Mar 11, 2019
Sincere congratulations are in order as Sr Orla Treacy IBVM has received the International Woman of Courage Award 2019, having been nominated by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See.
The awards ceremony took place in Washington D.C. on March 7th, with ten women in total being honoured. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hosted the ceremony, while First Lady Melania Trump addressed those in attendance.
According to the official website, the International Woman of Courage Award “recognizes women around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment, often at great personal risk and sacrifice”. Sr Orla’s work in education and healthcare in war-torn South Sudan has made her a truly worthy nominee.
The official website gives a short biography highlighting Sr Orla’s work:
“Born in Ireland in 1973, Sister Orla Treacy was, at a young age, inspired by the lives of service and compassion of her teachers who were religious sisters. After studying to become a teacher of religion, she joined the congregation of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM), known as the Loreto Sisters. In 2006, while teaching and offering pastoral care in Ireland, Sister Orla joined other Loreto Sisters who were starting a new mission in Rumbek, South Sudan–an area besieged by civil war and violent inter-clan conflict. Touched by the plight of girls who were being forced into early marriage and denied the right to an education, she took action. Sister Orla and the Loreto Sisters started a girls-only boarding school with 35 students. Today, Sister Orla serves as the head administrator of the Loreto Rumbek Mission in Maker Kuei, overseeing a boarding secondary school for girls, a co-educational primary school, and a women and child-centric primary healthcare facility. Sister Orla is a part of a diverse multinational team of religious sisters, educators, nurses, and other support staff, who all share a vision for improving the lives of the most vulnerable in the community. Despite the devastating consequences of war in Rumbek, and the many barriers to women and girls in the community, Sister Orla remains filled with hope, and the Loreto Schools stand as a beacon of light for future South Sudanese generations. She continues to work in faith, striving for a world in which girls are not forced into marriage, are allowed to complete their education, and can pursue their dreams.”
“This award belongs to the young women of South Sudan with whom I have the privilege of working.”
In November 2017, Sr Orla was awarded the Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian Award, and this year’s nomination for the International Woman of Courage Award is yet further recognition of her tireless work with vulnerable families in Maker Kuei.
The Loreto Rumbek website recounts Sr Orla’s thoughts on receiving the International Women of Courage award: “This award belongs to the young women of South Sudan with whom I have the privilege of working. Our students embody all that is courageous – they are young women of vision, strength and hope. Young women who dream of a better country for themselves and their families, who are prepared to challenge old structures and work towards making South Sudan great. I am grateful to all who have made this possible.
Our work in South Sudan is not possible without the ongoing support of our partners, our wider Loreto family, past pupils, students, staff and our local community in Rumbek. Our Church leaders, community leaders and local government leaders have all played a significant role in supporting our mission.
Today, I was very aware of our girls as I was receiving the award. I pray that I am paving the way for them. My hope and dream is to see one of them with this award in the future.”
Working together for a brighter future
Since the summer of 2017, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have been working together with Sr Orla and the Loreto community of Rumbek, South Sudan, to provide financial support for the tremendous work being done in education and health care there.
On a visit to the MSC Missions Office in Cork, Sr Orla extended her gratitude to the MSC community for their support. “It is unique for one congregation to financially support another one, so this contribution to our work in Rumbek is extremely generous,” she said. “Sincere thanks for your generosity and for your willingness to collaborate in helping us with this challenging yet worthwhile mission.”
We are proud to support Sr Orla and the wonderful work of the Loreto Rumbek community, and we are sending our very best wishes on this great achievement!
Read RTE’s 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
Mar 5, 2019
Abraham Palpialy is a student at Siwa Lima St Joseph’s Technical School in Langgur, Indonesia. Built in 1970, the school is run by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart with the aim of educating young people in the region so “they can do something good for themselves and for their families”. In a region where poverty is a pressing issue, St Joseph’s provides the youth of the community with hope for the future. Here is Abraham’s story:
“My name is Abraham Palpialy and I am 16 years old.
My father is a farmer. He had a great desire for his children to attend St Joseph’s Technical School because, for him, this school is the most effective one and is exactly what he wants for his children. When I am finished my studies, I can do something useful at once, as my qualifications will facilitate me to get a new job.
I wish to become a creative technician. If I am a qualified technician, I will be able to get a good job and make my family and my teachers proud of me.
