May 30, 2025
An invitation to join us at our 2025 Novena to the Sacred Heart
Our annual MSC Novena to the Sacred Heart is a blessed time of reflection and thanksgiving, when we bring our prayers and petitions before the generous love of the Sacred Heart. This year’s Novena of Masses will take place from Thursday, June 19th to Friday, June 27th.
All are welcome to join in this year’s Novena Masses, which will take place daily at 10.00am and 8.00pm at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork. Daily Novena Masses will also be available to watch live, as we welcome those who cannot be with us in person.
The Sacred Heart Parish welcomes each and every one of our mission friends and parishioners, from near and far, to pray with us during this year’s Novena to the Sacred Heart.
Be part of this year’s Novena to the Sacred Heart
At this special time of year, you can help us to help others by supporting our ongoing mission projects, and in gratitude for your contribution, we will be glad to remember your intentions at our daily Novena Masses. You can then submit your personal prayers and intentions online, and our MSC priests will remember your petitions specially throughout the course of the Novena.
The theme of year’s Novena to the Sacred Heart will be “Anchor of Hope, Mercy & Courage for our ‘turbulent times!’”, and it will be celebrated several of our MSC priests and brothers over the nine days.
Each year, the Novena to the Sacred Heart offers great solace and comfort to all who take part, as we bring our prayers and personal intentions before the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As we continue to navigate the ongoing challenges of these turbulent times, we come together in the spirit of hope, reflection, and thanksgiving in the sacred space granted to us by the Novena. All are very welcome to join us, in person and online, for our Novena Masses as we come together to reflect and give thanks in the grace and love of the Sacred Heart.
Together, we pray that these nine days of prayer will be a grace-filled and blessed time for all involved.
MSC Sacred Heart Novena at the Sacred Heart Church, Western Road, Cork
Daily Novena Masses:
10.00am & 8.00pm
Day 1: Thursday, June 19th
Novena Masses celebrated by Fr Des Farren MSC
Introduction to Sacred Heart Spirituality
The MSCs – Founder, Vision & Mission
Adoration & Confessions after 10.00am Mass until 1.00pm
Day 2: Friday, June 20th
Fr Des Farren MSC (10.00am Novena Mass & 8.00pm Reconciliation Service)
Reconciliation – Joy in the Sacred Heart
“More joy in heaven over our repentant sinner” Lk 15:17
Confessions available after 10.00am Mass until 12.00 noon
*Please note there will be a Reconciliation Service in place of the 8.00pm Novena Mass*
Day 3: Saturday, June 21st
Novena Masses celebrated by Fr Des Farren MSC
A reflection & summary of the Encyclical on the Sacred Heart “DILEXIT NOS”
Revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Confessions available after 10.00am Mass until 12.00 noon
Day 4: Sunday, June 22nd
Novena Masses celebrated by Fr Terry O’Brien MSC
Fellowship; Healing; Hope anchored in the Sacred Heart.
Day 5: Monday, June 23rd
Attention to the Breath (of God) by Cathy O’Sullivan
Sacred Heart – The Breath of Life
Adoration & Confessions after 10.00am Mass until 1.00pm
Day 6: Tuesday, June 24th
An invitation to experience & be refreshed
by the Healing Heart of Christ by Fr Seamus Kelly MSC
*Please note there will be an additional 3.00pm Mass of Healing in the Parish Hall (Deacon Thady O’Connor & Tom McAulliffe)*
Anointing available at all Masses.
Day 7: Wednesday, June 25th
Growing through “Bereavement, Grief, & Loss” by Julianna Crowley
“Come to me all you who labour and are overburdened
And I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28).
Day 8: Thursday, June 26th
Novena Masses celebrated by Provincial Leader Fr Joe McGee MSC
Jesus’ Eucharist Heart – An invitation to having a “Heart to Heart”
Adoration & Confessions after 10.00am Mass until 1.00pm
Day 9: Friday, June 27th – Feast of the Sacred Heart
Novena Masses celebrated by Provincial Leader Fr Joe McGee MSC
“Our hearts are made for Thee, O Lord, and They are forever restless until they rest in Thee” (St. Augustine)
Adoration will take place in the church from 3.00pm until 6.00pm.
For those who cannot be with us in person, you are very welcome to join us for our daily online Novena Masses on our live stream, united in spirit as we pray together as a great family of faith.
