Jan 16, 2020
“The invitation is open to all, so what’s keeping you?”
As we begin to settle into the rhythms and routines of 2020, we look ahead to a year full of potential, with new opportunities just waiting to be discovered. Many of us will decide that this will be the year to do something different – and what better way to embrace the spirit of faith, hope, and love than by joining us on one of our 2020 MSC pilgrimages? This year, we will be going on pilgrimage to Fatima in May/June, and to Lourdes in September.
Every year, people travel with us on pilgrimage for different reasons. Some may be struggling with illness, grief, stress, or other personal challenges. Other wish to take part in a traditional pilgrimage journey with like-minded travellers, sharing stories, experiences, and reflections on life. Many wish to simply pray, reflect, and offer thanksgiving for their blessings.
The experience of pilgrimage is different for every individual; the major common denominator, however, is joy, and an awareness of something bigger, of something more. A sense of something special comes into being on a pilgrimage; the Holy Spirit moves amongst those making the journey, while strangers become friends and unite in the solidarity of faith. Community spirit comes out in force – no matter where you may find yourself in the world, the message of God’s love overcomes all cultural barriers in a true celebration of faith, togetherness, and intimacy with God.
“A powerful, life-changing experience.”
Historically, pilgrims would leave their homes, their families, and all of their creature comforts, embarking on journeys that could stretch to hundreds of miles with nothing but what they could carry on their backs. Today, the circumstances of pilgrimage may be less extreme, but they are nonetheless powerful for it, and modern-day pilgrims continue to leave their homes and their daily comforts behind in the quest for spiritual fulfillment.
“Pilgrimage is about freedom,” says Fr Alan Neville MSC. “It’s about walking to the horizon – and when you get there, you keep on going. It’s about taking part in something that is at the same time enjoyable and profound. I’ve yet to meet one person who regretted making the trip. For every one of them it has been a powerful, even life-changing experience. The invitation is open to all, so what’s keeping you?”
If you’d like to find out more about the pilgrimage experience, you are welcome to read all about our 2019 pilgrimages to Fatima and Lourdes. All are welcome to take the first steps towards another wonderful pilgrimage journey with us over the coming months, and make 2020 a year to remember.
******This year’s Pilgrimages have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic we hope to resume in 2021.******
Read more about our MSC Pilgrimages
Jan 9, 2020
Members of the MSC Mission Office in the Philippines recently paid a visit to the students at an MSC-run educational programme in Saints Peter and Paul Parish Learning Centre, in Tubod, Surigao del Norte.
For the past two years, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in the Philippines have been supporting the programme, which provides educational assistance to children who have difficulty in continuing their studies because they and their families live in circumstances of severe poverty and hardship. The Philippine Province of the MSC provide financial support for their tuition fees, plus the necessary books for their studies, through this programme. “These children are very willing to study, but their parents are financially incapacitated,” say the MSC Mission Office in the Philippines. A total of 21 children are currently taking part in the programme – children who are all too pleased with the opportunity to be able to continue their studies, but who would not be able to without the help and financial assistance of the MSC Mission Office and the mission friends around the world who support our work.
The team at the learning centre include Mrs Norma Porcil, who is principal of the school. A retired teacher, she now works voluntarily to take care of the school and its students. The project manager of the programme is Mr Boni Dano, who is also the coordinator of the Chevalier Family Lay Associates in Tubod. He also volunteers his services in making sure the programme runs smoothly and benefits the children involved as much as possible. Finally, Fr Sansin Ebuna MSC is leader of the MSC Mission Office in the Philippines, and has been instrumental in ensuring the success of the programme for children who are in great need of help in order to be able to hope for a more positive future.
We send our best wishes and blessings to everyone involved in this wonderful project, as we continue to work together all over the world to make a difference where it is most needed.
Images via the MSC Mission Office Philippines, Inc. on Facebook
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Jan 2, 2020
November was a busy time for the MSC mission in Mozambique, where the celebrations of Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation took place throughout the month.
Early November saw Confirmations taking place in the community of Our Lady of Fatima in Meluco. The MSC Mozambique Facebook page described it as a “beautiful” day, and the accompanying photographs give us a glimpse into a very special celebration of faith.
Just over a week later, the community of St Augustine in Muaguide celebrated the sacraments of Baptism and First Holy Communion. Again, this was an exceptionally blessed day for all involved. “This is a time of grace and blessings from God,” said the MSC Mozambique Facebook page.
It is a truly great thing to see communities across our MSC Mozambique mission marking these joyous occasions, particularly as recovery from the devastation caused by two cyclones earlier this year is still ongoing. The strength, resilience, and spirit demonstrated by local communities is an inspiration to behold, and while the journey to recovery is a long and arduous one, moments such as these provide much-needed encouragement and motivation to all involved in the mission.
Blessings to all who received the sacraments, and to the families, communities, and MSCs who joined them in celebration!
Images via the MSC Mozambique Facebook page.
