Things are increasingly difficult for our less fortunate friends in South Sudan lately. It has been been recognized among countries most at risk of what the UN World Food Programme (WFP) calls a “hunger pandemic”. Hunger and malnutrition in the country are at the most extreme levels since 2011, with almost 60% of the population struggling to find food every day. To add to this swarms of locusts which had destroyed crops across East Africa arrived in South Sudan earlier this year. They have also seen an increase in clan fights and revenge attacks, an increase in malaria, rains have been late and people are still struggling to plant .
And then of course to top all that they also have to deal with the dreaded Coronavirus.
As of today 7th July 2020, South Sudan has confirmed 2,021 cases, 333 recoveries and 38 deaths from the coronavirus . However in Loreto Rumbeck our companions Sr Orla Treacy, and the Loreto Sisters have informed us that It’s hard to know the real reality of Coronavirus, as they have only one official testing centre in the country a population of over 12 million. Tests sent from Rumbek can take up to two weeks, and meanwhile it seems that individuals are quarantined in their homes but their homes are small and basic and often can accommodate up to five people so social distancing at home isn’t very possible.
“On the more hopeful side of things we have a new Governor, we expect appointments for the State Ministers to be within this month.”
Another hopeful sign for them has been the rise of children under 5 being treated in the their clinic, in Rumbeck as they now represent 25% of overall patients. Unfortunately children are the most vulnerable in the community.
During the month of June they have expanded as much as possible their knowledge of Covid-19, social distancing and health education in the clinic while also enjoying more personal protective equipment.
Sr Petra has been supporting the staff with psycho-social support, this has been appreciated by all. “Meanwhile our block makers are helping to keep the goats away from the crops while our resident staff are all having a chance to improve their cooking skills!”
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, July 1st 2020.
The Irish Blessing (Beannacht uile-Éireann) is a project inspired by the many international recordings of “The Blessing” (by Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe and Elevation Worship) which have been made during this time of pandemic. They wanted to honour that inspiration, whilst at the same time, honouring the unique history and culture of the island of Ireland. “Be Thou My Vision” is a hymn that was written over 1000 years ago.” It reminds us of the One to whom we should look in this time of pandemic, whose presence is our light, the source of our wisdom, in whom we find our treasure and where we find victory.”
Individuals from 300 Christian churches and organisations located in every county on the island submitted self-recordings of vocals and instruments which have been compiled by their creative team to produce this music video – we hope you receive a blessing as you watch it.
Lyrics:
Be Thou My Vision/Prayer of St Patrick
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought, in the day and the night;
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father and I, Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be thou my battleshield, my sword for the fight;
Be thou my dignity, thou my delight;
Thou my soul’s shelter and thou my high tower;
Raise thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance, through all my days
Thou and Thou only, the first in my heart;
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.
High King of heaven, my victory won;
May I reach heaven’s joy, O bright heaven’s sun;
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall;
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall;
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Christ be with you, Christ within you
Christ behind you, Christ before you,
Christ beside you, Christ to win you,
Christ to comfort and restore you,
Christ beneath you, Christ above you,
Christ In quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love you,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger
During his public life Jesus commissioned the apostles to preach the Good News to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and after his resurrection his commission was to preach to Gospel to the ends of the earth. And in the Church’s history the main emphasis on mission has been that by specially chosen persons. This may overlook another mission there from the beginning, one given to all believers. Christ told his first followers, before the choice of the Twelve, that they were the salt of the earth and then light of the world, and that their light should shine before others so that they give glory to their Father in heaven.
Peter in his epistle (1 Peter 3:15-16) told his readers to be always be ready to make their defence to anyone who demands from them an account of the hope that is in them; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. This is a missionary activity. He also told them (2:9) that they are chosen by God as a royal priesthood and holy nation to proclaim the mighty acts of God. The Church, the people of God, has been missionary through its missionary priests and through the financial and other support it provided for the missions. The Church in our own day, in the Vatican Council, and later, has become aware of the mission of the Church as a whole, as God’s people, to the world of our day. As the Council document on Missionary activity puts it, the Church on earth is by its very nature missionary, since according to the plan of the Father, it has its origin in the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit to communicate the love of God to all individuals and to all peoples, and by reason of this it is aware that for her a tremendous missionary work still remains to be done. There is a growing disbelief in God and an active movement of atheism.
