Jun 10, 2021
Like Ireland, South Sudan has a rich tradition of farming. Whether it is the cattle they tend or the small vegetable gardens they plant, the people here survive on the land. We have just begun rainy season and when it rains in Rumbek it pours. So far, I have experienced only a few storms and while they are short lived, they are Biblical in scale. It is not uncommon to have an hour of high winds and heavy rain, with thunder and lightning, before the blue skies and gentle breezes return like nothing happened. A decent pair of wellingtons is a must!
Self-sufficiency and valuable life lessons
This year, though, the rain has been sporadic. The people are not worried just yet, but they are certainly concerned. A bad season can mean the difference between having one meal a day or having no food at all. Women with young families are most especially vulnerable, because they use the proceeds of what they can sell in the market to support their families. With poor rains, they have to water their small fields by hand. Only last week on a drive back from town, we saw a family carrying water from a local well, including two preschool children each bringing a full two-litre container.
In the school, we are working away as we begin a new term, and we too are busy planting. The Loreto compound includes land that we can use for farming. Agriculture is one of the courses on the secondary curriculum and the girls enjoy the experience to get out from behind the desks every now and then. They have planted maize and ground nuts, which are staples that we will use in the school kitchen. This self-sufficiency allows us to reduce our expenditure, while teaching the students valuable life lessons.
Beginning to reap a great harvest
However, other types of seeds are now coming into fruition. At the moment, one of our graduates is back with us during a break in her studies in Kenya. She is working with the child protection team to help educate our students about childrenâs rights, as well as the importance of healthy and appropriate relationships. In the next week, another graduate will be here teaching English literature in the secondary school. After thirteen years of careful tending, we are seeing the first generation of our students return from further studies abroad. They are among the first, but they wonât be the last. These are bright, confident young women who are committed to their community. They are the pioneers of education for girls and they are determined to support those who follow after them.
This coming Sunday for our Gospel, we have the parable of the mustard seed, something tiny and unremarkable that can grow into a mighty tree, where people can shelter and birds can make a home. The same is true for what happens here in Loreto. Thanks to a team of gifted teachers who journey with the girls, to their parents who value education for the daughters, and to a student who commits herself whole heartedly to her studies, we are beginning to reap a great harvest. It is the fruit of tremendous work; it is a wonder to behold; and it is an absolute good to give thanks to God for.
Fr Alan
Read more from Fr Alan’s missionary journey in South Sudan:
PLEASE HELP US TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN SOUTH SUDAN
Jun 2, 2021
It is with great joy that we celebrate with our Sacred Heart Sisters, the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, on the feast day of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, which took place on May 30th.
The official Facebook page for the Kiribati Province of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart shared photos of the celebrations from across Kiribati, Samoa, and Fiji. Marking the day in style, the OLSH communities in the Pacific Ocean rejoiced with prayer, song, floral tributes â and even a slice of cake or two!
The Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart continue in their mission of faith and love all over the world, bringing hope to those who suffer innumerable hardships including poverty, illness, hunger, isolation, and fear. The OLSH Sisters do invaluable work on a global scale, from education projects in the Philippines, South Africa, Venezuela, Brazil, and South Sudan, to the provision of emergency aid to the survivors of domestic abuse in Kiribati. The OLSH Sisters also founded the Holy Family Care Centre in South Africa, where they currently care for 70 children who have been abandoned, abused, or are suffering the effects of serious illness such as HIV/AIDS and TB.
Over the past year, as the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc around the world, their ministry has been more valuable than ever before. Acknowledging the effects of the coronavirus across the globe, the Kiribati Sisters wrote, âMay this pandemic bring new hope, trust, and love as Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, today and tomorrow.â
The Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart adds their prayers to those of the Kiribati Sisters, with every grace and blessing of our extended Sacred Heart family.
Images via the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Kiribati Province on Facebook.
PLEASE SUPPORT OLSH GLOBAL OUTREACH
May 27, 2021
The MSC community in the Philippines have been working tirelessly in recent times to help families whose lives are being quite literally swept away in an instant by ravaging typhoons.
