Aug 1, 2019
Two of our MSCs from the Irish Province returned to Venezuela in July, to minister to struggling families and communities who are currently trapped in the midst of the country’s extreme social, economic, political, and humanitarian crisis.
Fr Christy Coleman MSC
Fr Christy Coleman MSC ministered in Venezuela many years ago, before moving to Texas in the USA as a pastor and prison chaplain. He also acted as MSC Superior in the US Province for a time, and most recently returned home to Ireland to minister as a hospital chaplain. Throughout his travels, Fr Christy kept in close contact with the Venezuelan mission, and was a great support to our MSCs there, particularly the community at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School in Maracaibo.
As Fr Vincent Screene, the current Regional Leader of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Venezuela, unfortunately has to return home for medical reasons, Fr Christy will be taking his place in on the Venezuelan mission. Here, he will work with members of the regional team to guide, motivate, and encourage MSCs ministering in parishes across the country as they provide life-saving aid and spiritual support in regions of extreme poverty and hardship.
Fr Tom Jordan MSC
Fr Tom Jordan MSC also spent some time in Texas following his ordination in 1966, before taking his place on the Venezuelan mission amongst the communities and parishes he has grown to love. Fr Tom’s generosity of spirit has been legendary in Venezuela; as Fr Vincent Screene said, “Wherever there is a need, Tom is there”.
Fr Tom returned to Ireland due to ill health last year, and during his time at home, he was vocal about the ongoing struggles of the Venezuelan people. Chai Brady of The Irish Catholic recently reported on Fr Tom’s response to Clare Daly TD, who spoke out about the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, downplaying its severity. Brady writes, “According to the Sunday Times Clare Daly TD said in a YouTube video that ‘even in the difficult days the poorest people get a box of basic food essentials every month’. She said although citizens have to register to receive the package there are no political strings attached, which Fr Jordan disputed.”
As reported by The Irish Catholic, Fr Tom has deemed these claims “absolutely” false. “He [Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro] gives out a little food maybe once a month and only to the ones who recognise him as the boss,” he said. “For somebody like that to come back to Ireland and say there’s no shortage in Venezuela, it’s very irritating.”
“It’s got worse, more people are getting out of it – those who can – and the electricity situation makes it worse. If your refrigerator goes in a climate like that you have no food, it’s wasted,” Fr Tom continues. “Then the escalation of prices to high heaven, and the income is virtually useless to buy food because the incomes hasn’t increased worth a damn.”
Fr Tom has now returned to Venezuela following his recovery, and we wish both him and Fr Christy all the very best as they bring their invaluable ministry to the Venezuelan mission once again.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS IN VENEZUELA
Find out more about our missionary outreach in Venezuela
Read Fr Michael’s diary from his 2019 visit to Venezuela
Jul 25, 2019
Congratulations and very best wishes to Bishop Toussaint Iluku Bolumbu MSC, who was ordained bishop of the diocese of Bokungu-Ikela in the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 21st.
His ordination took place in Bokungo, celebrated by Bishop Fridolin Ambongo Besungo, Archbishop of Kinshasa and Apostolic Administrator of Mbandaka Bikoro.
We are delighted to share the first official photograph of Bishop Toussaint, whose ministry in his new diocese has now begun.
Previously named superior of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart for the French-speaking African region, Bishop Toussaint is the first MSC African bishop. He was appointed fourth bishop of the diocese of Bokungu-Ikela by Pope Francis in April, following a rich and varied missionary journey since his ordination as a priest in 1995. Some of his previous roles include parish priest, vice rector, bursar, and later superior and director of formation of the MSC School in Yaoundé, teacher of philosophy and theology, vice president of the Association of Major Superiors of the ecclesiastical province of Mbandaka-Bikoro, assistant to the secretariat general of the General Chapter of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Rome, and moderator of the General Conference of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Yaoundé.
Please join us in sending well wishes to Bishop Toussaint, and we keep him in our prayers as he embarks on his new ministry.
Jul 20, 2019
Gospel Reflection
Listening to and living the mystery of Christ and the Church
The Gospel (Luke 10:38-42)
Martha welcomed Jesus into her house. Mary has chosen the better part. This is a charming narrative on the hospitality offered to Jesus by Martha, sister of Mary. We are not told what Mary and Jesus were speaking about, but we can presume it concerned the kingdom of God. Martha complained that Mary was not helping her. Part of Jesus’ reply, that Mary had chosen the better part, has appeared harsh to many. What Jesus most probably said is that only one thing is necessary, and Mary has made the right and better choice. This saying is the highlight of the narrative. This is an invitation to us to reflect on the joy that should be ours as we reflect on the central truths of our religion, the mystery of Christ and of his Church.
