Jan 19, 2019
Gospel Reflection
Reflection & Dialogue with Questions of the Day:
Wedding vision with reality
The Gospel (John 2:1-11):
This was the first of the signs given by Jesus: it was at Cana in Galilee.
Combining vision with reality is no easy matter, be it in religious, political, or other areas. Vision sustains us. It gives direction and courage to work for personal ambitions and the social structures one believes in. Israel’s prophets, in particular after the disaster of the Babylonian exile, were rich in their vision and their hope for the nation’s future, for beloved Zion. We have a good example of this in today’s first reading. The biblical narrative also tells us that the course of Israel’s history did not conform to this vision. A prophetic vision gives God’s plan. How this works in reality will depend on the human response. From Israel and Zion, this prophetic vision was transferred to the Church.
The Gospel reading on the wedding feast at Cana also contains a vision of Christ’s work. This began with the first sign at Cana and was completed at the hour of his glorification at the crucifixion and ascension. It symbolised the transformation of Jewish ritual and festivals. But this transformation, this divine mystery, had to be lived out in each Christian community, with all the attendant weaknesses and pettiness. We have an example of it in the Church at Corinth. Paul had to alert the followers of Christ to the dangers arising from the loss of concentration on the central truths of Christianity.
“By all means let us keep our vision alive, but let us wed it with reality.”
The problem of wedding vision with reality in a constant one Church life. As a current example, we may take the Second Vatican Council. It gave a new formulation of the Christian message, intended to have the Gospel message address the men and women of our own day. Sometimes today there is strong criticism of the Church for not having implemented the teaching, the vision, of Vatican II. In general, by using the term “the Church” in such a context, what is meant is what is often referred to as the institutional Church. In this regard, two points may be made. First of all, the Church first and foremost is the entire people of God, and one must thus ask how much have they implemented the Council’s teaching. Secondly, when there is a call to return to the “spirit” of the Vatican Council, in this and in other matters one must not forget the changes that taken place in Church matters since the Council: the growing movement of secularism and atheism, and various clerical scandals. By all means let us keep our vision alive, but let us wed it with reality.
Fr Martin McNamara MSC
Jan 17, 2019
On the first leg of his trip to Venezuela, Fr Michael has been visiting the city of Caracas, where the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have two houses, the Casa Misionere and the parish house in Santa Cruz.
Fr Michael brought with him a suitcase full of donated toiletries and basic hygiene products, and distributed some of these items after Mass in Santa Cruz. The gifts were very warmly received, as inflation in Venezuela has sent the cost of necessities rocketing. A packet of baby wipes costs 3,900 Venezuelan bolívars, and toiletries such as soap and shampoo are similarly priced – an astronomical amount when you take into account that up until the middle of January, the average monthly wage was just under 5,000 bolívars.
The value of the bolívar has fluctuated wildly, even in the space of the first week of Fr Michael’s visit. “When I arrived on Friday, January 4th, the average wage of 5,000 bolívars was worth USD $7 on the black market,” says Fr Michael. “A week later, on Friday, January 11th, the same 5,000 bolívar wage was worth just USD $2. A big loaf of bread costs 1,200 bolívars, a kilo of cheese costs 3,000 bolívars, and 24 eggs cost 6,000 bolívars – so forget having an egg every day when the average wage is just under 5,000 bolívars a month.”
During Fr Michael’s stay in Caracas, the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, announced that the minimum wage would be increased to 18,000 bolívars per month in order to combat the struggles that the people of Venezuela are facing because of inflation. This change came into effect from January 15th, and it is hoped that it will help local people to regain some quality of life following recent struggles.
Here are some pictures of the Mass at which Fr Michael distributed the gifts. Fr John Jennings MSC, originally from Cork, Ireland, blesses the congregation, and locals give each other a very warm and enthusiastic sign of peace!
Following his stay in Caracas, Fr Michael will next visit MSC parishes in Maracaibo, where Irish MSCs first began their work in Venezuela over 50 years ago. Be sure to check back for more updates as he continues on his travels.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS
Find out more about our missionary outreach in Venezuela
Read about Fr Joseph McGee’s trip to Venezuela in 2017
Jan 10, 2019
A journey that begins with a single purpose often ends with much more…
As January gets into its stride, we look ahead to a year full of promise and new opportunities – and the 2019 MSC pilgrimages are a wonderful way to embrace the spirit of faith, hope, and unity over the coming year. This year, we will be going on pilgrimage to Fatima in May/June, and to Lourdes in September.
Each year, pilgrims join us for different reasons. Some may be struggling with illness, grief, stress, or other personal challenges. Other wish to take part in a traditional pilgrimage journey with like-minded travellers, sharing stories, experiences, and reflections on life. Many wish to simply pray, reflect, and offer thanksgiving for their blessings. The experience of pilgrimage is different for every individual, but one thing remains the same on every journey – a sense of great joy in the awareness of being part of something bigger, of something more.
“A powerful, life-changing experience… The invitation is open to all.”
“Pilgrimage is about freedom,” says Fr Alan Neville MSC. “It’s about walking to the horizon – and when you get there, you keep on going. It’s about taking part in something that is at the same time enjoyable and profound. I’ve yet to meet one person who regretted making the trip. For every one of them it has been a powerful, even life-changing experience. The invitation is open to all, so what’s keeping you?”
With a true sense of friendship, companionship, and community, our pilgrimages offer a warm welcome to all.
“Each pilgrim brings a special wish in their hearts, a prayer.”