Believers are missionary by their knowledge of the riches of their Christian inheritance and by a life in keeping with it.
They should be aware of the profound transformation which is talking place among nations, and work hard so that modern men and women are not turned away from the things of God by an excessive preoccupation with modern science and technology.
The Novena of the Sacred Heart is a very special time of the the year for us and with our recent challenges and lifestyle changes now is a great time for us to reflect and pray with each other during the Novena this year which is happening from the 11th-19th June (albeit behind closed doors) and finishing with the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart on the final day. All our MSC’s will be participating in this year’s Novena online and you are more than welcome to join us during by watching our daily Masses live from the Sacred Heart Church in Cork. These Novena Masses will take place daily at 10.00 am and 7.30 pm, with a special Angelus session each day at noon.
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY 11TH JUNE – WELCOME TO THE UNIQUE NOVENA Homilist Fr John Finn MSC
FRIDAY 12TH JUNE – PRAYER BY YOUR FIRESIDE Homilist Fr John Fitzgerald MSC
SATURDAY 13TH JUNE – MARY AS MOTHER AND DISCIPLE Homilist Fr Des Farren MSC
SUNDAY 14TH JUNE – CORPUS CHRISTI/PETITIONS Homilist Fr Michael O’Connell MSC
“Come to me all you who labour and are overburdened” Mt 11:28
“This is my body given up for you. Do this in memory of me” Lk 22:19
MONDAY 15TH JUNE – VOCATION & MISSION Homilist Fr. Alan Neville MSC
TUESDAY 16TH JUNE – FAMILY Homilist Fr. Seamus Kelly MSC
WEDNESDAY 17TH JUNE – REMEMBERING OUR DEAD Homilist Fr. John Fitzgerald MSC
THURSDAY 18TH JUNE – HEALING AND FORGIVENESS Homilist Fr. John Finn MSC
FRIDAY 19TH JUNE – FEAST OF THE SACRED HEARTHomilist Fr. Alan Neville MSC
Be part of this year’s Novena to the Sacred Heart
This year’s pandemic has caused a devastating effect on us all and now more than ever is a good time to support those less fortunate and 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 also submit your personal prayers and intentions online, and our MSC priests will remember your petitions specially throughout the course of the Novena.
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 form 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 the 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.
As the world battles with covid-19 our companions from Loreto Rumbeck in South Sudan have added pressure in dealing with this deadly disease, however they are keeping up the spirit and doing the best to keep going during this pandemic.
“As we come to the end of the month of May we are grateful for many small achievements.
Our schools remained closed but our compound is still full of life. The rains have begun and while we are missing the support of our students we are all helping out with the planting. We look forward to September when we hope to feast on the harvest of groundnuts (monkey nuts) and maize.”
Some of their university students who have returned to them are continuing their studies online although a lot of their students cannot afford the opportunity. They were however grateful to connect with many of their Primary and Secondary girls when they came to receive their cash payment for the British project, Girls Education in South Sudan.
The journey of Coronavirus is becoming very real for them. In their capital of Juba many of their top political leaders have confirmed they are positive for coronavirus and a number of confirmed cases are now present in the town. Unfortunately they don’t have testing services in the State but they must assume that the virus is present and spreading fast.
“Our graduates are doing a great service, some go to the radios and have health talks while others are out and about in the community teaching about coronavirus. While masks aren’t widely available our graduates are learning how to make their own and provide some for the community.”
“We realise that the coming weeks will be tense as we expect the spread of Coronavirus to be more visible to us all. We are beginning to take the necessary precautions though it is difficult in an environment that has little.”
