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A Pilgrim’s Diary: Walking St. Declan’s Way

Jun 23, 2026

At the end of May, our MSC pilgrim group took on a six-day journey along the historic St. Declan’s Way, raising funds for the vital work being done on the infant twins’ care programme in the rural village of Maker Kuei, South Sudan. Under the expert guidance of Phil and Elaine at Celtic Ways Ireland, our pilgrims undertook a truly unforgettable journey along the ancient pathways of Ireland’s eastern coast.

Our group was based in the beautiful Glencomeragh House, which was built in the early 1800s and is an oasis of prayer, peace, and tranquillity, with a waterfall and ponds on the grounds for visitors to enjoy. The first day of the pilgrimage saw our group meet and settle in their rooms in Glencomeragh House, making new friends and preparing for the journey ahead.

After a hearty breakfast, Day Two signalled the start of our walk, beginning at the Rock of Cashel with a private tour by renowned author and travel writer John G. O’Dwyer. “We had a brilliant private tour of the Rock of Cashel,” says Mary, one of our pilgrims. “It was really interesting, he had some fantastic stories.”

A 12km walk took our pilgrims through the Golden Vale, stopping in an old friary in Lough Kent. Here, Fr Tony Horgan celebrated Mass, and the group enjoyed lunch together. “It was absolutely beautiful,” Mary recalls, “surrounded by birdsong and flowers. It was very pretty.”

The day ended with a walk by the riverbank in Cahir, and dinner together at Glencomeragh House. Day Three began with another private tour at Cahir Castle, before spending some time at the beautiful Swiss Cottage. The weather was glorious, and the sun shone all the way to Ardfinnan, where local guide Conor met the group. “We had lunch under the trees,” Mary tells us, “and the children were hopping into the water in the River Suir. It was just gorgeous.”

The group had Mass in Lady’s Abbey, joined by a new friend – a 96-year-old lady with a life’s experience to share. “Fr Tony’s Masses are so gentle,” Mary says. “They are just lovely.” Our pilgrims also enjoyed a special reflection along the Cahir River Walk, and a delicious dinner in a pub in Kilsheelan. Celebrations were in order for our guides, Elaine and Phil, as it was their eighth anniversary, and the evening ended on an extra-special note with a hot air balloon sighting at the day’s end, highlighting the pure magic of this journey.

On Day Four, our group took on the Knockmealdown Mountains, beginning at the Liam Lynch Memorial. This magnificent Round Tower monument is surrounded by four greyhounds, representing each of the four provinces of Ireland. Our pilgrims were joined by local guide Mark, and dog, Ludo – “the most adorable black Labrador I’ve ever seen in my life!” says Mary. “The walk was stunningly beautiful,” she tells us. “As you’re walking, you’re seeing this green, fertile land, and then all of a sudden, you come to a grey, rocky landscape, and the contrast is just incredible to see.”

“You’re just in awe,” Mary continues. “The stories that we heard were fascinating. Our ancestors had a lot to contend with!”

The day continued with a visit to Mount Melleray Abbey. “All we could hear was the sound of the birds, and the cuckoo’s call,” says Mary. “We also saw a deer, it was just beautiful. We were all very quiet on the journey back to Glencomeragh, because we were tired after the walk, but also because we were just overwhelmed by the sheer beauty we had seen that day.”

That evening was a special one. Monday’s guide, John G. O’Dwyer, joined the group again with his lovely wife, Carmel, and our very own Fr John Fitzgerald and Fr John Finn made the journey up from the Sacred Heart parish in Cork to wish our pilgrims well. “The piece de resistance took place that evening,” says Mary. “We had the most beautiful vigil for peace, led by the Island of Ireland Peace Choir. Phil and Elaine actually started this choir, and arranged the performance for us, and it was just the most joyous experience. The weather was like nothing on earth, we were surrounded by the most beautiful scenery, it was like being in a cloud of joy.”

Day Five took the group to Lismore Castle. “We were accompanied the whole way by a little robin, he was there guiding us the entire time,” Mary recalls. Our pilgrims spent some time exploring Lismore, before travelling to Dungarvan for a gala dinner to mark the finale of an extraordinary journey. Everybody received a certificate, and shared special memories of a wonderful week. Each pilgrim shared their favourite moments of the week. “One of mine was the beautiful Mass we had on the first day,” says Mary, “and another was the concert by the Choir of Peace, it was the most amazing performance.”

On the final day, our group walked to Ardmore, where we were welcomed by Fr. John Fitzgerald, who joined the pilgrims on the Ardmore Cliff Walk. Local guide James led the way, with an expert knowledge of all things Ardmore. The final Mass of the trip took place in the old section of the cathedral in Ardmore, concelebrated by Fr John and Fr Tony. “It was an amazing week,” says Mary. “Our group was wonderful, we really did have great craic! There was a singsong every night – Fr Tony’s special was Stairway to Heaven!”

