Hope, courage & healing: Novena to the Sacred Heart 2025

 

Our 2025 Novena to the Sacred Heart has come to an end, and it is with truly grateful hearts that we thank everybody who helped to make it such a special occasion for all involved. 

This year’s Novena took place from Thursday, June 19th to Friday, June 27th, at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork – newly decorated just in time for the occasion! We were delighted to see so many familiar faces join us during the Novena, and of course to welcome new friends along too. Almost 11,000 people joined us in prayer on our live stream over the course of the nine days, from close to home and across the world, reminding us in such a lovely way that we are all very much interconnected and part of something bigger, part of a great community of faith, wherever in the world we may be located. 

Parish priest Fr Con Doherty MSC introduces Fr Des Farren MSC at the opening Mass of our 2025 Novena to the Sacred Heart 

Parish priest Fr Con Doherty MSC began the opening Mass of this year’s Novena, which centred on the theme “Anchor of Hope, Mercy & Courage for our ‘turbulent times!’”. “A very, very warm welcome to all who are gathered here this morning, and a very warm welcome to all who are joining us on live stream,” he said. “We have a great sense of gratitude to God that we’re here on such a wonderful day as we set out on our boats into this beautiful Novena, within really kind of troubled waters, but we know where to find refuge.” 

An open, loving heart 

This set the tone for the nine days ahead, and Fr Des Farren MSC gave a beautiful opening sermon on the origins of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, as he reflected on the openness of the Sacred Heart itself. “It’s not enclosed, it’s open,” he said. “This is not some distant God, this is God made man, whose heart is opened out of love for all of us.” 

Fr Des returned for Day 2 of the Novena, leading us in thought on how we respond to and accept God’s in our lives. “Whatever the darkness is, illness, events of your past, family difficulties, perhaps financial difficulties, or loneliness… Stop, think, and pray,” he said. “Let God come in, he’ll show you a way.” 

Fr Des Farren MSC 

Day 3 of the Novena saw Fr Des’ final sermon, on the encyclical on the Sacred Heart – the Sacred Heart embodying that “divine love that seeks the salvation and wellbeing of every person, offering a visible and tangible expression of God’s infinite compassion.” 

On Day 4, we welcomed Fr Terry O’Brien MSC, leading us in a reflection on fellowship, hope, and healing. “It has been rightly remarked, in my opinion, that the consumerism of modern life, it’s not that it makes us want too much, but it makes us want too little,” said Fr Terry. “It diverts our attention to lesser things. To live according to modern consumerism principles is full of appeals to our most precious possession – our attention. And there is so much that conspires to steal our attention, which is the most important thing we have to offer to others. And so, we come to Holy Mass, to the Eucharist, to be fed, for the table of the Lord is large and there are many seats around it.” 

 

“Nobody is left out, all are welcome.” 

Day 5 of the Novena brought us a wonderful talk from Cathy O’Sullivan, who has a background in midwifery and education, and specialises in breath awareness. She explained how both breathing, and a devotion to the Sacred Heart, helped her through her treatment for breast cancer, and led us through some useful breathing exercises that can benefit us in coping with daily stresses and strains. “When we trust in the Sacred Heart, we are telling him that we love him, and trust that he will take us through any situation that we will encounter in this life, be it stressful or joyful. Breathing and praying to the Sacred Heart during times of stress and anxiety helps to keep us grounded. We take in oxygen when we breathe to sustain us, and we hand over our concerns and our worries to the Lord.” 

Cathy O’Sullivan 

Deacon Thady joined us on Day 6 of the Novena as we prayed for healing, speaking of the importance of spiritual healing, encouraging and building each other up as a spiritual community. “Somebody with a nourished healthy spirit thinks in a very healthy way, and this then leads to physical healing,” he explained.  

A special day of healing: Mass was celebrated by Fr Seamus Kelly MSC, who was joined by Fr Con Doherty MSC and Fr Tom Mulcahy MSC, with a sermon by Deacon Thady. 

We welcomed Julianna Crowley to the Sacred Heart Church on Day 8 of the Novena, healthcare chaplain in Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital. Julianna spoke of bereavement, grief, and loss – the stillness of time in a very desolate and difficult place, and hearts that continue to search for “healing, consolation, answers, and hope”. In a beautiful reflection, she reminded us that our loved ones are “at the heart of Jesus, in the home of Heaven.” “As we hold each other together here in this church, it’s okay to be tearful, it’s okay to remember, it’s okay to feel sad,” Julianna said, and invited everyone present, and watching online, to remember lost loved ones in a very special and sacred moment.  

