Celebrating an MSC Deaconate in Caracas, Venezuela

Sincere congratulations to Rev Luis Gonzales MSC, who was ordained a Deacon in Caracas, Venezuela, on Saturday, May 4^th.

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

MSC Missions supporting students at exam time

Fresh pens and pencils, piles of text books, note cards strewn about, and kettles boiling on repeat all over the country… It can mean only one thing – exam season is here!

Preparation for exams is a stressful time for students, and often, for their families too. With the pressure on to do their very best, facing into a timetable of questions, essays, and graphs is a daunting notion for even the hardiest young soul.

As the state exams approach, why not show a little bit of extra support for the special student in your life? Our exam cards are the perfect way to send encouragement to a hard-working student. Each card contains a lovely prayer for students, and includes remembrance in our annual Triduum of Masses for students sitting exams.

You are also very welcome to light a candle for exam success in our online gallery, or submit a prayer intention to be remembered by our MSC priests in the Sacred Heart parish on the Western Road in Cork. We will be glad to keep your intentions in our prayers.

During a time of heightened worries and anxieties, the gift of prayer offers peace, comfort, and a sense of support like no other. Let a special student know you’re thinking of them at this challenging time with the help of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

BROWSE OUR RANGE OF EXAM TRIDUUM CARDS

Gospel Reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Easter | May 19th

Gospel Reflection

In his departure discourse from this world, Jesus gives a new commandment –
a commandment for the new age to come with his resurrection and in eternal life.
It is in keeping with the vision of the New Jerusalem of today’s second reading, something worth reflecting on.

The Gospel (John 13:31-35):
I give you a new commandment: love one another.

1. New Heaven and New Earth.

One of the articles of the Creed is that we believe in life everlasting, where the just enjoy the presence of God in the Beatific Vision, the trials, persecutions, and worries of this present life behind them. It is obvious to believers, and has been down the centuries, that this world cannot be as God would have it. Paul has said as much to the Romans (Romans 8:20-23): “For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies”. There arose the belief that after history had run its course, there would be a new creation, as expressed in the Second Letter of Peter (2 Peter 3:13): “But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home”. This belief is also clearly expressed in today’s second reading (from John’s Apocalypse). The Church takes note of this expectation, both in the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes, “Joy and Hope”), paragraph 39,2, with the reminder that rather than take from, it should add to, our concern for the world in which we live: “Therefore, while we are warned that it profits a person nothing if he gain the whole world and lose himself, the expectation of a new earth must not weaken but rather stimulate our concern for cultivating this one”.

2. The kingdom of God is among us.

His kingdom would mean care for one another after his example and his command. He made this clear by washing the feet of his disciples and his explanation of the meaning of this: “I have given you an example”. He came to bring life in its fullness, life here and life hereafter. This life was about one’s soul, one’s true inner self, with a knowledge of the meaning of life and the handling of trials. The same message is still proclaimed in the Easter liturgy, as in the following text from one of the prefaces for the Easter Mass; when Christ our Passover has been sacrificed: “For with he old order destroyed, a universe cast down is renewed, and integrity of life is restored to us in Christ. Therefore, overcome with paschal joy, every land, every people exults in your praise and even the heavenly Powers, with the angelic hosts, sing together the unending hymn of your glory, as they acclaim: Holy, Holy, Holy”.

Fr Martin McNamara MSC

The MSC Message: Summer 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

Pope Francis appoints MSC Bishop in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Sincere congratulations to the Rev Fr Toussaint Iluku Bolumbu MSC, who has been appointed by Pope Francis as bishop of the diocese of Bokungu-Ikela, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Currently acting as superior of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart for the French-speaking African region, Bishop-Elect Toussaint is the first MSC African bishop.

The bishop-elect was born in Monieka, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), in November 1964, the seventh in a family of eleven children. He entered the novitiate of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and was ordained a priest in 1995, having professed his religious vows the previous year. He holds bachelor’s degrees in both philosophy and theology, and has served in a wide range of pastoral roles including parish priest, vice rector, bursar, and later superior and director of formation of the MSC School in Yaoundé, teacher of philosophy and theology, vice president of the Association of Major Superiors of the ecclesiastical province of Mbandaka-Bikoro, assistant to the secretariat general of the General Chapter of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Rome, and moderator of the General Conference of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Yaoundé.