“Christ is with you, the hope of glory”
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the dignity that is ours in living in the age of the fulfilment of the promises and the joy that this should bring, joy even in the sufferings that go with Christian living. Paul is happy, joyful, in his mission to preach the word of the Gospel, the good news that the mystery has been revealed. Jesus rejoiced that the secrets, the mystery, hidden for past ages had been revealed by the Father through him, to the “little ones” rather than to the wise and understanding (Matthew 11:25-30). For this, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21-22), just as Paul later would. The mystery was God’s saving plan through Christ, which could be variously expressed. For the epistle to the Ephesians it was God’s plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth (Ephesians 1:9-10). For Paul to the Colossians it was: “Christ is with you, the hope of glory”. With Christ in the Church there is the glory of God’s presence, and the hope that it brings for here and eternity.
The Church continues to use this term “mystery” and its riches of meaning to express her belief in her own nature and in the sacraments. The first chapter of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church is headed: “The mystery of the Church”. As Pope Paul VI explained in his opening address at the second session of the Vatican Council (1961); “The Church is a mystery. It is a reality imbued with the hidden presence of God. It lies, therefore, within the very nature of the Church to be open to new and greater exploration.” The sacraments can be called mysteries, since the power of God is present in them, continuing the initial mystery of Christ and the foundation of the Church. St Ambrose composed discourses on sacraments which he described as “On the Mysteries”. The Eucharist is the mystery par excellence and in the Roman Missal (visible in particular in the revised English translation), mention is made of “these mysteries” in relation to it. The mystery of Christ is thus being continually proclaimed by word and sacrament. In the words of Christ addressed to Martha, “only one thing is needful”, attention to the word of God brought to us by Jesus, attention to this whether we are reflective like Mary, Martha’s sister, or busy like Martha herself.
Fr Martin McNamara MSC
Jul 18, 2019
Our Sacred Heart family at the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines recently reported on their current education project in the Hapag Community in Amparo, North Caloocan, where a helping hand has been extended to disadvantaged youths in the community whose parents cannot afford to send them to school.
This project has aimed to support students in order to allow them to continue their studies, despite difficulties with poverty and hardship in their home lives. Students have been provided with the supplies they need to attend school and complete their class projects and homework, as well as nutritious food to ensure their physical and mental health.
Not only has the programme relieved a huge amount of stress for young students and their families, but it has also addressed the growing issue of drop-outs from the local school. The drop-out rate has been a serious concern as families struggling to put meals on the table simply can’t afford to send their children to school. However, since the implementation of this educational assistance programme, there has been a zero drop-out rate in the 2018/2019 school year – all remaining students have successfully continued with their studies, many with consistently rising grades.
“[Our students] have continued their sense of paying it forward by leading our Big Brother and Big Sister Tutorial schemes, by participating in regular community clean-up duties, and by running a weekly youth prayer group,” reports the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines.
The MSC community in the Philippines now hopes to focus on building livelihood programmes in the area, to provide employment opportunities for parents and to give local families valuable tools for self-sufficiency. Thanks to the support of our mission friends and benefactors around the world, our MSCs in the Philippines can continue to shine the light of hope for communities and families in need, where the future once looked bleak.
Keep up to date with the MSC Missions Office Philippines on Facebook.
Visit the new website for the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines.
Jul 11, 2019
As our friends at Loreto Schools Rumbek draw the old school year to a close and look ahead to the new, we are delighted to hear that the schools are continuing to grow at a great rate, offering renewed hope and new opportunities to young women in South Sudan.
There are now over 1,000 children attending the primary school, with only 14 students dropping out in the last year. “The secondary school also continues to be blessed and we are looking at an enrolment close to 350 this year,” writes Benjamin Sprunger, the Loreto Programs Manager. “We also delivered well over half a million meals, and provided around 1,800 clinical consultations – mostly to women and children – during the year”, he continues.
Earlier this year, the Loreto secondary school was “flooded with young hopefuls” as hundreds of young women arrived to complete the first stage of the secondary school intake process. “During 2019’s intake, we had 424 applicants, registering a 22% increase from last year,” explains the official Loreto website. “This is the largest group since the school started and a great milestone for the Loreto Rumbek mission.”
Gaining a place at Loreto is a precious prize indeed for young women in the local region and beyond. The secondary school programme is a support system that encompasses far more than a simple education, with the provision of “three daily meals, health care, uniforms, study and learning materials, 24/7 power and water, accommodation, protection and advocacy, psychosocial support and social development activities, and spiritual development”. The Loreto website tell the story of one applicant, Mary Ayuen from Cuiebet, located 45km away. “Mary explains, ‘I came two days ago and stayed with my friend in Rumbek because I didn’t want to miss the interview. I want to be a doctor.’ Mary is hopeful that her dreams to study at Loreto and to secure a bright future will come true.”
