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
Nov 27, 2018
On Saturday, November 24th, the Sacred Heart Church in Cork was aglow with the light of hundreds of candles, each flame commemorating a beloved soul who is now with the Lord.
Since our first candlelight memorial service in 2014, the annual Light Up a Memory Mass has become a much-loved tradition to close the Month of the Holy Souls, and this year’s Mass was another wonderful occasion for all involved.
From 6.30pm on Saturday evening, the Sacred Heart Church was a beacon of welcoming warmth in the winter darkness, with each candle burning brightly in celebration of lives and the memories of those we will always hold dear. This year, Fr Michael O’Connell MSC, Director of the MSC Missions Office, was the main celebrant of the Mass, with sermon by parish priest Fr Tom Mulcahy MSC. With a beautiful musical accompaniment led by Gerry and Deirdre Tuohy, this was a very special evening of reflection and remembrance to mark the ending of the month of remembrance.
“The church looked stunning,” said one parishioner. “It was so warm, inviting, and very appropriate for the occasion. It was also lovely to see so many MSC priests concelebrating Mass. It brought back nice memories for me.”
A “poignant and meaningful” evening of remembrance
The Light Up a Memory Mass is an opportunity for families to come together in prayer and remembrance each November. Bereavement touches us all and the service is a lovely way for families to remember together. “My son was very impressed with the celebration,” said another Mass-goer on the night. “He was delighted to bring a candle to the altar.”
We were glad to welcome familiar faces of old friends on the night, and we also had many visitors who come specially to celebrate the service with us. “It was a beautiful Mass,” said one. “The altar looked amazing, and the atmosphere was lovely.”
“It was a lovely ceremony – even if I only came upon it by accident on the way home!” said another attendee on the night. “My dad passed away late last year, so this was very poignant and meaningful for us.”
We also welcomed viewers from all over the world on our live stream, as hundreds tuned in to watch the Mass live and take part in this beautiful memorial. “That was lovely,” said one online viewer. “I’m so glad I got it!”
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all who took part in this year’s Light Up a Memory celebrations, in the Sacred Heart Church and beyond. It was a truly special evening of reflection and remembrance for all involved.
Nov 21, 2018
Welcome to the Winter edition of the MSC Message!
• Read all about MSC Missions at the World Meeting of Families 2018.
• Catch up with the latest news from the mission fields, with updates from our ongoing projects in South Africa and the Philippines.
• Find out about this year’s Jubilee celebrations in the Irish Province.
• Read a special winter message from Fr Michael O’Connell MSC, Director of the MSC Missions Office.
• Walk the Camino de Santiago with Fr Alan Neville MSC and the MSC Vocations Team.
Reads the MSC Message Winter 2018