In April, Rev Fr Toussaint was appointed fourth bishop of the diocese of Bokungu-Ikela. His ordination will take place on July 21^st in Bokungo, by Bishop Fridolin Ambongo Besungo, Archbishop of Kinshasa and Apostolic Administrator of Mbandaka Bikoro.

We send our very best wishes to Bishop-Elect Toussaint
from the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart!

Putting the wheels in motion in Righini, Congo

We are delighted to have received a letter from Br Jean Manga MSC with an update from our MSC community in Righini, Congo.

Earlier this year, we reached out to our mission friends to help the MSC community in Righini as part of our 2019 World Projects Appeal. 15 MSC pre-novitiate students live in the Formation House in Righini, along with their two formators. Here, they work, study, and pray together as they contemplate the missionary journey. The residents of the formation house live primarily on a grant provided by the MSC French African Union – a grant which allows each person a sum equivalent to €11 per day.

As part of their daily routine, the pre-novitiate students travel to the local university to attend classes. They also travel around the surrounding areas, visiting parishioners and undertaking parish ministry. An old minibus served as their only mode of transport, until it broke down beyond repair in April 2018.

For the past year, our MSC students and their formators have had no choice but to travel on public transport, which is unpredictable, undependable, and time-consuming. The community has been unable to travel together, and the lack of transport has made it very difficult for duties around the parish to be undertaken efficiently and effectively. It has also incurred great costs, with $10 per day spent on public transport as opposed to the cost of fuel for the minibus at $30 per week.

The support and generosity of our mission friends here in the Irish Province meant that we have been able to contribute to the cost of a new minibus, and Br Jean has sent a message of thanks from Righini.

“We thank the Lord for you and your great generosity,” he writes. “You have made it possible for our pre-novitiate students to have a brand new school bus. After many months of hope, the bus is now with us.”

“You have our sincere gratitude,” he continues. “God bless you fully!”

We would like to join with Br Jean in extending our heartfelt thanks to all who have contributed to our ongoing 2019 World Projects Appeal. Every contribution, no matter how small, helps us to change lives for the better across the world.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS

Ordination to the Diaconate of Luis Gonzalez MSC, Caracas

We have great joy in announcing that on Saturday, May 4th, Luis Gonzalez MSC will be ordained a Deacon in Caracas, Venezuela.

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. We pray for Luis on this significant step in his vocational journey, that he may serve the Lord, the Church, and all of society with love and generosity. Congratulations to Luis, his brother MSCs in Venezuela, and his family.

As we keep Luis especially in our prayers these days, we also continue to pray for the whole country of Venezuela.

– Fr Carl Tranter MSC
Irish Provincial Leader

 

Find out more about our missionary outreach in Venezuela

The Road to Success: Rita’s Story

Rita D. Grace Calvary is a student at Siwa Lima St Joseph’s Technical School in Langgur, Indonesia. Built in 1970, the school is run by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart with the aim of educating young people in the region so “they can do something good for themselves and for their families”. In a region where poverty is a pressing issue, St Joseph’s provides the youth of the community with hope for the future. Here is Rita’s story:

“My name is Rita D. Grace Calvary. I am 15 years old.

My father is an employee in a private company. I wished to attend St Joseph’s Technical School as I have a great desire to become an architect. To help me along this career path, I chose to study technical drawing.

Through my studies in this area, I am learning how to master the basic skills of architecture. I wish to continue my studies at university, to further develop my ability and skills in architecture. This will be very useful to me as I try to find a job when I have finished studying.

I am very happy to be a student at St Joseph’s. I encourage my fellow students to be diligent, to work hard, to take responsibility, to have self-discipline, to have esteem for our teachers, and to love our school.

I am very grateful to all of my teachers and those who help me to develop my knowledge, skills, and abilities, especially in the architectural department. I believe that St Joseph’s is the best school in the Malucu Province. Viva my school, St Joseph’s!”

PLEASE HELP US TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN INDONESIA

Gospel Reflection for Easter Sunday | April 21st

Gospel Reflection
Reflection & Dialogue:
The Risen Christ Centre of Christian life. Christian witness.

The Gospel (John 20:1-9):
The Scriptures foretold that Jesus must rise from the dead.

