Jul 24, 2025
The MSC Centre for the Poor (MSC CFTP) was established in Butuan City in the Philippines in 2018, under the leadership of Fr Richie Gomez MSC. Dedicated to helping the poor and marginalised in society, it has a specialised focus on nurturing both the earth and the community in harmony.
The MSC Centre for the Poor Agricultural Cooperative (MSC CEPAGCO) followed in 2020. Now with over 300 members, and having received the award for most outstanding Civil Society Organisation in the country, the MSC CFTP and MSC CEPAGCO are going from strength to strength, with multiple community centres across the Philippines sharing their core vision:
“Care for the Earth, Care for the People, Share the Surplus.”
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A SCHOOL OF LOVE
The MSC CEPAGCO works to advocate for the common good, ensuring food sustainability and empowering several marginalised groups including small-scale farmers, indigenous communities, repatriated overseas Filipino workers, and people struggling with personal challenges such as drug dependency.
With a focus on organic productions, they incorporate pigs, poultry, vegetables, rice, and fertiliser among their organic projects, as well as practical handiwork such as building furniture from wood.
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CARE FOR OUR COMMON WORLD
The cooperative’s newest project aims to empower a “New Breed of Indigenous Farmers” who will focus on “ecological resilience” to “carry, care, and continue to provide the nation with affordable, accessible organic healthy food, and bring security and joy to every Filipino’s table.”
With a firm foundation well underway, the MSC CFTP and CEPAGCO are always looking to improve and expand to benefit as many people as possible. Their latest endeavours include collaborating with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) by applying to be an official TESDA assessment centre, and establishing additional vocational courses, as well as renovating and improving on-site buildings to become study and accommodation facilities for larger student groups.
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Jul 24, 2025
Becky and her baby
CHANGE FOR GENERATIONS
Young women in South Sudan face severe challenges when it comes to education. Following decades of conflict and violence, it is one of the most difficult places in the world for girls to access education and complete their schooling.
- While figures are slightly improving, it remains that less than 40% of girls in South Sudan attend school.
- Over 50% of girls are married before the age of 18.
- Young women in South Sudan are often traded by their families for dowries in cattle. This “bride price” means the women are expected to stay at home and fulfil domestic duties with very little chance of education or progression.
- It is reported that a young girl in South Sudan is more likely to die in childbirth than she is to complete secondary school.
Sarah and her baby
MSCs SUPPORTING EDUCATION
Fr Alan Neville MSC is currently working as principal at the Catholic University in Rumbek, South Sudan. Along with the Loreto Rumbek primary and secondary schools, the team here work to champion education for women in the region. The benefits are tremendous, not only for the women themselves, but for their families, their communities, their children, and for future generations to come.
Dolla studies with her little girl, Nyanduer, and is also pregnant at the moment.
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A DAY IN THE LIFE…
Helena is 25 years old and is in her second year of a four-year Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. She has three other children along with six-month-old Isabella. Here, we learn more about what it’s like to be a young mother studying in South Sudan.
Helena and her baby, Isabella
An early start…
A day of study begins early for Helena and her fellow students. Hardly any South Sudanese people own their own car, and these women generally have to walk to classes, often carrying their baby with them. Their journeys are often long – one of the current female students walks about an hour and a half to get to her classes, and then home again afterwards.
High hopes
Most women are studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), in the hope of starting their own business, or being employed by an NGO. Others are studying for a Bachelor of Education (BEd). Those studying to be teachers are extremely dedicated, as teaching is not a highly paid position, and it is not unheard of for teachers to receive no payment at all for months on end. Their desire is to educate, having worked so hard to gain that education for themselves.
Culture & climate
South Sudan is the youngest country in the world, and is still suffering the consequences of a civil war which ended in 2018. The women who have lived through this are remarkably resilient, but the lack of basic services, such as essential healthcare, presents difficulties. In addition, the climate can be challenging, with rainy season living up to its name, and intense heatwaves seeing temperatures reach over 40°C. It is not uncommon for the government to issue closure orders for schools when this happens, and in recent times, these mums have had to sit exams in stifling temperatures – often caring for a baby at the same time.
“During the day it is hot,” says Helena. “Our temperatures can go up to 42°C, so it is difficult to study. Our lecturers are very committed and we don’t miss a single class.”
Helena and Isabella
Overcoming financial challenges
Support systems
Being able to bring their babies to class is a key factor for the success of these young women. As well as partial funding, practical help is also available, such as the provision of baby kits and mats for babies to lie on while their mums study.
