Jul 24, 2025
Becky and her baby
CHANGE FOR GENERATIONS
Young women in South Sudan face severe challenges when it comes to education. Following decades of conflict and violence, it is one of the most difficult places in the world for girls to access education and complete their schooling.
- While figures are slightly improving, it remains that less than 40% of girls in South Sudan attend school.
- Over 50% of girls are married before the age of 18.
- Young women in South Sudan are often traded by their families for dowries in cattle. This “bride price” means the women are expected to stay at home and fulfil domestic duties with very little chance of education or progression.
- It is reported that a young girl in South Sudan is more likely to die in childbirth than she is to complete secondary school.
Sarah and her baby
MSCs SUPPORTING EDUCATION
Fr Alan Neville MSC is currently working as principal at the Catholic University in Rumbek, South Sudan. Along with the Loreto Rumbek primary and secondary schools, the team here work to champion education for women in the region. The benefits are tremendous, not only for the women themselves, but for their families, their communities, their children, and for future generations to come.
Dolla studies with her little girl, Nyanduer, and is also pregnant at the moment.
CAN YOU HELP?
A DAY IN THE LIFE…
Helena is 25 years old and is in her second year of a four-year Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. She has three other children along with six-month-old Isabella. Here, we learn more about what it’s like to be a young mother studying in South Sudan.
Helena and her baby, Isabella
An early start…
A day of study begins early for Helena and her fellow students. Hardly any South Sudanese people own their own car, and these women generally have to walk to classes, often carrying their baby with them. Their journeys are often long – one of the current female students walks about an hour and a half to get to her classes, and then home again afterwards.
High hopes
Most women are studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), in the hope of starting their own business, or being employed by an NGO. Others are studying for a Bachelor of Education (BEd). Those studying to be teachers are extremely dedicated, as teaching is not a highly paid position, and it is not unheard of for teachers to receive no payment at all for months on end. Their desire is to educate, having worked so hard to gain that education for themselves.
Culture & climate
South Sudan is the youngest country in the world, and is still suffering the consequences of a civil war which ended in 2018. The women who have lived through this are remarkably resilient, but the lack of basic services, such as essential healthcare, presents difficulties. In addition, the climate can be challenging, with rainy season living up to its name, and intense heatwaves seeing temperatures reach over 40°C. It is not uncommon for the government to issue closure orders for schools when this happens, and in recent times, these mums have had to sit exams in stifling temperatures – often caring for a baby at the same time.
“During the day it is hot,” says Helena. “Our temperatures can go up to 42°C, so it is difficult to study. Our lecturers are very committed and we don’t miss a single class.”
Helena and Isabella
Overcoming financial challenges
Support systems
Being able to bring their babies to class is a key factor for the success of these young women. As well as partial funding, practical help is also available, such as the provision of baby kits and mats for babies to lie on while their mums study.
“When you are pregnant in other universities you are suspended, but here we are allowed to bring our babies with us and this really helps,” Helena explains.
Mary and her baby
Late-night study
Less than 9% of the population here has access to electricity in the home, and the sun sets every night by 6.00pm. Up until recently, students would study at home with only the light of a mobile phone to read by. A Late-Night Study programme now runs three evenings a week, allowing students to work in the library until 8.00pm. This has been helpful, but it is still taboo for a woman to be out after dark unaccompanied.
Empowering future generations
Without doubt, the women of South Sudan live a harsh life, but these students are resolved to get ahead and to create a brighter future for their own children. Veronica is studying for a BBA, pictured here with her son, Elly, who is currently working towards a BEd, and Elly’s sons.
Veronica with her son Elly and her grandchildren
Veronica stresses the vital importance of education, leading the way for her son, and now for her grandchildren too.
“Education is very important for so many things,” Veronica says. “If you are not educated, you are not going anywhere.”
PLEASE HELP US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOUTH SUDAN
SUPPORTING WOMEN IN LEARNING
From the provision of baby kits and mats for infants to lie on in lectures, to scholarships and after-hours study with an electricity supply, the Catholic University in Rumbek is doing everything in their power to ensure that female students have every opportunity to finish their education, with the support of the MSC.
These women, with their incredible strength and determination, have big dreams for themselves and for their children. Your support is invaluable in helping us to help them.
Eliza and her baby
IF YOU CAN, PLEASE SUPPORT OUR 2025 SUMMER APPEAL
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Jul 24, 2025
Our first official 2025 MSC fundraising hike took place in Gougane Barra on Sunday, July 20th, and despite a weather warning falling on the day, it was a resounding success.
A team of 12 hikers, led by Sid from Cork Backpackers and Fiona from the MSC Missions Office, took on an 11.6km hike around beautiful Gougane Barra – and even the rain couldn’t dampen their spirits!
The group took the hike at a lovely pace, stopping for breaks and taking in the magnificent landscape over the ancient woodlands of Gougane Barra. The history of the area takes us back as far as the sixth century, when St Finbarr founded his monastery on the island – and according to legend, banished the serpent Lú from the lake, creating the River Lee in its wake!
Heartfelt thanks to all who took part on the day, helping to raise over €500 for our mission projects around the world. It was a wonderful experience for all involved, and we’re already looking forward to our next hike, which will take place in St Declan’s Way, Co. Waterford, in September.
Whether your boots are well worn already or you’re an enthusiastic beginner, you are very welcome to join us on our next adventure!
Full details will be available soon, so keep an eye on our Facebook page for more information – and in the meantime, you can contact us at info@mscmissions.ie if you would like to register your interest early. We look forward to seeing you there!
Jul 4, 2025
Our 2025 Novena to the Sacred Heart has come to an end, and it is with truly grateful hearts that we thank everybody who helped to make it such a special occasion for all involved.
This year’s Novena took place from Thursday, June 19th to Friday, June 27th, at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork – newly decorated just in time for the occasion! We were delighted to see so many familiar faces join us during the Novena, and of course to welcome new friends along too. Almost 11,000 people joined us in prayer on our live stream over the course of the nine days, from close to home and across the world, reminding us in such a lovely way that we are all very much interconnected and part of something bigger, part of a great community of faith, wherever in the world we may be located.
Parish priest Fr Con Doherty MSC introduces Fr Des Farren MSC at the opening Mass of our 2025 Novena to the Sacred Heart
Parish priest Fr Con Doherty MSC began the opening Mass of this year’s Novena, which centred on the theme “Anchor of Hope, Mercy & Courage for our ‘turbulent times!’”. “A very, very warm welcome to all who are gathered here this morning, and a very warm welcome to all who are joining us on live stream,” he said. “We have a great sense of gratitude to God that we’re here on such a wonderful day as we set out on our boats into this beautiful Novena, within really kind of troubled waters, but we know where to find refuge.”
An open, loving heart
This set the tone for the nine days ahead, and Fr Des Farren MSC gave a beautiful opening sermon on the origins of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, as he reflected on the openness of the Sacred Heart itself. “It’s not enclosed, it’s open,” he said. “This is not some distant God, this is God made man, whose heart is opened out of love for all of us.”
Fr Des returned for Day 2 of the Novena, leading us in thought on how we respond to and accept God’s in our lives. “Whatever the darkness is, illness, events of your past, family difficulties, perhaps financial difficulties, or loneliness… Stop, think, and pray,” he said. “Let God come in, he’ll show you a way.”
Fr Des Farren MSC
Day 3 of the Novena saw Fr Des’ final sermon, on the encyclical on the Sacred Heart – the Sacred Heart embodying that “divine love that seeks the salvation and wellbeing of every person, offering a visible and tangible expression of God’s infinite compassion.”
On Day 4, we welcomed Fr Terry O’Brien MSC, leading us in a reflection on fellowship, hope, and healing. “It has been rightly remarked, in my opinion, that the consumerism of modern life, it’s not that it makes us want too much, but it makes us want too little,” said Fr Terry. “It diverts our attention to lesser things. To live according to modern consumerism principles is full of appeals to our most precious possession – our attention. And there is so much that conspires to steal our attention, which is the most important thing we have to offer to others. And so, we come to Holy Mass, to the Eucharist, to be fed, for the table of the Lord is large and there are many seats around it.”
“Nobody is left out, all are welcome.”
Day 5 of the Novena brought us a wonderful talk from Cathy O’Sullivan, who has a background in midwifery and education, and specialises in breath awareness. She explained how both breathing, and a devotion to the Sacred Heart, helped her through her treatment for breast cancer, and led us through some useful breathing exercises that can benefit us in coping with daily stresses and strains. “When we trust in the Sacred Heart, we are telling him that we love him, and trust that he will take us through any situation that we will encounter in this life, be it stressful or joyful. Breathing and praying to the Sacred Heart during times of stress and anxiety helps to keep us grounded. We take in oxygen when we breathe to sustain us, and we hand over our concerns and our worries to the Lord.”