Super-Typhoon Rolly, the worldâs most powerful tropical typhoon in 2020, struck the island of Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines, on November 1st. The Bicol region was the worst hit, with more than 800,000 people left in urgent need of emergency aid as the super-typhoon wrecked untold devastation on its relentless path. While Super-Typhoon Rolly raged, volcanic mudflow from the active Mount Mayon buried over 300 houses in the areas surrounding the volcano.
The MSC Mission Office in the Philippines immediately mounted an emergency response, raising 321,721 Philippine pesos, or approximately âŹ5,500, over a period of 15 days. Working with local volunteers and mission partners the Dominican Daughters of the Immaculate Mother Sisters (OP-DDIM), the Mission Response team distributed desperately needed emergency relief packs to more than 800 families spread across six communities in the Albay province. âThe beneficiaries were so grateful for the support of the generous people had given to them,â writes the official website for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in the Philippines.
On November 16th 2020, Typhoon Ulysses tore through the main island of Luzon, following in the footsteps of the earlier super-typhoon that had already caused unimaginable damage at the beginning of the month. More than one million families were left devastated by the typhoon, as homes, farms, and entire livelihoods were reduced to ruin by torrential rain, mudslides, and ferocious winds.
The areas most badly affected included the Metro Manila (Marikina area), Rizal, and the Cagayan Valley, where homes were demolished by raging floods.
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Philippines Province immediately mounted a campaign to provide emergency aid to those whose lives had been shattered, and to help affected families and communities rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the typhoon.
Through donations collected by the MSC Mission Office Philippines, Inc., the MSC community in the Philippines were able to send care packages of essential items to people in the most badly-hit regions. Boxes of groceries, essential items of clothing, and over 400 sacks of rice were included in these emergency care packages, which were distributed to MSC mission partners, the Office of the Vice-President (OVP) and the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP). With the help of these mission partners, these aid items were sent in relief distributions to the most affected areas of the country.
In February 2021, the country was battered by violent weather conditions once again, as Typhoon Auring hit. The MSC missionary community in the Philippines continues in its work to bring relief to those who find themselves in severe difficulty as a result of the typhoons, with the Duvog-Ambit Project in Tandag, Surigao del Sur, currently bringing MSCs and the Diocese of Tandag together to help those in need.
The official website for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in the Philippines posted a message of gratitude to all who contributed to their recent fundraising endeavours for victims of Typhoon Ulysses:
âWe would like to thank all the people who took part of this mission especially to all the donors and generous people who helped us raise funds for the project. And to our mission partners, the OVP and AMRSP, thank you for organizing and facilitating the relief distribution activity. In behalf of the MSC Mission Office and all the beneficiaries, âMaraming Salamat Po!ââ
Images via the MSC Mission Office Philippines website and the MSC Mission Office Philippines, Inc. on Facebook.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES
May 20, 2021
Heartfelt congratulations to the MSC community in the Pacific Islands!
On May 10th 2021, a new MSC province was born: The MSC Province of the Pacific Islands.
Previously the Pacific Union, approval for the new province was given by the MSC General Conference in 2019, and in May, the degree of erection was issued.
The preparation process was a long and complicated one, and it is with great joy and optimism that we congratulate Provincial Superior Fr Tamati Sefo MSC and the missionary community there.
In a celebratory video message, Fr Tamati says, âToday, the 10th of May 2021, is a historical day for all of us. It is a day for us to celebrate with gratitude and joy. Today marks the official erection of the Province of the Pacific Islands.â
May 10th is of special significance to the community, as it was on this date in 1888 that MSCs Fr Edouard Bontemps, Fr Joseph Leray, and Bro. Conrad Weber arrived in Kiribati from France, setting up their first MSC mission on the island of Nonouti.
Carrying on the mission of Our Lord with compassion and faithfulness
Fr Tamati went on to thank all those who contributed to the success of the province, from the first missionaries in the region, who began ministry there in 1888, to the âcontributions of our benefactors, lay MSC members, staff, and parishioners over the yearsâ.
