Jul 31, 2017
Throughout the month of June 2017, the MSC community in Venezuela have joined together in celebration of 50 years of MSC ministry in the region. Since 1967, when four Irish Missionaries of the Sacred Heart began the first MSC mission in Maracaibo, our missionaries have been working to bring hope to local people struggling with extreme poverty and hardship.
On June 10th, 2017, parishioners and MSCs alike gathered to mark the Golden Jubilee of our Venezuelan mission in the parish of Nuestra Senora De La Paz La Victoria. Here, local parishioners were joined by Fr Joseph McGee MSC, members of the MSC community from near and far, and well-wishers from all over the city of Maracaibo.
In his homily, which reflected on the mystery of God as it is revealed in the Trinity, Archbishop Ubaldo Santana quoted from Pope Benedict’s writings on Christian hope, Spe Salvi.
“Our encounter with God who in Christ has shown us his face and opened his heart must be, for us too, not just informative but performative,” said Archbishop Santana. In essence, this encounter with Jesus must change our lives so that we know we are redeemed. We are invited into a personal relationship with God, Father, Son, and Spirit – the God who has opened his heart to us in Christ.
Embracing the mission of MSC founder Fr Jules Chevalier
This thought is very close to the spirituality of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, who have worked in the diocese for the past 50 years. The Archbishop acknowledged the great efforts that have been made by the MSC over the years – efforts that have required a significant investment of time and financial resources, incorporating the building of churches, educational facilities, and medical centres. In all of these places, reflected the Archbishop, local people have been able to find healing, peace, and dignity as children of God. Giving thanks to the community of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, the Archbishop recognised the dedication and perseverance of Irish MSCs since 1967, when they were first invited into the region by Archbishop Roa Perez.
Archbishop Santana also expressed his gratitude that the presence of Irish MSCs has inspired young Venezuelan men to devote themselves to religious life as Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, continuing the great work that has already been done in the region. He noted that the MSC founder, Fr Jules Chevalier, wanted the Sacred Heart of Jesus to be known and loved everywhere, and today, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart continue to embrace this mission in Venezuela and across the world.
Celebrations in the streets of La Santa Cruz
A second thanksgiving Mass was celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Monsignor Jesus Gonzales de Zarete on Saturday, June 17th, in the parish of La Santa Cruz, Caracas. To facilitate the crowds in attendance, Mass was celebrated outside the parish church, where the street was closed off for the day. The Bishop reflected that it was very appropriate to celebrate Mass on the street with the people, as the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are not simply missionaries of the church or the sacristy. Instead, MSCs bring the message of the Gospel to the streets, to the homes and hearts of the people to whom they minister. The celebration of Mass outdoors on the street, welcoming all who wished to take part, perfectly reflected the missionary nature of the work of the MSC.
Over the past 50 years, triumphs and achievements have been accompanied by trials and struggles for the MSC community in Venezuela, reflected the Bishop. This MSC mission has not just been about giving; Irish MSCs have walked alongside the people of Maracaibo and Caracas throughout the years, and have been enriched by the spirit of these communities. Though times are still difficult, great improvements have also been made, and MSCs and the local community are encouraged to trust in God’s loving presence as they move forward together.
The Bishop specifically mentioned Fr Joe Ruddy MSC, who was one of the first Irish MSCs to undertake ministry in Venezuela, and who is retiring from the mission this year. When the mission first began, the people of Caracas were in desperate need of help, and many challenges faced Fr Joe and his fellow MSCs. Over the years, Fr Joe has never hesitated to go out into the streets or up to the hills to visit the homes of local people. Fr Joe and his fellow missionaries have never been too proud or too afraid to climb the steps of the barrios of La Santa Cruz to help local people living in the slums. Together, Fr Joe and the Irish MSCs have enabled local people to take pride in their parish as they join together as a community.
Looking to the future
The MSC mission first arrived in Venezuela in 1967, at the invitation of Pope Saint John XXIII and the Vatican Council. 1960’s Venezuela was a very different place from the one it is today – a place that was at the time recognised as “an immigrants’ paradise”. Emigrants came from the United States, Europe, and all over the world. Today, Venezuela is a changed society, one where poverty, hardship, and social and political unrest motivate young Venezuelans to go abroad to create better lives for themselves. During this time of great suffering and uncertainty, the Bishop encouraged the gathered assembly not to lose hope that one day, their country will once again become a place where everyone can find prosperity, peace, and justice.
PLEASE HELP US TO CONTINUE OUR VITAL WORK IN VENEZUELA
Jul 24, 2017
During the summer of 2017, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart reached out to support students at Berea-Albion Football Club and Academy, South Africa, where disadvantaged youths are given hope and encouragement as they strive for a better future.
Cougar Park in Pretoria, South Africa, is home to Berea-Albion Football Club and Academy, which was established in 2009 by Stephen Haupt and Neil Bosman.
