Sep 7, 2021
At the beginning of 2021, our mission friends and benefactors blessed us with wonderful support for our 2021 MSC World Projects Appeal, which featured global outreach projects run by our Sacred Heart Sisters of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
These projects included several OLSH outreach programmes in Brazil, from nutritional and educational provisions for a care centre for vulnerable children, to helping a childrenâs choir with new equipment, to providing essential liturgical items for the celebration of Mass in remote communities, to teaching local women practical skills such as sewing, empowering them and enabling them to earn money for themselves and provide desperately needed support for their families.
âWe can put our hands and our lives at the service of our charism and mission.â
Sr Marisa writes from SĂŁo Paulo, in gratitude for the support received from our mission friends here in the Irish Province. âWe express our joy in knowing that our charism and mission are alive in the world,â she says. âThe MSC Mission Office in Ireland, through your generosity to finance the missionary and pastoral projects of our Province, has provided us with excellent opportunities to make the Heart of Jesus known and loved in the different situations of vulnerability experienced by a portion of the Brazilian population.â
She continues, âThrough the unity of our congregations and with the financial assistance provided by the MSC Mission Office of Ireland, through your donors, we can put our hands and our lives at the service of the same charism and mission and to continue the dream of Fr. Chevalier, allowing God’s love and goodness to reach the farthest places in the world.â
âWe reaffirm our gratitude and prayers to you, your staff and your donors and pray that they will receive in blessings and graces for what you have given us by financing our missionary action in the Church of Brazil.â
âWith joy and gratitude I come to thank all of you for your generosity.â
Sr Janete also writes from Campinas, from the Madre AnastĂĄcia childcare centre. Part of the ministry the Sisters at the facility offer is to collect food donations and redistribute them to those in need. They had been receiving a small subsidy in order to be able to pay the cost of the driver who carried out these deliveries, but since that funding stopped, the Sisters had been extremely worried about how they would be able to continue.
âWith joy and gratitude I come to thank all of you for your generosity,â says Sr Janete. âThis funding means that it will be possible to keep our employee, Alexsandre, who plays the very important role of driver at our care centre, Madre AnastĂĄcia.â
âThe driver at our daycare transports donations of clothes, foods, and furniture that we receive to donate to needy families in our region. With your help, we will be able to continue our work. The Sisters here are always very grateful for all your help and generosity. God bless you all!â
Sep 2, 2021
When you are asked what is the deadliest animal that youâve come across in South Sudan, people are hoping for something dramatic. On my first weekend here, when I was mapping out a potential jogging route around the Loreto campus, I came across a snake thicker than my arm struggling with his evening meal. Now I walk and as I do so I keep my eyes firmly on the ground. My godson has been delighted to hear that I have found scorpions on four different occasions wandering around my bedroom. All were dispatched with a trusty badminton racket that was left behind by my roomâs previous tenant. Considering how difficult it is to play badminton by yourself, especially with no shuttlecock, I suspect they may have used it for a similar purpose.
When it comes to dangerous animals, Hollywood with its big budgets and daring adventures has got it badly wrong. Sharks, the subject of several blockbusters, languish in 15th place killing about ten people a year. Lions are responsible for up to a hundred deaths. Hippos, or âRouâ as they are known locally, are at 11th place, killing five hundred people annually. Snakes earn something of their fearsome reputation with fifty thousand deaths and clock in at 3rd place. Surprisingly our most fearsome enemy is also among the smallest. Each year an incredible two million deaths are caused by mosquitos. The toxic and highly evolved diseases that the female carries, make this tiny insect that weighs the same as a grape seed, our greatest predator.
As I have mentioned before, we have been waiting for months for rain. Since the arrival of the rainy season, the community around the school have been working feverishly preparing the soil, sowing the seeds, and keeping an eye on the weeds. The rains were late this year and so far have been sporadic. We are waiting to see how good the crop will be. However, as sure as night follows day, the rains also meant the return of mosquitos. In the dry months, they are not much in evidence and those who fancy themselves thrill-seekers sleep without a net. Not now. They are back, and once again, the number of malaria cases are soaring.
