Jul 18, 2019
Our Sacred Heart family at the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines recently reported on their current education project in the Hapag Community in Amparo, North Caloocan, where a helping hand has been extended to disadvantaged youths in the community whose parents cannot afford to send them to school.
This project has aimed to support students in order to allow them to continue their studies, despite difficulties with poverty and hardship in their home lives. Students have been provided with the supplies they need to attend school and complete their class projects and homework, as well as nutritious food to ensure their physical and mental health.
Not only has the programme relieved a huge amount of stress for young students and their families, but it has also addressed the growing issue of drop-outs from the local school. The drop-out rate has been a serious concern as families struggling to put meals on the table simply can’t afford to send their children to school. However, since the implementation of this educational assistance programme, there has been a zero drop-out rate in the 2018/2019 school year – all remaining students have successfully continued with their studies, many with consistently rising grades.
“[Our students] have continued their sense of paying it forward by leading our Big Brother and Big Sister Tutorial schemes, by participating in regular community clean-up duties, and by running a weekly youth prayer group,” reports the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines.
The MSC community in the Philippines now hopes to focus on building livelihood programmes in the area, to provide employment opportunities for parents and to give local families valuable tools for self-sufficiency. Thanks to the support of our mission friends and benefactors around the world, our MSCs in the Philippines can continue to shine the light of hope for communities and families in need, where the future once looked bleak.
Keep up to date with the MSC Missions Office Philippines on Facebook.
Visit the new website for the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines.
Jul 4, 2019
2019 is the Year of the Youth in the Catholic Church in the Philippines, and the Philippine Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart has been continuing their wonderful work in youth ministry all over the country.
MSC Partners, the newsletter of the Philippine Province of the MSC, recently reported on the Year of the Youth, addressing the way in which this celebration “shows the church’s faith and confidence in young people”.
“Empowering youth to be in mission, they need to realize the fundamental truth that they are beloved and gifted; they are worthy and deserving of God’s love, they are meant to discover the dreams of God for the church and the world at large,” the MSC Partners editorial reads. “The words of George Bernard Shaw might add inspiration or enkindle the fire within them: ‘You see things, and you say “Why?” But I dream things that never were; and I say “Why not?”’. Allowing and encouraging the youth to dream and discover their life purpose is one of the greatest achievements of the church. As dreamers of great things, they may be able to use their energy for changes desired by God.”
“Our youth need to be guided, nurtured, and cared for,” continues the MSC Partners editorial. “A recent survey conducted by UNICEF said that 80% of Filipino youth suffer some form of physical and psychological abuse. Now we are facing problems such as poverty, young people not attending school, suicide, emotional distress, mental disorder, distorted values, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and the like. These show that many young people are deeply wounded and broken. In this regard, the church has an important role in the psychological, emotional, and spiritual healing and well-being of the youth.”
“I consider the Church as my lifeguard, who is continuously and unconditionally guarding me against the force of negativity.”
MSCs in the Philippines have long been devoted to the care of the younger members of their flock, promoting education and empowerment wherever possible. In this, the Year of the Youth, they continue to encourage, guide, and nurture through youth ministry in parishes across the country.
This guidance is invaluable to many. “Youths nowadays are very vulnerable,” says Clavel C. Campugan, Parish Youth Leader in San Roque Parish, Cordova, Cebu. “Thus, as a youth I consider myself as vulnerable too. Very susceptible to sadness, chaos, physical or emotional attack, and many other negative forces in the society, that made me drown into a sea of hopelessness. There are times that my faith weakens, especially when my mother died – the strongest and greatest storm I encountered in my whole life. But as a youth in Christ, I consider myself as well-protected – protected by our Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ through the protection from the Church. In this regard, as a member of the Youth Ministry in our parish, I am saved from drowning deeply in this sea of hopelessness. Jesus uses the Church as an instrument to help me swim faster towards HOPE. Therefore, I consider the Church as my lifeguard who is continuously and unconditionally guarding me against the force of negativity and guiding me to become a better person and to become the seed of HOPE for others. Since, I have experienced the fruit of guidance from the Church, I hope that the Church will not stop guarding and guiding youths who are like me.”
“Let us not waste our talents, the gifts that God has given to us; let us not be afraid to dream of great things.”
Angelica Joyce P. Mananes, Parish Youth Leader in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Bantug, agrees. “Pope Francis said, ‘Let the church always be a place of mercy and hope where everyone is welcomed, loved and forgiven’ – the place that every young person is looking for. The church is unlike other people, who might love us at first, but if they notice something they don’t like, they can easily leave us. God’s love for us has no limit – he loves us wholeheartedly. Let us not waste our talents, the gifts that God has given to us; let us not be afraid to dream of great things, because the church believes that young people in mission are BELOVED, GIFTED, EMPOWERED.”
In the Year of the Youth and beyond, MSC communities in the Philippines and across the world continue to encourage, guide, and promote the bright and brilliant youths in our parishes everywhere.
“So, in this special year of the youth, it is our prayer and hope that young people
may find meaning for their lives in their faith-life journey in mission,
as beloved, gifted, and empowered to bring the love of God to all.”
– Fr Bien Castil Jr, MSC
Read about the MSC 2019 World Youth Day Celebrations in Panama
Jun 27, 2019
Irish-born Sr Orla Treacy, principal of Loreto Secondary School in Rumbek, has received an award from home territory in recognition of her work with educating and empowering young women in South Sudan. Sr Orla, originally from Co. Wicklow, was awarded the Societal Impact prize as part of the prestigious DCU Alumni Awards.