Julianna Crowley 

Irish Provincial Leader Fr Joe McGee MSC celebrated the final two days of Novena Masses, reminding us of the “wonderful, inclusive, hospitable, generous love of our welcoming God.” “That’s for you and me, for all of us here in the Church, for all of us watching online, for all of our people who have sent in petitions – nobody is left out, all are welcome.” 

“Ours is a God who takes a personal interest in each one of us – he doesn’t just look down through the crowds here, and say, ‘oh that’s the crowd in the Sacred Heart on the Western Road this morning’. He looks down and he sees, oh that’s Margaret, and Dearbhla, and John, and Patrick, and Joseph, and he sees each one of us personally – and as the Gospel says, he takes great delight in each one of us,” Fr Joe reflected.  

“Even with our faults and our failings and our scars and our wounds, he takes great delight in each one of us. He cares passionately about what ails us, and what are our deepest desires. He desires to hear our prayers, to walk with us on the journey of our lives – and all of our lives are so different, and take so many different paths. He walks with each one of us.” 

Fr Joe McGee MSC 

With heartfelt thanks 

Each of our speakers provided us with great pause for thought in their daily reflections, helping us to look ever deeper in our spiritual reflection and healing. As Fr Con reminded us, “The Sacred Heart is like a jewel – turn it this way and there’s one dimension, turn it another way and there’s another dimension.” Each of our daily speakers helped us to see the beauty of so many of these different dimensions, leading us down useful, interesting, and healing paths of prayer and thought. 

We are truly grateful to all who contributed to making this year’s Novena such a resounding success, as we take with us, as Fr Joe said, “the wonderful message to be the heart of God in our world, in whatever little part of the world we inhabit.” The time and effort that went into the many details, big and small, from the flowers and music and readings, to the teas and coffees and socialising, and the planning of all the details in between, is always hugely appreciated. “This couldn’t happen without a community effort,” said Fr Con. “We’re full of gratitude to God, and full of gratitude to all here at the Sacred Heart Parish. And we’re always conscious that we’re building on the shoulders of others, what we’re doing now, it has been done before, and when we’re gone, there’ll be others to carry on the flame.” To all who joined us in prayer, be it in person or online, your presence has been a blessing and a gift. God bless you all. 

 

If you would like to watch this year’s Novena Masses,
please click here to view recordings of all nine days. 

 

Healing, mercy, and forgiveness: Our 2024 MSC Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to all who participated in our 2024 Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, which took place from Saturday, August 31st to Sunday, September 8th at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork.

It was a wonderful thing to welcome friends and parishioners to the Sacred Heart Church for this year’s Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart – we were delighted to see familiar faces and of course to welcome new friends. In addition, almost 10,000 people joined us in prayer via our live stream over the course of the nine days, reminding us of the tremendous spirit of our extended Sacred Heart family, at home and across the world, and reinforcing that remarkable sense of community and connection that comes with being part of our great family of faith, wherever we may be. Our Novena is always a very special time of the year, a time dedicated to prayer and reflection before we come into the darker days of late Autumn and Winter, and it is with grateful hearts that we came together once again to celebrate the sacred tradition of prayer to our Blessed Mother, placing the “intentions of our hearts” on the altar each day, as Fr Con Doherty reminded us.

Fr John Finn opened our 2024 Novena, taking us through the first three days of prayer, including a special Day of Reconciliation on Day 3. We were then honoured to have three very special guest speakers join us for Days 4, 5, and 6; Margaret Griffin, Miriam Dunne, Christine O’Hara, and Ann Keating all provided us with great food for thought as they gave us a glimpse into their own personal journeys of faith, and shared the joy and solace their have found in their different relationships with Our Lady. Irish Provincial Leader Fr Joe McGee journeyed down from Dublin to lead us in the final three days of the Novena, with a beautiful Day of Healing on Day 7. Fr John Fitzgerald, Fr Con Doherty, and Fr Tom Mulcahy were among several other MSCs who joined us throughout the nine days of prayer and thanksgiving.

Each of our speakers provided us with great pause for thought in their daily reflections, and in our closing Mass, Fr Joe McGee reminded us of “the importance of simply taking time with each other and time with those we love,” reminding us that God loves each one of us, individually and personally. “God looks on this congregation and he doesn’t just see a group of people,” he reflected. “God sees each one of us individually, he sees each one of us and whatever it is that’s troubling us; whatever it is, either physically or spiritually, that makes us deaf or prevents us from speaking out. He sees and intimately unites himself with us and listens to our prayers, and that, for us, is what spirituality of the heart is all about, that God personally knows each one of us by name. In these last eight days, we have united ourselves with Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, who herself is intimately united with the heart of her son, and she too absorbs that personal concern for each one of us, and she then prayers for us to her son and presents our prayers to his father and our father.”

“There’s a real promise to you and to me that gives us the assurance that during this Novena our loving God, our father, through Jesus his son, by the intercession of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, will personally hear the prayers of each one of us, will personally take a real interest in our needs or the needs we bring for other people, in whatever it is that troubles us, and he will respond – maybe not instantly, maybe not in the way we would like, but if we just take time to attune ourselves to the spirit, we will come to know that God is indeed hearing our prayers.”

Fr John Fitzgerald, Director of the MSC Missions Office, also took the time to thank all who participated in the Novena for the generous contributions that are already making a real and valuable difference to people in urgent need around the world. For example, Fr Joe McGee recently returned from a visit to our Venezuelan mission, where our MSCs are running soup kitchens that are providing many families with the only nourishment they will have on a daily basis. Returning from his trip, Fr Joe explained how we need to do more to help the families and communities out there, but with funds running low, it is an uphill challenge. The donations received from the Novena have been an invaluable boost to our missions around the world, says Fr John: “Thanks so much, from the bottom of our hearts, because today we are celebrating the love of God for everybody and there’s absolutely, absolutely no question – because of the help that yourselves have given, there are people eating meals today and tomorrow in different places because of you.”

Each year, the MSC Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart offers a great sense of peace and comfort to all who take part, as we bring our personal intentions before the merciful heart of our Holy Mother. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who took part in what was a truly blessed occasion this year, and for your ongoing friendship and support throughout the year. God bless you all.

If you would like to watch this year’s Novena Masses,
please click here to view recordings of all nine days.
*

New beginnings at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork

As we come towards the end of the year, so too do we mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Sacred Heart Parish on the Western Road, Cork, as we bid a fond farewell to outgoing parish priest Fr Tom Mulcahy MSC, and welcome Fr Con Doherty MSC as he steps into the role, accompanied by new curate Fr Des Farren MSC.

Having served the Sacred Heart Parish with a warm and generous spirit in recent years, Fr Tom stepped down from his role at the end of October, when Bishop Fintan Gavin celebrated the official induction of Fr Con, along with new curate Fr Des, on Sunday, October 23^rd, at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road. Fr Tom will remain a welcome familiar face, as he plans to continue with catechetical work, while we are delighted to welcome Fr Con and Fr Des in their new ministry in the parish.

A native of Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Fr Con joined the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1983, and was ordained by Bishop John Buckley in the parish of the Sacred Heart, here in Cork, in 1990. Since then, Fr Con has had a fascinating missionary journey, serving in St Alban’s Parish in the UK until 1995, before travelling to Russia to join his MSC brothers Fr Michael Screene and Fr Kevin Blade on our mission there. Fr Con remained in Russia for a decade, returning to Ireland in 2015, when he took up the role of chaplain in Cuan Mhuire in Co. Limerick, and there he ministered until his new appointment as parish priest at the Sacred Heart Church.

Fr Con gladly returns to the place of his ordination, some 32 years later, and is looking forward to getting to know our parishioners and mission friends together with Fr Des. Many of our regular website viewers will already have seen the new faces celebrating Mass on our daily live stream, while Fr Con also celebrated this year’s Light Up a Memory Mass with Missions Office Director Fr John Fitzgerald MSC, who introduced Fr Con as “our brand new parish priest – and an old warrior at the same time!”

It is with grateful hearts that we thank Fr Tom for his dedicated ministry as parish priest, and welcome Fr Con and Fr Des into the heart of a wonderful local community – and indeed beyond, as so many friends become part of our parish family daily through Masses on our live stream. Please keep our MSCs in your prayers as we set out on this new chapter together.

Images: Michael English
*

A season of compassion: MSC Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 2022

Sincere thanks to all who participated in our 2022 Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, which took place from Tuesday, August 31st to Wednesday, September 8th at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork.

It is with great delight that we were able to welcome friends and parishioners back to the Sacred Heart Church for this year’s Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, after such a prolonged period of private prayer due to COVID-19 restrictions. In addition, almost 7,500 people joined us in prayer via our live stream over the course of the nine days, from all over the world, reminding us once again of the remarkable spirit of our extended Sacred Heart family, at home and across the globe. This is always a special time of year to put aside for prayer before the late Autumn and Winter seasons come upon us, and it was with grateful hearts that we celebrated the much-beloved and sacred tradition of prayer to our Blessed Mother.

The theme of our 2022 Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart was “Mary, Mother of Compassion,” and Masses were celebrated by several of our MSC priests and brothers over the nine days.

Fr John Finn opened the Novena, welcoming those present in person and via our live stream, and starting us off with a simple thought: “We begin simply by inviting Jesus to touch our hearts and our lives. We ask Mary to lead us to the heart of forgiveness, the healing love and compassion of Jesus her son.”

Having reflected on the meaning of compassion during our first Novena Masses, Br Giacomo Gelardi returned with a second sermon on Day Two, reminding us that, “We need to return to the simplicity and enthusiasm, to the beauty of realising that we are instruments of the spirit.” In essence, “Let your heart beat in harmony with God’s heart,” he told us.

Day Three saw Fr Tom Mulcahy sharing the powerful message that “God is forgiveness – it isn’t that God gives forgiveness, God is forgiveness, God is compassion, God is mercy.” Following this, Day Four saw Fr Seamus Kelly pray for us all to listen to God’s signs to us as we bring his love to others, and “for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit on each and every one of us, that we too can bring the love of Christ to people throughout the world.”

On the fifth day of our Novena, Fr John Finn returned with a homily on faith, and the importance of our attitude towards our daily lives – whether we live, or simply endure. “Each day you have, each moment you live, is God’s gift, it is given to us as a gift, as something to be lived, not as a torture to be endured,” he reminded us. “Faith calls us to life. Faith calls us that when moments hit us and pierce our soul, we too would have that trust, that no matter what happens, God is present, God is there.”

Fr John Fitzgerald celebrated Mass on Day Six, with a reflection on Mary and Suffering, reminding us of the fact that Mary was human too, and “that is how we connect with her, on these days of suffering, the days when we need her”. Drawing from the theme of suffering the light of hope, Fr John prayed “that we might have patience, that we might be courageous as well, and that we might hold hope in our hearts.”

Fr John returned on Day Seven of the Novena, a special day of healing. “Our prayer today is for healing in our bodies, for healing today, physical and emotional and spiritual,” he said, along with praying for the healing power of acceptance of those things that we may not be able to change. Together, we prayed for all who are sick, suffering or in pain, for those who are healing from a broken heart in any form, for those healing through learning to walk with their past, for those suffering with anxiety, darkness or depression, addiction, and mental health issues, and for those learning to accept sickness and heal in a recovery of the soul. Fr John finished for a prayer for healers everywhere, giving thanks for the “magnificent people who are carers and healers in our world”.

Fr Joe McGee journeyed from Dublin to celebrate the final two days of the Novena, bringing a blessed nine days of prayer to a beautiful close. “My wish for all of us at the end of the Novena, for all of us here and those joining us online, that in some way this Novena will bring us closer to Mary, who brings us closer to the Lord, who helps us to ponder the mysteries of our lives,” he said.

At the closing Masses, parish priest Fr Tom Mulcahy paused to thank everyone who contributed to making this year’s Novena such a special one, particularly as it is the last Novena that he will prepare as parish priest of the Sacred Heart parish. Giving sincere thanks to everybody involved in the preparation and the celebrations, Fr Tom also prayed in gratitude for all who took part in this year’s Novena Masses, in the Sacred Heart Church and on our webcam streaming service. “We thank God for your presence,” he said. “I hope it has been a blessing for you as it has been for us.”

“May God bless you, and all your prayers that you have placed in the hands of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart; she is the hope of the hopeless,” Fr Tom continued.

“The Lord knows how to work, and the mother of the Lord is always with us. God bless you all.”

Year upon year, the MSC Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart offers great solace and comfort to all who take part, as we bring our prayers and personal intentions before our Holy Mother. Once again, we send our heartfelt thanks to everyone who took part in what was a truly blessed occasion this year, and for your ongoing friendship and support. God bless you all.

If you would like to watch this year’s Novena Masses,
please click here to view recordings of all nine days.
*

Sacred Heart Novena 2022: A note from Fr Paul

Preparations are well underway at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road in Cork, as we look ahead to our much-beloved annual Novena to the Sacred Heart, which will take place this year from June 16^th to 24^th.

This year’s Novena will see the return of a familiar face, as Fr Paul Clayton-Lea, who led us in prayer during last year’s Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, is joining us once again in celebration of our 2022 Sacred Heart Novena. A firm friend of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Fr Paul writes to parishioners in Cork and mission friends everywhere ahead of the Novena celebrations.

“Dear Friends,

I am looking forward to joining you all soon for the annual Novena to the Sacred Heart, from 16^th to 24^th June 2022, and reflecting with you upon the theme for the Novena this year, “Jesus – The Compassion and Mercy of God”.

