Oct 27, 2022
Croi Nua, our MSC spirituality centre in Co. Galway, are hosting two sessions on mental health and wellbeing as part of their 2022 Autumn programme.
The first session will be led by Eoghan MacDomhnaill from Jigsaw, the national centre for mental health, which offers a range of support services to young people around Ireland. Eoghan’s talk will cover the main issues on our mental health, and the importance of an adult support system, or One Good Adult, in a young person’s life.
This session will take place in person in Croi Nua Spiritual Centre on Wednesday, November 9th, from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. A Zoom facility is also available for anybody who would like to take part remotely. Donations are appreciated, and all proceeds go directly to Jigsaw.
The second workshop, “Mindfulness & Self Compassion,” will be led by wellness coach Lizzie Harrison, focusing on self-care and addressing the different techniques that can be used to improve mental wellbeing.
Lizzie’s workshop will take place on Wednesday, November 23rd at 7.30pm – 9.00pm, in person at Croi Nua and via Zoom for remote participants, at a fee of €20.
For more information, please contact Croi Nua Spirituality Centre:
Phone: 087 6683770
Email: croinuacentre@gmail.com
Website: www.croinua.com
If you would like to join either of these workhops online via Zoom,
please email croinuacentre@gmail.com to get the video link.
Oct 11, 2022
This year’s annual Masses for deceased MSCs and Daughters of the Lady of the Sacred Heart will take place around the country in November, as we remember those who have gone before us in the light of the Lord.
Annual Masses will take place at 3pm on Sunday 6th November in the following venues:
- Sacred Heart Church, Western Road, Cork (this Mass will be live-streamed here)
- Woodview House, Blackrock, Co. Dublin
- Croi Nua, Taylors Hill, Galway
and
On Sunday 13th November at 2pm in St Patrick’s Church, Ballybay
We keep all our deceased members in our prayers.
We would like to invite you to pray with us during the month of the Holy Souls as we remember the MSCs and Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart who worked so hard to ensure that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is known and loved everywhere, and by everyone.
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Oct 6, 2022
All are very welcome to join us on two new series of reflections, led by Fr Patsy Kelly MSC every Tuesday and Thursday.
The sessions will take place at Croi Nua Spirituality Centre (Taylor’s Hill, Galway), and those who cannot attend in person are very welcome to join us online via Zoom.
The first series, entitled “At Home with your Bible: The Eucharist in Scripture and Liturgy,” will explore the connection between Eucharist and Scripture and why the Eucharist makes the Risen Christ constantly present to us. This will take place every Tuesday morning at 10.15am, and on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
The second series is titled “Good News Each Sunday,” and incorporates reflections on the readings of weekly Sunday Mass. This will take place every Thursday evening from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
For more information, please contact Croi Nua:
Phone: 091 520960 or 087 6683770
Email: croinuacentre@gmail.com
Website: www.croinua.com
If you would like to join the weekly sessions online via Zoom, please email croinuacentre@gmail.com to get the video link.
Sep 15, 2022
Sincere thanks to all who participated in our 2022 Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, which took place from Tuesday, August 31st to Wednesday, September 8th at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork.
It is with great delight that we were able to welcome friends and parishioners back to the Sacred Heart Church for this year’s Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, after such a prolonged period of private prayer due to COVID-19 restrictions. In addition, almost 7,500 people joined us in prayer via our live stream over the course of the nine days, from all over the world, reminding us once again of the remarkable spirit of our extended Sacred Heart family, at home and across the globe. This is always a special time of year to put aside for prayer before the late Autumn and Winter seasons come upon us, and it was with grateful hearts that we celebrated the much-beloved and sacred tradition of prayer to our Blessed Mother.
The theme of our 2022 Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart was “Mary, Mother of Compassion,” and Masses were celebrated by several of our MSC priests and brothers over the nine days.
Fr John Finn opened the Novena, welcoming those present in person and via our live stream, and starting us off with a simple thought: “We begin simply by inviting Jesus to touch our hearts and our lives. We ask Mary to lead us to the heart of forgiveness, the healing love and compassion of Jesus her son.”
Having reflected on the meaning of compassion during our first Novena Masses, Br Giacomo Gelardi returned with a second sermon on Day Two, reminding us that, “We need to return to the simplicity and enthusiasm, to the beauty of realising that we are instruments of the spirit.” In essence, “Let your heart beat in harmony with God’s heart,” he told us.
