Oct 17, 2024
September and October were action-packed months in San Agustin, Guatemala, at the MSC-run vocational school Centro Faustino Villanueva!
The month of September brought very special celebrations indeed as students at the school marked the 203rd anniversary of Guatemala’s independence.
“Guatemala is your land, your homeland, cherish it, magnify it, love it, defend it. Make it Happy!,” read a post on the Facebook page for Centro Faustino Villanueva, which was accompanied by these wonderful images of colourful and fun-filled celebrations.
In October, the community at the centre celebrated the joy of youth with Dia del Niño, or Children’s Day. “We celebrate those who, with their infectious laughter, teach us to enjoy the little things,” the centre posted on Facebook.
Founded by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1984, Centro Faustino Villanueva marks its 40th anniversary this year. This vocational centre is dedicated to helping disadvantaged and underprivileged youths, and is located in the extremely remote region of San Agustin, Alta Verapaz, in Guatemala. Situated more than eight hours’ drive from Guatemala City, the school provides a vital service to children and youths living across this very rural area.
With the motto “Open doors to education”, the centre works with over 200 students from impoverished villages and vulnerable family groups in the surrounding area, with a waiting list for places. Youths at the centre can study a range of three career skill sets: business administration, science, and teaching. A recent agricultural programme also works to supplement the food supply for the school community, while teaching the students valuable life skills that they can take back to their own homes and communities to improve the quality of life there.
With blessings and best wishes to Fr Jairo and all at Centro Faustino Villanueva as they continue in their invaluable work for families and communities across Alta Verapaz.
Oct 3, 2024
Welcome to the Winter 2024 edition of the MSC Message!
• Read a seasonal greeting from Fr John Fitzgerald MSC, Director of the MSC Missions Office.
• Find out more about MSC efforts to protect our earth with the ongoing ecobricks project in the Philippines.
• Join us as we celebrate 150 years of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
• Read all about this summer’s Camino adventure as our MSC pilgrims walked the Camino InglĂ©s, raising over €20,000 for the Holy Family Care Centre in South Africa.
• Catch up with the latest news from the Chevalier Training Centre in Fiji.
• Fr Alan Neville MSC writes from South Sudan, with an update from the Catholic University in Rumbek.
• Learn more about Fr Frank T. Natale’s story as he shares how he came to be an MSC in the US Province.
• Catch up on news of our recent Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
Read the Winter 2024 edition of the MSC Message
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Sep 26, 2024
It has been a wonderfully full year so far on our MSC mission project in Mozambique, with their Facebook page sharing regular photos and stories to keep us updated on all the latest news.
March brought the opening of the Fr Jules Chevalier Training Centre, which, says the Facebook page for MSC Mozambique, “will host the first young Mozambicans who sought the charisma and mission of the Chevalier Family”. May God bless those who study and pray here, and lead them in their vocations.
In April, Fr José Eduardo Paixão MSC opened and blessed a new church in the community of Santo Augustine de Manono, in the parish of St Antonio de Metuge. It was a very special occasion indeed as the community celebrated their new place of worship, while Fr José also led Sunday school for parishioners, reflecting on the fact that parents are leaders in faith for their children, guiding them on their spiritual journey.
July saw a magnificent celebration of St Isabel, patroness known as an “angel of goodness and peace”. MSCs Fr José Eduardo Paixão and Fr Roney Lima were joined by Fr Armindo Baltazar for the occasion, who led the community in prayer, reflection, and thanksgiving on this great day.
In August, Fr Roney Lima MSC was joined by Fr Edigar, Missionary of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Our Lady of Salette, to celebrate the Holy Mass at the parish of Our Lady of Carmo de Mieze in the Diocese of Pemba. The Mass was followed by a truly inspiring workshop dedicated to local youths, where prayer and reflection combined with dance, music, poetry, and fun! Three local parishes took part: the parish of Our Lady of Carmo de Mieze, St Charles Lwanga Parish of Mahate, and the parish of St Antonio de Metuge. “Every young person present left with joy and full of learning,” posted the Facebook page for MSC Mozambique.
Finally, September has brought another celebration in faith as Fr José Eduardo and Fr Rony joined the community of St Augustine, in the parish of St Antonio de Metuge, to mark the day of their patron saint.
