Jul 16, 2026
Relief efforts in Venezuela are ongoing in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes of Wednesday, July 24th. The damage has been catastrophic, with the tragic loss of hundreds of lives as well as the destruction of homes and livelihoods across the city.
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.
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, sends his gratitude to the Irish Province of the MSC for the generous support of our benefactors here.
Monsignor José Luis Azuaje Ayala, Archbishop of Maracaibo and Head of Caritas Venezuela (Image via www.caritasvenezuela.org)
Dear Fr Joe, warm greetings from Maracaibo.
I wish to express my gratitude on behalf of the people of Maracaibo, who are trying to reach out to the victims of our recent earthquakes. We are very grateful to the Irish Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and to the good people in Ireland, your benefactors, who have provided badly needed funds to help with our relief effort.
We are in full emergency mode at this time. We will keep in touch and let you know later how we have put your funds to good use.
Once again, I thank you most sincerely for the generosity of the Missionaries of the Sacred and their benefactors. May God reward you, and please continue to pray for the people of Venezuela.
Jul 16, 2026
In May, Fr Marcelo Campoverde MSC celebrated a very special Mother’s Day with indigenous communities in Ecuador.
“May was a busy month with various activities and celebrations, but I am especially happy to celebrate Mother’s Day with the local community,” Fr Marcelo writes.
The photos sent by Fr Marcelo show a wonderfully special day, with beautiful cakes shared to celebrate the women of the community.
Thanks to the support of our mission friends and benefactors here at home, we have been able to provide great help in recent years to Fr Marcelo and several indigenous communities in Ecuador. We are very grateful for your ongoing support and friendship as we work to help these communities in real and pressing need.
“We greatly appreciate the help so often provided by the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and I would like to convey the gratitude of the parish families from afar,” Fr Marcelo says.
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Jul 7, 2026
Relief efforts in Venezuela are continuing in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes of Wednesday, July 24th. With two earthquakes over a magnitude of 7 hitting within a minute of each other, severe damages have been wreaked throughout the city of Carcas, with homes and livelihoods destroyed, and hundreds of lives lost.
Br Deiby Fuenmayor MSC sends 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.
Emergency shelters
In an update on Friday, July 3rd, Br Deiby wrote that he has been visiting the various shelters that are currently in place, with Monsignor José Manuel León, auxiliary bishop of Caracas, and Fr Gerardo Guillén. These temporary shelters have been set up in areas such as car parks and sports courts, to provide urgent care and emergency relief to affected communities.
“The majority of those sheltered in these temporary locations have been forced to leave their homes out of fear of aftershocks or major structural damage,” Br Deiby writes. “These families remain outdoors as a preventive measure, waiting for the authorities to carry out the necessary technical inspections to verify if their homes are fit and safe for their return.”
Two official shelter facilities have been set up within the Santa Cruz parish, which will house about 800 people from La Guaira State who have tragically lost everything. “They have lost their homes, their belongings, and, in many cases, family members, leaving them in a situation of total vulnerability,” Br Deiby explains.
“Support teams are visiting shelters daily, distributing basic supplies, food, and the necessary assistance to meet their day-to-day needs in the midst of this crisis.”
A letter from Br Deiby
In a letter to Irish Provincial Superior Fr Joe McGee MSC, dated Monday, July 6th, Br Deiby sent our most recent update.
“I am writing to inform you that, so far, the Parish of the Holy Cross and our support centre continue to provide direct aid to almost 2000 people. We are visiting the parking lots and designated shelter areas daily, monitoring for safety, as well as the three large refuge camps already set up.
Currently, we have begun a vital programme of humanitarian, spiritual, and psychological support. We have several people on board specialising in these different areas, and, from July 12th to August 3rd, we will be supported by between five and six seminarians from the archdiocese in recreational and sacramental activities together with neighbouring parishes and auxiliary bishops. We also continue to support those centres outside our jurisdiction with medicines, mattresses, and clothing, working alongside the Archdiocese and Caritas to help those that we can.
We thank God that people of goodwill and great faith continue to support with us food, medicines, medical supplies, and everything they have within their reach. We are very grateful for the compassion and generosity of Sacred Heart benefactors who are helping us through the Mission Office in the Irish Province also. Today, I will be taking part in a meeting of the emergency committee of the Archdiocese of Caracas to coordinate new strategies. We greatly appreciate your financial support and prayers, as this process of relocation and recovery will last for several months.
God bless you always. We will continue to keep in touch.”
Grateful for generous hearts
Br Deiby has also sent a video update, to give us a short glimpse into how the aid work is progressing. Please see below for an English transcript of the video commentary.
On the morning of Thursday, July 2nd, the Auxiliary Bishop Elect of Caracas José Manuel Leon, together with the Vicar for Pastoral Ministry, Fr Ricardo, and Bro Deiby Fuenmayor MSC, made a pastoral visit to the refugees in the eastern part of Caracas to accompany, console and understand the reality of the difficulties being faced by each community in the wake of the earthquake.
Bishop José: This is a situation which certainly merits our attention, meeting our brothers and sisters who have been deeply affected and those who need our support and help.
Br Deiby: We are here to support those who have been so affected by this terrible earthquake. The people living here, have not lost their lives as a result of the quake, thank God, but they have lost their homes. We have visited about a thousand or so people, assessing the situation and bringing them the help that you have been supplying with such generous hearts.
We have also been in Pro Patria this morning. There is a team of a hundred or more people providing support at the shopping centre there, and there is also a refuge centre which has already welcomed about 100 people from La Guaira and expects to welcome about another 300 tomorrow and the day after.
Here in this zone, there are about 500 people who are all supporting each other, and receiving help from the Archdiocese support teams.
Bishop José: What we are trying to do is reconstruct lives with faith, hope, and love. We are beginning the reconstruction with faith, because what remains now is such a huge challenge. The attention that we can give to these brothers and sisters, our love and care, is so important, not only in a practical and material way, but also in a spiritual way, making them part of our family, part of ourselves… This is the challenge we are embracing as an Archdiocese. May God bless each and everyone.
Jul 7, 2026
Fr Alan Neville MSC has been ministering in South Sudan since 2020. One of the projects he works closely with is the Mary Immaculate Hospital in Mapourdit, where founder Bro. Rosario works closely with the Daughters of the Lady of the Sacred Heart to care for patients in need. This summer, we’re raising funds to help the team at the hospital – you can find out more about the workings of the hospital, and some of its patients, here.
Today, Fr Alan shares news of a recent visit to the hospital.
I’m just back from Mary Immaculate Hospital in Mapourdit. We arrived earlier today. It’s a bit of a long journey, as the road isn’t great. The hospital was established 25 years ago by a team led by a Comboni Brother, Br. Rosario, who is also a surgeon. They are still working there today, looking after a catchment area of 200,000 people with just 134 beds and an outpatient department. Needless to say, it’s a busy place.
Bro. Rosario, founder of Mary Immaculate Hospital, in Mapourdit, South Sudan, receiving supplies.
The care people receive there is really good, and the team are doing excellent work. They’re providing solid professional health care. They have access to medication that other places do not because they are well-organised, and people know that whatever they provide will go directly to those who need it most.
The outpatients’ registration area at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Mapourdit, South Sudan.
However, what really struck me today was that one of the wards we went into was a paediatric chemotherapy ward. A doctor who’s volunteering from Central Europe has painted dolphins on the wall. Most of the buildings here can be pretty dark, as electricity is limited for essential services, like surgery or the laboratory. However, she really went out of her way after what must have been a very busy week, last Sunday, to take time to go painting. The fact that we’re in a landlocked country and no one here really knows what dolphins are doesn’t matter. It has given the place a little extra special something.
Bro. Rosario visits the Paediatric Oncology Ward, with its newly painted undersea murals.
