Sep 25, 2018
Each year, the coming of September sees a flurry of activity at the MSC Missions Office as we prepare for our annual pilgrimage to Lourdes. This year’s pilgrimage took place from September 17th to 22nd, and as ever, it was a wonderful journey for all involved.
MSCs Fr Michael O’Connell, Fr Tim Gleeson, Fr Joe McGee, Fr Eugene Clarkson, and Spiritual Director Fr Charles Sweeney joined our pilgrims on this year’s trip. The opening Mass, which saw 80 pilgrims join together in prayer and song, marked a beautiful beginning to what was a truly enriching journey for all.
Mass at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is always a highlight of the pilgrimage, and this year was no exception. Here, the sun shone on our MSCs and pilgrims and they prayed for our MSC mission friends and benefactors in the magnificent surroundings of the Grotto.
Another very special stop on this year’s pilgrimage was Mass at Sheepfold Chapel. This rustic chapel dates back to the 1800s, when St Bernadette would shelter her sheep under its thatched roof. With a great sense of peace and serenity residing here, Mass was an especially memorable occasion for our MSCs and pilgrims.
Many thanks to all involved in making this year’s pilgrimage such a rewarding one, where many happy memories were made, new friendships blossomed, and old acquaintances were fondly renewed. Until next year!
If you would like to find out more about the annual MSC pilgrimage to Lourdes, please click here.
Aug 28, 2018
Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 2018
Our annual Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is a beautiful time of reflection and thanksgiving, when we bring our prayers and petitions before Our Lady.
Our Novena of Masses runs for nine days and will take place from Friday, August 31st to Saturday, September 8th.
All are welcome to join in the Novena by watching our daily Masses live from the Sacred Heart Church in Cork. These Novena Masses will take place daily at 10.00am and 8.00pm.
Be part of this year’s Novena to the Sacred Heart
At this special time of year, you can help us to help others by supporting our ongoing mission projects, and in gratitude for your contribution, we will be glad to remember your intentions at our daily Novena Masses. You can then submit your personal prayers and intentions online, and our MSC priests will remember your petitions specially throughout the course of the Novena.
The theme of year’s Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart will be “The Church on the Street: Living the Gospel Today”.
OLSH Novena at the Sacred Heart Church, Western Road, Cork
Daily Novena Masses: 10.00am & 8.00pm
Sacrament of Reconciliation: Thursday, September 6th
Sacrament of Anointing: Friday, September 7th
Special Mass of Healing: Friday, September 7th at 3.30pm
All are welcome to attend. Tea and coffee will be served in the Sacred Heart Centre following all sessions. You are very welcome to come along and relax, meet new friends, and renew old acquaintances.
Daily Mass Themes
Friday, August 31st: A field hospital on the battlefield.
Saturday, September 1st: He sent me to bring the good news to the poor.
Sunday, September 2nd: Care of creation.
Monday, September 3rd: God wants to save us all.
Tuesday, September 4th: Our response: Prayer.
Wednesday, September 5th: Our response: Service.
Thursday, September 6th: Our response: Reconciliation.
Friday, September 7th: Our response: Healing.
Saturday, September 8th: Mary, truly our sister.
We welcome each and every one of you to this year’s Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. We hope and pray that these nine days of prayer will be a grace-filled and blessed time for all of us.
TAKE PART IN OUR 2018 OLSH NOVENA
Apr 5, 2018
The World Meeting of Families started in 1994, when Pope St John Paul II asked the Pontifical Council for the Family (now part of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life) to establish an international event of prayer, catechesis and celebration that would draw participants from around the globe and that would help to strengthen the bonds between families and bear witness to the crucial importance of marriage and the family to all of society.
As you will already know, Dublin has been chosen by Pope Francis to host the next World Meeting of Families from 21-26 August 2018, guided by the theme “The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World”.
Held every three years, this major international event brings together families from across the world to celebrate, pray and reflect upon the central importance of marriage and the family as the cornerstone of our lives, of society and of the Church. The event has at its heart the following key moments:
- 22 to the 24 August 2018, a three-day Congress. Each day will reflect on the theme “The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World” chosen by the Holy Father and will include an enriching programme for adults of keynote speakers, workshops, talks, testimonies and discussions; an engaging and exciting programme for young people as well as fun activities for children. The Congress will also include daily celebration of the Eucharist, prayerful activities, exhibitions, cultural events and musical performances.
- Saturday 25 August 2018, a Festival of Families, comprising a reflective concert style event within a prayerful and joyful atmosphere, in which personal stories of faith will be shared by families from all continents.
- Sunday 26 August 2018, WMOF2018 will close with a solemn Eucharistic Celebration, that will gather thousands of people from Ireland and all over the world.
