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
Jul 24, 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 Elie. I am 11 years old and a student in Form I at the Sacred Heart Bilingual College of Lada II. During the week, I get up at 5.00am and I prepare myself for school. I live 2km away from the college and I have to leave early in order to arrive on time, which is not always easy.
I have no breakfast and I often have no money to buy lunch. The road is dusty during the dry season and muddy during the rainy season.
I come back from school around 4.30pm, but I don’t have dinner until around 10.00pm. My mother doesn’t live with us anymore and my sister has to come back from school also before cooking. My father is a tailor and he does not have a lot of money. I thank God that I am able to get my education at the Sacred Heart College.”
This summer, we’re working to provide a safe, comfortable space for students like Elie 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 19, 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 Athanase. I am 15 years old and a student in Form 2 at the Sacred Heart Bilingual College of Lada II. I walk a distance of 2km every day to reach the college.
In order to make money, I sell bananas and groundnuts after school, and during the weekends and holidays. My parents are not working but my father is a bricklayer – sometimes he has work, and sometimes he has nothing, which becomes very difficult both at home and at school.
I thank God for sending me the Sacred Heart College, because even though I missed paying my fees, they permitted me to still attend class.
I’m doing my best.”
This summer, we’re working to provide a safe, comfortable space for students like Athanese 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 17, 2018
We were delighted to receive these wonderful pictures from Fr Alan Neville MSC, taken on his recent trip to the parish of St Paul the Apostle in Tsakane, Gauteng. Fr Alan paid a visit to Fr Martin Morrissey MSC, parish priest, and joined the lively and enthusiastic community of St Paul’s parish for Mass during his stay.
Tsakane is a township located outside Johannesburg, and, as is the case in many parts of South Africa, much of the population faces significant social and economic struggles. The community of St Paul’s parish, however, is a vibrant one, who find great joy and unity in their faith despite the daily challenges they face.
“Everyone is welcome at St Paul’s,” reads the church information. “Come just as you are – we’d love to get to know you better.” This warm, inclusive nature was demonstrated clearly as parishioners welcomed Fr Alan with open arms!
We’re sending our very best to the community of St Paul’s, and we wish Fr Martin continued success in his ministry there.
Jul 10, 2018
In early 2017, the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart assisted in the launch of a new Sewing Livelihood Programme in Pinugay, in the Philippines. Over the past number of years, the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines has been reaching out to respond to the urgent needs of families and communities around the country, in a mission to teach people new skills, to alleviate poverty, and to help communities to become self-sufficient and sustainable.
With the help of financial aid from mission friends in the Irish Province, the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines were able to launch the MSC Sewing Livelihood Programme in the KKSV9 district, Pinugay, in February 2017. The KKSV9 district is a resettlement area for families who have been displaced from their homes, and poverty is a very serious issue here. Many families struggle with unemployment, hunger, and illness, and the skills offered by the Sewing Livelihood Programme have been a lifeline for those who had nowhere else to turn.
Tools for a brighter future
Armed with fifteen sets of sewing machines, and the members of the KKSV9 community worked together to set up their local sewing station. The programme began with four mothers, who were trained in operating the sewing machinery, and there are now fourteen women working in sewing and tailoring, with regular clients placing orders with them.
The success of the Sewing Livelihood Programme led to the development of a new project, and in June 2017, a Life Sharing Programme was established, focusing on the spiritual growth of the community. The group meets every Saturday for spiritual formation, with the aim of growing in harmony as individuals and a community.
“On behalf of the KKSV9 community, we would like to thank all of our mission friends in the Irish Province,” says Jahms Morga of the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines. “You have all been instrumental in making this life-changing programme accessible to the people of the Pinugay Resettlement Area in Baras, Rizal.”
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in the Philippines continue to work with the locals of Pinugay to foster security, self-sufficiency, and community spirit. With the help of the Irish Province, the MSC in the Philippines have also been able to launch a local consumer store and a beekeeping project, giving local people the tools to build a positive future for their families and for generations to come.
For the latest updates from the MSC Missions in the Philippines, please visit their Facebook page.
PLEASE HELP US TO CHANGE LIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES
