A Catholic youth festival! In England! Surely such a thing is a contradiction in terms. It’ll probably be dull. There’ll be Mass on all day. Who’d want to go? It’s a pretty typical response from some people when they hear about the Brightlights Youth Festival – long, boring and preachy. In fact nothing could be further from the truth. (more…)
Yesterday was all about engagement. It’s more than just a buzz word. It’s about looking at how we as a Church in general and as vocations directors in particular outreach to young people. Sixty vocations directors from a wide variety of religious congregations gathered in the Emmaus Centre in Dublin to share, brainstorm and realise new and exciting ways of making contact with people considering a call to religious life and the priesthood. (more…)
‘The Africa Bug’
Last weekend saw the first gathering of our lay missionary volunteers in Sacred Heart Community, Western Road. It was an opportunity for the four people who are preparing to journey to South Africa for three months to meet up and get to know one another. As part of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Volunteer Programme ( MSCVP ) they are going to spend the summer working with the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and the team in the Holy Family Centre in Ofcolaco. The Centre is home to around seventy children, ranging from babies to teenagers, who have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS and TB. (more…)
Fr. Alan was interviewed last Sunday on Midwestern Radio about the new MSC Volunteering project.
For more information on the MSC Volunteering Programme click here.
For the interview with Monica Morley and Fr. Alan on Midwest’s Faith Alive programme click here.
This coming Sunday we celebrate Mission Sunday. It about celebrating the hundreds of years of selflessness, compassion and faith that make up the Mission tradition in Ireland. The theme in Ireland this year is Growing in Communion. We have an example of that growing in communion with Aisling Foley, a member of Viatores Christ. “I felt I had left my heart in Africa,” was Aisling’s response when she returned home from her first visit to South Africa.
She had volunteered to work with Home of Hope, a project that provides accommodation and foster care for children at risk. She took redundancy from her job as a solicitor and returned to South Africa for a year. That year has now become three! “I truly believe that I was guided to work in Home of Hope and that my mission is to stay here until God tells me that my work is done,” wrote Aisling. Every day these amazing children I work with teach me so much about tolerance, patience and love and these lessons will stay with me for life.”
Aisling follows in the spirit of Pauline Marie Jaricot, the young French woman who reached out to the needs of the Missions just after the French Revolution. Pauline’s wisdom was that all should be supported, none neglected, especially the most needy. Among Pauline’s achievements was the founding of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith 190 years ago this year. It is the Society that organises the celebration of Mission Sunday each year.
The poster above shows Aisling Foley, a lay missionary from Co. Cork with Neo in her office in the Western Cape in South Africa. Aisling is a member of Viatores Christi and Neo is one of the children with whom she works in a school called Amathemba (‘Our Hope’) for children with Fetal Alcohol spectrum Disorders.
This year the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are starting their volunteering programme with our sisters in South Africa. It’s an opportunity to make a real difference in our world, while having an unforgettable experience that will change your life. If you would like more information simply click here.
On Thursday coming we’re going to be launching the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Volunteer Programme at the DCU Volunteering Expo. We’ll be in the Venue – Students Union from 11:00am to 3:00pm, so if you’re around make sure to say hello. Below you’ll find details of the Programme.
With the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Volunteer Programme you will work with a community who need your skills, talents and enthusiasm. It’s about being in partnership with others, teaching and learning at the same time, and sharing of yourself in order to make a real difference in your world.
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Volunteer Programme (MSCVP) is a new initiative that:
– looks to provide enriching, challenging and meaningful short term voluntary experiences.
– seeks to share the talents of our volunteers with our partner projects.
– works towards promoting responsible volunteering in our partner projects in South Africa.
We are looking for young men and women, between the ages of 25 and 40, who are interested in                 undertaking three months of volunteering work abroad over summer. Ideally applicants should have relevant skills, such as a teacher, mechanic, carpenter, nurse, electrician, doctor, etc. All necessary training will be provided. Part of the expenses for the trip will be provided, but there will be a need for fundraising.
If you would like further information you can contact Fr. Alan on (086) 7857955 or by email fralan@mscvocations.ie