Nov 28, 2024
November is a busy month in Rumbek. We are coming to the end of the year and students are preparing for their final exams. Before all that can happen, we had our graduation with our Senior 4 students. It is a time of sincere gratitude for all that has been achieved, for the sacrifices that were made, the work that was done. This year, 78 students graduated from Loreto, our largest number yet, and their families came from all over to celebrate their daughters’ success. It was day of speeches, prayer, and dancing.
No sooner had we tidied away the marquees and cleaned up the bunting, then it was down to the Primary School for our First Holy Communion Mass. Over the course of the year, these boys and girls attended special classes on Saturday mornings with Sr. Priyanka to prepare. They learned about the life of Jesus and his followers, the gift of the Eucharist given by God to all his people, and they practised their prayers in both Dinka and English. This First Holy Communion Day was a low-key affair by Irish standards, but was both joyful and heartfelt.
While the schools are winding down, the Catholic University is only getting started on our academic year. We are welcoming our largest cohort of students yet. It’s a real gift to have so many young women and men committed to further education and to raising up their country as future entrepreneurs and teachers. We now have well over a hundred students spread across three degree courses. In the midst of studies covering economics, African literature, and Catholic social ethics, there’s always time for fun, such as a friendly volleyball match between our old and new students. The lecturing staff also tried their luck and showed that our experience does not just begin and end at the lecture hall door. We still lost though – badly.
Only 4% of South Sudan has access to electricity, and this means that at nighttime there is little access to light in towns and almost nothing at all in the villages. To this end, we are starting our late-night study programme, opening our Catholic University library until 8:00pm two nights a week, with a view to expanding the programme. It will provide an essential opportunity to allow students to carry out course work, catch up on their reading, and progress their studies.
Over the weekend, we had our Secondary School Confirmations, with 44 Confirmandi. Since Bishop Christian has been appointed to the newly erected Diocese of Bentiu, I celebrated the sacrament with them. Over the past year, we have journeyed together as they explored their faith, grew in their relationship with God, and had ample time to ask as many challenging and insightful questions as possible, as teenagers are wont to do. It was also good to keep me on my theological toes.
Looking forward to the next month, we have the Senior 4 exams (our equivalent of the Leaving Cert), a road trip to Juba to buy supplies for the year, and a seven-day Diocesan youth walking pilgrimage for peace through the bush, not to mention of course the celebration of Christmas. Life in Rumbek is many things, but never, ever boring.
Nhialic ke yin (God bless you),
Fr. Alan
Read more from Fr Alan’s missionary journey in South Sudan:
Nov 21, 2024
October was an especially busy month for the MSC Missions Office here in the Irish Province, as our MSCs hit the road to meet with some of our many friends and benefactors in different parts of Kerry, Waterford, and Cork. Fr John Fitzgerald, Director of the MSC Missions Office, was at the helm of a team of MSCs who ventured around Munster to meet with just some of our wonderful mission family here at home, in great gratitude for the invaluable support and friendship we see in action every day.
A series of four thanksgiving evenings took place throughout the month of October. Everybody in attendance was enrolled in our Golden Book of the Sacred Heart and our Blue Book of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, while the books themselves were a special part of each evening’s celebrations. Those present each received a little flameless candle, all of which were placed around the Golden Book and the Blue Book display at the beginning of each evening, so that everybody’s intentions would be remembered throughout the night.
During our Thanksgiving Mass, a video played in the background, highlighting our mission projects around the world, and the life-changing work our MSCs undertake every day. Fr John Fitzgerald regaled the congregation with stories from the mission fields, explaining just how vital the help we receive from home is, and how the support of our mission friends makes an unimaginable difference in places many of us will never see in person. Gerry and Dee provided beautiful music throughout each Mass, and after each ceremony, there was an opportunity for our mission friends to chat with our MSCs over tea and coffee. Each evening was a special way for our MSCs to reconnect with just some of the benefactors who make our work possible every single day.
“An honour and a privilege”
The first event took place in the Killarney INEC at the beginning of October, where Fr John Fitzgerald, Fr John Finn, and Fr Seamus Kelly met with some of our Kerry friends. Then it was on to Waterford, where Fr John Fitzgerald and Fr Alan Neville met with some of our benefactors at the Tower Hotel in Waterford City. Finally, the month ended with two events at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road in Cork, where Fr John Fitzgerald was joined by Fr John Finn, Fr Alan Neville, Fr Seamus Kelly, Fr Tom Mulcahy, Fr Con Doherty, and Fr Tony Horgan. Our Head of Fundraising, Mary Morrish, also joined the team to thank just some of the mission family that make our work possible. Our MSCs met over 400 people over the course of four evenings, giving us a great chance to chat with people who are changing lives across the world, through the kindness and compassion that begin at home.
