Apr 5, 2018
The World Meeting of Families started in 1994, when Pope St John Paul II asked the Pontifical Council for the Family (now part of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life) to establish an international event of prayer, catechesis and celebration that would draw participants from around the globe and that would help to strengthen the bonds between families and bear witness to the crucial importance of marriage and the family to all of society.
As you will already know, Dublin has been chosen by Pope Francis to host the next World Meeting of Families from 21-26 August 2018, guided by the theme “The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World”.
Held every three years, this major international event brings together families from across the world to celebrate, pray and reflect upon the central importance of marriage and the family as the cornerstone of our lives, of society and of the Church. The event has at its heart the following key moments:
- 22 to the 24 August 2018, a three-day Congress.  Each day will reflect on the theme “The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World” chosen by the Holy Father and will include an enriching programme for adults of keynote speakers, workshops, talks, testimonies and discussions; an engaging and exciting programme for young people as well as fun activities for children. The Congress will also include daily celebration of the Eucharist, prayerful activities, exhibitions, cultural events and musical performances.
- Saturday 25 August 2018, a Festival of Families, comprising a reflective concert style event within a prayerful and joyful atmosphere, in which personal stories of faith will be shared by families from all continents.
- Sunday 26 August 2018, WMOF2018 will close with a solemn Eucharistic Celebration, that will gather thousands of people from Ireland and all over the world.
Credit Photo: Des McMahon
The main events of the WMOF2018 will take place in Dublin, at a large conference venue as well as in other venues in and around the city. It is also anticipated that related events, including the hosting of international groups, will take place all over the island of Ireland.
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Pope Francis
Pope Francis recently announced that he will make the first papal trip to Ireland in nearly 40 years, visiting Dublin for two days later this year to take part in the World Meeting of Families celebrations.
Confirmed events that Pope Francis will be participating in include:
- Saturday 25th August 2018: Attendance at the WMOF2018 Festival of Families.
- Sunday 26th August 2018: Celebration of the WMOF2018 Final Mass.
A detailed itinerary of Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland will be published on the WMOF website once final plans are announced.
Apr 5, 2018
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are very sad to announce the passing of Fr Mark McDonald, our former Superior General.Â
Fr Mark McDonald passed away on April 2, 2018 at the Sacred Heart Villa in Center Valley, Pennsylvania at age 75. Father McDonald was born July 22, 1942 in Watertown, New York, the son of Donald and Anna Murrock McDonald. He was a graduate of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School and Immaculate Heart Academy.
Fr McDonald attended St. Bonaventure University for two years and began his studies to become a Missionary of the Sacred Heart (MSC) in 1961. He completed his philosophy studies in Quebec, Canada and graduated from Laval University in Quebec City in 1964. He completed his theological studies in Rome, Italy and graduated from the Angelicum Pontifical University in Rome in 1968. He was ordained a priest of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart on June 29, 1968 in Watertown by Bishop Thomas Donnellan.
After ordinaton, Fr McDonald taught at the Sacred Heart Preparatory Seminary and Immaculate Heart Central High School (IHC), both in Watertown. In 1972, he became Vice Principal at IHC. In 1976, he became Director of the MSC Retreat and Renewal Center in Shelby, Ohio. In 1983, he became Formation Director for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Bogota, Colombia and in 1985 became Sectional Superior of the MSCs in Colombia.
In 1991, Fr McDonald was elected Provincial of the MSCs in the United States headquartered in Aurora, Illinois. In 1997, he became Pastor of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parish in Watertown. In 1999, he became Director of Cor Novum (the MSC retreat and renewal center in Issoudun, France). From 2005 to 2017, he was Superior General of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart worldwide located in Rome, Italy. Fr McDonald became semi-retired in 2018 and was residing at the Sacred Heart Villa in Center Valley, Pennsylvania.