Students of the academy live in Cougar Park on a full-time basis, where they are entirely devoted to pursuing their dreams of playing football at a professional level while also learning essential social skills and receiving academic tuition. “The majority of disadvantaged youths in our development programmes are orphans, or they come from single parent families,” says co-founder Neil Bosman. “They have struggled with poverty, HIV/AIDS, abuse, alcoholism, and poor educational backgrounds.”
The academy is situated on 4.2 hectares of land in the Magaliesberg Mountains of Pretoria. Here, the rough grassland of the mountainous terrain has been developed to create a working football club and academy where students can fully focus on their studies without the distractions of urban life.
The academy is currently home to 50 students, who share two full-sized playing fields, a small pitch, a gym, a pool, a study centre, and a residential area.
“Excellent preparation for the next step in education, in work, and in life.”
At Cougar Park, students also attend Bosman College, where the focus is on providing “a sound education base” as well as full professional training in football. The academy aims to promote “a sense of structure that is conducive to diligent and consistent academic performance, while also allowing the necessary flexibility for the training programme”.
The 30-week academic courses are run via the University of Cambridge’s International Examinations programme, which are designed to give each student an “excellent preparation for their next steps in education, in work, and in life”. Students receive support from tutors as they gain experience in practical problem-solving and social skills, while also networking with fellow students from around the world. A trained facilitator oversees the students’ daily progress, and written exams take place at a local accredited exam centre.
“Passio Pro Perfecto”
The academy’s motto is “Passio Pro Perfecto” (a passion for perfection), and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are delighted to be able to support both staff and students in their future endeavours as they pursue their passion.
“We sincerely thank you for your generous donation of €10,000, and particularly for your support and interest in our youth development programmes. Your donation is being put to very good use as we make sure that our young footballers are housed, clothed, educated, trained, and nutritiously fed at Cougar Park.”
Neil Bosman, co-founder of Berea-Albion Academy
The Berea-Albion Academy Mission
• To provide the best football development programme in South Africa, and to compete with the best internationally.
• To promote skills and expertise locally, and to develop a culture of good sportsmanship, friendship, and hospitality.
• To develop self-belief in our players, and to create a safe and enjoyable environment within a self-sustainable facility.
• To establish a passion for perfection (“Passio Pro Perfecto”).
Jul 18, 2017
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart were delighted to welcome His Eminence Cardinal Christoph Schönborn OP to the Sacred Heart Church, Cork, on Friday, 14th June 2017.
Cardinal Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna and editorial secretary for the Catechism of the Catholic Church, celebrated Mass in the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road to mark the 25th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism. Cardinal Schönborn was joined in the celebration by Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, and Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore.
The 3.00pm Mass followed a day-long event at the Kingsley Hotel in Cork, where students of the Catechism gathered for a day of music, reflection, prayer, and a keynote address from Cardinal Schönborn. 
The Cardinal also preached a moving homily at the afternoon Mass as he reflected on the significance of the Catechism in today’s world and for generations to come.
Cardinal Schönborn spent some time studying with Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), and together, the pair co-edited the Catechism of the Catholic Church ahead of its publication in 1992.
“Having the general editor of the Catechism in Ireland is a great blessing,” said Máirín Ní Shúilleabháin, national co-ordinator of Adult Studies of the Catechism. “The opportunity to listen to Cardinal Schönborn reflect on the Catechism will give us further insight into the Gospel of the family at this moment in our history… This event will help us to increase our knowledge of what we believe as Catholics and will help us to enrich our understanding of the dignity of the Christian family.”
A full house at the Sacred Heart Church marked the 25th anniversary Mass as a resounding success, proudly celebrated by the MSC community, local parishioners, and adult students of the Catechism from near and far.
Jun 14, 2017
Fr Martin writes…
“The words of Christ given as heading to today’s Gospel call for reflection at two levels: the message of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist in our own lives and in the society in which we live, and the problems encountered by the young people and others today regarding belief in Christ’s presence in the Eucharist under the symbols, or the species, of bread and wine. Many find it hard to believe this, and fail to understand it. We can reflect on both points for a while.
The Eucharist has been at the source and centre of Christianity down through the ages, and still remains so. Reflection on it brings to mind many demands of Christian living, as many as belief in the living Christ himself does. Instituted at the Last Supper, the last of his meals with followers, it recalls the many meals during his life and the significance of these, eating with the marginalized and the outcast.