The Primary Health Care Clinic was originally set up to look after the two thousand primary and secondary students, the local workers, and the staff on the ground in Loreto every day. This number does not even include the people our nursing teams looks after in our community outreach programme. Last week alone we had 302 cases of malaria just from the primary school.
The problem is that in the evening families prepare and eat their meals around a fire in front of their homes. This is the time that the mosquito hunts. In addition, peopleâs houses or tukuls are often made with rough blocks and a grass roof, although some are fortunate to have corrugated metal. Anyone who has been on holidays in warmer climates know how good mosquitos are at exploiting even the smallest crack in a wall or hole in a net.
The situation this year has been complicated further by a lack of testing kits to determine if someone has malaria and if so, which type it is. Each requires different treatment. Insecurity on the roads mean that trucks from Nairobi stopped coming for a week, so deliveries are backlogged. We are fortunate to have a good working relationship with local NGOs and were able to make up a shortfall, before getting an emergency supply flown in from Juba.
While COVID continues to dominate the headlines, the challenges of malaria have been largely overlooked by the international community. It is a forgotten epidemic by an almost invisible predator that is wreaking havoc on already vulnerable populations. It has been pointed out by more than one commentator that if malaria was as big an issue in Western society as it is here, we would already have developed several effective vaccines. If these past two years have taught us anything, it is that we have the ability if we really want to. Until the situation changes, our nursing team is working flat out and will continue to do so until the rainy season ends in November. Itâs going to be a long three months. Please keep them in your prayers.
Bi Nhialic arrer kek yin,
Fr Alan
Read more from Fr Alan’s missionary journey in South Sudan:
PLEASE HELP US TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN SOUTH SUDAN
Aug 31, 2021
At the beginning of 2021, our mission friends and benefactors blessed us with wonderful support for our 2021 MSC World Projects Appeal, which featured global outreach projects run by our Sacred Heart Sisters of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
These projects included support for the victims of Typhoon Vamco (locally known as Typhoon Ulysses) in the Philippines. The most powerful typhoon to hit the country in seven years, it caused untold damage and left in its wake loss of life, severe flooding and damage amounting to millions of euro. A community of 25 OLSH Sisters have been ministering to badly affected families in two very poor areas of Manila, and Sr Ruth S. Yburan FDNSC, Regional Leader of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the Philippines, writes to thank our mission friends in the Irish Province for their compassion and support.
âEven prior to the typhoon, the people here had very difficult lives.â
âYou cannot imagine my joy, relief, and excitement when I was informed that âŹ21,000 had been donated towards assisting the victims of Typhoon Ulysses,â writes Sr Ruth. âLast year, we received âŹ10,000 from the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and we used it for the most needed things: at that time, food, clean water, and the basics of life. At the same time, we were able to meet each family and learn their situation and their needs.â
âCOVID has interrupted our mission to the people, but we are in a position now to re-start this privileged work. The very generous donation, which we appreciate very much, arrived at the perfect time. Sr Leda and I visit San Mateo and Montalban ones or two days per week. On each trip, Sr Leda and I go to visit a family and see the state of their house. Even prior to the typhoon, the people here had very difficult lives, and many lived in homes made of timber, corrugated iron, strong cardboard, plastic, newspaper. There is no running water at all.â
âUpon meeting the family and speaking with them, we work out together what they need to re-establish themselves. This could be lumber, nails, iron, etc. We go with the family to the local hardware stand, where we like to do our business to support the owner in his little trade store. Once the necessary materials are located and the price paid, with the generosity of MSC Mission Office, Cork, the family takes home the needed materials and can work on their ânewâ house.â
âBoth we, the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the Philippines, and the people of San Mateo and Montalban express our deep gratitude for the hope you give us. We remember you daily in prayer. Thank you for allowing us to continue helping those who suffer.â
Aug 26, 2021
Cuan Mhuire is Irelandâs largest voluntary provider of addiction treatment services and rehabilitation, working with people who suffer from alcohol, drug, and gambling addictions. With 2,500 people admitted to their centres across Ireland every year, Cuan Mhuire has treated approximately 100,000 people since its foundation in 1966. Their programmes range from 12 weeks to 20 weeks, and beyond, personalised to each individual case, with additional aftercare, family support, and life skills training. The Cuan Mhuire mission is âTo provide an environment in which people who feel rejected and dejected because of their addictions become aware of, and learn to deal with the underlying problems relating to these addictions and discover their uniqueness, goodness, giftedness and their real purpose in life.â
Bro Giacomo Gelardi MSC recently visited the Cuan Mhuire centre in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, where MSC funding recently allowed for the replacement of the chapel roof. George, one of the Cuan Mhuire Ballybay team, writes to tell us more about the centre and the work done there on a daily basis.