Cathy O’Sullivan
Deacon Thady joined us on Day 6 of the Novena as we prayed for healing, speaking of the importance of spiritual healing, encouraging and building each other up as a spiritual community. “Somebody with a nourished healthy spirit thinks in a very healthy way, and this then leads to physical healing,” he explained.
A special day of healing: Mass was celebrated by Fr Seamus Kelly MSC, who was joined by Fr Con Doherty MSC and Fr Tom Mulcahy MSC, with a sermon by Deacon Thady.
We welcomed Julianna Crowley to the Sacred Heart Church on Day 8 of the Novena, healthcare chaplain in Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital. Julianna spoke of bereavement, grief, and loss – the stillness of time in a very desolate and difficult place, and hearts that continue to search for “healing, consolation, answers, and hope”. In a beautiful reflection, she reminded us that our loved ones are “at the heart of Jesus, in the home of Heaven.” “As we hold each other together here in this church, it’s okay to be tearful, it’s okay to remember, it’s okay to feel sad,” Julianna said, and invited everyone present, and watching online, to remember lost loved ones in a very special and sacred moment.
Julianna Crowley
Irish Provincial Leader Fr Joe McGee MSC celebrated the final two days of Novena Masses, reminding us of the “wonderful, inclusive, hospitable, generous love of our welcoming God.” “That’s for you and me, for all of us here in the Church, for all of us watching online, for all of our people who have sent in petitions – nobody is left out, all are welcome.”
“Ours is a God who takes a personal interest in each one of us – he doesn’t just look down through the crowds here, and say, ‘oh that’s the crowd in the Sacred Heart on the Western Road this morning’. He looks down and he sees, oh that’s Margaret, and Dearbhla, and John, and Patrick, and Joseph, and he sees each one of us personally – and as the Gospel says, he takes great delight in each one of us,” Fr Joe reflected.
“Even with our faults and our failings and our scars and our wounds, he takes great delight in each one of us. He cares passionately about what ails us, and what are our deepest desires. He desires to hear our prayers, to walk with us on the journey of our lives – and all of our lives are so different, and take so many different paths. He walks with each one of us.”
Fr Joe McGee MSC
With heartfelt thanks
Each of our speakers provided us with great pause for thought in their daily reflections, helping us to look ever deeper in our spiritual reflection and healing. As Fr Con reminded us, “The Sacred Heart is like a jewel – turn it this way and there’s one dimension, turn it another way and there’s another dimension.” Each of our daily speakers helped us to see the beauty of so many of these different dimensions, leading us down useful, interesting, and healing paths of prayer and thought.
We are truly grateful to all who contributed to making this year’s Novena such a resounding success, as we take with us, as Fr Joe said, “the wonderful message to be the heart of God in our world, in whatever little part of the world we inhabit.” The time and effort that went into the many details, big and small, from the flowers and music and readings, to the teas and coffees and socialising, and the planning of all the details in between, is always hugely appreciated. “This couldn’t happen without a community effort,” said Fr Con. “We’re full of gratitude to God, and full of gratitude to all here at the Sacred Heart Parish. And we’re always conscious that we’re building on the shoulders of others, what we’re doing now, it has been done before, and when we’re gone, there’ll be others to carry on the flame.” To all who joined us in prayer, be it in person or online, your presence has been a blessing and a gift. God bless you all.
If you would like to watch this year’s Novena Masses,
please click here to view recordings of all nine days.
Jun 10, 2025
The community at the MSC Centre for the Poor (MSC CFTP) in the Philippines are hard at work alongside the MSC Centre for the Poor Agriculture Cooperative (MSC CEPAGCO ) as they continue in their mission to build and nurture an ethos of self-sufficiency and sustainability as we care for the world around us and reap the benefits for our society in turn.
The new year began with a two-day strategic planning course run by Fr Richie Gomez MSC, where, as the Facebook page for the MSC Centre for the Poor reports, the groups involved “yielded innovative solutions, come up with clear directions and pave way for common goal.”
A general meeting for the Centre for the Poor in Butuan followed in February, to discuss the results of the planning session and develop a programme of future activities for the centre. These include “new initiatives, innovative plans and events to support our community,” partnerships with other organisations, and further development of programmes for students at the centre, to promote “personal and social growth”.