By way of a little personal background information, I am a priest of the Archdiocese of Armagh and I live in the parish of Termonfeckin in Co. Louth.  I was ordained to the priesthood in 1986 and over the past thirty-six years have been a teacher (in St. Patrick’s Grammar school, Armagh), a college chaplain to Dundalk Institute of Technology and parish priest to two great parishes, Clogherhead (2008-2013) and Tallanstown (2013-2018) in Co. Louth.  At present, I serve as editor of the monthly pastoral and liturgical magazine Intercom, and I assist in parishes where priests are sick or on leave, which thankfully leaves me free to join with you all for the Novena.

The founder of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Fr Jules Chevalier, said, “Our greatest need, if we are to find meaning in life, is to learn to believe in God’s love for us and let it transform our life.” Whatever words may be used during our Novena this year, Fr Chevalier’s message of the transformative power of God’s love will be their foundation.

We are still emerging from the effects of the pandemic, which changed the world and scarred many lives. We are daily watching the horrors of war in Europe and the ongoing effects of climate change, especially on the world’s poorest people. To cope with such events and with the challenges in our own personal lives, we are strengthened and encouraged by the gift of faith, which teaches us that God is always with us.

I hope that the time we spend in prayer together and in celebrating the Eucharist each day of our Novena will bring us fresh reasons to be hopeful and confident in God’s saving power for us in his son Jesus, and that we will end our Novena with renewed praise and gratitude in our hearts.

I am very grateful to Fr Tom Mulcahy MSC for the invitation to celebrate the message of compassion and mercy which is at the heart of the Gospel, and look forward to meeting you all soon.

With every blessing till we meet,
Fr Paul”

This year’s Novena to the Sacred Heart will take place from Thursday, June 16^th to Friday, June 24^th.

Novena Masses will take place daily at 10.00am & 7.30pm
at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork,
and all are very welcome to join us via the live stream here on our website.

For more information on this year’s Novena, and to find out how you can participate, please click here.
*

A virtual celebration: The 2021 MSC Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Heartfelt thanks to all who participated in our 2021 Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, which took place from Tuesday, August 31st to Wednesday, September 8th at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork.

While this year’s Novena once again took place behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was nonetheless a truly blessed celebration of a much-loved annual tradition. It is of course difficult to navigate a new way of living, and in this case, a new way of praying, but the fact that we could not come together in person did not take from the wonderful sense of community and connection that comes with being part of our great family of faith. Over 9,300 people joined us in prayer via our live stream over the course of the nine days, reminding us of the tremendous spirit of our extended Sacred Heart family, at home and across the world.

The theme of our 2021 Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart was “Hope of the Hopeless”, and Fr Paul Clayton-Lea was the lead celebrant this year.

Fr Paul is a priest of the Archdiocese of Armagh, who has enjoyed a wide and varied ministry to date and is currently the priest in residence in the parish of Termonfeckin, Co. Louth. Having studied Education and Family Ministry at Fordham University in New York in 1988, he also ministered in the Riverdale area of the Bronx at the time, and has since served as a teacher of politics and religion, a college chaplain at DKIT, a Diocesan Advisor for Religious Education, and a parish priest. Author of In The Light Of The Word: Family Life Through The Lens Of Scripture, which was published by Veritas in 2018, Fr Paul is also about to resume his position as editor of Intercom, the monthly magazine of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. We were delighted to welcome Fr Paul to the Sacred Heart Church, and we are very grateful for his contribution to this year’s celebrations.

“May Mary and her merciful heart bless all of us.”

Fr Paul provided us with pause for thought in his daily sermons, summing up our great blessings in the closing Mass on the evening of September 8^th. “Wouldn’t it be beautiful to be free of the lure of the world?” he asked. “Free from the things that draw us in and suck us in all the time, making us want this and want that and want more. Mary may not offer us all the wealth that we want, all the success that we want, but she will make sure that we do not want.”

“May Mary and her merciful heart bless all of us,” he concluded.

At the closing Mass, Fr Tom Mulcahy MSC spoke on behalf of Fr Michael O’Connell, who had travelled to Dublin on the final day of the Novena to attend the Perpetual Profession of Br Giacomo Gelardi to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. “Fr Michael asked me to speak to you to thank you for being with us and walking with us,” said Fr Tom. “We’re a tremendous outreach in the world; I remember being at an international conference and one of the Indian brethren said, ‘If it weren’t for the Irish Province of the MSCs, we couldn’t continue’. So, we’re helping so many other people. You’re helping so many other people. You walk with us and pray with us and celebrate with us.”

Once again, we send our sincere thanks to everyone who took part in what was a truly blessed occasion, and for your ongoing friendship and support. God bless you all.

If you would like to watch this year’s Novena Masses,
please click here to view recordings of our 2021 MSC Novena to the Sacred Heart.

 

The Way of the Heart: Novena to the Sacred Heart 2021

It is with grateful hearts that we thank everyone who participated in this year’s Novena to the Sacred Heart, which took place in the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork, from June 3^rd to June 11^th 2021.

This year, ongoing COVID restrictions meant that our Sacred Heart Novena once again had to take place online; while our doors may have been closed, our hearts were open, and it is with sincere joy and gratitude that we welcomed members of our great family of faith from all over the world. Well over 1,000 people joined us daily to participate in our online Masses on each of the nine days of the Novena, close to home and in far-flung corners of the world. Together, we prayed with mission friends from Ireland, the UK, and America, as well as Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Romania, Spain, and many more.

“The Way of the Heart”

Irish Provincial Fr Carl Tranter MSC opened the Novena on June 3^rd, reminding us that “this year’s Novena has a special character for us as we begin to emerge from the long lockdown of the last months, and these long 15 months of living with COVID.”

“We’re conscious that we’ve all been changed by this experience,” reflected Fr Carl. “We have experienced an enormous disruption to our lives – loss, sickness, grief. People have felt isolated and lonely. People have been afraid and have had financial worries and business worries. We’ve been disconnected from each other, from friends and family. We’ve had so many hard and tough experiences this past year.”

“The theme for the Novena this year is ‘The Way of the Heart’,” he continued. “It invites us into the language of journey, a process, a way living, a way of praying, a way of walking our path in life: the way of the heart. So over these coming nine days we’ll be inviting you to embrace this time, this space that we’re given to allow our wounded hearts, our pained hearts, our grieving hearts, our confused hearts, but also our longing hearts and our hopeful hearts, to go on a journey, to be taken on a journey deep into the heart of Christ, that unique place where we discover the intimacy of God’s love, of God’s gentleness, of God’s embrace, of God’s care for each of us.”

Living as God’s creation

Fr Michael O’Connell MSC, Director of the Missions Office, celebrated the second Novena Mass, on the theme of Mission, where he spoke about “The Way of the Heart” and how it “it opens us up to a whole way of being, of really living as God’s creation”. “If you are living according to questions like, how can I make money, or how can I get a bigger house, or even how can I get my children to be the biggest earners or get the best qualifications – that’s really very narrow, and it’s very finite”, he said. “But when it’s the heart, when it’s the way of the heart – wow, that can go anywhere. COVID has shown us that questions like, when can I go on my next holiday, when can I buy my next car, or when can I go out for dinner… Living for those things that are just so finite, they can all be taken away at the stroke of a regulation. At a cough or an infection, they’re gone. But the way of the heart, that’s something inside us, that inner strength we have, that inner way of being – nobody can take that from us.”

Day three of the Novena, on the theme of Reconciliation, was celebrated by Fr Tom Mulcahy MSC, who spoke of the power of grace and love: of loving a person “exactly as they are, with all their rubbish and brokenness and all the rest… Not a pretended love, not an act put on, but an absolute giving.” Fr Seamus Kelly MSC also spoke of love on the fourth day of the Novena, which celebrated Corpus Christi, calling on the grace of the Holy Spirit “to be able to bring God’s love to people throughout the world”.

The fifth day of the Novena was celebrated by Fr John Finn MSC, who spoke at length about caring for our planet, and planets beyond. Bringing us from outer space back to our own earth, he reminded us that, “The earth is given to us by God as a gift, life is given to us by God as a gift, and we are called to a deeper appreciation, to a gratitude of heart for that gift that God has given to us, his blessing.”

“A love that’s beyond our knowledge, more than our minds can grasp.”

On day six of our Novena to the Sacred Heart, Fr John Fitzgerald MSC led us in prayer for our dearly departed – “a special day,” Fr John observed, “because the dead visit us so many times in our memories.” Reading from a selection of beautiful poems, Fr John reminded us not to worry about those we have lost: “Our loved ones are at peace; that is the promise, and we need have no fear of them or for them.”

Day seven saw Fr Michael return to celebrate the theme of Healing, emphasising the power of compassion, of active compassion, not just passive pity, for others and for ourselves. The idea of compassion carried through to the following day’s Masses, where Fr John Fitzgerald led a service of thanksgiving for our front-line workers, and all who have worked behind the scenes during the COVID pandemic. Showing us an ornament of an open hand, sculpted from timber, he said, “If there ever was an apt ornament for today, it is this, in thanksgiving for the people who opened their hands freely to offer what they had freely for us and for the people around them, and we are very, very privileged to devote a day of the Novena in thanksgiving.”

“This is the time to pray a massive thanksgiving, lest we forget and take for granted.”