The patients in the ward have come from all around Lakes State. They are young and are suffering from a particular type of cancer called Burkitt’s lymphoma, named after the Irish doctor from Enniskillen who first described the disease during his work in Africa in 1958. It is one of the fastest-growing cancers and is fatal without treatment. What is more, it is really a cancer of poverty, as young people who have suffered malaria become highly susceptible, a regular occurrence here in South Sudan. Over the course of three months, these children are given chemotherapy treatment, with a success rate of 80%. During that time, a family member must stay with them, and they really must make sacrifices to be there.
Akol has been receiving treatment for Burkitt’s Lymphoma over the past few months. Thankfully, her treatment has been a great success.
I’m trying to think of how to explain the ministry, care, work that goes on there. The way that best describes it is that it’s an absolute good. In our world today, we’ve lots of shades of grey. It’s very difficult to find something that you think is just absolutely beautiful and perfect. But this ward, where the Comboni Brothers and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Sisters are working with laypeople to provide care for these children, is an absolute good. It really is. Just to see it lifts your heart. They provide everything free of charge. The people there couldn’t afford it anyway, but they’re providing essential lifesaving care for children with cancer who otherwise wouldn’t have a prayer. I just couldn’t say enough for the people working in Mapourdit, the parents who were there, and especially the children. The children are just amazing. They’re resilient. They’re beautiful. They’re just fantastic.
So I just thought I’d share this with you, having come back from it today. It’s just a point where heaven meets earth in a small ward in the centre of South Sudan, in a room that may be a little bit dark, but now has dolphins on the wall.
Bol is one of the current patients in the Paediatric Oncology Ward.
Nhialic ke yin,
Fr. Alan
PLEASE HELP TO SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS PROJECTS
Read more from Fr Alan’s missionary journey in South Sudan:
Jun 30, 2026
On Wednesday, June 24th, the city of Caracas, Venezuela, was devastated by two earthquakes following each other in under a minute. Our latest correspondence from Venezuela comes from Brother Deiby Fuenmayor MSC, who is working alongside Fr John Jennings MSC (originally from Cork), in the parish of Propatria, in Caracas. This is located on the outer regions of the area affected by last week’s earthquakes, and while the aftershocks are still being felt, the structural damage has not been as severe as it is in more central areas. In Propatria, Fr John, Br Deiby, and their parishioners are working to help those suffering in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, with extremely limited resources.
Fr John is working to provide spiritual support to the local community, while Br Deiby explains that he is “fully committed to coordinating the social area” as donations of food and clothing are distributed to families in urgent need. (Read Br Deiby’s full letter below.)
Irish Provincial Superior Fr Joe McGee MSC is keeping in close contact with our MSC brothers in Venezuela, as we monitor the situation and work on providing financial aid to assist with the immediate emergency response. “I have been to Propatria several times,” says Fr Joe, “and I know that the people there have very, very little. Now, we are seeing these people, who have so little, helping people who have less than nothing.”
“I am reminded of the story of the widow’s mite (Mark 12:41–44 and Luke 21:1–4), where a poor widow gave two small coins, all she had to live on, as an offering at the temple. To Jesus, her gift was greater than all the larger contributions, as it represented so much more than financial value, but real sacrifice and total, unreserved faith in the Lord’s love.”
“Here, the people of Propatria are doing all that they can to help others who have less than nothing. Our men on the ground are doing their best to help these people help their own people, and we are so very grateful for your invaluable support, prayers, and contributions. Thank you.”
Here, you can read Br Deiby’s full letter to Fr Joe, dated Monday, June 29th:
Dear Father Provincial,
Present.—
Receive a cordial greeting, trusting in the Lord that you are well.