“A huge thanks to all the members of the community, our partners, stakeholders, and supporters for your dedication and contributions to the MSC Center’s growth and success,” said the Centre for the Poor team on their Facebook page. “Let’s work together to shape a brighter future!”
A food handling and hygiene course also took place in February, run by restaurant owner and expert in food handling, Ms Ezeil Cervantes. This proved extremely beneficial to students in learning about the correct way to manage food safety and hygiene in the restaurant industry, and when working with large groups of people.
Finally, March saw the arrival of three MSC pastoralists who will stay with the MSC CEPAGCO community for a year, studying their practices and programmes and learning from them. Bro Erick Bryan de Mattos MSC travelled from Brazil, while MSCs Bro Hendrick Qoqietkop and Bro Anthony Tongala both travelled from Papua New Guinea to take part in the MSC CFTP/CEPAGCO Exposure Programme. “Let us pray for them as they embark on a new and challenging ministry as MSCs,” posts the Centre for the Poor team on their Facebook page.
As ever, the MSC CFTP/CEPAGCO communities are a hive of activity and productivity in Butuan and beyond! We wish them continued success and every blessing in their invaluable work, and we ask our mission friends here at home to join us as we keep our MSC brothers in the Philippines, and the communities they serve, in our prayers.
All images via the Facebook page for the MSC Centre for the Poor
Jun 5, 2025
Pilgrimage Diary
On May 25th 2025, a group of 100 pilgrims took off on a five-day pilgrimage to Lourdes, led by Irish Provincial Director and Spiritual Leader Fr Joe McGee MSC. Celebrating the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, each of our pilgrims joined us with their personal prayers and hopeful hearts on this very special journey. Mary Morrish, one of our pilgrims from the MSC Missions Office in Cork, shares her pilgrimage diary with us.
Day 1
Our journey got off to a promising start as we took off from Cork Airport on what turned out to be a perfect flight, which only took an hour and twenty minutes before we touched down on French soil. We were at our hotel before we knew it, and our true Lourdes experience began right away, with a trip to visit the famous Grotto and an opening Mass presided over by MSCs Fr Joe McGee, Fr Tony Horgan, Fr Charles Sweeney, and Fr Des Farren.
After a busy day travelling and finding our feet, we unwound in the evening with a beautiful dinner and we watched the candlelight procession together – an extremely moving and powerful experience to finish the first day of our pilgrimage.
Day 2
Day 2 of our pilgrimage began with Mass at the Holy Grotto, an experience like no other. It was incredible experience to hear Mass in these magnificent surroundings, which we are all so familiar with from photographs, and the atmosphere of prayer and unity was something sacred indeed, with the pure emotion of it drawing tears from many of our pilgrims.
After a delicious lunch, we went on a walking tour of Lourdes, visiting some of the places that were special to St Bernadette in her lifetime. We visited the cemetery where her family are buried, the Boly Mill (her birthplace), and Le Cachot, the abandoned prison where she and her impoverished family lived. We had the opportunity to see quite a bit of Lourdes and it was fascinating to learn so much about the area.
On our return, we enjoyed a truly beautiful penance service, where our pilgrims had the opportunity to talk to our MSCs and be absolved of any sins they might have been carrying with them. It was absolutely wonderful.
That evening, we celebrated a special 87th birthday at dinner, and Fiona and Ann, two of the ladies from the MSC Missions Office, hosted a fantastic evening of Bingo. This was swiftly followed by a sing-song, where Gerry and Dee, our group musicians for the entire trip, had everyone singing along! We all crawled into bed at about 1.00am after a great night.
Day 3
Tuesday marked Day 3 of our pilgrimage, and the morning began with a special ceremony for the anointing of the sick. The one-and-only Fr Charles presided over the blessing of the sick and it was wonderful – despite an extremely inconvenient jackhammer doing its best to interrupt the proceedings from outside! It would take more than a persistent jackhammer to stop Fr Charles, and the ceremony was a very moving experience for everyone. Afterwards, we enjoyed a short presentation about the miraculous healings in Lourdes, before gathering for a very tasty lunch.
We spent the afternoon in the extremely charming village of Saint-Savin. We stopped for coffee, with the breathtaking sight of the Pyrenees as our backdrop. We had Mass as well, before returning to Lourdes for dinner and the candlelight procession – and of course, another round of singing before bed!
