Aug 27, 2018
After a whirlwind week of WMOF celebrations in Dublin, this weekend’s Papal visit was the crowning glory on a truly wonderful occasion.
Saturday’s Festival of Families was a triumph, featuring a joyous, vibrant programme of music, song, and prayer. “One of the most significant and beautiful events within every World Meeting of Families is the Festival of Families, a very special concert-type event which, at its heart, celebrates families and their faith from all around the world”, says the official WMOF website, and Saturday’s event did not disappoint.
Pope Francis was an enthusiastic participant, overseeing performances with a smile and embracing all he met with his customary warmth. Merging charming Irish tradition with dazzling performances representing different cultures from all over the globe, the evening’s programme featured “community-based artists as well as some well-known local and international artists, joined by an orchestra of over 50 musicians; over 700 Irish, sean nós and contemporary dancers, including 500 from Irish dance schools across the country; a 1,000 strong choir; 100 community groups; and 300 flag bearers” – a feast for the eyes and the ears in every way!
The week’s events brought families flocking to Dublin from across the globe. “We met families from Indonesia, Paraguay, Taiwan, and Brazil, among many others,” says Fr Alan Neville MSC, who attended the celebrations throughout the week. “The energy there was amazing.”
The Festival of Families also addressed the challenges faced by families in today’s society with a heartfelt poignancy. “Throughout the Festival of Families, we looked at the challenges faced by families,” Fr Alan says. “There were powerful testimonies from families from Iraq, Canada, Burkina Faso, and Ireland.”
As highlighted by the WMOF website, these family testimonies focused on “how their families have sustained and nourished them with hope and love through the most challenging and momentous times of their lives. Their testimonies focus on forgiveness, strength, and hope in family life; the intergenerational nature of families today; and the impact of technology on family life.” The overriding message is one of unity, hope, and, above all, love.
Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is hope. Amen.
On Sunday, Fr Alan attended the Papal Mass in Phoenix Park, braving the bad weather with hundreds of thousands of worshippers from all over the world. Checking in on the MSC Vocations Facebook page, Fr Alan posted: “Sunday Mass with a couple of hundred thousand people. You know, as you do! The Pope has arrived and it’s incredible.”
“Incredible” is the only word to sum up a very special weekend indeed. Ireland has been a proud host to the 2018 World Meeting of Families, and everybody involved has done a tremendous job in making the entire week one to remember. Fr Alan says it in a nutshell:
“This whole week has been about celebrating the Church with one another, old friends and new, and with the Pope. It has been wonderful.”
Read more about Fr Alan’s time at WMOF 2018 here.
Visit Shalom World TV to watch video coverage from the week’s events.
Catch up on the best of WMOF 2018 on our Facebook and Twitter pages:
Visit MSC Missions on Facebook and Twitter
Visit MSC Vocations on Facebook and Twitter
Aug 24, 2018
Festivities for this year’s World Meeting of Families kicked off on Tuesday, August 21st – and our Vocations Director, Fr Alan Neville MSC, has been at the heart of the action all week long!
Preparations began in earnest on Sunday, as Fr Alan joined Maura, Cini, and the Shalom World TV team in Knock. Fr Alan has joined forces with Shalom World TV for WMOF 2018 and will be covering the celebrations throughout the week. Visit Shalom World TV on Youtube for the full list of video coverage, including family interviews and daily round-ups of WMOF events.
The opening ceremony on Tuesday evening was a wonderful event, with one of the highlights being Pope Francis’ video link. The Holy Father expressed his enthusiasm for his visit to Irish shores, heralding the beginning of a truly special week for Ireland and for the Catholic Church.
Fr Alan also walked the Vocations Ireland Pilgrimage of Peace on Thursday evening. Pilgrims came together to cross Dublin, and were addressed by Sr Stan, founder of Focus Ireland, and Fr Peter McVerry, founder of the Peter McVerry Trust.
Friday holds a wealth of compelling discussion panels, as excitement mounts ahead of the Papal visit on Saturday and Sunday. Stay tuned to MSC Missions and MSC Vocations on Facebook and Twitter for live updates from WMOF 2018 throughout the weekend!