Novena Prayer to the Sacred Heart
O Divine Jesus, who said,
“Ask and you shall receive”,
I kneel at your feet.
From whom shall I ask if not from you,
whose heart is the source of all blessings.
With a lively faith in you,
I come to ask…
Share your petitions silently with the Sacred Heart.
I admit I am most unworthy of your favours, Jesus,
but this is not a reason for me to be discouraged.
You are the God of mercies and you will not refuse a contrite heart.
Look with pity on me,
I beg you, and your compassionate Heart
will find in my weakness a motive for granting my request.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on me.
Amen.
May 21, 2025
Heartfelt thanks to all who took part in our recent fundraising event for the children of the Holy Family Care Centre, a care facility for young children run by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, with the support of the MSC, in Ofcolaco, South Africa. The fundraising event took place at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork, after Masses on May 17th and 18th, and raised a current running total of €4,216.87 for the Holy Family community.
Our plant and cake sale takes place in aid of the Holy Family team each May, and it’s a much-anticipated event each year for our MSCs, parishioners, and local mission friends alike. This year’s fundraiser really and truly marked the beginning of summer in earnest, with beautiful blue skies and sunshine providing the perfect backdrop for a relaxed weekend for fun, chat, and delicious treats. Old friends and new acquaintances caught up over teas and coffees, while our beloved alpaca friends made a welcome return thanks to Nora Casey of Macroom – and were once again the stars of the show. Even Fr John, Director of our MSC Missions Office, couldn’t resist a visit to say hello to those furry faces!
Established in 2002, the Holy Family Care Centre in South Africa has been run by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart with the support of the MSC for over 20 years, under the leadership of Sr Sally Duigan FDNSC. The Holy Family Care Centre is an invaluable facility for young children who are very ill and who, in many cases, have been orphaned or abandoned. These children are primarily HIV positive and are in need of extremely specialised and highly care. With the resources to accommodate 70 children, the Centre’s facilities are stretched to full capacity and beyond on a daily basis; Sr Sally admits that the team at the Centre does its best never to turn a child away, and the Holy Family team currently have 82 children in their care.
With many children coming from very troubling backgrounds of violence and abuse, the Holy Family Care Centre is a sanctuary for children in need, and the Centre feels more like a home to one big happy family. However, the availability of funding is an ongoing concern, as the Centre relies on donations and the generosity of benefactors, including our MSC mission friends and the local community, for the upkeep of buildings and equipment, and to be able to continue doing the work that they do – “[giving] our children love, security, and care, in the hope they will thrive,” in the words of Sr Sally.
Our annual fundraiser is a wonderful way for our friends and parishioners here in Cork to support our friends across the miles in South Africa, as well as being a thoroughly enjoyable event for all involved! Sincere thanks to everybody who worked so hard to organise such a special weekend, and to all who contributed and took part even in the smallest way. It all contributes to the bigger picture, the global picture, and we are truly grateful for your kindness.
If you can, please support the Holy Family community
May 1, 2025
“He is Risen!” A worldwide celebration of Holy Week & Easter 2025
It is with joyful and thankful spirits that we look back at a wonderful celebration of Easter in just some of our MSC communities at home and around the world.
From darkness into light: Celebrating Easter in Mozambique
Holy Week was a time of great togetherness and prayer on our Mozambique mission, culminating in a joyous celebration on Easter Sunday, where three communities came together to pray and rejoice in the glory of the Resurrection.
The Facebook page for MSC Mozambique shared some wonderful posts from three different Palm Sunday ceremonies, including the Community Headquarters of Santa Marta Parish, at the community of St. John the Baptist in Sanbene village, and in the São Lucas Community, in Murrebue. Each of the celebrations were filled with faith and love, as “every gesture, every word, every prayer became a sign of God’s presence in the midst of His people.”
Celebrations continued throughout Holy Week, with a special ceremony on Holy Wednesday where our MSC brothers were joined by the Mercedary Sisters of the Eucharistic Jesus at Pemba Cathedral. “In an atmosphere of collection and faith, they lifted the morning praise to God, preparing the heart for the mysteries of Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection,” says the Facebook page for MSC Mozambique.
Holy Thursday saw a “remarkable” celebration of “service and gratitude” in the community of St. John the Baptist, with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper and the washing of the feet presided over by Fr Roney Lima MSC.
The Stations of the Cross followed on Good Friday, in the community of Santa Marta. The Exaltation of the Cross was celebrated by Fr José Eduardo Paixão MSC, where “The cross was presented as a sign of God’s love and the hope that comes from Jesus’ sacrifice. It was a simple yet meaningful celebration that helped the community live more intensely the spirit of Holy Week.”
Fr Roney Lima led the Easter Vigil in the village of Sanbene on the evening of Holy Saturday, with the faithful gathered and undaunted by rain and stormy weather. “Even with the wet ground and strong winds, the community stood firm and united, celebrating the Lord’s Passover with fervor and gratitude, a moment that became a true milestone in their spiritual walk.”
On Easter Sunday, all three communities of the Sede, St. John the Baptist, and St. Luke gathered together with Fr Roney and Fr José Eduardo to rejoice in the glorious Resurrection, celebrating the risen Christ and the hope and joy of Easter.
The following Wednesday, Fr Roney celebrated the Resurrection of the Lord at the Mieze Male Penitentiary. Sharing the ceremony on their Facebook page, our Mozambique MSCs wrote: “In an environment marked by suffering and hope, the light of the Risen Christ touched the hearts of inmates, offering reconciliation, renewal, and a new beginning. The celebration was a clear sign that God does not abandon anyone, and that in Christ there is always the way, the truth, and the life—even inside prisons. It was a moment of living faith, listening and communion, where the true meaning of Easter was felt: the transition from darkness to light.”
(Photos from the MSC Mozambique Facebook page)
Easter celebrations in the Province of the Pacific Islands
The Facebook page for the MSC Province of the Pacific Islands also shared some wonderful photographs of their Holy Week and Easter events.
The MSC community in Wailoku, Fiji, were joined by local students in reenacting a powerful performance of the Passion of the Christ on Good Friday.
This was followed by the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday, led by formator Fr Rataro Raimon MSC, and a special Easter Sunday celebration at the formation house in Wailoku. “We continue extend our gratitude and sincerely thanks to our families and friends for joining us in our Easter Sunday celebration which was held at our Formation House Wailoku,” says the Facebook page for the MSC Province of the Pacific Islands. “We also thanks our brothers for their wonderful preparation. Vinaka vaka levu and may God bless us all in this Easter season.”
(Photos from the MSC Province of the Pacific Islands Facebook page)
Dawn prayer at the Sacred Heart Church in Cork
Our much-anticipated Easter Dawn Mass took place once again this year at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork, where mission friends and parishioners gathered to pray together as the sun rose on Easter Sunday 2025.
Over the course of Holy Week and Easter, almost 7,000 people joined us via our website to pray with us on our live stream, including viewers from Ireland and the UK, across Europe, America, Canada, and Australia, and far-flung corners of Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and Africa.
Our annual Easter Garden lit up the altar of the Sacred Heart Church once again, and this year, we have also been blessed to have an outdoor garden at the MSC House and Missions Office on the Western Road. Visitors are very welcome to come and reflect and pray here, and we extend our sincere gratitude to all who have taken such care with the construction and maintenance of our Easter Gardens, both inside and out! In keeping with tradition, the Family Tree of Life Book has enjoyed a special place on our altar, celebrating the joy of family and the importance of unity as our MSCs pray for all those enrolled throughout the Easter season.
Filled with the strength and gladness of the Easter light, we welcome the brighter days ahead with hopeful hearts and joyful spirits. With every grace and blessing of the Sacred Heart to our mission friends all over the world, this Easter season and throughout the year ahead.
Apr 23, 2025
Pope Francis meets with the MSC’s in Rome 2023
Pope Francis 17/12/1936 – 21/4/2025
Since the announcement of his death on Monday 21st of April religious and political leaders from all faiths and none have expressed their respect for Pope Francis, this humble man of faith and courage who has been a wonderful gift to the Church and to the world. Much has been said about his love for the poor and the marginalized, his joy and witness to the Gospel of Jesus and of course not forgetting his prophetic stance on the environment.
With all our benefactors I pray with deep gratitude that this man has touched our lives as if he knew each one of us personally. I thank God that he has made it possible for us to dream of a Church that welcomes all people, a Church where broken, sinful and wounded humanity find a home.
