Dec 19, 2018
Dear Friends,
Another year has flown by! 2018 is almost at an end, and from international celebrations at the World Meeting of Families to my own adventure on the Camino walk, it has been a year to remember for many reasons.
Without doubt, these are challenging times for us all. From social and political turmoil, to devastation caused by natural disasters around the world, it can seem that every time we turn on the news, we hear of death and destruction. However, even in the depths of despair, hope remains, and thanks to the support of our great community of faith around the world, we have been able to continue to bring the gifts of hope, faith, and love to vulnerable families all over the world.
This summer, along with Pope Francis and hundreds of thousands of people around the world, we celebrated the love of the family, and at Christmas time, we reflect once again on the blessing of family – our own immediate families, and our extended families, made up of friends, neighbours, and brothers and sisters in Christ.
I often refer to you, our mission friends, as a family of faith, and together, we are part of a much bigger picture. I include our MSCs working in far-flung corners of the world, away from the embrace of home and hearth this Christmas season. I include the communities to which they minister, and the children who have been orphaned by illness or violence. I include those who are surrounded by loved ones, and those who may be spending the Christmas season alone. I include all who are struggling with challenges of different kinds. Love knows no bounds, and we are every one of us a loved and valued part of this great family of faith.
As another year begins to wind towards its end, I thank you for all that we have achieved together over the past months. Thanks to your friendship, the power of God’s mercy continues to be seen in all its glory around the world. Our strength comes from your kindness and we are truly grateful.
In the spirit of the season and on behalf of our MSC community around the world, I’d 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
Dec 19, 2018
MSC Christmas Raffle 2018
Prize Winners:
1st Prize: Shopping voucher to the value of €1,000
K. Taaffe
Shannon Harbour, Birr, Co. Offaly
2nd Prize: Twelve Days of Christmas Hamper to the value of €500
B. Flynn
Kilcormac, Co. Offaly
3rd Prize: Supreme Christmas Hamper to the value of €400
A. McAnearwney
Banbridge, Co. Down
4th Prize: Festive Feast Christmas to the value of €350
M. Doherty
Ardmore Road, Co. Derry
5th Prize: Christmas Carol Hamper to the value of €250
R. Kinsella
Coton Green, Tamworth, England
6th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper to the value of €150
D. Long
Thomond Gate, Limerick
7th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper to the value of €150
G. Potter
Abbeyknockmoy, Tuam, Co. Galway
8th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper to the value of €150
D. Cumane
Ballinlough, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon
9th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper to the value of €150
J. Murphy
Caim, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
10th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper to the value of €150
M. White
St John’s, Trim, Co. Meath
Special Members Sellers Prize: Christmas Carol Hamper to the value of €250
C. Wallace
Drumree, Co. Meath
This year’s Christmas Draw took place on Wednesday, December 19th 2018.
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 11, 2018
We recently received a lovely message from Bishop Clemens Pickel in Saratov, Russia, where the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart provided funding for the repair and transport of a local church organ.
At the end of November, parishioners of the church of Christ the King celebrated the 25th anniversary of the church’s consecration, along with the blessing of the newly repaired organ.
The Christ the King Church, located in the city of Marx, was the first Catholic church to be built in Russia following the fall of the USSR. Construction began in 1990 and took a total of three years to complete, and today, this is a welcoming space for locals to come to pray.
The MSC Russian Mission began in 1995, when three MSC priests from the Irish Province travelled to Russia to aid in the re-building of the Catholic Church following the state’s anti-religious campaign. Our missionaries helped to establish the solid foundations of spiritual community in Russia, and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart now provide support to the current organisations and lay leaders who continue the work begun by our MSCs over 20 years ago.
“We had a beautiful feast in Marx,” wrote Bishop Clemens Pickel, “where we celebrated 25 years since the consecration of the Christ the King Church and the blessing of the organ. Thank you to MSC Ireland!”
Thanks to the help of our mission friends in the Irish Province, the Christ the King community can enjoy music and celebration in their church once more as they embrace the religious freedom that was denied to the country for so long.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR GLOBAL MISSIONS
Dec 6, 2018
This Christmas, give the great gift of prayer with a Holy Family Entrustment Book from the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
Every year, we see piles of presents stack up under Christmas trees in homes across the country – and all too often, well-meant gifts are put aside and forgotten about in the excitement of the festive season, and are left to gather dust in the back of a cupboard or under a bed.
This year, why not give a gift that will last long after the crackers have been pulled and the decorations boxed away for another year? The Holy Family Entrustment Book is a wonderful way to remind loved ones they’re in your thoughts at Christmas, and throughout the year.