Day Three saw Fr Tom Mulcahy sharing the powerful message that “God is forgiveness – it isn’t that God gives forgiveness, God is forgiveness, God is compassion, God is mercy.” Following this, Day Four saw Fr Seamus Kelly pray for us all to listen to God’s signs to us as we bring his love to others, and “for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit on each and every one of us, that we too can bring the love of Christ to people throughout the world.”
On the fifth day of our Novena, Fr John Finn returned with a homily on faith, and the importance of our attitude towards our daily lives – whether we live, or simply endure. “Each day you have, each moment you live, is God’s gift, it is given to us as a gift, as something to be lived, not as a torture to be endured,” he reminded us. “Faith calls us to life. Faith calls us that when moments hit us and pierce our soul, we too would have that trust, that no matter what happens, God is present, God is there.”
Fr John Fitzgerald celebrated Mass on Day Six, with a reflection on Mary and Suffering, reminding us of the fact that Mary was human too, and “that is how we connect with her, on these days of suffering, the days when we need her”. Drawing from the theme of suffering the light of hope, Fr John prayed “that we might have patience, that we might be courageous as well, and that we might hold hope in our hearts.”
Fr John returned on Day Seven of the Novena, a special day of healing. “Our prayer today is for healing in our bodies, for healing today, physical and emotional and spiritual,” he said, along with praying for the healing power of acceptance of those things that we may not be able to change. Together, we prayed for all who are sick, suffering or in pain, for those who are healing from a broken heart in any form, for those healing through learning to walk with their past, for those suffering with anxiety, darkness or depression, addiction, and mental health issues, and for those learning to accept sickness and heal in a recovery of the soul. Fr John finished for a prayer for healers everywhere, giving thanks for the “magnificent people who are carers and healers in our world”.
Fr Joe McGee journeyed from Dublin to celebrate the final two days of the Novena, bringing a blessed nine days of prayer to a beautiful close. “My wish for all of us at the end of the Novena, for all of us here and those joining us online, that in some way this Novena will bring us closer to Mary, who brings us closer to the Lord, who helps us to ponder the mysteries of our lives,” he said.
At the closing Masses, parish priest Fr Tom Mulcahy paused to thank everyone who contributed to making this year’s Novena such a special one, particularly as it is the last Novena that he will prepare as parish priest of the Sacred Heart parish. Giving sincere thanks to everybody involved in the preparation and the celebrations, Fr Tom also prayed in gratitude for all who took part in this year’s Novena Masses, in the Sacred Heart Church and on our webcam streaming service. “We thank God for your presence,” he said. “I hope it has been a blessing for you as it has been for us.”
“May God bless you, and all your prayers that you have placed in the hands of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart; she is the hope of the hopeless,” Fr Tom continued.
“The Lord knows how to work, and the mother of the Lord is always with us. God bless you all.”
Year upon year, the MSC Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart offers great solace and comfort to all who take part, as we bring our prayers and personal intentions before our Holy Mother. Once again, we send our heartfelt thanks to everyone who took part in what was a truly blessed occasion this year, and for your ongoing friendship and support. 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.
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Aug 4, 2022
Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 2022
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 Wednesday, August 31st to Thursday, September 8th.
All are welcome to join in this year’s Novena Masses, which will take place daily at 10.00am and 7.30pm at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork. Daily Novena Masses will also be available to watch live from the Sacred Heart Church, as we welcome those who cannot be with us in person.
The Sacred Heart Parish welcomes each and every one of our mission friends and parishioners, from near and far, to pray with us during this year’s Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
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 “Mary, Mother of Compassion”, and it will be celebrated several of our MSC priests and brothers over the nine days.
Each year, the Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart offers great solace and comfort to all who take part, as we bring our prayers and personal intentions before our Holy Mother. As we emerge from the immediate difficulties of the past two and a half years, and continue to navigate the ongoing challenges of our troubled world, we come together in the spirit of hope, reflection, and thanksgiving at this sacred time. All are very welcome to join us, in person and online, for our Novena Masses as we come together to reflect and give thanks in the grace and love of Our Lady.