Cuan Mhuire Ballybay
âWe were delighted to welcome Bro Giacomo to visit us here in Cuan Mhuire Ballybay in recent times. It was an opportunity to thank the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart for their funding support for the replacement of our Chapel roof, which over the years had fallen into a very poor state of repair. We were very grateful to have this work completed late last year and to know that our little Chapel is safe and dry.
Cuan Mhuire Ballybay first opened its doors in 2007 as a Transition House, providing continued support to men who, having completed a Cuan Mhuire Residential Treatment Programme, need extra time and aftercare to continue their recovery and often to address issues such as homelessness. The house caters for 12 male residents, and gives them opportunities to access training, employment and, through one-to-one work, address barriers to independent living.â
âFaith and special devotion to Our Lady has always been at the heart of all we do here in Ballybay.â
âIn addition to the Main House for the residents, the adjacent Fitzgerald Centre provides a strong community dimension. The Centre is used to support those in addiction, their families, and the wider community. Our weekly Aftercare meeting is held there as well as Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Al Anon, and Gam Anon meetings. On any given week more than 160 people avail of our services, which also include counselling, family advice and support, as well as referrals to Cuan Mhuire Treatment Centres. At the heart of all our services is our âOpen Doorâ Policy and people come from the greater Cavan/Monaghan area to seek support. As part of our community outreach, we are also happy to offer the use of our facilities to various local and community groups supporting the elderly, mental health, and family support services.
We are very fortunate to have beautiful grounds, which are maintained by our residents. Sitting in a quiet corner is our little flag-stoned chapel. It is modelled on the City of the Poor Chapel in Lourdes. This is a non-denominational place of prayer and quiet for people to visit of all faiths and none. It is open 24 hours a day and it provides an oasis of peace for people from far and wide. Faith and special devotion to Our Lady has always been at the heart of all we do here in Ballybay. Each year, our Cuan Mhuire Ballybay Novena takes place from August 7th to 15th, and it draws people of every age and walk of life. An average of 350/400 people attend daily.â
âCuan Mhuire Ballybay is above all a place of welcome.â
âAs with all aspects of life, Cuan Mhuire Ballybay activities have been restricted due to COVID-19. We have endeavoured to maintain contact and offer support to people through telephone calls. We look forward to gradually re-opening all our services in the coming months and most especially to our Novena again in 2022.
We were delighted to be able to share our story with Giacomo during his visit, we and look forward to welcoming him back to visit us again â he knows where we are!
Cuan Mhuire Ballybay is above all a place of welcome where those in need due to addictions or other life difficulties can find support, feel at home, and find the healing that they need to continue their lifeâs journey.â
Aug 24, 2021
August 15th 2021 marked the 18th anniversary of the foundation of our MSC community in Vietnam, which was established in 2003. MSC Fr HoĂ ng, one of the original MSC students in Vietnam and current leader of the MSC community there, shared a letter celebrating the 18-year anniversary with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Australia website.
18 years of grace of MSC in Vietnam: 2003 â 2021
August 15th
Dear brothers,
A journey of 18 years, it is a quite long enough period with so many memories and graces for our small MSC community here in Vietnam. It is a great chance for us to stop and look back in the attitude of thanksgiving to God and expressing our deep gratitude to our mother Province, the Province of Australia and to those who have journeyed and been part of us, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Vietnam for the last 18 years.