“We were all so grateful for our own reflections, and especially for the people of South Sudan, who we did the walk for.”

With sincere thanks to all who made our first pilgrimage along St. Declan’s Way such a special one, from our pilgrims themselves, to Phil, Elaine, and all the local guides, to our MSCs who contributed along the way – and of course, everybody who supported us, helped us, or contributed to a truly wonderful cause. Fr Alan Neville MSC sends a special message of thanks and encouragement from South Sudan.

“A place where the heart learns before the head”: Celebrating faith in the Oratory on our Mozambique mission

May 21, 2026

Earlier in the year, our MSC brothers in the Pemba district of Mozambique joined with the Shepherd Sisters for prayer, reflection, and celebration in the Oratory.

The Facebook page for MSC Mozambique shared photos from the day in late February, explaining: “The Oratory was born from something very simple and very revolutionary at the same time: a priest who decided to love young people before trying to correct them. St. Philip Neri did not create a complicated method, he created an environment. He gathered children and young people to pray, sing, talk, laugh and teach. He spoke of God as one who introduces a dear friend, not as one who imposes an obligation. Faith there was not a burden, it was breathing.”

“Basically, the Oratory is this: a place where the heart learns before the head,” they continued. “It doesn’t start with rules, it starts with presence.”

Our MSC mission in Mozambique was established in early 2018 in the Diocese of Pemba, where families and communities struggle greatly with poverty and the effects of civil war. The need for help in the region is very real, and the mission is continuously working to adapt and respond to serve the many and changing needs of the vulnerable and displaced, from emergency response to natural disasters, to the brutal impact of violence and political unrest.

The Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart has a long friendship with our Mozambique mission, and through the years, the friendship and support of our mission friends and benefactors here at home has helped thousands of people across the district of Pemba. Thanks to your compassion, we have been able to bring about positive change to disadvantaged communities and vulnerable families across the diocese. In recent years, we have been working alongside Fr José and Fr Eduardo to raise funds to support those in real and urgent need, helping to provide essential aid and more hopeful prospects for those struggling in their circumstances.

The Mozambique mission continues, with Fr José Eduardo and Fr Roney responding to the changing needs of the communities in their care, and hope grows for the future with new MSC students beginning their missionary journey this year. As their Facebook page writes, “[We are reminded] that no one approaches God out of fear. He approaches through affection. And where there is true affection, faith flourishes almost without us noticing.”

We continue to journey alongside our MSC brothers in faith and affection, and we wish them every blessing and continues success on their mission.

Images via the Facebook page for MSC Mozambique.

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Helping school children in rural India

May 14, 2026

MSCs in India are working to help very vulnerable children in Karankadu, an extremely poor village located close to the Bay of Bengal and populated by just 468 families, with a Catholic community of 1,600 people. Karankadu is a fishing village, and due to its location, suffers badly from the damaging effects of monsoons.

Fr Regimus, parish priest at Our Lady of Angels Church in Karankadu, is working towards the repair and refurbishment of the local primary school, which is currently attended by 186 students (numbering 103 girls and 83 boys). There is no money for the decoration, repair, or refurbishment of the school, which has had very minimal maintenance completed since it was first built. Classrooms lack the most basic facilities, with children sitting on the floor and using their own school bags as desks. In such circumstances, it is very difficult for teachers to provide a high-quality education, feeding into the challenges the children face in progressing further and improving their quality of life as they grow.

The lack of classroom furniture causes several problems, including physical discomfort and development complications, hygiene issues, and considerable discomfort in the hot weather.

“This mitigates against the provision of quality education, which is so important at this stage of the child’s development, for enabling them to reach the maximum of their ability and for their future social and economic wellbeing,” writes Fr Regimus.

Building blocks for the future

One of the world’s most populous countries, India suffers with a tremendously imbalanced distribution of wealth and vast levels of poverty. Millions of children face various extremely difficult and complex challenges around homelessness, hunger, and access to education, leading to future issues with unemployment. The provision of a comprehensive education provides the children with both academic and social skills that will help them not only in their individual circumstances, but within their larger communities, and ultimately, for generations to come.

Fr Regimus has been able to raise half of the €20,000 needed to complete the necessary repairs to the school, and the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are helping Fr Regimus and the school community with the remaining funds, allowing them to plan for the refurbishment work during this year’s summer holidays, to purchase classroom equipment such as desks and chairs, and to improve the community’s daily life there. Updated facilities will have a hugely positive impact for the children, not only for their learning experience today, but also into the future. Their ability to gain a good education and skill set now will help these young people to avoid further issues further down the line, including unemployment, poverty, discrimination, child labour, and early marriage.