Visit MSC Missions on Facebook and Twitter
Visit MSC Vocations on Facebook and Twitter
Commemorate World Meeting of Families 2018 by enrolling your loved ones in our Holy Family Entrustment Book – the perfect keepsake from this historic occasion!
Aug 21, 2018
Congratulations to the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines, who were recently awarded Social Welfare and Development Agencies Certification from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Manila “in recognition of their efforts to contribute to the uplifting of the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged sectors of society”.
This certification means that the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines is now authorised by the government to operate as a Civil Society Organisation, as our MSC brothers continue in their work to bring aid to communities in need.
A spokesperson for the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines said, “This is a great achievement of the office to be able to continuously help and serve the poor, disadvantaged, and marginalised sectors in society”.
Well done to all involved, and we wish you every blessing as you continue your great work in the Philippines!
For the latest updates from the MSC Missions in the Philippines, please visit their Facebook page.
PLEASE HELP US TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES
Aug 14, 2018
Commemorate Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families 2018 with a beautiful Holy Family Entrustment Book from MSC Missions.
The WMOF festivities will commence on Tuesday, August 21st, as Ireland prepares to welcome Pope Francis to our shores for the first papal visit in almost 40 years. The World Meeting of Families is a major international event which is held every three years, with the aim of bringing together families from all over the world in a joyful celebration of marriage and the family as the bedrock of everything we do, as individuals, as a Church, and as a society.
Commemorate this great celebration of family love by enrolling your loved ones in our Holy Family Entrustment Book, a one-year enrolment in the Masses and prayers of our MSCs. The Holy Family Entrustment Book features a personalised prayer certificate presented in a beautiful hand-crafted card, while the specially designed eight-page booklet is filled with thoughtful prayers and reflections.
As thousands of people gather from across Ireland and all over the world to take part in the celebrations during the six-day event, we invite you to mark the occasion in a truly special way by enrolling those dear to you in our Holy Family Entrustment. Not only will you have a beautiful keepsake of this momentous event, but your donation will also bring hope and joy to families in need on our MSC mission projects around the world.
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.
Jul 31, 2018
This summer, the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are raising funds to help the Sacred Heart College in Cameroon, where students gather every day in classrooms that are still under construction. For most of these students, poverty and hardship mean life is a daily struggle, and education is their only hope for the future. Here, the students share their stories, telling us what the Sacred Heart College means to them.
“My name is Michel. I am 17 years old and a student in Form 4 at the Sacred Heart Bilingual College of Lada II.
My mother died when I was 10 years old, and my father became dependent on alcohol.
Because of this, I left school for 3 years, and I worked on building sites to earn money. However, it was not enough to pay my school fees and cover my basic needs. During these 3 years of hard labour, I was able to save enough to start a small business. I now sell cloths in the evenings, and during weekends and holidays. I thank God for the good he has done for me, and I now wish to get my education so I can help my father and my family.”
This summer, we’re working to provide a safe, comfortable space for students like Michel to learn and grow. If you can, please help us to build a brighter future for the Sacred Heart community.
PLEASE HELP US TO CHANGE LIVES IN CAMEROON
Jul 27, 2018
This summer, the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are raising funds to help the Sacred Heart College in Cameroon, where students gather every day in classrooms that are still under construction. For most of these students, poverty and hardship mean life is a daily struggle, and education is their only hope for the future. Here, the students share their stories, telling us what the Sacred Heart College means to them.
“My name is Justin. I am 12 years old and a student in Form 1 at the Sacred Heart Bilingual College of Lada II.
I started school when I was six years old. It’s thanks to God that I can go to school and survive, because my home life is very difficult.
I get up at 4.00am every day, and after school I go to the market to earn money by helping people with their shopping.
My mother produces and sells cassava sausage. With my money and my mother’s, we can earn a living and I can continue to go to school.
Despite these harsh conditions, we still survive, thanks to God.”
This summer, we’re working to provide a safe, comfortable space for students like Justin to learn and grow. If you can, please help us to build a brighter future for the Sacred Heart community.
PLEASE HELP US TO CHANGE LIVES IN CAMEROON