The DCU Alumni Awards celebrate the wonderful achievements of Dublin City University alumni all over the world. “The DCU Alumni Awards honour alumni who, through their exceptional ability and leadership, have achieved excellence in their chosen fields of endeavour,” states the official website. “Their accomplishments across so many aspects of society are a source of great pride to DCU and an inspiration to present and future generations of DCU students.”
Speaking to The Irish Catholic about the award, Sr Orla remarked, ““It’s great to see a university like that recognising the work that we’re doing in South Sudan.”
Earlier this year, Sr Orla received the International Woman of Courage Award, having been nominated by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See. Working to protect and encourage young women in one of the world’s most volatile countries, Sr Orla is a champion for education and empowerment in South Sudan.
“As principal of Loreto Secondary School in Rumbek in Lake States, considered the premier girls’ school in the impoverished country, Sr Treacy has spent well over a decade empowering thousands of pupils through education, despite ongoing civil conflict and discrimination against young women, such as forced marriage,” writes Colm Fitzpatrick of The Irish Catholic.
Acknowledging the recognition of her work, Sr Orla says that it’s “nice to feel part of something bigger”, while the Pope’s recent call for peace to South Sudan’s leaders has given the Loreto family in Rumbek “a great sense of hope”.
We are proud to support the marvellous work done by Sr Orla and the Loreto Rumbek team, and we send our very best wishes on this wonderful acknowledgement of their ongoing work for the young women of South Sudan.
Read The Irish Catholic’s full report on Sr Orla’s award.
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are proud to support the wonderful work done by the Loreto Sisters for the young women of South Sudan.
For more photographs and further information about Loreto Rumbek, visit their website or visit their Facebook page.
You can also find out more about how MSC Missions work with Loreto Rumbek – and how you can help to make a difference to the young women of South Sudan.
PLEASE HELP US TO SAVE LIVES IN SOUTH SUDAN
Jun 6, 2019
We were delighted to read this wonderful piece by South African publication Spotlight, highlighting the marvellous work done by Sr Sally Duigan OLSH and the team at the Holy Family Care Centre in Limpopo.
Calling the Holy Family community “the biggest and happiest family in Limpopo”, this Spotlight story gives us a glimpse into daily life at the centre, where Sr Sally and her team care for over 70 infants and children. The majority of these children are battling serious illnesses, such as HIV, and many have been orphaned or abandoned.
Founded in 2002, the centre is run by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart with the support of the MSC. We are very pleased to work closely with our Sacred Heart sisters, from fundraising efforts here in the Irish Province to our annual volunteer programme at Holy Family.
“Each child that comes through the gates of HFC is guaranteed two things, regardless of how they arrive or where they come from, they will be loved and well taken care of,” reads the Spotlight article. “At the moment this is home to 70 children (Sally sheepishly admits that they never turn a child away, sometimes the facility cares for up to 80 children) eight of whom are babies. There is a large staff contingent who care for the children 24/7, bathing them, feeding them, clothing them, teaching them, helping them with homework, playing with them and showering them with heaps and heaps of love. It is absolutely clear that this is one big family.”
It’s a big family, and a happy one. The sense of unity and love at Holy Family is in abundance from the moment one steps through the doors, and Sr Sally is dedicated to ensuring this remains the case for every child that comes into her care.
“Above all, we continue to give our children love, security, and care, in the hope they will thrive,” she wrote in a letter to our MSC Missions. “We want them to have the energy to enjoy playtime, be able to learn and live a happy life.”
We are very proud to see Sr Sally’s tremendous work being recognised – congratulations to all the team at Holy Family!
Read the full Spotlight article
Find out more about our work with the Holy Family Centre
May 23, 2019
Sincere congratulations to Rev Luis Gonzales MSC, who was ordained a Deacon in Caracas, Venezuela, on Saturday, May 4th.
We were delighted to receive these pictures of the celebration in Caracas – a wonderful occasion for all involved.
The people of Venezuela are currently in the midst of the worst political, social, economic, and humanitarian crisis in the history of the country. In January of this year, MSC Missions Office Director FR Michael O’Connell visited MSC parishes in Maraciabo and Caracas, where Rev Luis and our Venezuelan MSC community are tireless in their efforts to bring support and relief to local families who are struggling in the current climate.
“At a time when the country is going through such a difficult period politically, socially and economically, it is a sign of great hope that a young man such as Luis commits himself to the service of the people of Venezuela with the deep desire to be for all a living, tangible presence of God’s heart for his people,” wrote Irish Provincial Leader Fr Carl Tranter MSC, on the occasion of Rev Luis’ ordination.
Vocations Director for the Irish Province, Fr Alan Neville MSC, also added his good wishes on the MSC Vocations Facebook page, posting: “Congratulations to Rev Luis Gonzalez MSC who was ordained a Deacon in Caracas, Venezuela, today. May the Lord bless your ministry, Luis, and always give you a big heart for his people, modelled after His own heart.”
We would like to add our congratulations, and send our very best wishes to Rev Luis from the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart!
Find out more about our missionary outreach in Venezuela
May 17, 2019
Welcome to the Summer 2019 edition of the MSC Message!
• Read a special summer greeting from Fr Michael O’Connell MSC, Director of the MSC Missions Office.
• Catch up with the latest news from the mission fields, with updates from our ongoing projects in South Africa and India.
• Find out about this year’s MSC pilgrimage to Lourdes.
• Read all about Fr Michael O’Connell’s visit to our MSC parishes in Venezuela.
• Enjoy updates from World Youth Day 2019 in Panama, where Fr Alan Neville MSC and the MSC Vocations Team celebrated earlier this year.
Read the MSC Message Summer 2019
