Sep 5, 2024
At the end of July, a group of 26 pilgrims walked the Camino InglĂ©s in order to raise funds to help care for sick and abandoned children at the Holy Family Care Centre in Ofcolaco, South Africa. With Fr Tony Horgan MSC at the helm, the group covered 116km in six days, and raised over âŹ20,000 for the Holy Family Team. Mary Morrish, one of the MSC Missions Office team here in Cork, took part in this year’s Camino walk, and shares her daily diary with us.
Fr Tony Horgan MSC (left) and MSC Missions Office team member Mary Morrish (second from right), with pilgrims Nisha and John.
Day 1:Â Ferrol â Neda (15.5km)
We began the first day of our Camino pilgrimage on a gentle note, with a reflection by our group leader, Fr Tony Horgan MSC. During the reflection, the clouds parted to reveal beams of sunshine â a promising beginning to the day, and to the trip! We started our journey in Ferrol, walking through the nautical city until we reached the beautiful estuary. From there, we walked through the surrounding woodlands and glades, until we reached the outskirts of Neda, where we went for a cooling paddle. We clapped and cheered as each member of our pilgrimage arrived at the meeting point. Fr Tony then said a beautiful Mass, where we took the body and blood of Christ in our magnificent surroundings. Everyone who had an intention spoke, and we prayed for each of them. We also prayed for the children of the Holy Family Care Centre in South Africa, who will benefit from this fundraising trip, and all who supported our fundraising appeal.
We ended Day 1 with a gorgeous pilgrimsâ dinner of fish, potatoes, and wine, while the evening was rounded off with a rapturous sing-song. âTil Day 2!
Day 2: Neda â Pontedueme (16km)
Our second day started off with a reflection by Fr Tony, where we all joined in and spoke about sharing our stories.
Then began our climb from Neda. The day started off overcast, which was a welcome relief from the heat, and we walked the heights and marvelled at the gorgeous views. We stopped at a modesty box along the way, and collected some shells for our journey.
We then continued on our journey, amazed by the beauty that we passed on our way. It was so lovely to meet other pilgrims from all nationalities as we walked. Stopping for lunch, we had great fun recounting the journey so far, and we started our walk again with much enthusiasm. We passed beautiful country farmhouses, with their terracotta roofs baking in the sun. Eventually, we saw a glimpse of sea glistening on the horizon, and soon we were looking down over Pontedueme, a thriving town. We swam, we ate, and we found that we had many talented singers amongst us! We ended our day with a sing-song, with Liam, one of our pilgrims, on guitar. We gathered quite a crowd!
Fr Tony said Mass for us â one of our pilgrims was a Jesuit, who actually helped Pope Francis with his English many years ago. We celebrated Mass with music and singing, before going to share our pilgrimsâ meal of chicken and potatoes. A very special day indeed!
Day 3: Pontedueme â Betanzos (20km)
As Day 3 of our journey began, we feasted on our breakfast knowing that we had a 20km walk ahead of us. We were all on a high as the sing-song the night before had been so much fun. Boarding the bus, we were dismayed to be see heavy rain pouring down outside the windows; however, we soon cheered up as we listened to Fr Tonyâs inspiring reflection, which took us all beyond any concerns about the weather!
Heading for the 12th-century seaside town of Betanzos, we walked a steep climb of 1km through Pontedeume. The views here were dominated by the magnificent landscape of the old mountains that make up Galicia, blanketed in reforestation trees including pines and eucalyptus.
Our walk today took us through Mifio and Paderne, eventually bringing us to the medieval city of Betanzos.
Betanzos is a gorgeous city, and one I would love to visit again. It boasts wonderful architecture and charming cobbled streets, and is a city that just has a lovely colourful atmosphere.
Arriving back at the hotel at the dayâs end, we were a very hungry band of pilgrims and were more than ready to eat! Another beautiful dinner of fresh fish awaited us, and a much-needed early night was enjoyed by all. We were undeniably tired after the 20km walk, but nonetheless, it had been a great day. Tomorrow, we will pack up our bags and move to our hotel in Santiago for the last part of our pilgrimage.
Day 4: Betanzos â Bruma (25km)
What an absolutely gorgeous day! We began our morning with our daily reflection, which really is a sacred time for all of us and a very special way to start the day.
Some of our group carry a stone for a loved one who has passed away, or for someone who needs healing in their life. They feel that the stone represents their loved on accompanying them on their journey. When they feel content and at peace, and are ready to walk on their own, they will leave their stone along The Way.
Fr Tony also asked us to pick up one of the many stones that we saw on the various Camino stone markers that we passed along the way. We could then carry the burden on the person that left it for the day, and keep them in our prayers.
