Aug 6, 2026
In July, Ecuadorian Section Leader Fr Marcelo Campoverde MSC led a special Mass at a local cemetery in remembrance of loved ones who have gone to their eternal rest in the Lord’s embrace. The ceremony was both poignant and uplifting, as the community remembered their dead and celebrated their earthly lives and loves.
The MSC mission in Ecuador is looking forward to an exciting August, with a third Ecuadorian priest, Diego, due to be ordained on August 8th. “We are working to place greater emphasis on youth and vocation ministry,” writes Fr Marcelo. “Diego will be the one leading this work, utilizing social media and working with young people in our parishes. I ask for your prayers for him.”
We pray for Diego, Fr Marcelo, and all on the MSC mission in Ecuador, with every grace and blessing of the Sacred Heart. We remain truly 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.
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Aug 3, 2026
Welcome to the Summer 2026 edition of the MSC Message!
• Read a special greeting from Fr John Fitzgerald MSC, Director of the MSC Missions Office.
• Find out more about our latest crisis relief aid in the Philippines, where approximately 500 families received crucial support following severe flooding and destructive fires.
• Read all about the five young men who are beginning their formation journey on the Mozambique mission.
• Catch up on the latest news from the mission fields, including updates from Cameroon and Ecuador.
• Join us as we take a walk down Memory Lane, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the MSC Missions Office on the Western Road, Cork.
• Find out the latest updates from Fr Alan Neville in South Sudan, where we are helping to support a care programme for vulnerable baby twins.
Read the Summer 2026 edition of the MSC Message
Jul 31, 2026
GRIEF, FAITH, AND HOPE
The Response to the Seismic Tragedy in Venezuela
BY BRO. DEIBY FUENMAYOR, MSC • CARACAS, JULY 30, 2026
Since that fateful June 24th, when a devastating double earthquake of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 violently shook Venezuelan territory, the country was plunged into one of the darkest hours of its recent history. In a matter of seconds, thousands of lives were cut short, hundreds of buildings and infrastructure collapsed, and the map of entire communities was altered forever. Today, weeks after the disaster, physical and emotional wounds continue to bleed; grief and anguish remain deeply rooted in the heart of a people trying to rise from the rubble.
THE OPEN WOUND: THE GRIEF OF LOSS AND THE RELENTLESS SEARCH
The toll of material damage and human loss is heartbreaking. Thousands of men and women have known no rest: with hands worn by dust and despair, they continue through the rubble desperately searching for the bodies of their loved ones. For these families, the priority is not merely rebuilding walls, but the urgent human and spiritual need to recover their deceased to grant them a Christian burial, honor their memory, and find solace amidst immense suffering. The uncertainty of this prolonged search keeps entire communities in a constant vigil of mourning and lamentation.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE MISSIONARY CHARISM: A BEACON OF CHARITY AND LIVING PRESENCE
In the midst of this devastating panorama, the Catholic Church has played a fundamental role of accompaniment, consolation, and assistance. As the Church, and especially through our mission as Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, we have assumed a prominent and vital role in walking alongside the suffering people. Our fundamental mission in these critical hours has been to reveal and make felt that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is not a distant devotion, but a living reality beating right in the midst of every man and woman struck by this tragedy.
Jesus Christ is not indifferent to this concrete reality; He is deeply imprinted in the innermost core of every person. We are moved by the certainty that Jesus walks with His people, suffers with those who suffer, and sustains the weak. Through Caritas, diocesan pastorals, and the missionary presence on the ground, the ecclesial structure has deployed a comprehensive response:
- Emergency Material Care: An untiring logistical response has been maintained, distributing food, essential medicines, drinking water, and temporary shelter tents to thousands of families who lost everything.
- Pastoral Listening and Emotional Support: Beyond physical aid, we understood that soul sorrow required a healing presence. Listening pastoral teams, religious brothers, sisters, and priests walk daily among those affected, lending their ears, shoulders, and comfort to those facing grief and distress.
«We do not walk alone; the Sacred Heart of Jesus beats amidst the ruins and reminds us that in every tear, in every search, and in every embrace, He is present, walking firmly alongside His people.»
COOPERATION AND PRESENCE IN TEMPORARY CAMPS
Thanks to continuous and respectful dialogue between Catholic Church representatives and state officials in charge of temporary shelter camps, permanent spaces for spiritual and human accompaniment have been established within these centers. This collaboration has ensured a dignified space for:
- Prayer and Sacramental Life: Gathering places where believers celebrate the Eucharist, find strength in the sacraments, and experience the closeness of a loving God.
- Open Accompaniment Without Distinction: Pastoral closeness and the embrace of the Sacred Heart know no boundaries or exclusions. Every person, regardless of creed or background, who needs to be listened to, comforted, or sustained in their grief is welcomed. Walking alongside the wounded, camping next to the unprotected, searching for the missing, and praying over the rubble has been the living testimony of a faith expressed through action. As reconstruction efforts continue, the selfless presence of the Church and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart remains a beacon of hope, reminding all of Venezuela that the loving presence of Jesus walks steadfastly alongside His people.
Bro. Deiby Fuenmayor • Missionary of the Sacred Heart
Read more about ongoing relief operations in Venezuela
Please click to view the full PDF
Jul 30, 2026
The Pró-Criança Centre, or the Pro-Child Centre, has been dedicated to taking care of vulnerable children in the region of Niterói, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for almost 40 years.