“When you are pregnant in other universities you are suspended, but here we are allowed to bring our babies with us and this really helps,” Helena explains.
Mary and her baby
Late-night study
Less than 9% of the population here has access to electricity in the home, and the sun sets every night by 6.00pm. Up until recently, students would study at home with only the light of a mobile phone to read by. A Late-Night Study programme now runs three evenings a week, allowing students to work in the library until 8.00pm. This has been helpful, but it is still taboo for a woman to be out after dark unaccompanied.
Empowering future generations
Without doubt, the women of South Sudan live a harsh life, but these students are resolved to get ahead and to create a brighter future for their own children. Veronica is studying for a BBA, pictured here with her son, Elly, who is currently working towards a BEd, and Elly’s sons.
Veronica with her son Elly and her grandchildren
Veronica stresses the vital importance of education, leading the way for her son, and now for her grandchildren too.
“Education is very important for so many things,” Veronica says. “If you are not educated, you are not going anywhere.”
PLEASE HELP US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOUTH SUDAN
SUPPORTING WOMEN IN LEARNING
From the provision of baby kits and mats for infants to lie on in lectures, to scholarships and after-hours study with an electricity supply, the Catholic University in Rumbek is doing everything in their power to ensure that female students have every opportunity to finish their education, with the support of the MSC.
These women, with their incredible strength and determination, have big dreams for themselves and for their children. Your support is invaluable in helping us to help them.
Eliza and her baby
IF YOU CAN, PLEASE SUPPORT OUR 2025 SUMMER APPEAL
*Please note that donations are currently being processed via PayPal.
You can donate through PayPal, with or without a PayPal account.
Thank you so much for your support.*
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May 21, 2025
Heartfelt thanks to all who took part in our recent fundraising event for the children of the Holy Family Care Centre, a care facility for young children run by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, with the support of the MSC, in Ofcolaco, South Africa. The fundraising event took place at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork, after Masses on May 17th and 18th, and raised a current running total of €4,216.87 for the Holy Family community.
Our plant and cake sale takes place in aid of the Holy Family team each May, and it’s a much-anticipated event each year for our MSCs, parishioners, and local mission friends alike. This year’s fundraiser really and truly marked the beginning of summer in earnest, with beautiful blue skies and sunshine providing the perfect backdrop for a relaxed weekend for fun, chat, and delicious treats. Old friends and new acquaintances caught up over teas and coffees, while our beloved alpaca friends made a welcome return thanks to Nora Casey of Macroom – and were once again the stars of the show. Even Fr John, Director of our MSC Missions Office, couldn’t resist a visit to say hello to those furry faces!
Established in 2002, the Holy Family Care Centre in South Africa has been run by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart with the support of the MSC for over 20 years, under the leadership of Sr Sally Duigan FDNSC. The Holy Family Care Centre is an invaluable facility for young children who are very ill and who, in many cases, have been orphaned or abandoned. These children are primarily HIV positive and are in need of extremely specialised and highly care. With the resources to accommodate 70 children, the Centre’s facilities are stretched to full capacity and beyond on a daily basis; Sr Sally admits that the team at the Centre does its best never to turn a child away, and the Holy Family team currently have 82 children in their care.
With many children coming from very troubling backgrounds of violence and abuse, the Holy Family Care Centre is a sanctuary for children in need, and the Centre feels more like a home to one big happy family. However, the availability of funding is an ongoing concern, as the Centre relies on donations and the generosity of benefactors, including our MSC mission friends and the local community, for the upkeep of buildings and equipment, and to be able to continue doing the work that they do – “[giving] our children love, security, and care, in the hope they will thrive,” in the words of Sr Sally.
Our annual fundraiser is a wonderful way for our friends and parishioners here in Cork to support our friends across the miles in South Africa, as well as being a thoroughly enjoyable event for all involved! Sincere thanks to everybody who worked so hard to organise such a special weekend, and to all who contributed and took part even in the smallest way. It all contributes to the bigger picture, the global picture, and we are truly grateful for your kindness.
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Apr 20, 2025
March was an especially busy and exciting month for our MSC brothers in Mozambique, with two inspiring new chapters beginning on the mission.
Great celebrations were marked in the parish of Santa Marta de Mecúfi, where Fr José Eduardo Paixão MSC was appointed as new parish priest, with Fr Roney Lima MSC taking the position of new parish vicar. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop António Juliasse, Bishop of the Diocese of Pemba, in a moving and uplifting ceremony where parishioners extended a very warm welcome to Fr José and Fr Roney in their new roles.