I’m sure all of us will follow his funeral rites very closely over the coming days. May his strong and courageous soul find rest with the Lord whom he served so faithfully.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to inspire the Cardinals from across the world who will gather very soon to choose a successor to Pope Francis.
May they select a man who will continue in the same spirit as our beloved late Pope Francis to serve the Church and the world with vision, and unapologetic proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus.
MSC Provincial, Fr Joseph McGee MSC
Apr 20, 2025
March was an especially busy and exciting month for our MSC brothers in Mozambique, with two inspiring new chapters beginning on the mission.
Great celebrations were marked in the parish of Santa Marta de Mecúfi, where Fr José Eduardo Paixão MSC was appointed as new parish priest, with Fr Roney Lima MSC taking the position of new parish vicar. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop António Juliasse, Bishop of the Diocese of Pemba, in a moving and uplifting ceremony where parishioners extended a very warm welcome to Fr José and Fr Roney in their new roles.
The Facebook page for our Mozambique mission shared some wonderful photos from the day, telling us that, “During the homily, Father Juliasse emphasized the importance of priestly mission and the commitment of new religious leaders to evangelization and strengthening the parish community”. These new appointments mark the beginning of a new and hopeful chapter for the parish of Santa Marta de Mecúfi, strengthening the community and “renewing hope and enthusiasm for Christian life”.
Shortly afterwards, on March 19th, our Mozambique mission celebrated the Feast of St Joseph by welcoming our new students to the Fr Jules Chevalier Formation House. In a special Facebook post, our Mozambique brothers shared pictures of this blessed occasion:
“These young people have answered God’s call and pledged to follow him from our charisma. Each of them proclaimed, ‘Here I am, Lord,’ expressing their willingness and desire to do God’s will.
They received the MSC Cross, the Breviary and the Perpetual Service of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
We share this joy with you!”
Joy shared indeed, and we hope you will join us in prayer for all MSCs and the communities they serve on our mission in the Diocese of Pemba. Congratulations to Fr José and Fr Roney on their new appointments in the parish of Santa Marta de Mecúfi, and to the new students in formation – we wish you all every blessing as you embark on your new chapters, individually and collectively on our shared missionary journey. God bless you all!
Images via the Facebook page for MSC Mozambique.
HELP SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS PROJECTS
Apr 17, 2025
MSC Easter Draw 2025
Congratulations to the winners of this year’s MSC Easter Draw
1st €2,000 France Camino Trek Voucher
Wulliamoz, Navan, County Meath
2nd €1,500 Sun Holiday Voucher:
Russell, Thurles, County Tipperary.
3rd €1,000 City Break Voucher:
Casey, Claremorris, County Mayo.
4th €1,000 Garden Furniture Voucher
Gaughan, Castlebar, County Mayo.
5th €1,000 Designer Optical Voucher.
Foley, Killorglin, County Kerry.
6th €1,000 Golf Products Voucher
Cunningham, Kilcar, County Donegal.
7th €1,000 Garden Pergola Voucher
Kelly, Ballinasloe, County Galway.
8th €500 Pizza Oven Voucher
Fitzpatrick, Portlaoise, County Laois.
9th €500 Annual Membership to Gym & Leisure Voucher
McParland, Armagh, County Armagh.
10th €500 Wireless Headphones Voucher
B.Ryan, Thurles, County Tipperary.
11th €500 Hybrid Gas & Charcoal BBQ Voucher
J.J. Tuttle, Miltown Malbay, County Clare.
12th €500 Self Propelled Lawn Mower Voucher
Walsh, Portlaw, County Waterford.
13th €500 Dyson Airstrait Straightener Voucher
Tobin, Castlemartyr, County Cork.
14th €500 Apple Watch Voucher
Clarke, Longford, County Longford.
15th €500 Dubray Book Voucher.
Higgins, Green Street, Cork.
16th €500 Meal Voucher for 2
Moynihan, Innishannon, County Cork.
17th €500 43” Smart TV Voucher
O’Rourke, Dublin 12
18th €500 Hot Air Balloon Voucher
Sheelan, Dundalk, County Louth.
19th €500 Flight Voucher
Ui Loing, Dublin 24
20th €500 La Creuset Tableware Voucher
Enright, Listowel, County Kerry
The winners of the €200 /€100 vouchers click here
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who took part in this year’s draw.
This year’s MSC Easter Draw took place on Wednesday, April 16th 2025.
Happy Easter to all!