The purpose of this letter is to inform you about the complex current situation we are experiencing in Venezuela, particularly in Caracas and La Guaira. We want to report that it has been a weekend of intense work. Our parish headquarters has become a collection center and, thanks to God and to the men and women of faith and goodwill who trust the parish and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, we have received numerous donations. As you know, we do not have our own MSC resources, so all this work is being sustained thanks to the immense generosity of the people. Along with this letter, I will send you some images of what has been collected, although it is worth noting that a large part of these supplies has already been distributed to the different centers. Hand in hand with the laity of the Chevalier family, we are visiting different spaces where refugees are located, such as sports courts and public parks. Yesterday we managed to assist 117 families and 40 children, delivering medicines, diapers for adults and children, toys, candies, non-perishable food, and other basic necessities, providing them, above all, with our accompaniment and listening. For this afternoon, we have scheduled a visit to a place that shelters 500 people (including 100 adults and 180 children) to assess their urgent needs, listen to them, and see how we can continue to help. Thanks to the valuable support of the laity, we are carrying out this work. Father Juan Jennings is 100% dedicated to sacramental care, while myself, as a religious brother, am fully committed to coordinating the social area.
On the other hand, we inform you that the airport infrastructure is completely out of service due to severe damage, a situation that will remain until further notice. Both domestic and international commercial flights are suspended, which greatly hinders the transport of supplies and aid by air. Currently, the runway only operates for strictly humanitarian flights coordinated Page 1by the government with other countries. Added to this logistical situation is a strong structural alert, as frequent seismic movements are being registered in the area. Yesterday a 5.5 earthquake was felt, and this morning, at 7:00 a.m., another 5.1 magnitude one was registered. Due to this, at 8:00 a.m. today, we received a visit from two trusted bricklayers from the parish to assess the damage. They inspected the existing fissures and cracks in the areas you already know (the temple entrance, the sacristy, the oratory, the small hall, the multi-purpose hall, and the offices). Although initially these are small and shallow fissures and cracks, the specialists suggest and recommend taking action as soon as possible, since the continuity of the earthquakes could deepen the damage and generate a major structural problem.
With a view to coordinating the Church’s actions in the face of this panorama, tomorrow, Tuesday, we will attend a meeting called by the Archbishop of Caracas, which will include the participation of pastors, vicars, male and female religious, and brothers who provide service in the communities. The objective is to listen to the diocesan guidelines and together design strategies for the coming weeks and months. We are preparing well in advance for the imminent shortage and lack of supplies ahead, seeking the best ways to respond effectively to the needs of our people and our refugee brothers and sisters.
Despite the adversities and risks, we remain firm in the mission, trusting in providence and in the solidarity of our community. We thank you in advance for your constant guidance and your prayers for us, for our infrastructure, and for our people. We remain entirely at your disposal.
Cordially and fraternally in the Heart of Jesus,
HOLY CROSS PARISH / MISSIONARIES OF THE SACRED HEART
BR. DEIBY FUENMAYOR MSC
A prayer for Venezuela from Fr John Fitzgerald MSC:
Jun 30, 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.
Jomo’s Story
In the Summer 2013 edition of the MSC Message, we shared a letter from Jomo Kgapane Simango, who was being cared for at Tshwaranang Hospice, located close to Ivory Park in South Africa, following a HIV diagnosis. The care he received here allowed Jomo to reclaim his life, and go on to have a family and a successful job.
For sure I would have died!
I was 24 years old when I discovered I was HIV positive. One morning I was preparing for work, I felt dizzy, cold and very weak. When I got to the butchery my boss could see that I was not right and called an ambulance. They took me to the hospital and said I was dehydrated. They put drips in me and I felt better. The following week the same thing happened and I was back in hospital again. The doctor advised me to get tested for HIV.
I ignored his advice but weeks later the illness came back even worse, I could not take the pain and terrible diarrhea. This time I had the sense to go and get tested. The result came back positive and very shortly I started on the Anti Retro Viral tablets.
After some months I felt so good I forgot I was HIV positive and I stopped taking the tablets. It was not long before I was in hospital again. I was so weak I couldn’t even walk. I was there for almost a year but did not seem to be improving and the nurses seemed uncaring. So I discharged myself. I was foolish as I was in no condition to look after myself and I struggled with the simplest of tasks. I could not even get to a toilet even if I had one.