In Mark’s Gospel, after the multiplications of the loaves, in a journey across the Sea of Galilee the evangelist notes that the apostles had forgotten to bring bread with them, having only one loaf. Jesus warns of the danger of certain leaven (yeast). The apostles think that he is referring to their lack of bread. Jesus reminds them of his multiplication of the loaves, and of their lack of understanding of the significance of the miracle (Mark 8:14-21). It is a curious text, but the point seems to be that Jesus is calling on his apostles (and the church) to reflect on the miracle of the loaves, his meals; eventually, the bread and wine become Eucharist, and we reflect on their significance as a sign and pledge of his saving and encouraging presence with the church, in times of need and always. There are so many aspects of the Eucharistic mystery that call for reflection.
The real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine is a mystery, to be understood by faith. Already in Christ’s day, as represented in John’s Gospel, his Jewish listeners objected: ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ Jesus replies, insisting on his teaching. Many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching; who can listen to it?’, and Jesus replied, ‘What if you were to see the Sin of Man ascending where he was before?’ (John 6:52-65).
We grasp the mystery of his Eucharistic presence better when we consider it in the context of Jesus, true man and true God, his ascent into heaven, and enthronement at God’s right hand. Down through the centuries, the Church has taken Jesus’ words on the bread and wine as his body and blood literally and lived with the mystery, a mystery as ever hard to put in human words. She has refused the view that the bread and wine only represent the body and blood of Christ. At the consecration, there is a transformation, in some way, of the elements involved – the bread and the wine. Her belief was incarnated in the respect for the bread and wine after the consecration, in the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament and in Eucharistic devotion. These were the manners in which the faithful expressed, and continue to express, their faith in Christ’s Eucharistic presence.
When the belief was challenged by Berengarius, the Church formally responded in 1079 that at the consecration the bread and wine were substantially changed into the body and blood of Christ. In the Fourth Lateran Council (1215), this change was referred to as transubstantiation. The Council of Trent (1551) took up the question once again at the Reformation, affirming that this change at the consecration the ‘holy Catholic Church properly and appropriately calls transubstantiation’, words repeated in the more recent (1994) Catechism of the Catholic Church (Paragraph 1376). Such Christian and Catholic beliefs as ‘consubstantial’ and ‘transubstantiation’, not being words current in ordinary discourse, should not be the subjects of popular opinion polls. They are terms chosen by the Church to make clear her position on certain mysteries.”
For more articles written by Fr Martin, please visit the Sunday Scripture Online.
Feb 20, 2017
This spring, we are delighted to unveil a new look for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. With a new design, a new logo, and a new and improved website, we’re looking to the future as we continue our work in building a better world for all of God’s people.
Here at mscmissions.ie, we’ve made it easier for you to learn about who we are and what we do. You can take a step back in time and discover the history and heritage of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, explore our different mission projects around the world, support our ongoing work as we change lives for the better, learn more about the life of a missionary priest, or visit our Cards & Gifts section and have our Mass cards and devotional gifts delivered directly to your door.
Our new site also invites you to pray with our MSCs. Pause for thought with our prayers and reflections, submit a prayer request for a special intention, light a candle for a loved one, or join in with Masses streamed directly from the Sacred Heart Church in Cork by watching our live video feed.
Our face may have changed, but the heart of our MSC mission remains the same: “To be on earth the heart of God”. Our missionaries all over the world continue to work tirelessly towards building brighter futures for those in need. Be sure to check in regularly to hear about our latest mission projects and see how your donations are changing lives for the better – your support makes all the difference.
READ MORE ABOUT THE NEW MSC LOGO
Feb 17, 2017
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are delighted to introduce a fresh new look and design. Along with the launch of our new website, we are delighted to reveal our new logo, which is a more modern representation of our traditional values and beliefs.
We’ve developed our new logo with our time-honoured mission in mind: “To be on earth the heart of God”. The main elements of our logo have not changed, as we continue to use the image of the Sacred Heart and the cross to represent our Society.
The Heart
The heart in our logo represents the heart of Christ, God’s compassionate love as it was made real on earth. The open heart creates an embrace, wrapping around the cross in a protective and caring way, just as our mission is to help and care for others in the image of God’s merciful love.
The Cross
The cross in our logo represents Jesus. It is positioned in the middle of the Sacred Heart, as Jesus is right at the centre of everything that we stand for and do as Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. This is not a cross of pain or suffering, but a joyful celebration of the life of Christ and the love of God.
These elements come together to represent the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and our ongoing work in today’s world. Our mission remains the same as ever: to make God’s love known everywhere and to everyone, without conditions. In the combination of the Sacred Heart and the Cross, our new MSC logo pays a respectful nod to our heritage, our history, and our traditions, while the new design also reflects our sense of hope and forward-thinking for the future of our missions.
Since our foundation in the 1800s, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have worked to make God’s love known throughout the world, bringing hope to the people and places that need it most. We now look ahead to a new and exciting chapter in the MSC story as we strive to continue this great work, growing and adapting to the different challenges and circumstances of today’s world. We hope you will join us on our journey.
PLEASE HELP US TO HELP OTHERS
