Jul 11, 2019
As our friends at Loreto Schools Rumbek draw the old school year to a close and look ahead to the new, we are delighted to hear that the schools are continuing to grow at a great rate, offering renewed hope and new opportunities to young women in South Sudan.
There are now over 1,000 children attending the primary school, with only 14 students dropping out in the last year. âThe secondary school also continues to be blessed and we are looking at an enrolment close to 350 this year,â writes Benjamin Sprunger, the Loreto Programs Manager. âWe also delivered well over half a million meals, and provided around 1,800 clinical consultations â mostly to women and children â during the yearâ, he continues.
Earlier this year, the Loreto secondary school was âflooded with young hopefulsâ as hundreds of young women arrived to complete the first stage of the secondary school intake process. âDuring 2019âs intake, we had 424 applicants, registering a 22% increase from last year,â explains the official Loreto website. âThis is the largest group since the school started and a great milestone for the Loreto Rumbek mission.â
Gaining a place at Loreto is a precious prize indeed for young women in the local region and beyond. The secondary school programme is a support system that encompasses far more than a simple education, with the provision of âthree daily meals, health care, uniforms, study and learning materials, 24/7 power and water, accommodation, protection and advocacy, psychosocial support and social development activities, and spiritual developmentâ. The Loreto website tell the story of one applicant, Mary Ayuen from Cuiebet, located 45km away. âMary explains, âI came two days ago and stayed with my friend in Rumbek because I didnât want to miss the interview. I want to be a doctor.â Mary is hopeful that her dreams to study at Loreto and to secure a bright future will come true.â
Of course, the Loreto community is far more than just a school â for many of these young women, it is family. All you need to do is look at these pictures of Sr Orla, the schoolâs principal, returning from her travels this summer, and it is very clear that pride, unity, and love are the mainstays of both teachers and students and the Loreto schools.
We at the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are proud to support the Loreto team in the tremendous work that they do, both in the Loreto schools and their Health Care Unit. We are very pleased to hear that the schools are going from strength to strength, and we wish both staff and students a peaceful summer break ahead of the next busy academic year!
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are proud to support the wonderful work done by the Loreto Sisters for the young women of South Sudan.
For more photographs and further information about Loreto Rumbek, visit their website or visit their Facebook page.
You can also find out more about how MSC Missions work with Loreto Rumbek – and how you can help to make a difference to the young women of South Sudan.
PLEASE HELP US TOÂ TRANSFORM LIVES IN SOUTH SUDAN
Jul 4, 2019
2019 is the Year of the Youth in the Catholic Church in the Philippines, and the Philippine Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart has been continuing their wonderful work in youth ministry all over the country.
MSC Partners, the newsletter of the Philippine Province of the MSC, recently reported on the Year of the Youth, addressing the way in which this celebration âshows the churchâs faith and confidence in young peopleâ.
âEmpowering youth to be in mission, they need to realize the fundamental truth that they are beloved and gifted; they are worthy and deserving of Godâs love, they are meant to discover the dreams of God for the church and the world at large,â the MSC Partners editorial reads. âThe words of George Bernard Shaw might add inspiration or enkindle the fire within them: âYou see things, and you say âWhy?â But I dream things that never were; and I say âWhy not?ââ. Allowing and encouraging the youth to dream and discover their life purpose is one of the greatest achievements of the church. As dreamers of great things, they may be able to use their energy for changes desired by God.â
âOur youth need to be guided, nurtured, and cared for,â continues the MSC Partners editorial. âA recent survey conducted by UNICEF said that 80% of Filipino youth suffer some form of physical and psychological abuse. Now we are facing problems such as poverty, young people not attending school, suicide, emotional distress, mental disorder, distorted values, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and the like. These show that many young people are deeply wounded and broken. In this regard, the church has an important role in the psychological, emotional, and spiritual healing and well-being of the youth.â
âI consider the Church as my lifeguard, who is continuously and unconditionally guarding me against the force of negativity.â
MSCs in the Philippines have long been devoted to the care of the younger members of their flock, promoting education and empowerment wherever possible. In this, the Year of the Youth, they continue to encourage, guide, and nurture through youth ministry in parishes across the country.