The Facebook page for our Mozambique mission shared some wonderful photos from the day, telling us that, “During the homily, Father Juliasse emphasized the importance of priestly mission and the commitment of new religious leaders to evangelization and strengthening the parish community”. These new appointments mark the beginning of a new and hopeful chapter for the parish of Santa Marta de Mecúfi, strengthening the community and “renewing hope and enthusiasm for Christian life”.
Shortly afterwards, on March 19th, our Mozambique mission celebrated the Feast of St Joseph by welcoming our new students to the Fr Jules Chevalier Formation House. In a special Facebook post, our Mozambique brothers shared pictures of this blessed occasion:
“These young people have answered God’s call and pledged to follow him from our charisma. Each of them proclaimed, ‘Here I am, Lord,’ expressing their willingness and desire to do God’s will.
They received the MSC Cross, the Breviary and the Perpetual Service of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
We share this joy with you!”
Joy shared indeed, and we hope you will join us in prayer for all MSCs and the communities they serve on our mission in the Diocese of Pemba. Congratulations to Fr José and Fr Roney on their new appointments in the parish of Santa Marta de Mecúfi, and to the new students in formation – we wish you all every blessing as you embark on your new chapters, individually and collectively on our shared missionary journey. God bless you all!
Images via the Facebook page for MSC Mozambique.
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Apr 15, 2025
Our friends at the Holy Family Care Centre in the Limpopo Province of South Africa have been in touch with an update from the centre, where new solar panels have been installed thanks to the support of our mission friends and benefactors here in the Irish Province. The centre is run by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and here, they provide dedicated care for orphans, and sick and vulnerable children, with approximately 75 children in residence at any given time.
In our 2024 World Projects Appeal, we asked if you could help to raise €9,900 for the centre to install solar panels. Due to “load shedding”, it is an unfortunate fact that the centre’s electricity is frequently cut, and the emergency generator is expensive to run. The solar panels will power the unit’s bore water well and sewerage pumps, ensuring savings on power and the prevention of major system failure with when the electricity cuts out.
The solar panels have now been successfully installed, and the community at Holy Family are already reaping the benefits of having a dependable and sustainable source of power for the centre. As ever, we join our voices with our OLSH Sisters in thanking our mission family sincerely for your continued friendship and support, which makes such a great difference to the Holy Family children.
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Apr 11, 2025
Back to School for Exams
The Catholic University of South Sudan, Rumbek Campus experienced a good, but challenging semester. For fourteen weeks, lectures were held in a local Catholic secondary school. This return to familiar surroundings was a nostalgic experience for some students, allowing them to reconnect with former teachers and cherished memories. While the hospitality was appreciated, the school’s simple facilities and limited resources presented some challenges. Fitting adult students into the smaller desks required some adjustments, but everyone quickly adapted.
Late-Night Study
The students have done their best to make time to study, not easy in a country where less than 9% of the population has any access to electricity and the sun sets every night by 6:00pm. Up until recently, students would study at home with only the light of the mobile phone to read. We upped our Late-Night Study programme to three evenings a week, allowing students to work until 8:00pm in our library. Initially, only men attended, as in the culture it would be considered inappropriate for women to stay out late; however, over the last few weeks, more and more of our female students have been able to attend. Our University Librarian stayed with them and provided them with support when needed. It has been a real success, and we plan to continue the programme into next semester.
Exams in a Heatwave
Currently, we are dealing with an intense heatwave in South Sudan. For the past two weeks, all schools have been closed by government order, with daily temperatures ranging from 39°C to 42°C. Despite these conditions, we have had to conduct our end-of-semester exams. Even with a schedule pushed to late afternoon, the heat remains a significant factor. The students’ resilience has been truly commendable, as they have not voiced a single complaint! However, all good things come to an end and so too do exams. Tomorrow will be their last day before a two-week break and then we are back into Semester Two.
Step-Free Access for All
As you are probably aware, the source of our displacement is the ongoing renovation of our lecture halls. The work is progressing well, with ceilings already in place. Previously, the hall only had a corrugated metal roof, which made the room into a sauna during hot days, and when it rained you could hear nothing at all. We are only halfway through the project, and already the changes have made a huge difference. Now we are getting ready to install the pipes for the electrical system and plaster the walls. We are also using the opportunity to make the building step-free, getting rid of ramps and raising the floor to allow anyone with physical disabilities to study freely. As a Catholic university it is our goal that anyone who wants to study and has the academic ability should be able to undertake third-level studies.
Nhialic ke yin,
Fr. Alan
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Read more from Fr Alan’s missionary journey in South Sudan:
