2025 Christmas celebrations at the Fr Jules Chevalier Mission Centre in the Cebu District of the Philippines. (Image via the Facebook page for the Fr. Jules Chevalier, MSC Mission Center)
Noche Buena Baskets in the Philippines
December saw our brothers at the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines carrying on their annual tradition of spreading Christmas spirit, through the community’s Share a Christmas Basket programme.
Just before Christmas, MSCs and local volunteers worked together to pack care packages containing groceries and Christmas provisions for a phenomenal 1,000 families. Fundraising took place throughout December, with each donation for a Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) basket marked at a value of 500 Philippine pesos, meaning that 1,000 family Christmasses were transformed for a little over €7 per household. The community reached their goal of 1,000 baskets on December 17th, yet donations continued to come in, and this continued generosity meant that extra provisions of rice could be added to each family’s package, giving the priceless gift of a happy Christmas to hungry families.
The MSC Missions Office in the Philippines posted their gratitude to all donors on their Facebook page:
“Thank you so much to all our generous donors and supporters of our Christmas Noche Buena Basket Project,” they wrote.
“Because of your kindness, we are now preparing for the distribution of Noche Buena baskets to 1,000 families. We are also happy to share that a pack of rice has been included in each basket, bringing more comfort and joy to our beneficiary families this Christmas.”
“From the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, thank you for sharing love and hope this Christmas season. May God bless you abundantly.”
“Nourishing bodies, spreading love”
An outreach programme also took place at the Fr Jules Chevalier Mission Centre in the Cebu District of the Philippines in the days before Christmas, sponsored by the generosity of the Lumongsod Family. The Facebook page for the Fr Jules Chevalier, MSC Mission Centre shared photos from the day, with the heartfelt caption, “Nourishing bodies, spreading love”.
Christmas in Fiji
Festive celebrations abounded in the MSC Province of the Pacific Islands, with their Facebook page sharing wonderful photographs from their Christmas gathering in Fiji (with photo credit to Martin Everi and Josephine Brown).
“The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart hosted a joyful Christmas celebration at the Sacred Heart House, Bhimji, with the Chevalier Family, friends from Holy Spirit and St. Agnes Parishes, Admin Staff, CTC Wainadoi, and the Kiribati Rabi Catholic Community,” the post read.
“The MSC community expresses deep gratitude to everyone for their continued support and prayers. Wishing all a blessed and holy Christmas season! Ametur.”
With the spirit of Christmas goodwill still in our hearts, we send our continued blessings to our MSC brothers all over the world, with prayers for all those they serve and the daily challenges they face. May God continue to bless us all on our shared journey, and may the spirit of the season continue to fill our hearts and homes as we begin a new year and a new chapter together in 2026.
Images via the Facebook pages for:
MSC Mission Office Philippines, Inc.
Fr. Jules Chevalier, MSC Mission Center
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart – Province of the Pacific Islands (with photo credit to Martin Everi and Josephine Brown)