Feb 24, 2017
First Sunday of Lent
In the desert, Jesus is confronted with many temptations. Hunger and thirst, and the emptiness and quietness of the desert strip away all that stands between Jesus and his deepest self.
Just before Jesus was driven out into the desert, his Father told him at the Jordan that he was the Father’s beloved son. Rooted in the Father’s love, Jesus is able to face parts of himself that as a human being he might prefer to ignore.
The loaves of bread symbolise all those things we can put our trust in, such as food, money, and possessions. Jesus puts his trust in God’s Word instead.
Next, he is tempted to have power over others, to carry out his mission by lording it over others. Yet he rejected this path also. His path led to the cross, not to a throne.
The temptation to throw himself off the tower could be a temptation to live his life always looking for the most intense experiences. Sometimes, such desires can lead us to harm ourselves or others. On occasion, this temptation can lead to addiction.
Jesus rejected all these temptations. He put his trust in the love of his Father and chose the way of humble service.
This Lent, we are invited into the desert to face ourselves, to realise that the Father loves us also, warts and all, and to reject our own temptations in favour of the way of Jesus.
Fr. Con O’Connell MSC
Feb 20, 2017
This spring, we are delighted to unveil a new look for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. With a new design, a new logo, and a new and improved website, we’re looking to the future as we continue our work in building a better world for all of God’s people.
Here at mscmissions.ie, we’ve made it easier for you to learn about who we are and what we do. You can take a step back in time and discover the history and heritage of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, explore our different mission projects around the world, support our ongoing work as we change lives for the better, learn more about the life of a missionary priest, or visit our Cards & Gifts section and have our Mass cards and devotional gifts delivered directly to your door.
Our new site also invites you to pray with our MSCs. Pause for thought with our prayers and reflections, submit a prayer request for a special intention, light a candle for a loved one, or join in with Masses streamed directly from the Sacred Heart Church in Cork by watching our live video feed.
Our face may have changed, but the heart of our MSC mission remains the same: “To be on earth the heart of God”. Our missionaries all over the world continue to work tirelessly towards building brighter futures for those in need. Be sure to check in regularly to hear about our latest mission projects and see how your donations are changing lives for the better – your support makes all the difference.
READ MORE ABOUT THE NEW MSC LOGO
Feb 17, 2017
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are delighted to introduce a fresh new look and design. Along with the launch of our new website, we are delighted to reveal our new logo, which is a more modern representation of our traditional values and beliefs.
We’ve developed our new logo with our time-honoured mission in mind: “To be on earth the heart of God”. The main elements of our logo have not changed, as we continue to use the image of the Sacred Heart and the cross to represent our Society.
The Heart
The heart in our logo represents the heart of Christ, God’s compassionate love as it was made real on earth. The open heart creates an embrace, wrapping around the cross in a protective and caring way, just as our mission is to help and care for others in the image of God’s merciful love.
The Cross
The cross in our logo represents Jesus. It is positioned in the middle of the Sacred Heart, as Jesus is right at the centre of everything that we stand for and do as Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. This is not a cross of pain or suffering, but a joyful celebration of the life of Christ and the love of God.
These elements come together to represent the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and our ongoing work in today’s world. Our mission remains the same as ever: to make God’s love known everywhere and to everyone, without conditions. In the combination of the Sacred Heart and the Cross, our new MSC logo pays a respectful nod to our heritage, our history, and our traditions, while the new design also reflects our sense of hope and forward-thinking for the future of our missions.
Since our foundation in the 1800s, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have worked to make God’s love known throughout the world, bringing hope to the people and places that need it most. We now look ahead to a new and exciting chapter in the MSC story as we strive to continue this great work, growing and adapting to the different challenges and circumstances of today’s world. We hope you will join us on our journey.
PLEASE HELP US TO HELP OTHERS
Feb 16, 2017
The dark days of winter are coming to an end, and the dawning of Spring is on the horizon. In this season of renewal and hope, we pause to appreciate the beauty of the world around us, and to reflect on life’s changes and challenges.
As we look with hopeful hearts to the new season ahead, we celebrate the rebirth of the world around us – just as Jesus rose from the tomb and was born again in the light of God’s love for us all.
There is real wisdom, Lord, in the adage
“It is always Springtime in the heart that loves God.”
Springtime is a season of optimism and hope,
and the Christian lives a faith centred on hope.
Winter, with its cold dark days has gone,
just as Good Friday as passed to Easter and beyond.
We live a resurrection life
reflected in the new life springing up around us.
Thank you, Lord, for the hope that you bring,
the renewal that you bring,
both to this world and to our hearts and lives.
Feb 15, 2017
The recent announcement of Pope Francis’ 2018 visit to Ireland has been the source of much excitement and anticipation, with the Archdiocese of Dublin confirming that preparations are already underway.
Pope Francis will be travelling to Ireland to attend the World Meeting of Families in August 2018. His visit was confirmed by Enda Kenny after a meeting with the Pontiff in the Vatican on November 28th, 2016, after which the Taoiseach tweeted:
“Pope Francis has been an important voice for the young, the poor & disadvantaged – glad he will visit Ireland in 2018” (@EndaKennyTD).
The World Meeting of Families will take place in Dublin over a three-day period, from August 22nd to August 26th, 2018. This event aims to “strengthen the sacred bonds of the family unit across the globe”, and is organised by the Vatican’s Dicastry for the Laity, Family, and Life.
This will be the first visit to Ireland by a sitting Pope since John Paul II’s trip in 1979. One of the highlights of his visit was an open-air Mass in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Saturday, September 29th, 1979, when 1.25 million people came together to celebrate the Catholic faith with our Church leader.
While a schedule has not yet been set in place for the Pope Francis’ Irish visit, it is set to be a momentous occasion for the Catholic community in Ireland. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin is one of many who have expressed their enthusiasm, saying that the Pontiff’s visit will be “an important gift” to the Catholic Church, in Ireland and all over the world.