The scenery today was beautiful. Our walk took us through lush forests of pine and eucalyptus trees, and it was just breathtaking. We walked as far as Trevsas, where we came to a cafĂ©. Here, we were greeted by a lovely lady named Carmen, who will sit you down and place a wonderful selection of biscuits and meats in front of you to enjoy at no charge. She also did us the great honour of opening up the tiny church that sits across from her cafĂ©. It is a very special space, where she has actually crocheted the flowers that decorate the interior herself. She told us it was very important that we hug the tree outside, which we gladly did. (Iâm not quite sure what the significance of this was, but it was a lovely moment!)
Our journey then took us to the enchanting hamlet of Hospital is Brua, which dates back to 1175 and is named for the hospital that would provide care for pilgrims here. We enjoyed our now-traditional sing-song over some refreshments, and then went to see our new home for the next few nights in Santiago, the Hotel Gelmirez.
The check-in process was an easy one, and after we had all settled in, we went downstairs to have Mass with Fr Tony. Again, it was a beautiful ceremony with singing and meaningful readings, while our friends in the group presented some of the stones they had found along the way, and spoke about how they made them feel. After a delicious dinner, some of us went out to explore Santiago â what an amazing city!
Day 5: Bruma â Siguerio (26km)
Todayâs walk began in Bruma, and we were once again well set up for the day ahead after our morning reflection with Fr Tony. We passed the most amazing sculpture park by the Azul bar, which was certainly worth a look! Our walk took us through a beautiful wooded area, taking in the Fonte de InglĂ©s, and brought us to Igrexa de San Paio de BuscĂĄs in A RĂșa, where we saw the 18th-century statue of San Paio, a child martyr. The remainder of the dayâs walk continued through farm and woodland, and I wonât deny that the last 6km of the day were tough going! As you enter Siguerio, you walk parallel to a motorway, and I was very happy when we arrived into Siguerio itself â and very tempted to jump straight into the municipal swimming pool!
We are now only 16km from Santiago, so we were back in our hotel in no time at all. Fr Tony ended the day with Mass, and we all reflected on what a lovely, if demanding, day it had been.
Day 6: Siguerio â Santiago (16km)
The last leg! We began the day early as we all wanted to get a head-start on the midday sun and the rising temperatures. Starting off in Siguerio, we crossed the medieval bridge and continued on our way through the forest, heading for Santiago. We stopped at an old inn that has been there for many years, and also spotted a pre-Roman hill fort. In keeping with tradition, we lay our stones on the existing pile, marking our own personal moment along The Way.
Walking along the outskirts of the city of Santiago, we passed several parks, and many fascinating buildings connected to the University of Santiago are dotted around the city. We followed our yellow shell stone markings for the final time â although at this stage, we didnât need them anymore! Before us appeared the spires of the Cathedral, rising high in the summer sky. The sense of appreciation and gratitude you feel when you enter the square by the Cathedral for the first time is something very special. Two of us, myself and one of the other pilgrims, Mary, began saying the Rosary. Two of our companions had tears rolling down their faces, prompted by the sheer emotion of the journey and the fact that we had made it here. It was an incredibly special feeling, and a moment that I think will stay with us all for a long time.
After a well-deserved lunch, we went to visit the Cathedral, where we saw the tomb of St James and lit some candles for our personal intentions. We had a pilgrim Mass to attend, and we were only thrilled to hear that our very own Fr Tony was concelebrating Mass in the Cathedral! The church was jam-packed, with standing room only. I sat at the base of an ancient pillar, and took a moment to think about how many others would have sat here before me in times past. Fr Tony wore a green vestment decorated with the symbol of the Camino, the seashell, in a fitting tribute to our shared journey.
We were each presented with a Compostella passport â proof that we had completed all 116km of the English Way! After a lovely dinner, we all went out for drinks as a group. We were 26 strangers who had become friends on this incomparable journey.
Day 7: Homeward bound!
Our final day â after one last delicious breakfast, many of our group took in the English Mass in Santiago. Some essential last-minute shopping was done, and I took the tourist train around the city, to see as much of Santiago as I could before we had to leave. All too soon, it was time to take our final trip, to Santigo airport and homeward bound to Ireland. What a simply amazing journey.
We are so sincerely thankful to each and every person who joined us on our 2024 Camino Pilgrimage. Not only did they complete the great achievement of walking the Camino InglĂ©s, but they also raised over âŹ20,000 for the Holy Family Care Centre in South Africa â a staggering amount that will guarantee that the children at the centre will receive the nourishment and care they need for at least six months. Their support is quite literally invaluable, and it is with grateful hearts that we thank them for their compassion and their friendship, on the Camino and beyond! Until next year â go raibh mile maith agaibh, agus Dia dhaoibh go lĂ©ir!