On the final day of our Novena, the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Fr John Finn was joined by Bishop Fintan Gavin to celebrate the closing Mass. Reflecting on “The Way of the Heart”, Bishop Fintan spoke of Christ’s love, a “love that’s beyond our knowledge, more than our minds can grasp.”

“All we can do,” he said, “is place ourselves in love and in faith. And if we can do that, then Christ’s love begins to grow in our hearts, and so through faith our hearts will reflect something of the Sacred Heart, something of his love will flow into our human hearts, to bring life to us so that we can bring life to our world.”

“Our faith is a missionary faith,” Bishop Fintan continued, “and so our faith is never turned in on itself, it is always reaching out to others, always selflessly self-emptying so that we can share that love and that encounter with others – that’s the Christ we’re called to follow, that’s the Christ we hear about in this evening’s Gospel, that’s the Christ I invite you to take deeper into your lives, so that others, through our witness, may come to know the love of Christ.”

“Love begins to work its changes…”

At a time when we are beginning to slowly emerge from the fear, stress, sorrow, and uncertainty of the last 15 months, this year’s Novena to the Sacred Heart was a wonderful way to pause and to give thanks for the daily blessings that have meant so much, and continue to do so. “COVID has changed so much of our lives,” Fr Carl reflected. “It has had such an enormous impact on us, but as Pope Francis has wisely observed, it’s not just what COVID has done to us, but it’s also what COVID has revealed to us, about ourselves, about our lives, about our world.”

In the different ways the pandemic has impacted us, Fr Carl reassured us, “we bring that to the heart of Christ, and let him know how we are feeling and what it is we want and we need. And in that space, maybe if we just stop talking for a while, and allow him to hold us and embrace us and love us, and that love begins to work its changes. And as it works its change, we find ourselves opening that little bit more.”

As Fr John Finn closed our 2021 Novena, he said “I thank you, from our community house here at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, for joining us in this Novena. I thank you for praying for us, for praying with us, as we pray for and with you, and I pray that you will come to know ever deeper the love that God has for you, revealed in the heart of Christ.”

Our heartfelt thanks to all who took part in this year’s Novena celebrations. May the Sacred Heart bless you and your loved ones, now and always.

Watch our 2021 MSC Novena to the Sacred Heart:

June 3rd: Opening Mass by Irish Provincial Leader Fr Carl Tranter MSC
June 4th: Mission, celebrated by Fr Michael O’Connell MSC
June 5th: Reconciliation, celebrated by Fr Tom Mulcahy MSC
June 6th: Corpus Christie, celebrated by Fr Seamus Kelly MSC
June 7th: Care of Our Earth, celebrated by Fr John Finn MSC
June 8th: Pray for Our Dead, celebrated by Fr John Fitzgerald MSC
June 9th: Healing, celebrated by Fr Michael O’Connell MSC
June 10th: Thanksgiving for front-line workers, celebrated by Fr John Fitzgerald MSC
June 11th: Feast of the Sacred Heart, celebrated by Fr John Finn MSC (Morning Mass)
June 11th: Feast of the Sacred Heart, celebrated by Fr John Finn MSC and Bishop Fintan Gavin (Evening Mass)

Celebrating a blessed 2019 Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Our 2019 Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart took place from Saturday, August 31^st to Sunday, September 8^th, at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork.

A number of MSCs celebrated our daily Novena Masses over the nine-day period, including Fr Michael O’Connell, Fr Tom Mulcahy, and Fr Vincent Screene, who recently returned home to Ireland from the Venezuelan mission.

The Sacred Heart Church was beautifully decorated, with a very special feature this year. A wonderful statue of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart stood on the altar throughout the course of the Novena, which had been carved by the late Fr Jerry O’Riordan MSC, who ministered in South Africa and Indonesia.

It was wonderful to see the familiar faces of old friends return to the Sacred Heart Church every day, and to welcome new acquaintances to our Novena Masses every day. We were also delighted to see over 2,200 people pray with us via the live stream on our website over the nine days of the Novena – a sure sign that our great community of faith is growing all over the world!

The theme of year’s Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart was “Mother-Disciple”, with Sr Merle Salazar FDNSC acting as the special guest speaker at each of our daily Masses.

It was with great joy that we welcomed Sr Merle back to the Sacred Heart Church, following her wonderful reception as leader of the Sacred Heart Novena in 2018. With a fascinating history and varied career path to date, Sr Merle is a firm favourite with parishioners in Cork and beyond.