This guidance is invaluable to many. âYouths nowadays are very vulnerable,â says Clavel C. Campugan, Parish Youth Leader in San Roque Parish, Cordova, Cebu. âThus, as a youth I consider myself as vulnerable too. Very susceptible to sadness, chaos, physical or emotional attack, and many other negative forces in the society, that made me drown into a sea of hopelessness. There are times that my faith weakens, especially when my mother died â the strongest and greatest storm I encountered in my whole life. But as a youth in Christ, I consider myself as well-protected â protected by our Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ through the protection from the Church. In this regard, as a member of the Youth Ministry in our parish, I am saved from drowning deeply in this sea of hopelessness. Jesus uses the Church as an instrument to help me swim faster towards HOPE. Therefore, I consider the Church as my lifeguard who is continuously and unconditionally guarding me against the force of negativity and guiding me to become a better person and to become the seed of HOPE for others. Since, I have experienced the fruit of guidance from the Church, I hope that the Church will not stop guarding and guiding youths who are like me.â
âLet us not waste our talents, the gifts that God has given to us; let us not be afraid to dream of great things.â
Angelica Joyce P. Mananes, Parish Youth Leader in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Bantug, agrees. Â âPope Francis said, âLet the church always be a place of mercy and hope where everyone is welcomed, loved and forgivenâ â the place that every young person is looking for. The church is unlike other people, who might love us at first, but if they notice something they donât like, they can easily leave us. Godâs love for us has no limit â he loves us wholeheartedly. Let us not waste our talents, the gifts that God has given to us; let us not be afraid to dream of great things, because the church believes that young people in mission are BELOVED, GIFTED, EMPOWERED.â
In the Year of the Youth and beyond, MSC communities in the Philippines and across the world continue to encourage, guide, and promote the bright and brilliant youths in our parishes everywhere.
âSo, in this special year of the youth, it is our prayer and hope that young people
may find meaning for their lives in their faith-life journey in mission,
as beloved, gifted, and empowered to bring the love of God to all.â
– Fr Bien Castil Jr, MSC
Read about the MSC 2019 World Youth Day Celebrations in Panama
Jun 27, 2019
Irish-born Sr Orla Treacy, principal of Loreto Secondary School in Rumbek, has received an award from home territory in recognition of her work with educating and empowering young women in South Sudan. Sr Orla, originally from Co. Wicklow, was awarded the Societal Impact prize as part of the prestigious DCU Alumni Awards.
The DCU Alumni Awards celebrate the wonderful achievements of Dublin City University alumni all over the world. âThe DCU Alumni Awards honour alumni who, through their exceptional ability and leadership, have achieved excellence in their chosen fields of endeavour,â states the official website. âTheir accomplishments across so many aspects of society are a source of great pride to DCU and an inspiration to present and future generations of DCU students.â
Speaking to The Irish Catholic about the award, Sr Orla remarked, ââItâs great to see a university like that recognising the work that weâre doing in South Sudan.â
Earlier this year, Sr Orla received the International Woman of Courage Award, having been nominated by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See. Working to protect and encourage young women in one of the worldâs most volatile countries, Sr Orla is a champion for education and empowerment in South Sudan.
âAs principal of Loreto Secondary School in Rumbek in Lake States, considered the premier girlsâ school in the impoverished country, Sr Treacy has spent well over a decade empowering thousands of pupils through education, despite ongoing civil conflict and discrimination against young women, such as forced marriage,â writes Colm Fitzpatrick of The Irish Catholic.
Acknowledging the recognition of her work, Sr Orla says that itâs ânice to feel part of something biggerâ, while the Popeâs recent call for peace to South Sudanâs leaders has given the Loreto family in Rumbek âa great sense of hopeâ.
We are proud to support the marvellous work done by Sr Orla and the Loreto Rumbek team, and we send our very best wishes on this wonderful acknowledgement of their ongoing work for the young women of South Sudan.
Read The Irish Catholic’s full report on Sr Orla’s award.
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are proud to support the wonderful work done by the Loreto Sisters for the young women of South Sudan.
For more photographs and further information about Loreto Rumbek, visit their website or visit their Facebook page.
You can also find out more about how MSC Missions work with Loreto Rumbek – and how you can help to make a difference to the young women of South Sudan.
PLEASE HELP US TO SAVE LIVES IN SOUTH SUDAN
Jun 19, 2019
Cork City has a bright and welcome new addition â Brew132, a Catholic cafĂ© serving up evangelism and faith alongside coffee and cake. Located on Washington Street, Cork, Brew 132 opened its doors in early April, offering warm hospitality and hope to the community of Cork and beyond, and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are proud to support this new and exciting venture for the young Catholic community in the local area.