I had the help of a Home Based Care Giver coming to visit. She told me about Tshwaranang Hospice set up by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and how good they cared for people. I was frightened but I went. The hospice was like a five star hotel and the nurses treated me very well. They bath you in the morning and give you breakfast and all meals during the day. Over the months I learnt to eat properly, take my tablets and walked again.
I thank all the sisters at the hospice for giving me hope and changing my life. I am now blessed with a baby boy and he is negative. I am back at work again and proud of my life. I thank the hospice for giving me my life back. I will never forget the staff. Keep up the good work and save more lives.
With thanks
Jomo Kgapane Simango
Ebiany’s Story
Summer 2013 also shared Ebiany’s story, as a student in the school run by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Maracaibo, Venezuela.
My name is Ebiany Yussayu. I am a 4th year student in Our lady of the Sacred Heart School in the barrio of Chino Julio, Maricaibo, Venezuela, where I live. I belong to the Wayiuu ethnic group.
For those of you who do not know our tribe, I will give a little information. The original habitat of the Wayiuus is the territory north of Maricaibo right up to the Columbian border.
My parents moved into Maricaibo some years ago and took up residence in barrio Chino Julio where we live today. Our house is a humble residence made of galvanised sheets and wooden poles. I live there with my parents, 5 brothers and sisters and my paternal grandparents. At home we speak Wayuneiki, our native tribal Indian language but with others Spanish is the language.
The presence of Our lady of the Sacred Heart School in our barrio has meant a lot to my family and me. If it was not there, we would have had to walk very long distances to school. The school gives a good education. We get secondary education with emphasis on technical subjects such as accountancy and computers.
After graduating from high school we will be able to get a job or if we wish we can go on studying in the University. A few friends of my family have already done this and have got on very well and are now able to provide for their families.
This opportunity gives families like mine hope for the future and for this we are very grateful to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart for providing this school. The school caters for 800 students now having recently opened 3 new classrooms for an additional 150 students and I know they hope to build more in the near future. Supplying learning materials to children makes a huge difference as it changes all of our lives.
Thank you.
Lorraine’s Story
Finally, Summer 2012 gave us Lorraine’s story, as a volunteer care worker at the MSC HIV/AIDS Response Programme in Nzhelele, South Africa.
I am a volunteer at the Drop-In Centre in Nzhelele, South Africa, working with Fr Andre Bohas MSC helping orphans and vulnerable children in the HIV Aids Response programme.
Our care-givers who visit families in the village come across orphans and inform us. We visit the families to see their needs. These children often live and are cared for by a grandmother, the real unsung heroes of the Community. If necessary, we provide them with food-parcels and help them apply for grants. But what happens when the children out there, living with a grandmother, or in a child headed family? Our church is looking after some of their needs. I volunteered to work at this mission according to what I have learned before.
The children age from 7 to 17 years. They have had no time to grieve and as a child they feel the pain but nobody cares. Later they act out of character. We sympathise with an adult, but not with a child. It hurts me. I lost my parents as an adult and found it difficult having no one to turn to. Children who lose parents keep everything to themselves as they afraid that life might become worse and they could be victimized.
Street children are vulnerable and some beg for money to buy bread, but often for something else like drugs. They are neglected and nobody wants them. They did not choose to be orphans. We talk with them and find out the true situation. If we don’t see them for two weeks we ask the care-givers about them. We have become a big family.
At the Drop-In Centre the children meet other children and it is there that they become friends for life. Most of these children do not know anything about Christmas or the Church. To me, it is my calling, my passion to care. It is mostly our Church who cares for them and we do not discriminate, there are no Catholics among them. It takes a village to raise a child.
I am happy to show love, compassion, to be the love of God in Africa, in every situation, where children are involved. What can a child do when he or she is left alone in the world?
Lorraine