Dec 28, 2019
Br Giacomo (Centre) with Fr. Alan and Br Jaime at World Youth Day in Poland
A Hole in Your Heart
I thought to share with you the story of my vocation. My vocation began in my heart. A hole in my heart. Maybe you heard Pascal’s intuition of a God-shaped hole in the heart of each human being that only God can fill it. Or more likely Saint Augustine’s saying that “our heart is restless, until it rests in You” (Confessions I.1). But surely you heard Christ saying “those who drink of the water I will give them will never be thirsty” (Jn 4:14).
My vocation, as each vocation, begins with a longing for God, a thirst that only God can quench. My vocation began in my family, with my parents and my grandparents, as well as friends in San Bernardino’s parish in Urbino, the Franciscan friars, I could name them all! I grew up blessed in my blessed family.
But the bliss of the perfect family had to finish. God wanted to strengthen me; I suppose. When I was about sixteen and my parents decided to split. I remember it as extremely painful, the most painful moment in my life. And that hole in my heart went deeper and my thirst for love became bigger. I started looking for things and people to fill it. I was so needy of love that relationships became almost an obsession. And some people instead of helping me, took advantage of my vulnerability. That of course did not help much. And I nearly completely lost trust in people…and in God! However, no matter how hard I looked nobody and not a thing in the world was able to fill the void. Unfortunately, at that time, nobody told me that God is Love.
Br. Giacomo with his fellow novices at Flame 3 Catholic Youth Festival in Wembley
‘Doing a Jonah’
Meanwhile, I remember one day, I was twenty more or less, sitting on the steps outside San Francesco’s Church in Urbino with a person I loved most in life, and still do, I saw a group of young friars walking down the street, they looked so full of joy that I said “I think it would be cool to be a friar”. She looked at me bewildered “are you serious?” (more…)
Dec 19, 2019
MSC Christmas Raffle 2019
Prize Winners:
1st Prize: Shopping voucher to the value of €1,000
J. & J. Cassidy
Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
2nd Prize: Festive Feast Hamper
O. McGahon
Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan
3rd Prize: Supreme Christmas Hamper
J. Dunne
Dundalk, Co. Louth
4th Prize: Festive Celebration Christmas Hamper
S. Coakley
Frankfield, Cork
5th Prize: Christmas Pantry Hamper
N. Carmody
Tarbert, Co. Kerry
6th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper
C. Commane
Ennistymon, Co. Clare
7th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper
J. Noonan
Tralee, Co. Kerry
8th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper
S. Donnelly
Lucan, Co. Dublin
9th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper
E. Fogarty
Newtown, Co. Kildare
10th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper
P. Gilbert
Killmallock, Co. Limerick
Special Seller’s Prize: Christmas Pantry Hamper
K. McEvoy
Portlaoise, Co. Laois
This year’s Christmas Draw took place on Thursday, December 19th 2019.
We would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone for taking part.
Click here to read a special Christmas message from Fr Michael
Dec 19, 2019
Dear Friends,
As we prepare to bid farewell to another year, I wanted to take a moment to pause in reflection and gratitude for the blessings that 2019 brought, and of course, for your friendship to our missionaries.
2019 has been another year to remember. Beginning with my visit to Venezuela in January, we have continued to keep track of the progress of our missions all over the world, from Mozambique to the Philippines and beyond. As we are all too often faced with bleak news of death, disaster, and destruction, it truly is a breath of fresh air to see our mission family joining together to do something that is nothing short of astonishing in its power. Together, we are a force to be reckoned with, and thanks to our great community of faith, I look to 2020 with a hopeful and grateful heart. With your continued support, we will make it another year of positive change.
Each and every time you send one of our Mass cards, support an appeal, or join us in a special celebration, you are a vital part of a far bigger picture. What may seem like a small gesture, completed from the comfort of your own home, has a tremendously far-reaching effect, touching the hearts of MSCs and the communities they serve in towns and villages far across the world, surviving in conditions we can’t even begin to imagine. From orphaned children to elderly people who are faced with the abyss of poverty and loneliness, you are a friend to those who live with hopelessness, fear, and despair.
On behalf of our extended Sacred Heart family, you have my heartfelt thanks for your generosity in reaching out to those in need, though they may be a world away. You and your loved ones are not only in my prayers this Christmas season, but in the prayers of our MSCs everywhere. We remember all those in our great family of faith – those who are surrounded by the warmth of family this festive season, and those who may be struggling with personal challenges of different kinds. We remember those who may find Christmas difficult, and those who sacrifice the home comforts of Christmas to help others. As I have said before, love knows no bounds, and we are every one of us a loved and valued part of this great family of faith.
In the spirit of the season and on behalf of our MSC community around the world, I would like to extend my warmest wishes for a joyful Christmas, and I pray that the coming year will bring you and yours an abundance of peace, happiness, and blessings.
Wishing you and yours a happy and holy Christmas,
Fr Michael O’Connell MSC
Click here to view the winners of our 2019 Christmas Raffle