Our MSC mission in Mozambique marked its sixth anniversary in March of this year, having originally been established in 2018 in the Diocese of Pemba, a very poor part of Mozambique. The need here continues to be great, and the mission is continuously adapting 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. In a volatile climate, our MSC community is always working to adapt and respond to the demands of the social climate and the prevailing needs of the local communities and parishioners.
The Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart has an enduring relationship with our Mozambique mission, with the friendship and support of our mission friends and benefactors here at home touching the lives of thousands in the district of Pemba. Thanks to the friendship and compassion of our extended mission family here at home, we have been able to bring about positive change to disadvantaged communities made up of thousands of people across the diocese. Civil war in the region has brought about huge hardship, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced from their homes and their lives since 2017, and many others killed or reported missing. In recent years, we have been working alongside Fr José to raise funds to support those in real and urgent need, helping to provide essential aid and brighter prospects in a region where hope is in short supply.
In spite of ongoing troubles, and with the mission facing constant challenges, the inestimable spirit of hope, perseverance, and unity prevails at the heart of our Mozambique mission. The enduring power of faith and community shines through in these marvellous pictures, and we ask that you please join us in keeping our friends and brothers in Mozambique in your prayers as we continue to work together to provide hope, brighter prospects, and a better quality of life for those in real need.
Images via the Facebook page for MSC Mozambique, with credit to Abudo Manara.
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Aug 29, 2024
A New Academic Year
It’s all go as usual in the Catholic University of South Sudan, Rumbek Campus. As we are approaching the end of one year, we are already in full swing getting organised for the next. The University is small but growing, and we are committed to seeing it flourish. Earlier this month, we launched a promotion programme for our new intake. We arranged a series of Facebook ads, printed flyers, put posters up around town, made Church announcements, and hosted two radio talk shows with our students.
Without a doubt, our students are our best adverts and promotors. Many of our new applicants have come through their personal recommendation. Their collaboration is essential and invaluable. However, we are faced with two significant challenges right now. The first is that the basic educational attainment level remains low. There is still a great deal of investment needed in primary and secondary education. According to the UN, South Sudan has the lowest expected school attendance in the world at just 5.6 years on average. This is why the work of the University in training professional, qualified teachers is so imperative. In addition, there has been significant inflation since the beginning of the year, reaching 320% since January. This means that finding money for University fees is especially difficult. To this end, we have worked to make them as low as possible and continue to offer a partial scholarship to women. For many, it is still not enough.
Fostering Body and Mind
It is not enough to just educate our students, we also need to attend to their complete wellbeing. Here, that means addressing issues like Hepatitis B. Seventy percent of all new global infections of viral hepatitis B and C occur in sub-Saharan Africa due to insufficient interventions, and the rate in South Sudan is a real problem. Hepatitis mortality remains high due to low treatment coverage. To this end, we have been working with the Mary Ward Primary Health Care Centre to test and vaccinate all of our students and staff who wish to take part. Those who are found to be Hep. B carriers are referred onwards for further treatment. Three out of four students and staff have already received their first dose, with second due later this month, and the third in September.
Get that Job!
As mentioned already, the South Sudanese economy is struggling and opportunities for employment are few and far between. Any time there is a job posting, the response is immediate and overwhelming, with many not even being shortlisted, let alone interviewed! To support our students, we arranged a workshop on interview technique with a member of Caritas, one of the largest organisations working in South Sudan. He worked with them on the essentials of best practice, good preparation, effective communication, and strong presentation. The attendance by students was enthusiastic, with standing room only for late comers. If given half the chance, they have the drive and creativity to really shape and change the economy and their community for the better. Such sustainable economic development by South Sudanese themselves is at the heart of our vision for the University.
Full House
This week our end-of-year exams began and will continue until the end of the month. Around the campus, student study groups are running as they prepare for tests in managerial accounting, African literature, computer literacy, entrepreneurship and innovation, economics, and ethics. All our first and second years sat my Church history exam yesterday and the stack of their uncorrected scripts are staring at me balefully from across the office. It’s perhaps the only aspect of lecturing I do not enjoy… to put it mildly!
While the exams continue, we are also welcoming our new first-year students. They will begin their bridging course tomorrow, which is comprised of eight weeks of intensive maths and English to help them as they start their third-level studies. All going well, they will be ready to begin their first courses by the middle of October.