    
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Aug 29, 2024
A New Academic Year
Itâs all go as usual in the Catholic University of South Sudan, Rumbek Campus. As we are approaching the end of one year, we are already in full swing getting organised for the next. The University is small but growing, and we are committed to seeing it flourish. Earlier this month, we launched a promotion programme for our new intake. We arranged a series of Facebook ads, printed flyers, put posters up around town, made Church announcements, and hosted two radio talk shows with our students.
Without a doubt, our students are our best adverts and promotors. Many of our new applicants have come through their personal recommendation. Their collaboration is essential and invaluable. However, we are faced with two significant challenges right now. The first is that the basic educational attainment level remains low. There is still a great deal of investment needed in primary and secondary education. According to the UN, South Sudan has the lowest expected school attendance in the world at just 5.6 years on average. This is why the work of the University in training professional, qualified teachers is so imperative. In addition, there has been significant inflation since the beginning of the year, reaching 320% since January. This means that finding money for University fees is especially difficult. To this end, we have worked to make them as low as possible and continue to offer a partial scholarship to women. For many, it is still not enough.
Fostering Body and Mind
It is not enough to just educate our students, we also need to attend to their complete wellbeing. Here, that means addressing issues like Hepatitis B. Seventy percent of all new global infections of viral hepatitis B and C occur in sub-Saharan Africa due to insufficient interventions, and the rate in South Sudan is a real problem. Hepatitis mortality remains high due to low treatment coverage. To this end, we have been working with the Mary Ward Primary Health Care Centre to test and vaccinate all of our students and staff who wish to take part. Those who are found to be Hep. B carriers are referred onwards for further treatment. Three out of four students and staff have already received their first dose, with second due later this month, and the third in September.
Get that Job!
As mentioned already, the South Sudanese economy is struggling and opportunities for employment are few and far between. Any time there is a job posting, the response is immediate and overwhelming, with many not even being shortlisted, let alone interviewed! To support our students, we arranged a workshop on interview technique with a member of Caritas, one of the largest organisations working in South Sudan. He worked with them on the essentials of best practice, good preparation, effective communication, and strong presentation. The attendance by students was enthusiastic, with standing room only for late comers. If given half the chance, they have the drive and creativity to really shape and change the economy and their community for the better. Such sustainable economic development by South Sudanese themselves is at the heart of our vision for the University.
Full House
This week our end-of-year exams began and will continue until the end of the month. Around the campus, student study groups are running as they prepare for tests in managerial accounting, African literature, computer literacy, entrepreneurship and innovation, economics, and ethics. All our first and second years sat my Church history exam yesterday and the stack of their uncorrected scripts are staring at me balefully from across the office. Itâs perhaps the only aspect of lecturing I do not enjoy⊠to put it mildly!
While the exams continue, we are also welcoming our new first-year students. They will begin their bridging course tomorrow, which is comprised of eight weeks of intensive maths and English to help them as they start their third-level studies. All going well, they will be ready to begin their first courses by the middle of October.
Nhialic ke yin (God bless you as they say here),
Fr Alan
Director,
CUSS Rumbek
Read more from Fr Alanâs missionary journey in South Sudan:
Aug 22, 2024
It has been a productive summer so far at the Chevalier Training Centre in Wainadoi, Fiji, with various workshops and renovations keeping the CTC team busy.
Established by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, the Chevalier Training Centre opened its doors in 1992 with the aim of bringing practical skills and a useful education to underprivileged young men between the ages of 16 and 21. Every year, the centre welcomes up to 75 young men from disadvantaged backgrounds, improving their chances of employment and enabling them to make a valuable contribution to their communities and societies.
âOur mission is to help these young men to face life with confidence and dignity,â says the CTC community. âOur priority is to assist those who have the least hope.â
Many students at the centre would not have had the opportunity for a comprehensive education, for several reasons including poverty and challenging family backgrounds, while others are struggling with unemployment while lacking the necessary skill sets to find work. As such, CTC students learn important life skills such as time management and financial management, while also taking on a curriculum of subjects including cabinet making, carpentry, welding and fabrication, motor mechanics, farm management, and animal husbandry.
The Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart has a long-standing friendship with the community at the Chevalier Training Centre, with our mission friends and benefactors here helping to raise funds for the centre most recently in our 2022 and 2023 World Projects Appeals. The students themselves also generate income for the centre, through local carpentry and construction jobs, selling their farm produce, and an annual bazaar where goods created during school workshops are sold.
The Facebook page for the Chevalier Training Centre has been keeping us up to date with the latest happenings at the school, with July proving particularly productive for staff and students alike. At the beginning of the month, CTC students attended a talk focusing on the dangers of drug abuse, eradicating sexual violence, and the importance of mental wellness. The talk took place at the Holy Spirit Parish, and was facilitated by members of the police force and the Ministry of Health. The CTC Facebook page shared a picture of participants on the day, with the motto âBe Responsible, make the right choice, stay away from drugsâ.