OLSH Novena at the Sacred Heart Church, Western Road, Cork
Daily Novena Masses:
10.00am & 7.30pm
Wednesday, August 31st
Novena Masses celebrated by
Fr John Finn MSC & Bro Giacomo Gelardi MSC
Thursday, September 1st
Novena Masses celebrated by
Fr Tom Mulcahy MSC & Bro Giacomo Gelardi MSC
Friday, September 2nd
Day of Reconciliation
Penitential Services celebrated by
Fr Tom Mulcahy MSC
Saturday, September 3rd
Novena Masses celebrated by
Fr Seamus Kelly MSC
Sunday, September 4th
Novena Masses celebrated by
Fr John Finn MSC
Monday, September 5th
Reflection on Mary & Suffering
Novena Masses celebrated by
Fr John Fitzgerald MSC
Tuesday, September 6th
Day of Healing
Novena Masses celebrated by
Fr John Fitzgerald MSC
Wednesday, September 7th
Novena Masses celebrated by
Fr Joe McGee MSC
Thursday, September 8th
Novena Masses celebrated by
Fr Joe McGee MSC
Dates to Note
- Day of Reconciliation: Friday, September 2nd
- Reflection on Mary & Suffering: Monday, September 5th
- Day of Healing: Tuesday, September 6th
For those who cannot be with us in person, you are very welcome to join us for our daily online Novena Masses on our live stream, united in spirit as we pray together as a great family of faith.
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 2022 OLSH NOVENA
Jun 30, 2022
It is with great joy and gratitude that we close the curtain on our 2022 MSC Novena to the Sacred Heart, a truly wonderful occasion for all involved.
Our Novena took place from Thursday, June 16th through to the Feast of the Sacred Heart on Friday, June 24th, and was celebrated by Fr Paul Clayton-Lea, a great friend to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, around the theme of “Jesus – The Compassion and Mercy of God”.
“We can bring anyone and anything to God for help and healing.”
“We are here to pray during the Novena,” said Fr Paul during the opening Mass. “We come to pray with hope and expectation, and that’s the way it should be, because we’ve been told by our Lord himself never to stop praying. In a sense, I don’t think we ever do; we wake up in the morning and there’s always a half-formed prayer in our hearts, that this will be a good day for ourselves and those we care about. Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open to you, says the Lord. There’s nothing going on in our lives that we can’t take to him in prayer. There’s nothing we need to be shy about, nothing too big or small, nothing too shameful or too personal. We can bring anyone and anything to God for help and healing. When we look at the Sacred Heart statue, those arms open wide towards us in welcome… we can bring anything and anyone to God for help and healing, because that’s why he came.”
This year’s Novena was indeed a sacred time of prayer and reflection, and a beautiful reminder that nobody is ever lost to God. Fr Paul reminded us of this, reflecting, “That is our mission, as those who are devoted to the Sacred Heart: to make it, as the prayer goes, ‘everywhere loved’, to see the love that is coming at us, that is surrounding us each day, and to know, in that love, that nothing and no-one is ever lost.”
A great celebration, from near and far
Just a year ago, our Sacred Heart Novena took place behind closed doors because of COVID restrictions, and it was a real blessing and a privilege to be able to welcome parishioners, mission friends, benefactors, and new acquaintances to pray with us and celebrate with us here at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road in Cork. Fr John Finn put it best on the closing day of the Novena, when he said “It has been fantastic this year to have been able to sit, and stand up here, and meet people again after three years. It’s been wonderful to be able to go into the hall afterwards and have a cup of tea or coffee, and share a bit of cake or a biscuit, and have a chat.”
We also had the pleasure of welcoming almost 9,000 people who joined us throughout the Novena via our live stream, from close to home and across the world. Unseen, perhaps, but never forgotten, Fr Paul even paused to ask the congregation at the Sacred Heart Church to give everybody tuning in online a big wave from our closing Masses on the final day of our Novena celebrations!
With heartfelt thanks
Our sincere gratitude goes to Fr Paul for leading our Novena this year; Fr John Finn expressed our thanks at the closing Mass, saying, “For your gentle words of kindness, it is a real honour and privilege to have you here with us at the Sacred Heart Church.”
We are truly grateful to all who contributed to making this year’s Novena such a resounding success; the time and effort that went into every detail, from the flowers and music and readings, to the teas and coffees and socialising, and the planning of all the details in between, is always hugely appreciated. And to all who joined us in prayer, be it in person or online, your presence has been a blessing and a gift.
“To all of you, most importantly,” said Fr John. “To those who participate in this Novena, some for many, many, many years; many who support the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, who pray with us on the web; who support the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, the MSC Sisters. We have projects all over the world that are supported by your kindness and your generosity towards us, thank you for that. We continue to pray for you.”
“Thank you all for being with us, it’s a real joy, and I pray that God will continue to guide you and bless you and be with you and all those you carry in your hearts and in your lives each day…. God bless you all.”
If you would like to watch recordings of this year’s daily Novena to the Sacred Heart Masses, please click here.
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