Credit Photo: Des McMahon
The main events of the WMOF2018 will take place in Dublin, at a large conference venue as well as in other venues in and around the city. It is also anticipated that related events, including the hosting of international groups, will take place all over the island of Ireland.
Read More
Pope Francis
Pope Francis recently announced that he will make the first papal trip to Ireland in nearly 40 years, visiting Dublin for two days later this year to take part in the World Meeting of Families celebrations.
Confirmed events that Pope Francis will be participating in include:
- Saturday 25th August 2018: Attendance at the WMOF2018 Festival of Families.
- Sunday 26th August 2018: Celebration of the WMOF2018 Final Mass.
A detailed itinerary of Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland will be published on the WMOF website once final plans are announced.
Nov 28, 2017
On Saturday night, 25th November, we gathered at the Sacred Heart Church to celebrate our annual Light up a Memory Mass. ?️
We were joined on the night by friends and family both locally and around the world who joined us via our Live Stream service.
The Light Up a Memory Mass was a beautiful celebration of the lives of our dearly departed, as we joined together to pray by candlelight in an evening of reflection and remembrance.
Click on image to view larger.
Nov 15, 2017
November is the month of the Holy Souls, a special time when we remember those who have gone before us. The Light Up a Memory Mass is a beautiful celebration of the lives of our dearly departed, as we join together to pray by candlelight in an evening of reflection and remembrance.
“This is an opportunity to remember those who are no longer with us with fondness and affection,” says Fr Michael O’Connell MSC, director of the MSC Missions Office. “During the dark winter days, a light is unique gift, and each of these lights is a beacon of remembrance in honour of the loved ones who are always in our thoughts.”
On the evening of the Mass, the Sacred Heart Church is illuminated by the glow of hundreds of candles, with choral music adding to the peaceful and prayerful ambience. We come together to pray by the welcoming glow of candlelight in an evening of reflection and remembrance, with each flame burning brightly in memory of those whom we have lost.
We would like to extend an invitation to you to join us on Saturday 25th November at 6.30pm to remember our departed family, friends, and loved ones who have gone before us.
The Light up a Memory Mass is a very special occasion and we would like to offer you the opportunity to submit the names of your departed loved ones online before the 25th and our MSC priests will remember them specially during our Light Up a Memory Mass. We would greatly appreciate your support for our ongoing mission projects, and in gratitude for your contribution, we will be glad to remember your intentions at our annual Mass.
If you are unable to join us on the night we welcome you to watch the Light Up a Memory Mass live here on our website.
Aug 8, 2017
The summer of 2017 marked 50 years since the first MSC mission began in Venezuela.
Today, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are the only Irish priests working in this turbulent region, where social and political turmoil mean that daily life is fraught with danger and suffering for local people.
MSCs bring the message of God’s love to the homes and hearts of the people
In June of 2017, Irish and Venezuelan MSCs joined together with local parishioners in Maracaibo and Caracas to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Venezuelan mission, which began in 1967. Celebratory Masses took place across the region, with a special outdoor ceremony in the parish of La Santa Cruz, Caracas, on June 17th.
An altar was set up outside the parish church in order to accommodate the large crowds in attendance, reflecting the true essence of the MSC mission: to make God’s love known everywhere, and to everyone. Our mission is not limited to the church or the sacristy – our missionaries bring the message of God’s love to the homes and hearts of the people, no matter where they may be.
The Jubilee celebrations also commemorated Fr Joe Ruddy MSC, who is retiring from the Venezuelan mission after 50 years of dedication and service. In 1967, Fr Joe arrived in Venezuela with three Irish MSCs: Fr Eamonn Donoghue, Fr Vincent Screene, and Fr Tony Moran. Since then, Fr Joe and a growing community of MSC brothers have gone up into the hills and out into the streets of the barrios to minister to parishioners living in the slums, helping local people to take pride in their parishes as they work together with a renewed sense of unity and co-operation.
Looking to the future with hope
Today, Venezuela is a troubled land, one where poverty, hardship, and social and political unrest motivate young Venezuelans to go abroad to create better lives for themselves. During this time of great disorder and uncertainty, the MSC Golden Jubilee celebrations offered missionaries and locals alike the opportunity for reflection on the achievements that have been accomplished over the last 50 years, and hope for better things to come in the years ahead.
During his time as Irish Provincial Leader, Fr Joseph McGee MSC visited Maraciabo and Caracas to take part in the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Read more about his thoughts on our Venezuelan mission here.
PLEASE HELP US TO CONTINUE OUR VITAL WORK IN VENEZUELA