July also saw the completion of renovations to the carpentry workshop at the Chevalier Training Centre. The workshop itself has been refurbished, and equipped with new tools for lessons.
âWe are forever grateful to APTC Country Manager and their Operation Team whom are in partnership with our Institution,â reads a post on the CTC Facebook page. âThey have refurbished our Carpentry Workshop. Today we witnessed the handingover ceremony and they also equipped the newly refurbished workshop with basic relevant tools. These opportunities have immensely contributed to our needs to education and skills development especially in the TVET section.â
Congratulations and well done to all involved with the latest achievements at the Chevalier Training Centre, and we look forward to hearing about further successes and community achievements in the coming months.
Images via the Facebook page for the Chevalier Training Centre.
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Jul 31, 2024
A NEW PATHWAY FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN
MSCs in Brazil established a shelter for the care of young children in the NiterĂłi region 35 years ago. Here, they have been working on their Pro-Child Movement, which aims to promote positive change in the lives of children from 6 to 14 years of age. There are currently 60 local children in care here over the course of two daily sessions, morning and afternoon. Each session lasts for four hours and caters to 30 children.
The services here are provided by professionally trained staff who help the children across a variety of disciplines, including motor skills, tutoring, sports, cultural awareness, and spiritual guidance. With a positive, productive outlook, the Pro-Child team aim to broaden horizons for these children, and minimise the very real threat of their being drawn into the drug trade.
EDUCATING FOR A BRIGHTER TOMORROW
The team here help the children with homework, also assisting with learning difficulties, and run educational activities including workshops, cultural trips, and games and films that stimulate learning and development.
Monthly meetings take place with the parents, strengthening contact with families. Many of these children come to the shelter from diverse backgrounds; they are often being raised by their mothers and/or relatives, as they have been abandoned by their fathers for various reasons including alcoholism, drugs, domestic violence, and unemployment.
The team at the shelter have now started a programme welcoming mothers to regular round table discussions, which is a very helpful way of finding out about the reality of the daily lives of the children in their care, enabling them to build stronger and more effective supports.
The house is located close to local communities, but it is very old and in need of constant repair. A wall separates the house from a hill, and in rainy season, this suffers severe water damage and requires constant maintenance to avoid collapse. Repairs are also continuously being made to the ageing electrical and plumbing infrastructure.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MINISTRY IN BRAZIL
Jul 31, 2024
SOUP KITCHENS IN MARACAIBO
MSCs in Maracaibo, Venezuela, are running several soup kitchens across multiple locations in local barrios, urban neighbourhoods where the populations are very poor. One such facility is in the barrio of Virgin del Carmen, where poverty is rife and living conditions are extremely difficult.
This area is home to communities of native Indian and indigenous Wayu people who came originally from Guajira, which crosses the border with Columbia. They arrive with nothing, in the hope of a better life for their families and themselves, yet life in the barrio brings its own challenges.
The people here make their homes using basic materials, and take on what jobs they can find with little or no education, such as cleaning or housekeeping. Due to the economic and political crises in Venezuela, the people who owned their own homes and would hire domestic staff are now emigrating themselves, abandoning their houses in the hope of better prospects elsewhere, and leaving no work for those who remain to support their families.
BRINGING BREAD TO THE HUNGRY
The barrio of Mirtha Fonseca is named after an indigenous Wayu woman. This barrio has a sewage system running along its periphery, making living conditions very unhealthy for the people living there.
Irish MSC Fr John Jennings built a church here with the support of our mission friends in previous years, and MSCs in the area now work with the help of local catechists who prepare the people for First Holy Communion and Confirmation, while also helping with the church and liturgies.
Mass is said every Sunday at Maria Auxiliadora y San Jose church. Galwayman and local curate Fr Tom MSC, purchases bread each week, and after Mass, this is distributed to parishioners who are hungry and depend hugely on this weekly provision.
A LIFELINE FOR POOR FAMILIES
Our current soup kitchens also serve communities at the chapel of the Sacred Heart at El Cujicito and La Ezparanza high-rise apartments. The facilities on hand are far from state-of-the-art kitchens, but are the basic resources we have to feed as many people as possible.
Working together for positive change
Ministry to the sick is also a large part of our missionary outreach in Maracaibo. Our MSCs provide spiritual support to those in need, and bring food to nourish the sick and housebound.
Catechists working across the barrios also go out to local schools where the children have not been baptised, sharing the love of the Sacred Heart and offering spiritual guidance.
From vital nourishment to spiritual support, our MSCs are doing all they can to help those in real need across the barrios of Maracaibo – and with your help, we can do so much more.
IF YOU CAN, PLEASE SUPPORT OUR VENEZUELAN MISSION
    