âToday is a celebration of their hard work over the years, preparing us to become a province,â notes Fr Tamati, giving thanks to all who made it âpossible for us to continue the mission that has been entrusted to us.â
The new province is now preparing for their first Provincial Chapter, where the Provincial and his Council will be elected. âThe future of the Province of the Pacific Islands looks very bright,â assures Fr Tamati. âI am very confident that we will continue to grow in faith⊠I am also optimistic that the new Provincial and his council will continue to bring us together as brothers, in order to carry on the mission of Our Lord with compassion and faithfulness.â
The new province is made up of two districts: The Northern District (12 members), which consists of Chuuk, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, and Nauru, and the Southern District (34 members), which consists of Fiji, Wallis and Futuna, Samoa, and Tonga.
âWe want to be a sign of hope and love to everyone.â
Fr Tamati casts us back to the origins of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, founded by Fr Jules Chevalier in 1854, during the French Revolution â a time of great conflict, fear, and upheaval. âIt was then that our founder Jules Chevalier saw in the heart of Christ the remedy for our trouble,â recalls Fr Tamati. âLikewise, today, amidst the fear, suffering, and horror of the pandemic that is ravaging the world, our new province is emerging. We want to be a sign of hope and love to everyone.â
Standing in âsolidarity and prayerâ, Fr Tamati reminds us that âit is in the compassionate heart of Jesus that we can find peace and comfort in this challenging time.â
May God bless all in the new MSC Province of the Pacific Islands, as they begin a new chapter in our shared journey of spreading Godâs light and the love of the Sacred Heart across the world.
Images via the MSC Province of the Pacific Islands and Ametur MSC on Facebook.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS AROUND THE WORLD
May 19, 2021
“Every family needs a father – a father who shares in his family’s joy and pain,
hands down wisdom to his children, and offers them firm guidance and love.”
Pope Francis
This year, we celebrate Fatherâs Day on Sunday, June 20th. Whether you chat with your father every day or treasure fond memories of your dad, Fatherâs Day is the perfect opportunity to take a moment to celebrate a very special bond, and a love that canât be measured.
After such a long period of enforced separation, we are more grateful than ever for the love of family. On Father’s Day, we thank our personal heroes, who work so hard to make the family home a happy one, and we remember those fathers whose support and guidance taught us strength, resilience, and a solid foundation for our adult lives.
Our collection of Fatherâs Day cards is a truly special way to honour a beloved father, whether you will spend the day with your dad or carry his memory in your heart. Each card contains a lovely Prayer for my Father, and each one also contains remembrance in our Fatherâs Day Triduum of Masses, which will take place this year from Saturday, June 19th to Monday, June 21st. All are welcome to take part in this year’s Triduum, which will be streamed live from the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road in Cork.
 
You are also very welcome to submit a prayer intention for your father, or light a candle in our online gallery to mark Fatherâs Day.
Remember, when you choose from our range of Fatherâs Day cards, youâre not just making a thoughtful gesture for your own father, but youâre also reaching out to help fathers and their families all over the world. Your support helps us to continue bringing the gifts of faith, hope, and love to parents, children, and communities in some of the worldâs poorest countries. Our MSCs work in regions of extreme poverty and hardship, bringing vital aid to people who have nowhere else to turn, and every order we receive makes a real and valuable difference.
VIEW OUR FATHER’S DAY CARDS
May 18, 2021
We are delighted to be able to open our doors once again, and welcome old friends and new safely back to the Sacred Heart Church and the MSC Missions Office on the Western Road in Cork.
After a long period of restrictions and closures, it is with great joy that we see the return of familiar faces and greet new acquaintances here on the Western Road.
Last Monday, May 10th, saw a return to worship in the Sacred Heart Church and churches all over the country, while our MSC Missions Office was permitted to re-open a week later, on May 17th. Our first caller was at the door at 9.00am, to collect her Blue Book of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and Fr Michael and Anne were waiting with a warm welcome!
The Sacred Heart Church remains open for Masses and daily prayer, and the MSC Missions Office is open daily from 9.00am to 4.50pm.
We are also operating as usual online, where you can participate in our daily Masses, or choose from a selection of Mass cards, Mass enrolment books, and special gifts to be delivered straight to your door.
With every blessing and best wishes to shops, businesses, and services who are re-opening across the country. May this be the beginning of a time of new hope for us all. Take care and stay safe as we enjoy venturing out once again!
