Jun 13, 2019
The final days of May saw MSCs Fr Michael O’Connell 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 year’s 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 family’s 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.
“The devotion of the people is perhaps what touched me most about our pilgrimage.”
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 Lady’s path is lined with pilgrims, singing and waving white handkerchiefs. It is an extremely emotional moment, with many people shedding tears because they won’t return to see Our Lady of Fatima again for at least another year. “The devotion of these people is perhaps what touched me most about our pilgrimage,” says Fr Michael. “Their tears are just amazing – there are literally tears running down their faces, they are crying their hearts out. They won’t be back again for at least another year, if at all, and they are crying. Our Lady is going away, and they’re going away. It was so emotional that it made me cry, too.”
Our pilgrims also stopped to light a candle for their intentions – 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. “That’s my favourite spot in Fatima,” he says. “That’s where I like to be the most, because you’re away from the crowd, looking from a distance. I like to step out of the crowds, to stand back and see the bigger picture.”
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 group’s 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 “the biggest and happiest family in Limpopo”, 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.
“Each 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,” reads the Spotlight article. “At 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.”
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.
“Above all, we continue to give our children love, security, and care, in the hope they will thrive,” she wrote in a letter to our MSC Missions. “We want them to have the energy to enjoy playtime, be able to learn and live a happy life.”
We are very proud to see Sr Sally’s tremendous work being recognised – congratulations to all the team at Holy Family!
Read the full Spotlight article
Find out more about our work with the Holy Family Centre
May 30, 2019
“A father holds your hand for a little while, but holds your heart forever.”
This year, we celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, June 16th. Whether you chat to your dad every day, catch up over a cup of tea every week, or hold treasured memories close to your heart, Father’s Day is a time to pause and celebrate a very special bond and a love that can’t be measured.
On Father’s Day, we thank the unsung heroes who work so hard to make the family home a happy and comfortable one, full of joy and laughter. Our collection of Father’s Day cards is a truly special way to honour a beloved father, whether you will spend the day with your dad or carry his memory in your heart. Each card contains a lovely Prayer for my Father, and each one also contains remembrance in our Father’s Day Triduum of Masses, which will take place this year from Saturday, June 15th to Monday, June 17th in the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road in Cork.
You are also very welcome to submit a prayer intention for your father, or light a candle in our online gallery to mark Father’s Day.
Remember, when you choose from our range of Father’s Day cards, you’re not just making a thoughtful gesture for your own father, but you’re also reaching out to help fathers and their families all over the world. Your support helps us to continue bringing the gifts of faith, hope, and love to parents, children, and communities in some of the world’s poorest countries. Our MSCs work in regions of extreme poverty and hardship, bringing vital aid to people who have nowhere else to turn, and every order we receive makes a real and valuable difference.
VIEW OUR FATHER’S DAY CARDS
May 23, 2019
Sincere congratulations to Rev Luis Gonzales MSC, who was ordained a Deacon in Caracas, Venezuela, on Saturday, May 4th.
We were delighted to receive these pictures of the celebration in Caracas – a wonderful occasion for all involved.
The people of Venezuela are currently in the midst of the worst political, social, economic, and humanitarian crisis in the history of the country. In January of this year, MSC Missions Office Director FR Michael O’Connell visited MSC parishes in Maraciabo and Caracas, where Rev Luis and our Venezuelan MSC community are tireless in their efforts to bring support and relief to local families who are struggling in the current climate.
“At a time when the country is going through such a difficult period politically, socially and economically, it is a sign of great hope that a young man such as Luis commits himself to the service of the people of Venezuela with the deep desire to be for all a living, tangible presence of God’s heart for his people,” wrote Irish Provincial Leader Fr Carl Tranter MSC, on the occasion of Rev Luis’ ordination.
Vocations Director for the Irish Province, Fr Alan Neville MSC, also added his good wishes on the MSC Vocations Facebook page, posting: “Congratulations to Rev Luis Gonzalez MSC who was ordained a Deacon in Caracas, Venezuela, today. May the Lord bless your ministry, Luis, and always give you a big heart for his people, modelled after His own heart.”
We would like to add our congratulations, and send our very best wishes to Rev Luis from the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart!
Find out more about our missionary outreach in Venezuela
May 21, 2019
Fresh pens and pencils, piles of text books, note cards strewn about, and kettles boiling on repeat all over the country… It can mean only one thing – exam season is here!
Preparation for exams is a stressful time for students, and often, for their families too. With the pressure on to do their very best, facing into a timetable of questions, essays, and graphs is a daunting notion for even the hardiest young soul.
As the state exams approach, why not show a little bit of extra support for the special student in your life? Our exam cards are the perfect way to send encouragement to a hard-working student. Each card contains a lovely prayer for students, and includes remembrance in our annual Triduum of Masses for students sitting exams.
You are also very welcome to light a candle for exam success in our online gallery, or submit a prayer intention to be remembered by our MSC priests in the Sacred Heart parish on the Western Road in Cork. We will be glad to keep your intentions in our prayers.
During a time of heightened worries and anxieties, the gift of prayer offers peace, comfort, and a sense of support like no other. Let a special student know you’re thinking of them at this challenging time with the help of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
BROWSE OUR RANGE OF EXAM TRIDUUM CARDS
May 17, 2019
Welcome to the Summer 2019 edition of the MSC Message!
• Read a special summer greeting from Fr Michael O’Connell MSC, Director of the MSC Missions Office.
• Catch up with the latest news from the mission fields, with updates from our ongoing projects in South Africa and India.
• Find out about this year’s MSC pilgrimage to Lourdes.
• Read all about Fr Michael O’Connell’s visit to our MSC parishes in Venezuela.
• Enjoy updates from World Youth Day 2019 in Panama, where Fr Alan Neville MSC and the MSC Vocations Team celebrated earlier this year.
Read the MSC Message Summer 2019