Born, raised, and educated in the Philippines, Sr Merle was a certified public accountant prior to her decision to join religious life with the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in 1995. As a young religious sister, she taught accountancy, did treasury work in a parish school, and coordinated a nutrition program in the remote village of Cebu, located in central Philippines. She also obtained a Masters degree in Religious Studies, and following her final profession, she has ministered in Formation and Leadership. She has also taught Marian Theology and Scripture at three theology schools in Manila, and is currently the First Councillor to the General, residing in Rome.

Sr Merle was welcomed with open arms once again this year, and we thank her, and everybody who contributed to this year’s celebrations, in person or online, for taking part in another successful, prayerful, and blessed Novena.

Fr Michael visits Venezuela

On Thursday, January 3rd, Fr Michael O’Connell, Director of the MSC Missions Office in Cork, embarked on a three-week visit to Venezuela, where he will visit MSC parishes and spend time with the communities who benefit from the care of our missionaries.

Venezuela is currently in the grip of the worst political, social, economic, and humanitarian crisis ever experienced in the country’s history, and local people struggle daily with extreme poverty and hardship. The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart first started their work in this deeply troubled country over 50 years ago, when four Irish MSCs began the first MSC mission in Maracaibo, and today, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are the only Irish priests working to bring relief to local communities who are trapped in the dreadful conditions brought about by the current social and political unrest.

The situation has become increasingly worrying in recent years. Former Irish Provincial Leader Fr Joseph McGee MSC was greatly affected by his trip to Venezuela in 2017. “The most difficult thing I witnessed was seeing people scavenge in the rubbish heaps for scraps that have burst through the overflowing rubbish bags and appear to be edible,” he recalls. “People are doing all they can to leave the country and start a new life”.

In October 2018, we reported that Pope Francis had encouraged the Venezuelan bishops to “stay close to the people of Venezuela, especially to those who are suffering,” while Simon Coveney, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, addressed the “serious, volatile, and rapidly deteriorating situation,” where “reports of human rights violations are a cause of real concern”.

Having marked 50 years of ministry in Venezuela in the summer of 2017, the our MSCs continue to do all they can to help vulnerable families affected by the ongoing crisis. On this trip, Fr Michael is travelling with an extra suitcase filled with essentials for local families who are enduring the consequences of hyperinflation, which has pushed the cost of necessities sky-high – far beyond the reach of parents who don’t know where their children’s next meal is coming from. His case is packed full of supplies including toothpaste, soap, nappies, and other basic hygiene products – everyday items that we might not think twice about using, but which will be very welcome to families who have very little.

Be sure to check back in the coming weeks, as Fr Michael continues on his travels and keeps us updated on the MSC Venezuelan mission.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS

Remembering together at the MSC Light Up a Memory Mass 2018

On Saturday, November 24th, the Sacred Heart Church in Cork was aglow with the light of hundreds of candles, each flame commemorating a beloved soul who is now with the Lord.

Since our first candlelight memorial service in 2014, the annual Light Up a Memory Mass has become a much-loved tradition to close the Month of the Holy Souls, and this year’s Mass was another wonderful occasion for all involved.

From 6.30pm on Saturday evening, the Sacred Heart Church was a beacon of welcoming warmth in the winter darkness, with each candle burning brightly in celebration of lives and the memories of those we will always hold dear. This year, Fr Michael O’Connell MSC, Director of the MSC Missions Office, was the main celebrant of the Mass, with sermon by parish priest Fr Tom Mulcahy MSC. With a beautiful musical accompaniment led by Gerry and Deirdre Tuohy, this was a very special evening of reflection and remembrance to mark the ending of the month of remembrance.

“The church looked stunning,” said one parishioner. “It was so warm, inviting, and very appropriate for the occasion. It was also lovely to see so many MSC priests concelebrating Mass. It brought back nice memories for me.”

A “poignant and meaningful” evening of remembrance

The Light Up a Memory Mass is an opportunity for families to come together in prayer and remembrance each November. Bereavement touches us all and the service is a lovely way for families to remember together. “My son was very impressed with the celebration,” said another Mass-goer on the night. “He was delighted to bring a candle to the altar.”

We were glad to welcome familiar faces of old friends on the night, and we also had many visitors who come specially to celebrate the service with us. “It was a beautiful Mass,” said one. “The altar looked amazing, and the atmosphere was lovely.”

“It was a lovely ceremony – even if I only came upon it by accident on the way home!” said another attendee on the night. “My dad passed away late last year, so this was very poignant and meaningful for us.”

We also welcomed viewers from all over the world on our live stream, as hundreds tuned in to watch the Mass live and take part in this beautiful memorial. “That was lovely,” said one online viewer. “I’m so glad I got it!”

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all who took part in this year’s Light Up a Memory celebrations, in the Sacred Heart Church and beyond. It was a truly special evening of reflection and remembrance for all involved.