The community here aim to promote positive change in the lives of children from 6 to 14 years of age, caring for the spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual wellbeing of 60 local youths through a range of programmes and activities.
In 2024, our Summer Appeal raised funds to help the team at the centre to undertake essential refurbishment, and this year, we are joining forces once again to help the community there to equip their newly renovated space.
Fr Humberto Henriques MSC sends us videos from some of the families and staff at the centre, who tell us for themselves just how important this community is, and how powerful the work they do.
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Maria Eliana
“Hi, my name is Maria Eliana, I’m 10 years old, and I like coming here to Pró-Criança because I think it’s fun, I make a right mess… and Auntie Cláudia’s food is really tasty too. And my mum, when she’s at work, worries, but here I am safe.”
~ Maria Eliana, a child supported by Pró-Criança
Cláudia
“Hello, good afternoon, how are you? My name is Cláudia. I’ve been here at Pró Criança for about seven years now, haven’t I? And it’s really rewarding working here with the children. Why? Because they come in here not wanting to eat, do they? They don’t eat properly, they don’t know what vegetables taste like, they don’t know what anything tastes like. And so they learn to eat. We teach them with love and care, and that’s how they start eating properly. They leave here when they’re twelve, don’t they? But they always pop in to get a bit of our affection. We’re here with open arms.”
~ Cláudia, cook at Pró-Criança
Luane
“Hi, my name is Luane and today I’ve come to tell you a little bit about my journey here at Pró-Criança. First of all, I wanted to say and make it clear that I’m so grateful to have been part of this project, for the doors it opened, you know? Because it really helped my mum, me and my sister, who was also part of it.
Nowadays I’ve got a degree, I’m a teacher, but I’ve always carried with me the lessons and experiences I had here as part of this incredible project. And without a doubt, it did me a world of good.
Nowadays, it’s very rewarding to come back here and reminisce about some of the moments I experienced here. And without a doubt, this project has shaped my life.”
~ Luane, a former beneficiary of Pró-Criança
Carla
“So, today I’ve come here to Casa Pró-Criança to thank all the volunteers who help out here at Pró-Criança. I’m a mum whose son isn’t here today, but he spent a long time here and helped us with absolutely everything. As someone who’s struggling financially, he helped us so, so, so much. I’m actually leaving here feeling a bit sad because, unfortunately, he had to start at a full-time school. So, I’ve brought a memento, everyone, which really moved me. The kindness you show us, welcoming our children, welcoming us… It’s a wonderful gift; it’s not just any gift you give, you give a wonderful gift. And I want to thank all the staff here who look after our children: Renata, Rafael, Vanessa, Cláudia (if I’m not mistaken about her name), and Cláudia from the kitchen, who look after our children so thoughtfully, with such care and attention. They speak to us wherever we are. Our children are very happy here. As a mum, I’m so happy; I even get emotional because I didn’t want him to leave here, you know? But unfortunately, he had to leave. So, really, thank you so much, thank you so much for all the help we receive from the church, the priest, and the church members. Thank you so much; you really do make so many mums happy.”
~ Carla, mother of former beneficiary Edgar
Vanessa
“Hello, my name is Vanessa, and I’m a social educator at the Pró-Criança Movement. I’ve been here for about a year. It’s an honour for me to be part of this organisation, where we provide children with a warm welcome, education, art, culture and everything they need. It’s an honour to be part of it, and congratulations on this wonderful project – I feel truly privileged to be here.”
~ Vanessa, educator at Pró-Criança
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Jul 29, 2026
It is just over a month since the city of Caracas was wracked by huge earthquakes on Wednesday, July 24th. The impact has been devastating, with hundreds of lives lost, and buildings and city infrastructure destroyed.
Br Deiby Fuenmayor MSC has been sending regular updates from Caracas, where he is working alongside Fr John Jennings MSC and a whole team of volunteers and relief workers to provide crucial support to those impacted by the earthquakes. Most recently, Br Deiby sent photos and videos from the shelters and support centres that have been helping thousands of people.
Today, Br Deiby has sent photos and a video message to update us on the current situation in Caracas, as the recovery operation continues. The landscapes in view as he travels show just how catastrophic the earthquakes have been, and the tragic reality for the people of Caracas right now.
“Thank you so much for your support,” Br Deiby writes. “I am right now at the epicenter of the disaster in La Guaira, bringing aid.”
“Here in this shelter, there are 150 people in just this small spot. I am also aware of 12 other temporary camps in the parish of Santa Cruz and its surroundings. Almost 2000 people are receiving aid here.
Thankfully, I have a good team of helpers.”
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have also been working closely with Caritas Venezuela, providing funding to help with the ongoing relief aid. In a message to Irish Provincial Superior Fr Joe McGee MSC, Monsignor José Luis Azuaje Ayala, Archbishop of Maracaibo and Head of Caritas Venezuela, sent his gratitude to the Irish Province of the MSC for the generous support of our benefactors.
We are sincerely grateful for your prayers and support as our Sacred Heart family continue to help the people of Venezuela as they look to rebuilding and repairing for the future.
IF YOU CAN, PLEASE HELP OUR MISSION IN VENEZUELA