The presence of the community in Vietnam has been found and fostered constantly and generously by the Australian Province, since during the time of Jim Littleton as Provincial, till the decision to begin during the time of Bob Irwin, with the support, development and encouragement during time of Tim Brennan, John Mulrooney and now Chris R McPhee. And of course there have been so many other MSCs of the Province being present with us during those times. They have brought so many good things to us, their zeal, love, simplicity, humor, wisdom, …, above all MSCness and Spirituality of the Heart.
In the 18th anniversary of MSC in Vietnam, we would like to give thanks to God for His grace and His Son’s Heart, Jesus Christ our Lord, through the charism of the Holy Spirit that He gave to our Founder, we have chance to experience God’s deep love and bring His love to everywhere and everyone. We also express our gratitude to all those who have been with us in many ways. May God continue to bless us.
A blessing and happy anniversary to everyone!
Because of the pandemic that we cannot gather for this special celebration, thus each house will have mass in the house with the same intention of thanksgiving to God’s grace and gratitude to the Province. And then each house may have a simple ‘meal’ together.
Once again, happy the foundation day of MSC in Vietnam.
In Jesus’ Heart!
HoĂ ng MSC
Find out more about MSC COVID-19 relief ministry in Vietnam
Images via the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Australia website.
Aug 19, 2021
Every couple of months in Loreto Rumbek, we have a celebration. Itâs something of a bittersweet gathering with pizza, Coke, a few tears, and plenty of good humour. We had one only last Wednesday. They mark the departure of the graduates from our intern programme as they go on to further education. This time, we had three go to university in Nairobi, where two will study business, and one brave soul will train to become a social worker. Where she will even begin when she returns here is a mystery to me, but it is a welcome start. They will be welcomed in Nairobi by twenty other Loreto graduates who have gone before them and have, in fact, paved the way for them. Among our alumni we have women studying nursing, teaching, logistics, child protection, commerce, and medicine.
As I have mentioned before, decent education is a rare and precious commodity in South Sudan. Anytime Iâm driving to a nearby school or going into the local town, Iâm struck by the number of children who are out tending cattle, instead of being in class. Boy and girls, who are younger than my own niece of seven spend their entire day bringing the goats, sheep, and cows to the watering hole and back again. Many are dwarfed by the size of the animals they look after. Their education will be sporadic at best, but more likely non-existent.
Last week, we had our entrance of our Loreto Primary and take up was brisk. Families contribute the equivalent of the cost of a chicken for a yearâs education, a daily meal, and free healthcare in our clinic. When we had the entrance exam for our secondary school last month, demand was once again far in excess of what we had available. The secondary girls have just finished their end of term exams and started their holidays, but we are looking forward to welcoming them back, along with our new first years at the beginning of September.
The children who get into primary school are fortunate to have access to basic education denied to many of their peers. Girls who manage to get into secondary school even more so, but where do they go to from there? One of Loretoâs most successful programmes is the internship programme. Each year, secondary school graduates apply to return to the school to become an intern. This means they work across a wide variety of roles, such as teaching assistants, translators in the clinic, administrators in the school office, or team leaders in the agricultural project.
Interns who work for one year will have their third-level course funded anywhere within South Sudan. However, if they successfully complete two years, we fund their university education in Kenya, where the standard is significantly higher, and the options afterwards are far greater. At âŹ5,000 per university student for studies, accommodation, health, and food, it is a significant investment, but one that is ultimately worth it.
Coming back to the three women from last weekâs celebration, they took off from Rumbek on Saturday with their tickets firmly in hand. They will have only a week to prepare their documentation, arrange passports, and sort out COVID tests before flying to Kenya. It is undoubtedly an exciting time. To reach as far as they have demonstrates their extraordinary commitment to education in the face of nearly overwhelming odds. Each one has a story of determination and sacrifice that is simultaneously unbelievable and inspiring. This latest step is only one more in a journey which will hopefully lead them home, and they can help in the building up of their community, especially opportunities for girls and women in South Sudan.
Read more from Fr Alan’s missionary journey in South Sudan:
PLEASE HELP US TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN SOUTH SUDAN