Nhialic ke yin (God bless you as they say here),
Fr Alan
Director,
CUSS Rumbek
Read more from Fr Alan’s missionary journey in South Sudan:
Aug 22, 2024
It has been a productive summer so far at the Chevalier Training Centre in Wainadoi, Fiji, with various workshops and renovations keeping the CTC team busy.
Established by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, the Chevalier Training Centre opened its doors in 1992 with the aim of bringing practical skills and a useful education to underprivileged young men between the ages of 16 and 21. Every year, the centre welcomes up to 75 young men from disadvantaged backgrounds, improving their chances of employment and enabling them to make a valuable contribution to their communities and societies.
“Our mission is to help these young men to face life with confidence and dignity,” says the CTC community. “Our priority is to assist those who have the least hope.”
Many students at the centre would not have had the opportunity for a comprehensive education, for several reasons including poverty and challenging family backgrounds, while others are struggling with unemployment while lacking the necessary skill sets to find work. As such, CTC students learn important life skills such as time management and financial management, while also taking on a curriculum of subjects including cabinet making, carpentry, welding and fabrication, motor mechanics, farm management, and animal husbandry.
The Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart has a long-standing friendship with the community at the Chevalier Training Centre, with our mission friends and benefactors here helping to raise funds for the centre most recently in our 2022 and 2023 World Projects Appeals. The students themselves also generate income for the centre, through local carpentry and construction jobs, selling their farm produce, and an annual bazaar where goods created during school workshops are sold.
The Facebook page for the Chevalier Training Centre has been keeping us up to date with the latest happenings at the school, with July proving particularly productive for staff and students alike. At the beginning of the month, CTC students attended a talk focusing on the dangers of drug abuse, eradicating sexual violence, and the importance of mental wellness. The talk took place at the Holy Spirit Parish, and was facilitated by members of the police force and the Ministry of Health. The CTC Facebook page shared a picture of participants on the day, with the motto “Be Responsible, make the right choice, stay away from drugs”.
July also saw the completion of renovations to the carpentry workshop at the Chevalier Training Centre. The workshop itself has been refurbished, and equipped with new tools for lessons.
“We are forever grateful to APTC Country Manager and their Operation Team whom are in partnership with our Institution,” reads a post on the CTC Facebook page. “They have refurbished our Carpentry Workshop. Today we witnessed the handingover ceremony and they also equipped the newly refurbished workshop with basic relevant tools. These opportunities have immensely contributed to our needs to education and skills development especially in the TVET section.”
Congratulations and well done to all involved with the latest achievements at the Chevalier Training Centre, and we look forward to hearing about further successes and community achievements in the coming months.
Images via the Facebook page for the Chevalier Training Centre.
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Jul 31, 2024
A NEW PATHWAY FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN
MSCs in Brazil established a shelter for the care of young children in the NiterĂłi region 35 years ago. Here, they have been working on their Pro-Child Movement, which aims to promote positive change in the lives of children from 6 to 14 years of age. There are currently 60 local children in care here over the course of two daily sessions, morning and afternoon. Each session lasts for four hours and caters to 30 children.
The services here are provided by professionally trained staff who help the children across a variety of disciplines, including motor skills, tutoring, sports, cultural awareness, and spiritual guidance. With a positive, productive outlook, the Pro-Child team aim to broaden horizons for these children, and minimise the very real threat of their being drawn into the drug trade.
EDUCATING FOR A BRIGHTER TOMORROW
The team here help the children with homework, also assisting with learning difficulties, and run educational activities including workshops, cultural trips, and games and films that stimulate learning and development.
Monthly meetings take place with the parents, strengthening contact with families. Many of these children come to the shelter from diverse backgrounds; they are often being raised by their mothers and/or relatives, as they have been abandoned by their fathers for various reasons including alcoholism, drugs, domestic violence, and unemployment.
The team at the shelter have now started a programme welcoming mothers to regular round table discussions, which is a very helpful way of finding out about the reality of the daily lives of the children in their care, enabling them to build stronger and more effective supports.
The house is located close to local communities, but it is very old and in need of constant repair. A wall separates the house from a hill, and in rainy season, this suffers severe water damage and requires constant maintenance to avoid collapse. Repairs are also continuously being made to the ageing electrical and plumbing infrastructure.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MINISTRY IN BRAZIL