With the children of Karankadu facing so many significant challenges in their young lives, the support of our mission friends and benefactors in the Irish Province is nothing short of life-changing. We wish Fr Regimus and the school team every blessing with the success for their refurbishment work this summer, and we look forward to seeing their progress as they work to provide the chance of a brighter future to young people in rural India.

The school staff at Karankadu, with Fr Regimus in the centre.

 

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Fun, friendship, and fundraising! Cork steps up in aid of the Holy Family Care Centre, South Africa

May 7, 2026

Sincere thanks to everyone who came along to participate in our annual May fundraising event for the community of the Holy Family Care Centre, a dedicated facility for vulnerable young children run by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, with the support of the MSC, in Ofcolaco, South Africa. This year’s fundraising event took place at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork, after Masses on May 2nd and 3rd, and raised a total of approximately €4,226.81 for the Holy Family children.

Each May, the Sacred Heart community comes out in force to raise funds for the ongoing work of the Holy Family team, with a local plant and cake sale that always receives wonderfully generous support from parishioners and mission friends. It is always a lovely opportunity for old friends and new acquaintances to chat over tea and home-baked treats, and every year is much-anticipated by MSCs, local mission friends, and Sacred Heart parishioners.

Just some of the wonderful team who participated in our annual Sacred Heart Parish Plant & Cake Sale in aid of the Holy Family Care Centre in Ofcolaco, South Africa.

The Holy Family Care Centre has been run by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in South Africa, with the support of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, since its establishment in 2002. Sr Sally Duigan FDNSC heads up the team at the centre, which is a true sanctuary and home away from home for young children who are very ill, and in many cases, do not have close family to take care of them.  With many of the children being HIV positive, and in need of extremely specialised care, the demands on the centre are great. The Holy Family facility has resources to accommodate 70 children, yet Sr Sally and the team always do their best to accommodate every child that needs them, and so they often have 80 children or more in their care.

The availability of funding is a constant challenge, and the support of our MSC mission friends and benefactors here in the Irish Province is invaluable. Speaking of the long-standing friendship between the MSC Mission Office and the Holy Family Care Centre, Sr Sally said, “The children and staff have benefited enormously from the funding received from MSC Mission Office Ireland, and we are so grateful.”

children at family care centre

“We continue to give our children love, security and care in the hope they will thrive. We want them to have the energy to enjoy playtime, be able to learn and live a happy life.”

Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who worked so hard to organise this year’s fundraising event, and to everybody who contributed and took part in even the smallest way, despite the rain and cloudy weather! Every little plant and every bun sold is part of a much bigger picture, connecting the Holy Family community in South Africa with the Sacred Heart family in Cork, and we are so very grateful for your ongoing friendship, generosity, and kindness.
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Easter 2026: “A beautiful experience” in Ecuador

Apr 25, 2026

Holy Week on our MSC Mission in Ecuador proved to be a very special time indeed, with a host of celebrations throughout the week culminating on the glorious Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

“It was a beautiful experience; I loved living with my indigenous community,” writes Fr Marcelo Campoverde MSC. “Eighteen missionaries who came from Quito, the capital, also helped me; it was a beautiful experience for them too.”

“That’s all I can share with you,” he said. “The photos speak for themselves!”

Thanks to the support of our mission friends and benefactors here at home, we have been able to provide great help in recent years to Fr Marcelo and several indigenous communities in Ecuador. We are very grateful for your ongoing support and friendship as we work to help these communities in real and pressing need.

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A “day of love” on Divine Mercy Sunday in Venezuela

Apr 23, 2026

On April 12th, the Venezuelan community marked Divine Mercy Sunday with a special celebration in the parish of La Santa Cruz. On this “day of love”, MSCs and volunteers from Mis Ángeles social visited very vulnerable families, delivering toys to the children along with clothing for the adults and food for each household.

“Under the motto of compassion, the team brought words of encouragement and hope to each home,” wrote Bro. Deiby Fuenmayor MSC. “These visits allowed faith to be translated into concrete actions, closely accompanying those who are going through moments of difficulty and loneliness.”

The outreach support was possible with the support and donations of “good-hearted people,” which allowed “God’s mercy to reach the most disadvantaged brothers and sisters in a tangible way”.

“The church parish is deeply grateful to the community for joining this noble cause,” finished Bro. Deiby. “As we celebrate this special day, we reaffirm our commitment to be instruments of peace and solidarity aid for the well-being of all our neighbours.”

As ever, our prayers are with our MSC brothers and the communities they serve in Venezuela – such wonderful pictures are testament to the uplifting power of faith, community, prayer, and love, even in the most challenging times.

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