I chose to study electricity. I already have skills and a good capability in the department of electricity, and I am sure that when I finish my studies, I will be able to get a new job at once. This is my great wish.
In addition, I must learn to be responsible, trustworthy, to have self-discipline, and to respect my teachers and my fellow students.
Above all, I would like to express my great thanks to St Joseph’s and all the teachers who help me to develop my knowledge, my skills, and my abilities. For me, St Joseph’s is the best school in the province. Viva St Josephs Siwa Lima!”
PLEASE HELP US TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN INDONESIA
Feb 26, 2019
“A mother holds her children’s hands for a short time, but she holds their hearts forever.”
So the saying goes, and never are we reminded of this more than on Mother’s Day, when we celebrate the wonderful women who raised us. Whether we see them every day, talk on the phone every week, or hold their memory dear, Mother’s Day is a time to stop and remember a love like no other.
This year, we celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, March 31st
– and you can make it a day to remember with a thoughtful gift from our Mother’s Day range.
Our special Mother’s Day candle features a poem to celebrate a beloved mother, and is a gift to treasure throughout the year.
Elegant angel statues inscribed with affectionate messages are the perfect way to show you care.
The traditional Madonna and Child image honours maternal love in its purest form. With a white resin holy water font and a hand-painted statue to choose from, these are timeless gifts to celebrate a mother’s love.
Our beautifully designed Mother’s Day cards all include a thoughtful Prayer for my Mother, and each one includes remembrance in a special Triduum of Masses, which will take place this year from Saturday, March 30th to Monday, April 1st at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road in Cork. This is an especially lovely way to remember mothers who are no longer with us, and who memories are carried in our hearts always.
Of course, when you choose from our range of Mother’s Day cards and gifts, you’re not just making a special gesture for your mother, but you’re also reaching out to help mothers and their families all over the world. Your support helps us to continue bringing the gift of hope to families and communities in need across the globe. 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.
BROWSE OUR MOTHER’S DAY RANGE
Feb 19, 2019
With climate change becoming a growing concern in today’s world, Cardinal John Ribat MSC, Archbishop of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, has spoken out about the vital importance of awareness and action.
French Provincial Leader Fr Daniel Auguié MSC spoke with Cardinal Ribat in Port Moresby recently, and the interview was published in the French provincial bulletin Entre Nous.
“I think it’s right, good, and necessary for someone to take those issues and bring them to the governments here and around the world,” says Cardinal Ribat. “And what I defend most vigorously is the hierarchy of considerations. In this part of the world, we live in islands, archipelagos, and we are the first concerned by the rise of the sea level, and the global warming of the planet.”
“This is a gigantic problem. It will affect us all.”
“By 2050, many islands will be gone,” he continues. “Papua New Guinea is already seeking shelter for the islanders who will be affected in the next few years. I recently visited two of our islands, including Andra. They are building dikes. This island has about 700 inhabitants. The living space diminish visibly. They showed me how far their island was before. A huge part is already submerged. We went around the island on foot in twenty minutes. The question is simple: what will we do when this island is completely gone?”
This is a real concern for local families whose homeland is quite literally disappearing before their eyes. “Currently, most locals say they will ask relatives or relatives who live in this or that island to welcome them,” says the Cardinal. “But we know that this is not the solution because these other islands will disappear too. This is a gigantic problem, because global warming will not spare any archipelago, no island. It will affect us all.”
The effects of climate change on a national scale in Papua New Guinea are very clearly representative of a much larger concern on a global scale. “This first question posed by the observation of the effects of global warming brings another question as to its causes,” Cardinal Ribat explains. “When we talk to people in the islands, they ask us, ‘Why does this happen? There was nothing to let us foresee …’ Some of them now hear and understand that this is actually the result of gas emissions throughout the planet, and in particular from industrialised countries. The people of the Pacific are coming together today to demand the removal of greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere and a change in lifestyle around the world.”
“We are urged by Pope Francis to hear not only the cry of the poor, but also the cry of the earth.”
Writing for the Spring 2019 JPIC Chevalier Family bulletin, Fr André Claessens MSC emphasises the necessity for increased awareness and conscious change. “Climate change asks for huge investments,” he writes, “but it also generates profits and it will benefit future generations. Climate-related disasters caused about 300 billion euros worth of damage in 2017, and the WHO calculated that in Europe alone, pollution costs more than 1.6 trillion dollars every year. Two hundred species are in danger of becoming extinct. Greta Thunberg said it clearly: ‘We have all the facts and solutions. All we have to do is to wake up and change’.”