Day 4
Wednesday began with Mass in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, and then there was time for everybody to go for a bit of a wander. I went to the City of the Poor with one of our pilgrims, Idah Kamau, to make a donation to the wonderful sanctuary there on behalf of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. We collected over €600 in donations and were delighted to be able to present it to them to help them in their great work.
In the afternoon, we visited the baths, which was an incredibly profound experience. The group then did different Stations of the Cross – Fr Joe & Fr Des led the Lower Stations, and Fr Charles & Fr Tony took the Upper Stations. On our last evening together with the full group, we had further celebrations over dinner, marking another birthday and a 30th wedding anniversary. We assembled at the Chapel of Lights to pray together and light the group candle for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, with a final walk together in the candlelight procession. The MSC banners were up on the steps of the altar of the Virgin Mary, which was just lovely to see. We had one last sing-song with the entire group together – an evening of celebrations all round!
Day 5
Thursday was the final day for some of the group, and Fr Joe celebrated one last Mass for our pilgrims returning to Cork that day in the Chapelle de l’Adoration, colloquially known as the Dollars Chapel. The chapel is run by local nuns and is a delightful space. In the meantime, the remainder of the group attended the International Mass in the Lower Basicila. While we bid farewell to some of our pilgrims today, the rest of the day was then free for the others to enjoy Lourdes and its surrounding area at their leisure, before a final Mass for the remaining pilgrims at the Dollars Chapel ahead of their return flight home on Friday.
On this and every day of the trip, our MSC priests prayed especially for our mission friends and benefactors at home and around the world, for MSCs everywhere and the communities they serve, and for the special intentions of everybody who had sent their requests ahead of the pilgrimage, with grateful and hopeful hearts.
Our MSC pilgrimages had to be put on hold for quite a while following the COVID pandemic in 2020, and this was the first year that we were able to return to Lourdes in person. It was a uniquely special experience celebrating the 2025 Jubilee of Hope with such a wonderful group of people in such a sacred space – a truly blessed time of reflection and prayer, while we also thoroughly enjoyed time spent with fantastic new friends, sharing new experiences and making memories that will last a lifetime. With sincere and heartfelt thanks to all who made our 2025 pilgrimage to Lourdes such a moving and memorable experience – until next year!
Jun 4, 2025
It’s business as usual at the Chevalier Training Centre in Wainadoi, Fiji, where staff and students work to give up to 75 young men from difficult or disadvantaged backgrounds the best possible prospects for the future. Established by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1992, the team at the CTC have since been working together to give underprivileged young men an opportunity to learn new and useful skills in the hope of building a better, more sustainable life for themselves and for their families and communities.
The end of 2024 marked the end of the academic year, when the community at the Centre bid farewell to their second-year students. Fr Mendhy Iva led a special Mass to mark the occasion, highlighting the importance of working together as a community. In a post on the Facebook page for the Chevalier Training Centre, the team there said, “We acknowledge that we wouldn’t have come this far without the gift of one another and the strength of living a shared life.”
A new year then began for the CTC team early in 2025, as new students were welcomed in a “wonderful and meaningful start to the new academic year”. Director of the CTC, Fr Lotu, was joined by Deacon Richard for a special celebratory Mass, followed by games, a barbecue, and plenty of fun! It was a “great way to spiritually align and set a positive tone for the year,” posted the Facebook page for the Chevalier Training Centre, allowing the community to “reconnect and strengthen the bonds within the Chevalier Family.”
A generous donation of new tools to the Cabinet Making Trade programme was a huge boost to the CTC team in February, with a Facebook post marking their joy and gratitude.
“What a wonderful and impactful moment for the Cabinet Making Trade program! The donation of modern tools is sure to have a lasting effect on both the students’ education and their future career prospects.
Mr. Lucas’s generosity is truly inspiring, and it’s amazing to see how it will directly contribute to improving the learning environment and equipping students with the skills needed for the industry.
We are forever grateful for the generosity towards the lives of the students under our care who are willing to gain a life skill and better their lives for themselves and their communities.”
As always, we thank our mission friends here in the Irish Province for their friendship towards our brothers in Wainadoi, and we wish the Chevalier Training Centre community continued success in their work, study, and play throughout 2025.
All images via the Facebook page for the Chevalier Training Centre, Wainadoi