Of course, the Loreto community is far more than just a school – for many of these young women, it is family. All you need to do is look at these pictures of Sr Orla, the school’s principal, returning from her travels this summer, and it is very clear that pride, unity, and love are the mainstays of both teachers and students and the Loreto schools.
We at the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are proud to support the Loreto team in the tremendous work that they do, both in the Loreto schools and their Health Care Unit. We are very pleased to hear that the schools are going from strength to strength, and we wish both staff and students a peaceful summer break ahead of the next busy academic year!
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are proud to support the wonderful work done by the Loreto Sisters for the young women of South Sudan.
For more photographs and further information about Loreto Rumbek, visit their website or visit their Facebook page.
You can also find out more about how MSC Missions work with Loreto Rumbek – and how you can help to make a difference to the young women of South Sudan.
PLEASE HELP US TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN SOUTH SUDAN
Jul 4, 2019
2019 is the Year of the Youth in the Catholic Church in the Philippines, and the Philippine Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart has been continuing their wonderful work in youth ministry all over the country.
MSC Partners, the newsletter of the Philippine Province of the MSC, recently reported on the Year of the Youth, addressing the way in which this celebration “shows the church’s faith and confidence in young people”.
“Empowering youth to be in mission, they need to realize the fundamental truth that they are beloved and gifted; they are worthy and deserving of God’s love, they are meant to discover the dreams of God for the church and the world at large,” the MSC Partners editorial reads. “The words of George Bernard Shaw might add inspiration or enkindle the fire within them: ‘You see things, and you say “Why?” But I dream things that never were; and I say “Why not?”’. Allowing and encouraging the youth to dream and discover their life purpose is one of the greatest achievements of the church. As dreamers of great things, they may be able to use their energy for changes desired by God.”
“Our youth need to be guided, nurtured, and cared for,” continues the MSC Partners editorial. “A recent survey conducted by UNICEF said that 80% of Filipino youth suffer some form of physical and psychological abuse. Now we are facing problems such as poverty, young people not attending school, suicide, emotional distress, mental disorder, distorted values, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and the like. These show that many young people are deeply wounded and broken. In this regard, the church has an important role in the psychological, emotional, and spiritual healing and well-being of the youth.”
“I consider the Church as my lifeguard, who is continuously and unconditionally guarding me against the force of negativity.”
MSCs in the Philippines have long been devoted to the care of the younger members of their flock, promoting education and empowerment wherever possible. In this, the Year of the Youth, they continue to encourage, guide, and nurture through youth ministry in parishes across the country.
This guidance is invaluable to many. “Youths nowadays are very vulnerable,” says Clavel C. Campugan, Parish Youth Leader in San Roque Parish, Cordova, Cebu. “Thus, as a youth I consider myself as vulnerable too. Very susceptible to sadness, chaos, physical or emotional attack, and many other negative forces in the society, that made me drown into a sea of hopelessness. There are times that my faith weakens, especially when my mother died – the strongest and greatest storm I encountered in my whole life. But as a youth in Christ, I consider myself as well-protected – protected by our Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ through the protection from the Church. In this regard, as a member of the Youth Ministry in our parish, I am saved from drowning deeply in this sea of hopelessness. Jesus uses the Church as an instrument to help me swim faster towards HOPE. Therefore, I consider the Church as my lifeguard who is continuously and unconditionally guarding me against the force of negativity and guiding me to become a better person and to become the seed of HOPE for others. Since, I have experienced the fruit of guidance from the Church, I hope that the Church will not stop guarding and guiding youths who are like me.”
“Let us not waste our talents, the gifts that God has given to us; let us not be afraid to dream of great things.”
Angelica Joyce P. Mananes, Parish Youth Leader in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Bantug, agrees. “Pope Francis said, ‘Let the church always be a place of mercy and hope where everyone is welcomed, loved and forgiven’ – the place that every young person is looking for. The church is unlike other people, who might love us at first, but if they notice something they don’t like, they can easily leave us. God’s love for us has no limit – he loves us wholeheartedly. Let us not waste our talents, the gifts that God has given to us; let us not be afraid to dream of great things, because the church believes that young people in mission are BELOVED, GIFTED, EMPOWERED.”
In the Year of the Youth and beyond, MSC communities in the Philippines and across the world continue to encourage, guide, and promote the bright and brilliant youths in our parishes everywhere.
“So, in this special year of the youth, it is our prayer and hope that young people
may find meaning for their lives in their faith-life journey in mission,
as beloved, gifted, and empowered to bring the love of God to all.”
– Fr Bien Castil Jr, MSC
Read about the MSC 2019 World Youth Day Celebrations in Panama