– Pope Francis
MSC Pilgrimages 2019
Pilgrimage to Fatima
May 30th – June 3rd (4 nights full board)
Pilgrimage to Lourdes
September 14th – 19th (5 nights full board)
For further information, please contact Joe Walsh Tours on +353 (0) 1 2410803.
Read about our 2018 pilgrimage to Lourdes.
Jan 4, 2019
On Thursday, January 3rd, Fr Michael O’Connell, Director of the MSC Missions Office in Cork, embarked on a three-week visit to Venezuela, where he will visit MSC parishes and spend time with the communities who benefit from the care of our missionaries.
Venezuela is currently in the grip of the worst political, social, economic, and humanitarian crisis ever experienced in the country’s history, and local people struggle daily with extreme poverty and hardship. The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart first started their work in this deeply troubled country over 50 years ago, when four Irish MSCs began the first MSC mission in Maracaibo, and today, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are the only Irish priests working to bring relief to local communities who are trapped in the dreadful conditions brought about by the current social and political unrest.
The situation has become increasingly worrying in recent years. Former Irish Provincial Leader Fr Joseph McGee MSC was greatly affected by his trip to Venezuela in 2017. “The most difficult thing I witnessed was seeing people scavenge in the rubbish heaps for scraps that have burst through the overflowing rubbish bags and appear to be edible,” he recalls. “People are doing all they can to leave the country and start a new life”.
In October 2018, we reported that Pope Francis had encouraged the Venezuelan bishops to “stay close to the people of Venezuela, especially to those who are suffering,” while Simon Coveney, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, addressed the “serious, volatile, and rapidly deteriorating situation,” where “reports of human rights violations are a cause of real concern”.
Having marked 50 years of ministry in Venezuela in the summer of 2017, the our MSCs continue to do all they can to help vulnerable families affected by the ongoing crisis. On this trip, Fr Michael is travelling with an extra suitcase filled with essentials for local families who are enduring the consequences of hyperinflation, which has pushed the cost of necessities sky-high – far beyond the reach of parents who don’t know where their children’s next meal is coming from. His case is packed full of supplies including toothpaste, soap, nappies, and other basic hygiene products – everyday items that we might not think twice about using, but which will be very welcome to families who have very little.
Be sure to check back in the coming weeks, as Fr Michael continues on his travels and keeps us updated on the MSC Venezuelan mission.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS
Dec 19, 2018
Dear Friends,
Another year has flown by! 2018 is almost at an end, and from international celebrations at the World Meeting of Families to my own adventure on the Camino walk, it has been a year to remember for many reasons.
Without doubt, these are challenging times for us all. From social and political turmoil, to devastation caused by natural disasters around the world, it can seem that every time we turn on the news, we hear of death and destruction. However, even in the depths of despair, hope remains, and thanks to the support of our great community of faith around the world, we have been able to continue to bring the gifts of hope, faith, and love to vulnerable families all over the world.
This summer, along with Pope Francis and hundreds of thousands of people around the world, we celebrated the love of the family, and at Christmas time, we reflect once again on the blessing of family – our own immediate families, and our extended families, made up of friends, neighbours, and brothers and sisters in Christ.
I often refer to you, our mission friends, as a family of faith, and together, we are part of a much bigger picture. I include our MSCs working in far-flung corners of the world, away from the embrace of home and hearth this Christmas season. I include the communities to which they minister, and the children who have been orphaned by illness or violence. I include those who are surrounded by loved ones, and those who may be spending the Christmas season alone. I include all who are struggling with challenges of different kinds. Love knows no bounds, and we are every one of us a loved and valued part of this great family of faith.
As another year begins to wind towards its end, I thank you for all that we have achieved together over the past months. Thanks to your friendship, the power of God’s mercy continues to be seen in all its glory around the world. Our strength comes from your kindness and we are truly grateful.
In the spirit of the season and on behalf of our MSC community around the world, I’d like to extend my warmest wishes for a joyful Christmas, and I pray that the coming year will bring you and yours an abundance of peace, happiness, and blessings.
Wishing you and yours a happy and holy Christmas,
Fr Michael O’Connell MSC
Dec 19, 2018
MSC Christmas Raffle 2018
Prize Winners:
1st Prize: Shopping voucher to the value of €1,000
K. Taaffe
Shannon Harbour, Birr, Co. Offaly
2nd Prize: Twelve Days of Christmas Hamper to the value of €500
B. Flynn
Kilcormac, Co. Offaly
3rd Prize: Supreme Christmas Hamper to the value of €400
A. McAnearwney
Banbridge, Co. Down
4th Prize: Festive Feast Christmas to the value of €350
M. Doherty
Ardmore Road, Co. Derry
5th Prize: Christmas Carol Hamper to the value of €250
R. Kinsella
Coton Green, Tamworth, England
6th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper to the value of €150
D. Long
Thomond Gate, Limerick
7th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper to the value of €150
G. Potter
Abbeyknockmoy, Tuam, Co. Galway
8th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper to the value of €150
D. Cumane
Ballinlough, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon
9th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper to the value of €150
J. Murphy
Caim, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
10th Prize: Deck the Halls Hamper to the value of €150
M. White
St John’s, Trim, Co. Meath
Special Members Sellers Prize: Christmas Carol Hamper to the value of €250
C. Wallace
Drumree, Co. Meath
This year’s Christmas Draw took place on Wednesday, December 19th 2018.
We would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone for taking part.
Click here to read a special Christmas message from Fr Michael