âThe concept is based around two ideas,â says Courtney Holbrook, manager of Brew132. âFirstly, there’s a lot of young Catholics in the world (and quite a few here in Cork City), but sometimes it’s hard to connect to each other. So we’re here to try to help connect practising young Catholics to community and bring everyone together. Secondly, there are a lot of people who would go to a cafĂ©, but who would never think of stepping foot in a Church. Our goal is to get to know them and show them Jesus through our joy and our witness. From there we can help connect them to different groups to help them continue to grow in their faith.â
âThe idea of an evangelising cafe is not new,â continues Courtney. Originally from Dallas, Texas, she remarks, âThere are Catholic cafĂ©s in the United States, and a few Christian ones here in Ireland â most notably An Tobar Nua in Galway, which actually gave us a lot of help in starting up here in Cork.â
The initial idea for the establishment of a social hub for Corkâs young Catholics was brought about by Fr Maurice Colgan OP, of the Dominican Order. âI think it’s something he’s been wanting to do for years,â explains Courtney, âbut everything started falling into place this year. He brought me on board last summer, and we’ve been working on it since.â
The cafĂ© has received wonderful support from Cork and beyond. âA number of religious orders/organisations have been involved with funding the cafĂ©: St Joseph’s Charity Shop, Presentation Sisters Cork, Sisters of Mercy Cork, Bon Secours Sisters, Sisters of Charity, Augustians, Capuchins, Franciscans, Domincans, and of course, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.â
âThe Cork NET Group and UCC Chaplaincy are involved, and we’ve also got Juventutum Corcaigh, Cork City Youth 2000, Ignite Prayer Group, Nightfever, and Jesus Youth. Representatives of the leadership of these groups would meet every so often just to help determine the look and ministry in the cafĂ© in the planning stages. Saturdays are also worked by volunteers, and many students are volunteering summer hours with us as well!â
âDo not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.â
A warm welcome is guaranteed to all visitors to the cafĂ©. âWe’ve been very influenced by the charism of hospitality, so the one word to describe what we’re going for is âhomeyâ,â Courtney says. âWe strive to provide a homey atmosphere where we can love our customers through service. It comes from the idea of Hebrews 13:2, one of the verses that inspired the name, that says âDo not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing itâ. Through this homey atmosphere people can begin to experience the love of Christ, and then be more comfortable when we begin to share our faith. I think it also provides a great outlet for Catholics to come in and talk about faith without fear of being judged.â
Brew132 currently offers an extensive menu of hot drinks, alongside an array of tasty treats. The cafĂ© also has a packed bookshelf for visitors to peruse as they sit and sip. âWe’ve got theology books and fictional books that have a moral worldview/ethos,â explains Courtney â with a wide range of titles and authors, even the most discerning reader is likely to find the perfect companion to their morning coffee!
All new ventures come with their own challenges, and this is no different. âFrom a ministry perspective it’s not easy knowing how to approach people about the faith,â explains Courtney. âWe’re starting to get to the point with a few people where we know them well enough to start talking with them about faith, but sometimes we don’t see the opportunity. We’re learning how to make those opportunities without making it awkward.â
However, the benefits far outweigh the challenges in this bustling hub on Washington Street. The cafĂ© is located on the busy street that connects the city centre with University College Cork, and itâs the hope of the Brew132 team that it will become a regular port of call for passing students. âItâs a real highlight to see people return,â notes Courtney. âWe’ve had a few people return for our coffee and we’ve slowly been getting to know them, have gotten to know their names, and can chat with them a bit when they come in. It’s such a small thing, but it’s definitely a highlight for me.â
With an âamazingâ Grand Opening providing great encouragement, the team at Brew132 are already off to a wonderful start. The future looks bright for Corkâs new Catholic cafĂ©, and we at the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are delighted to be part of this promising new venture.
Visit Brew132 on Facebook and Instagram.
You can also visit their website,
and read more about the café in a recent article by Greg Daly for The Irish Catholic.
Jun 13, 2019
The final days of May saw MSCs Fr Michael OâConnell and Fr Des Farren join 30 pilgrims from Ireland and the UK on our annual MSC pilgrimage to Fatima. With blue skies and sunshine as a backdrop to prayer, reflection, and conversation, this yearâs five-day trip was a resounding success for all involved.
Our pilgrimage group paused to pray at a number of hallowed stops along the way, including the Basilica of the Rosary, the Basilica of the Holy Trinity, the Way of the Cross, and Valinhos, where Our Lady appeared to the Children of Fatima.
The Basilica of the Holy Trinity was a place of special interest for our pilgrims, as they visited the spectacular sculpture of Christ on the Cross by Irish artist Catherine Greene. The figure is cast in bronze and is five metres tall, suspended in the air on a seven-metre cross behind the altar. Catherine Greene is originally from Galway, but now works from her studio in Co. Kildare. In the creation of this statue, she has embraced all of mankind, incorporating different features from different races in the Christ figure. It is a magnificent sight to behold in the Basilica, which can seat 9,000 people, with space for another 2,000 standing.
Our group also spent some time in Valinhos, where Our Lady appeared to the Children of Fatima on August 19th, 1917. Here, they also paused to pray at the beautiful shrine which represents the apparition of the Angel of Peace.