As we consider how we can contribute to positive change, Fr Claessens sums it up in a nutshell: “We are urged by Pope Francis to hear not only the cry of the poor, but also the cry of the earth. We have had thirty years of pep-talks… Now action and only action will give hope!”
Feb 13, 2019
In the summer of 2018, we reached out to our mission friends to support our MSCs and local parishes in Kerala, India, where the worst flooding in almost a century caused untold devastation. Heavy rainfall wreaked havoc across the state, and the MSC Kerala House suffered from severe water damage.
Fr Richard Suresh MSC has been in touch from Kerala to update us on the ongoing repair work in the Sacred Heart Seminary in Kanjoor. “Painting work, roofing work, and pathway repair has been going on,” he writes. “It is very difficult to get workers in Kerala, as there are many, many houses that need workers to carry out repairs. We have not yet been able to finish the repairs as we had planned, due to the lack of workers available, but we are still working on it.”
The flooding hit Kerala in August 2018, killing hundreds and forcing millions to flee from their homes. Cars, livestock, homes, and businesses were washed away in the deluge.
The Sacred Heart Seminary in Kerala was severely affected due to its close proximity to the River Periyar, and is currently undergoing the repairs outlined by Fr Richard. At the seminary, MSC students journey together on the path to priesthood, and the house serves as a local foundation for parish outreach and ministry. The repair works are essential to ensure the safety and security of the MSC community in Kerala, allowing them to continue their vital work in aiding local families who have suffered terrible losses in the floods.
“Thank you for all your support, concern, and love towards our Indian MSC community,” writes Fr Richard. “Please keep us in your prayers, and we assure you that you are in our prayers also.”
PLEASE HELP OUR MSCS IN KERALA
Read more about the damage caused by the Kerala floods
in a letter from Indian Union Secretary Fr Syam Kumar MSC.
Feb 7, 2019
Every three years, young Catholics from all over the world gather together to celebrate World Youth Day – and this year, Panama was lit up in the spirit of faith, prayer, and an overwhelming joy.
Fr Alan Neville and the MSC Vocations team travelled to Panama to join this year’s celebrations, and even the intense heat and early starts couldn’t dampen their enthusiasm!
A 2.30am start for their flight to Panama on January 18th was no deterrent to these early birds, and on the first day of the event, they met with fellow pilgrims from Venezuela, Poland, and the USA.
This was the perfect chance to explore Panama City, and Day 2 offered the opportunity to visit the BioMuseo, where our MSC team met with a group of pilgrims from Guatemala along the way.
January 22nd marked the official opening of World Youth Day 2019, and what an event it was! Prayer, music, good food, and new friends made for a day to remember in the Panama sunshine.
A morning of catechesis with Bishop Edward Burns, from Dallas, Texas, proved powerful for our MSC group. “Bishop Ed spoke about the joy he encounters in living his vocation,” says Fr Alan as he recalls the bishop’s words: “To say ‘Yes!’ to the Lord is to enter into the mystery of God’s love for us.”
January 26th saw the MSC team join pilgrims from over 140 countries at the St John Paul II Park for the Vigil Mass, while the following day demanded a 5.00am alarm clock ahead of the Papal Mass at 8.10am.
Fr Alan was up with the lark and ready to go! “I’ve got the gúna (it’s Irish – you might need to Google it),” he posted on the MSC Vocations Facebook page, “and we’re good to go.”
In a beautiful Mass, Pope Francis spoke of the necessity of building bridges rather than walls, and said that although the celebrations were coming to an end, the fruit of World Youth Day continues in parish and communities around the world as pilgrims make their way home. Cardinal Farrell also announced that plans for the next World Youth Day celebrations are already well underway, due to take place in Lisbon in 2022.
January 29th brought Fr Alan and our MSC group back to home soil. “What an amazing week and a fantastic group,” wrote Fr Alan. “Thanks Panama – you were amazing. Roll on World Youth Day in Lisbon 2022!”
If you’d like to read more about World Youth Day celebrations in past years,
take a look at these posts from Rio de Janeiro in 2013 and Krakow in 2016.
World Youth Day 2013 – Celebrating Faith With Millions
World Youth Day 2016 – The Road to Krakow
World Youth Day 2016 – The Gathering
