Jul 30, 2018
Roisin and Deidre will support the children’s education during there time in Holy Family
Roisin Brennan, a childcare worker from Kilkenny, shares some of her experiences on the MSC Volunteering Project 2018:
“Where to start … Well I’m already considering returning in the future. The people here are so welcoming. You are guaranteed to have a great laugh with the children and staff. There are hugs galore and the children really do touch your heart. They are so happy to have volunteers to play with and teach them new games, I have learnt a lot from the children and working as a team at Holy Family Centre.
Roisin works with the kids developing their painting technique
The winter camp was great fun. The children loved baking, crafts, and having someone to run get out and play with. Time flies, as everyday there is a new adventure to be had.
The Holy Family Centre is situated in a stunning, rural location, surrounded by the spectacular Drakensburg Mountains. There is a great atmosphere in the local town. The support from Fr. Alan and Sr. Susan in the MSC Volunteering Programme was fantastic from start to finish. Sr. Sally, the director of Holy Family, works tirelessly to keep everything running smoothly has offered endless support throughout our time here.
I would highly recommend the whole experience!” (more…)
Jul 27, 2018
This summer, the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are raising funds to help the Sacred Heart College in Cameroon, where students gather every day in classrooms that are still under construction. For most of these students, poverty and hardship mean life is a daily struggle, and education is their only hope for the future. Here, the students share their stories, telling us what the Sacred Heart College means to them.
“My name is Justin. I am 12 years old and a student in Form 1 at the Sacred Heart Bilingual College of Lada II.
I started school when I was six years old. It’s thanks to God that I can go to school and survive, because my home life is very difficult.
I get up at 4.00am every day, and after school I go to the market to earn money by helping people with their shopping.
My mother produces and sells cassava sausage. With my money and my mother’s, we can earn a living and I can continue to go to school.
Despite these harsh conditions, we still survive, thanks to God.”
This summer, we’re working to provide a safe, comfortable space for students like Justin to learn and grow. If you can, please help us to build a brighter future for the Sacred Heart community.
PLEASE HELP US TO CHANGE LIVES IN CAMEROON
Jul 24, 2018
This summer, the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are raising funds to help the Sacred Heart College in Cameroon, where students gather every day in classrooms that are still under construction. For most of these students, poverty and hardship mean life is a daily struggle, and education is their only hope for the future. Here, the students share their stories, telling us what the Sacred Heart College means to them.
“My name is Elie. I am 11 years old and a student in Form I at the Sacred Heart Bilingual College of Lada II. During the week, I get up at 5.00am and I prepare myself for school. I live 2km away from the college and I have to leave early in order to arrive on time, which is not always easy.
I have no breakfast and I often have no money to buy lunch. The road is dusty during the dry season and muddy during the rainy season.
I come back from school around 4.30pm, but I don’t have dinner until around 10.00pm. My mother doesn’t live with us anymore and my sister has to come back from school also before cooking. My father is a tailor and he does not have a lot of money. I thank God that I am able to get my education at the Sacred Heart College.”
This summer, we’re working to provide a safe, comfortable space for students like Elie to learn and grow. If you can, please help us to build a brighter future for the Sacred Heart community.
PLEASE HELP US TO CHANGE LIVES IN CAMEROON
Jul 20, 2018
One day over and we are getting into the rhythm
It was an intrepid group of pilgrims who set out on the Camino last month. Fifteen relative strangers were bonded together by a desire to walk to a different rhythm of life. We left behind the hustle and bustle of Cork, Dublin, and London for a week on the Way of St. James.
It’s hard to describe the Camino. It is a somewhat ineffable experience that those who have walked it, no matter where they are from, how old they are, or whatever their faith perspective is, understand what it means. In many ways it is the perfect antidote to the rat race and its attendant stress that we have come to see as a virtue. Pilgrims here move with a new freedom, where each day they walk to the horizon with the rising sun at their backs, and when they get there they walk on to the next horizon.
Sunset on the Way
This year we had our largest group yet and everyone gelled well. The first day took us to the town of Sarria, about 110km from Santiago. It was an early pilgrim meal, followed with the group’s first attempt to get unpacked and settled down in the albergue dormitory with the lights off. It’s not for the faint hearted, but by Day 3 you could do it blindfolded There were, after all, about twenty other people in the room, some who had walked all the way from France and beyond. (more…)
Jul 19, 2018
This summer, the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are raising funds to help the Sacred Heart College in Cameroon, where students gather every day in classrooms that are still under construction. For most of these students, poverty and hardship mean life is a daily struggle, and education is their only hope for the future. Here, the students share their stories, telling us what the Sacred Heart College means to them.
“My name is Athanase. I am 15 years old and a student in Form 2 at the Sacred Heart Bilingual College of Lada II. I walk a distance of 2km every day to reach the college.
In order to make money, I sell bananas and groundnuts after school, and during the weekends and holidays. My parents are not working but my father is a bricklayer – sometimes he has work, and sometimes he has nothing, which becomes very difficult both at home and at school.
I thank God for sending me the Sacred Heart College, because even though I missed paying my fees, they permitted me to still attend class.
I’m doing my best.”
This summer, we’re working to provide a safe, comfortable space for students like Athanese to learn and grow. If you can, please help us to build a brighter future for the Sacred Heart community.
PLEASE HELP US TO CHANGE LIVES IN CAMEROON
Jul 17, 2018
We were delighted to receive these wonderful pictures from Fr Alan Neville MSC, taken on his recent trip to the parish of St Paul the Apostle in Tsakane, Gauteng. Fr Alan paid a visit to Fr Martin Morrissey MSC, parish priest, and joined the lively and enthusiastic community of St Paul’s parish for Mass during his stay.
Tsakane is a township located outside Johannesburg, and, as is the case in many parts of South Africa, much of the population faces significant social and economic struggles. The community of St Paul’s parish, however, is a vibrant one, who find great joy and unity in their faith despite the daily challenges they face.
“Everyone is welcome at St Paul’s,” reads the church information. “Come just as you are – we’d love to get to know you better.” This warm, inclusive nature was demonstrated clearly as parishioners welcomed Fr Alan with open arms!
We’re sending our very best to the community of St Paul’s, and we wish Fr Martin continued success in his ministry there.