The Way of the Cross in Fatima is a special journey indeed, with the path taken along the Stations of the Cross following the pathway that the Children of Fatima would have followed from their homes, down to the grazing grounds where they would have cared for their familyâs sheep. The stations were donated to Fatima by the people of Hungary, and the final station, the Crucifixion scene, is positioned on top of the Church of St Stephen of Hungary.
âThe devotion of the people is perhaps what touched me most about our pilgrimage.â
Fr Michael and Fr Des celebrated Sunday Mass during the pilgrimage, along with approximately 60 other priests from around the world. Sunday Mass is a wonderful celebration overlooking the Capelinha, or the Chapel of the Apparitions, which marks the spot where Our Lady appeared. Every Sunday, a statue of Our Lady is carried from the Capelinha to the open-air altar, often by representatives from the fire brigade or the army, dressed in their best with shining uniforms and helmets.
Our Ladyâs path is lined with pilgrims, singing and waving white handkerchiefs. It is an extremely emotional moment, with many people shedding tears because they wonât return to see Our Lady of Fatima again for at least another year. âThe devotion of these people is perhaps what touched me most about our pilgrimage,â says Fr Michael. âTheir tears are just amazing â there are literally tears running down their faces, they are crying their hearts out. They wonât be back again for at least another year, if at all, and they are crying. Our Lady is going away, and theyâre going away. It was so emotional that it made me cry, too.â
Our pilgrims also stopped to light a candle for their intentions â so many candles are lit here, however, that the heat is overwhelming and the candles all melt into one big flame. The group pilgrimage candle was carried along the journey and returned home to the Sacred Heart Parish in Cork with Fr Michael, who will continue to light it daily for the prayers and intentions of the pilgrimage group until it has burned down completely.
Worldwide connections
The group also ventured to some of the outlying prayer spots in the area. Fr Michael speaks of a special fondness for the statue of the Children of Fatima looking out towards the Chapel of the Apparitions. âThatâs my favourite spot in Fatima,â he says. âThatâs where I like to be the most, because youâre away from the crowd, looking from a distance. I like to step out of the crowds, to stand back and see the bigger picture.â
Our great family of faith offers warmth and encouragement from all over the world, and this became especially clear when Fr Michael bumped into MSCs from Indonesia over breakfast in the groupâs hotel! Fr Nicholaus Adi Seputra MSC, Archbishop of Merauke, Indonesia, and Fr Cayetanus Tarong MSC were travelling with two other MSCs from the Philippines to celebrate 30 years of ordination. It was a fortuitous meeting indeed, as they were leaving Fatima for Rome later that day, continuing their pilgrimage to the Holy Places.
Fr Michael also bumped into an Irish couple, Pat and Mary Leahy from Macroom, Co. Cork, who were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary while on pilgrimage. Pat and Mary renewed their love for each other before the Our Lady of Fatima statue at the Capelinha, in a wonderful celebration of true and enduring love.
Our group returned home on June 3rd, replenished in body and soul after a truly wonderful trip where new friendships were made, and old and enduring bonds were strengthened. Sincere thanks to all involved for a joyous pilgrimage journey!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MSC PILGRIMAGES
Jun 6, 2019
We were delighted to read this wonderful piece by South African publication Spotlight, highlighting the marvellous work done by Sr Sally Duigan OLSH and the team at the Holy Family Care Centre in Limpopo.
Calling the Holy Family community âthe biggest and happiest family in Limpopoâ, this Spotlight story gives us a glimpse into daily life at the centre, where Sr Sally and her team care for over 70 infants and children. The majority of these children are battling serious illnesses, such as HIV, and many have been orphaned or abandoned.
Founded in 2002, the centre is run by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart with the support of the MSC. We are very pleased to work closely with our Sacred Heart sisters, from fundraising efforts here in the Irish Province to our annual volunteer programme at Holy Family.
âEach child that comes through the gates of HFC is guaranteed two things, regardless of how they arrive or where they come from, they will be loved and well taken care of,â reads the Spotlight article. âAt the moment this is home to 70 children (Sally sheepishly admits that they never turn a child away, sometimes the facility cares for up to 80 children) eight of whom are babies. There is a large staff contingent who care for the children 24/7, bathing them, feeding them, clothing them, teaching them, helping them with homework, playing with them and showering them with heaps and heaps of love. It is absolutely clear that this is one big family.â
It’s a big family, and a happy one. The sense of unity and love at Holy Family is in abundance from the moment one steps through the doors, and Sr Sally is dedicated to ensuring this remains the case for every child that comes into her care.
âAbove all, we continue to give our children love, security, and care, in the hope they will thrive,â she wrote in a letter to our MSC Missions. âWe want them to have the energy to enjoy playtime, be able to learn and live a happy life.â
We are very proud to see Sr Sallyâs tremendous work being recognised â congratulations to all the team at Holy Family!
Read the full Spotlight article
Find out more about our work with the Holy Family Centre
