peace, and to hold out eternal hope in our faith that “through His Holy Spirit, Jesus makes all things new”.
Today, we are more grateful than ever for your prayers and for your generous support, and we continue to pray that the Sacred Heart of Jesus will guide you through every new start. Wishing you all a peaceful, prayerful, and blessed Easter season.
Read more from our 60th anniversary celebrations…