Please keep Fr Mark McDonald in your thoughts and prayers.Â
Fr Mark McDonald MSC, 1942 – 2018
Source: Watertown Daily TimesÂ
Mar 29, 2018
MSC Easter Draw 2018
Prize Winners:
1st Prize: €2,000 Cruise Travel VoucherÂ
E. Byrne
Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
2nd Prize: €1,500 Sun Holiday VoucherÂ
U. Cunningham
Inchicore, Dublin 12
3rd Prize: €1,000 City Break VoucherÂ
M. McGrath
Lusk, Co. Dublin
4th Prize: €1,000 TV/Audio VoucherÂ
J. Keaveney
Ballymoe, Co. Galway
5th Prize: €1,000 TV/Audio VoucherÂ
D.M. Kissane
Killiney, Co. Dublin
6th Prize: €1,000 Home Furniture VoucherÂ
P. O’Siochru
Dingle, Co. Kerry
7th Prize: €1,000 Home Furniture VoucherÂ
J. Brecknell c/o P. Brecknell
Newbridge, Co. Kildare
8th Prize: €500 Weekend Break VoucherÂ
J. McGeehan
Fintown, Co. Donegal
9th Prize: €500 Weekend Break VoucherÂ
B.J. Flaherty
Inverin, Co. Galway
10th Prize: €500 Computer/Tablet VoucherÂ
H. McCormack c/o U. McCormack
Millmount, Co. Westmeath
11th Prize: €500 Computer/Tablet VoucherÂ
M. Sidebotham
London Road, Slough
12th Prize: €500 Home Decor VoucherÂ
Sr B. McAuliffe c/o Sr M. Murphy
Clonakilty, Co. Cork
13th Prize: €500 Home Decor VoucherÂ
D. Collins
Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
14th Prize: €500 Garden / Outdoor VoucherÂ
F. Timmins
Malahide, Co. Dublin
15th Prize: €500 Garden / Outdoor Voucher
C. Smyth
Lanesborough, Co. Longford
16th Prize: €500 Home Appliances VoucherÂ
B. Deighan
Malahide Road, Dublin 3
17th Prize: €500 Home Appliances VoucherÂ
M. Maher
Blessington Street, Dublin 7
18th Prize: €500 Hot Air Balloon VoucherÂ
C. Cooney c/o A. Corboy
Killarney, Co. Kerry
19th Prize: €500 Hot Air Balloon VoucherÂ
P. Flemming c/o J. Fleming
Ferrybank, Waterford
20th Prize: €500 Cookery Class Voucher
M. O’Leary
Athenry, Co. Galway
All winners will be notified individually.
We would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone for taking part.Â
The Easter Draw took place on Wednesday evening, 28th March 2018.
Mar 27, 2018
Our dear friends in Loreto School, Rumbek, have again been in touch to keep us updated on the life changing improvements they have been able to make as a result of your generous donations to our South Sudan Appeal.Â
Sadly, in Rumbek, things have gotten worse – but that has only increased the efficacy and impact of our South Sudan Appeal and the MSC’s support. The following are some very positive updates we received from the Loreto Team in South Sudan:
- Loreto Primary School graduated its first class from Primary 8 – 100% pass rate in the National Primary Certificate Exams – the level needed to achieve this is 50%. No Loreto Students were below 72% and both Loreto Primary School and one of it’s students were in the Top 10 in Western Lakes State.
- Loreto Primary added a primary school this year with about 150 students.
- Increased Enrollment – Loreto Primary and Loreto Secondary have increased their numbers this year with over 1000 primary school students and nearly 300 secondary school girls.
- The Loreto Girls Secondary School Class of 2017 sat their exams in March (2018); 100% of the girls who sat the exam in 2017 (class of 2016) passed.
- The Loreto Graduate Internship program was identified as one of the most impactful short-term projects implements by Out of the Box (OTB) external evaluators. The MSC Graduate house will increase the number of girls that they can offer this opportunity for.
- The Loreto Schools 10th anniversary is fast approaching (April 2018) and they are preparing to celebrate their 10th year since the secondary school opened in South Sudan.
A big thank you to Benjamin, Loreto Programs Manager in Rumbek, for sending us these fantastic pictures perfectly capturing the amazing work being done in the Loreto Schools.
Mar 26, 2018
RESURRECTION IS NEW LIFE
Jesus died. He didn’t seem to die, he didn’t play dead, he died. As a human being He breathed his last on the Cross and died. On Holy Saturday his dead body lay in the tomb. He was completely helpless, completely dependent on His Father.
On Easter Sunday the Father raised Jesus from the dead. He is risen. Alleluia.
Of course, it is the human Jesus who was raised from the dead. Jesus as Divine did not die, could not die. It was Jesus’ humanity which died and was raised. This is our hope as Christians. This is why we shout and sing alleluia.
For just as Jesus’ humanity was raised from the dead so shall ours.
But what does it mean to be risen? It doesn’t mean a return to this level of existence. Rather it means moving on to a better kind of existence, to live the very life of God.
This is good news but not just for when we die. The risen life, began to grow in each of us at our baptism. It continues to grow as we open ourselves each moment to the power of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The new life of the risen Christ shows itself in us as we love God and our neighbour. When we spontaneously love others because it just seems the right thing to do that is the Spirit of our risen Lord alive in us.
And so we rejoice and sing, Christ is risen Alleluia.
Fr. Con O’ConnellÂ
Mar 20, 2018
The Loreto Schools Rumbek have started their largest year yet!
In the Loreto Primary School, which helps support and educate young community members from Maker Kuei, there are over 1000 students enrolled between the morning and afternoon sessions. More importantly, the school has an average female enrollment of 44% girls. This is a 3% increase from last year.
National rates of female enrollment vary from as low as 25% up to approximately 33% depending on the source. The Loreto Schools hope to reach about 50% female participation in the coming years.
The Loreto Girls Secondary School had nearly 350 students attempt to enroll, sadly the school only had placements for about 100 students.
The team at Loreto are very excited to welcome the next generation of the Loreto Rumbek School families!