What is the Holy Family Entrustment Book?
The Holy Family Entrustment Book is a one-year enrolment in the Masses and prayers of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. The personalised prayer certificate is presented in a beautiful hand-crafted card with 3D embellishment. The specially designed eight-page card is filled with thoughtful prayers and reflections, and there is additional space for a personal message in each card.
What does a one-year enrolment involve?
Those enrolled in the Holy Family Entrustment Book are remembered in the Masses and prayers of our MSC priests for one year. This makes the Holy Family Entrustment a lovely and lasting gift to mark the festive season.
Can I enrol a friend or loved one in the Holy Family Entrustment Book for any occasion?
Enrolments in the Holy Family Entrustment Book are made for a variety of occasions, from remembrance of a loss to the celebration of a special life event.
Where can I get a Holy Family Entrustment Book?
Visit our Cards & Gifts section to order a personalised Holy Family Entrustment Book online. You can have your order delivered to your door, or we can send it directly to the person being enrolled. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us by email at info@mscmissions.ie, or by phone on +353 (0) 21 454 5704.
This year, the feast of the Holy Family takes place on Sunday, December 30th. At this special time of year, we come to the Holy Family with our prayers and intentions, our hopes for the year ahead, and our gratitude for the blessings of the year gone by. Our Holy Family Entrustment Book is the perfect gift to share Christmas tidings and New Year wishes with those you hold dear.
Prayer is one of the greatest gifts we can give to those we love.
You can also enrol your loved ones in the Golden Book of the Sacred Heart,
or the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Blue Book.
Dec 4, 2018
Great plans are in place for the community of Our Lady of Victory in Tsakane, South Africa.
Under the leadership of parish priest Fr Martin Morrissey MSC, the purchase of a new building for the community is in its final stages. This will then be developed into a church for the community, which currently numbers 60 and is growing steadily.
At the moment, parishioners gather together to pray in a small family garage. Space and facilities are very limited, but this doesn’t dampen their spirits! Irish Provincial Superior Fr Carl Tranter MSC was given a warm local welcome on his recent visit, and Fr Martin shared his enthusiasm for the new developments in the ongoing project.
“The people have been coming to pray here in a family garage,” says Fr Martin. “This new church won’t be the perfect thing, but it will be something of their own, and that will make all the difference.”
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are hard at work in Tsakane, a township near Johannesburg that was established in the 1960s. As is the case in many areas of South Africa, the population of Tsakane struggle with social and economic issues, with poverty being one of the main challenges faced in the region. “There’s a lot of poverty around,” says Fr Martin, “and we do our best to help wherever we can.” A feeding scheme at St Paul’s brings much-needed nourishment to local families, and our MSCs work alongside the Dominican Sisters in the area to bring practical aid and spiritual guidance to vulnerable families who have nowhere else to turn.
The new church will be a welcome boost to the community of Our Lady of Victory, and we look forward to following Fr Martin and his parishioners on their journey as they bring their plans to fruition.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Read more from Tsakane:
New beginnings at St Francis Xavier, Tsakane
Greetings from Tsakane, South Africa!
Nov 29, 2018
Christmas is the season of giving, and what better way to celebrate than with a gift that gives back to the people who need it most?
Our wonderful selection of Christmas keepsakes make the perfect gift for someone special – and by choosing one of our festive gifts, you’re supporting the life-saving work our missionaries are doing across the world. From the provision of emergency aid in disaster zones to the care of sick children who have nowhere else to turn, our MSCs work tirelessly to transform lives in areas of real need. By choosing one of our Christmas gifts, you’re giving vulnerable families and communities a real reason to celebrate this festive season.
Explore our range of festive cards and gifts and bring Christmas joy to your home…
Delicately crafted angel ornaments inscribed with messages of peace and inspiration will bring a seasonal warmth to any Christmas display.
A beautiful nativity scene captures the essence of the Christmas season, with a message of peace and goodwill illuminated by an LED light.
Our lovely nativity candle displays the traditional manger scene – and the LED flickering flame means that you can enjoy its warmth, year after year, without having it burn away.
You can also choose from a range of elegant silver-plated jewellery, and find the perfect Christmas Mass Bouquet Card to send seasonal greetings to loved ones at home and abroad.
Whether you’re choosing a festive ornament for your own home, or sending a seasonal surprise to brighten a loved one’s day, you’ll find the perfect Christmas keepsake in our range!
This Christmas, please consider giving a gift that makes a difference. Your goodwill is a gesture that reaches far beyond the holiday season, and gives real and lasting hope to those in need.
BROWSE OUR CHRISTMAS GIFT RANGE