“It was our absolute honour and privilege to celebrate Mass with our mission friends and benefactors, and to meet with those who could come along to our evenings,” says Fr John Fitzgerald. “I am astounded at the knowledge they have, both of our projects and of our MSCs, and I have been equally amazed at the fact that so many of them have continued the tradition began by parents or loved ones who have now passed in supporting our missions. It is always humbling to have the opportunity to hear personal requests for prayer, for those who are sick or facing different challenges, and it really has been our privilege to be able to hear these intentions in person, and to pray with some of the people whose kindness is encouraging and motivating our MSC communities across the world.”
It really was a very special thing to be able to chat in person about our current projects, as MSCs and mission friends alike both heard stories and told their own. Indeed, it brought home to us all the fact that, despite distance and differences, we all have our own challenges and goals at heart, and we are all doing our best in our own situations. It is truly heartwarming to see the great generosity of mission friends and benefactors who are dealing with their own struggles in life, reaching across the miles to help beneficiaries on the mission fields who might be facing similar family problems, albeit in different circumstances. The generosity that begins in your own home, through our Missions Office here in Cork, quickly reaches our MSCs who are ministering in places like rural Guatemala, remote villages in the Amazon, and the barrios, or slums, of Venezuela, to name but a few. It just goes to show that the boundaries set in place by distance or language are nothing in the face of compassion, and that is the true missionary spirit and the love of Jesus in action in human form, here on earth.
While our team of MSCs were fortunate enough to meet with a great many of our mission friends and benefactors on this occasion, we are of course acutely aware of so many more people who all provide fundamental support to our ongoing missions. Constraints of time and space mean that we cannot meet with everybody in one swoop, but rest assured that every single donation we receive is put to the best possible use with heartfelt gratitude, and every one of our benefactors across the province is in the prayers of our MSCs priests daily. Having received such a warm welcome in Kerry, Waterford, and Cork, we hope to be able to meet even more of our extended mission family in the not-too-distant future, and in the meantime, we thank you sincerely for your continued friendship and support, which means so much to so many.
Nov 14, 2024
The team at the MSC Centre for the Poor in Butuan City were all on board to promote mental health and wellbeing at a recent mental wellness workshop, which took place at the beginning of November.
An evening centred on Self-Care for Mental Wellness and Well-Being took place at the centre on November 5th, with guest speaker BK Sister Ma. Lourdes L. Aseneta, chairperson of Brahman Kumaris – Phils,  providing an educational insight into mental wellness and the importance of self-care.
The team at the MSC Centre for the Poor work daily to promote a harmonious relationship between local communities and the world in which we live – nurturing our natural environment, while reaping its benefits in creating a sustainable lifestyle that will help poor and struggling families to build the foundation for a brighter future. The team here are highly active in their ministry, developing and facilitating programmes that encourage disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals and families to learn the skills they need to build a better quality of life and a brighter future. Some of their outreach programmes include agricultural and clean water projects, plastic-free and zero-waste initiatives, and emergency response aid which provides urgent care to survivors of the typhoons and tropical storms that frequently hit the country.
The community at the MSC Centre for the Poor are working tirelessly to build a better world and a better quality of life, and the focus on mental health and wellbeing is just one of the ways in which they are continuing on their journey to encourage a brighter, more positive future for all.
Images via the Facebook page for MSC Centre for the Poor.
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Nov 4, 2024
In November, we remember, keeping family, friends, and loved ones who have gone before us in our prayers at this sacred time. This year, we invite you to take part in a very special ceremony of remembrance and thanksgiving, as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of our much-loved Light Up a Memory Mass.
Our annual Light Up a Memory Mass has become a beloved tradition in the hearts of many, and this year, we mark its tenth anniversary in a special celebration of cherished memories. Once again, we are glad to invite old friends and new to take part in our remembrance Mass, which will be celebrated this year on Saturday, November 23rd. This beautiful candlelit evening of music, reflection, and remembrance will take place at 6.30pm the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork, and will be streamed live here on the MSC website for those who cannot attend in person.
Grief inevitably touches us all, and the Month of the Holy Souls is a special time to honour fond memories of those we have loved and lost. This November, we come together to light a candle in tribute to those whose memory we hold dear, honouring precious memories of lives well lived.
All are welcome to join us in reflection on this special night, and to submit the names of departed family, friends, and loved ones for remembrance. We would greatly appreciate your support for our ongoing mission projects, and in gratitude for your contribution, we will be glad to remember your intentions on the evening. You can then send us the names of your departed loved ones, and our MSC priests will remember them specially during our Light Up a Memory Mass.
This year is a particularly special one, as we mark the tenth anniversary of what has become a much-anticipated tradition to close the Month of the Holy Souls. From the COVID pandemic to ongoing war and social unrest, the events of recent years have demonstrated more than ever the tremendous power of unity and love. Those who cannot be with us in person on the night are very welcome to join us on our live stream, and to light a candle in their own homes or in our online candle gallery, where those listed will have a special place in the prayers of our MSC priests.
In the bleak winter months, the light of remembrance warms our hearts, and the flame of hope and love continues to burn brightly, an enduring spark to light up the darkness. We hope you will join us for an evening of reflection and remembrance in honour of the loved ones who are always in our thoughts.
Find out more about our annual MSC Light Up a Memory Mass.
Please click here to watch the Light Up a Memory Mass, and all November Masses for the Holy Souls, on our live stream.
Oct 31, 2024
A recent article on the Aleteia website shone the spotlight on Fr Albert Boudaud MSC, Papua New Guinea’s oldest missionary. Aleteia’s Camille Dalmas writes a touching piece on Fr Albert, now aged 84, and his missionary journey, following an encounter during Pope Francis’ visit to Port Moresby in September of this year.
Fr Albert Boudaud MSC (Image from Camille Dalmas’ article on www.aleteia.org)
The article explains how Fr Albert began his ministry in Papua New Guinea in 1968, at the age of 28. Originally from the Vendée, he joined the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Issoudun and was ordained in 1967.
Following his initial pastoral year in Paris, Fr Albert embarked on what was an epic voyage to Papua New Guinea, “a place where his congregation were pioneers”. The journey took 45 days, taking him “across the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and finally to the Pacific via the Panama Canal… Then came the Marquesas, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Sydney. And from there, he traveled to Port Moresby.”
“He remembers sailing the Pacific Ocean for nine days without seeing anything but water,” writes Dalmas.
Making Papua New Guinea his home, Fr Albert moved throughout local villages, learning as many of the country’s 800 different languages as he could. “I came voluntarily, I integrated myself, I made it my country by living close to the people,” he says in the Aleteia piece.
To fit in, he also had to chew areca nut, the natural drug — also known as betel nut — that turns the teeth of so many Papua New Guineans red (and causes mouth cancer). “When the situation was a bit difficult, we’d chew together and that made it possible to get things done.”
Shoes and sandals wore out during these years of mission, when he wasn’t simply going barefoot over muddy terrain. He took the Gospel and the Eucharist on “patrols” to remote villages. He remembers being bitten by snakes before chasing them away with a stick.
He also has baptized people everywhere. “It’s our most important job,” he insists. He spent several days in each village, celebrating Mass and conferring the sacraments.
– Camille Dalmas, Aleteia
Fr Albert is now retired after many years of faithful service. To read his full story, please click here to visit the Aleteia website.
Oct 24, 2024
October 21st marked the 117th anniversary of the death of our founder, Fr Jules Chevalier MSC. Each year on this day, we pray especially for the man who planted the roots of our foundation from humble beginnings, sparking a charism and a mission that we still share over a century later, as our extended Sacred Heart family continues to minister in over 50 countries across the world.
Representatives from several of the Chevalier communities gathered in Rome to pray for Fr Chevalier in the run up to his anniversary, the Chevalier Family in the Philippines also commemorated the day “celebrating the life and mission Jules Chevalier bequeathed to us”, MSCs in the Province of the Pacific Islands “gathered with our Sisters of the OLSH, former Chevalier students, families, friends, and benefactors to mark this special day”, and our MSC and OLSH communities in Vietnam came together for a beautiful service that celebrated the love of the Holy Spirit, and our shared mission to spread that love to every nation throughout the world.
Philippines:
Province of the Pacific Islands:
Vietnam:
The Australian website for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have shared an account of the Death of Fr Jules Chevalier, from the writings of Fr Charles Piperon, quoted from October 21st in the Jules Chevalier Daily Readings (selected by Jan Bovenmars MSC).
“Father Chevalier’s sickness was rapidly bringing his life to an end. Monday, October 21, was the day on which God, in the plans of his infinite mercy, chose to call to himself his faithful servant. Our Superior General, Father Mayer, had set out in haste from Rome and arrived at Issoudun during the night. Immediately on his arrival, he hurried to Father Chevalier who recognised him and still had the strength to bless him. Father Mayer did not leave him again.
Towards midday a crisis seem to indicate the end. Father Mayer then had the community assembled and with them recited the prayers for the dying. From this moment on prayers were said continually at the deathbed of our Father. At three o’clock, there was a fresh crisis, no less painful than what had preceded; but the infirmarian’s intervention helped him surmount it. This was the last of his sufferings. After that he remained for more than two hours in great calm, almost motionless, as if in a peaceful sleep. Then, like the flickering out of a flame, he fell peacefully asleep in the Lord. The clock struck five and the evening Angelus was ringing in the parish.
Thus died our beloved Father, surrounded by his intimates and by some of his religious who had come from various parts to assist at his last hour and to render him their final respects. He had lived eighty-three years, six months and six days, the greater part of which – fifty-three years – had, by a special design of divine Providence, been spent in the town of Issoudun.”
Together, we pray for Fr Chevalier in his eternal rest in the Lord’s love, and we continue, encouraged in our shared missionary journey “to be on Earth the heart of God”.
Sources:
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Australia
Facebook – Ametur MSC
Facebook – MSC Scholasticate Community-Philippines
Facebook – Missionaries of the Sacred Heart – Province of the Pacific Islands
Facebook – MSC Vietnam
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