The Gospel reading today is about the experience of the first believers on the first Easter morning, leading to faith in the almost incredible belief that Jesus had risen from the dead. These three, Mary of Magdala, Peter, and the Beloved Disciple, were passionate in their devotion to Jesus. The first missioner of the resurrection was the woman Mary of Magdala. From that day onwards, the mission of all believers, female and male, would be to bear witness to the resurrection of Christ and to the Christian life that inevitably followed from belief in his resurrection and ascension to God’s right hand from where he is still addressing his Church.

The message of today’s second reading is that all followers of Christ should be witnesses to the new life in Christ in a world that often has a contrary message. There is fruit for reflection in this for us today.

“Belief in the resurrection of Christ and of Christ at God’s right hand is, in a sense, revolutionary.”

Belief in the resurrection of Christ and of Christ at God’s right hand is, in a sense, revolutionary. It calls for Christian living and Christian witness in an indifferent or unbelieving world. By union with Christ in baptism, Christians in a sense have died to one form of living, and now have a new life – in the words of today’s reading, “hidden with Christ in God”. This is not a life of detachment from the world or human society, no more than Christ’s life in God is. As Pope Francis reminded us early in his pontificate, the centre of the Church is Christ, not the Pope. Without awareness of Christ as head and centre of the Church, Christian life is disoriented. The risen Christ, now in glory, is the same Christ who has given us the Beatitudes, and other teaching. He is the Christ who has sent his Spirit on the Church and has directed it confidently in the mission to pagans beyond Judaism, countering unacceptable pagan beliefs and practices.

The Church in Ireland is now at a turning point. There have been the clerical, and other, scandals, and independent of this a falling away from Church attendance, not necessarily a lack of faith. There is also a growing, and vocal, secularism and anti-clericalism. Believers need to put faith in the Risen Christ, as presented in today’s reading from Colossians, at the very centre of their religion. Presence at Easter ceremonies could be a call and a reminder from Christ that all who believe in him are his witnesses, witnesses to his passion and resurrection. Through his death and resurrection, Christ had conquered “the world”; that is, all forces trying to take believers away from him. And his followers would be witnesses to this new age.

Fr Martin McNamara MSC

Fr Michael visits Venezuela: MSCs making a difference

In January 2019, MSC Missions Office Director Fr Michael O’Connell spent three weeks in Venezuela, visiting MSC parishes in the cities of Maracaibo and Caracas. Here, he shares his experiences and his thoughts on a country in crisis.

“Water is now becoming a problem, especially in Propatria, Caracas. They pump water into Caracas around three days a week. Fr John Jennings says that you know when water is coming, because there are leaks in the street – then you know that the municipality is directing water into the area. The locals are very proud; I saw people out sweeping the streets during my visit. Even though it was mucky and the sewage smelled terrible, they still wanted to keep it clean.

This year, more than ever, I noticed more blue tanks on the roofs of houses and buildings. These are containers to conserve water, and there are far more in place now because of the water shortages. People often come to the MSC house to shower and wash their clothes. People are bringing water to their houses, like bringing water to a home from a well in rural Ireland.”

“The current climate is taking its toll.”

“Venezuelan people are very clean; they shower and wash their clothes a lot. They are very proud, and very image conscious. You won’t see them out and about with rollers in their hair! Our MSCs know if water hasn’t been sent to the district for a while – people won’t come to the church, as they wouldn’t be clean. The lack of water affects their social life, and church is a social occasion where they meet up and chat together. I did notice that many people weren’t able to keep themselves as well this year – there was a lot more grey hair showing and people are a lot thinner. The current climate is taking its toll.

I brought with me a suitcase full of toiletries kindly donated by parishioners of the Sacred Heart Church in Cork, and they were given out after Mass, while some were kept back for people who called to the door. The poorest people call to the door of the MSC house for help. When we gave out toiletries after Mass, the smell of soap lingered around the church – and from the pictures, you can see the sheer joy it brought people. There was a queue for the toiletries, and they would have taken more if we had it.”

“Living spaces are small and cramped; there is no privacy.”

“Back in Maracaibo, I noticed that there are a lot of houses for sale – more houses than the last time I was here, certainly. Over three million people have now emigrated. They have left Venezuela for Panama, Chile, Peru, Columbia, Brazil… Nearby countries where people might be able to find work.

Once again, theft is a real problem. In the church, fans are chained to the wall because of theft, and speakers are kept in metal cages. There are railings on balconies, even when they are many storeys high – people will attempt to break in, no matter how high up you are.

Living spaces are small and cramped in the barrios (slums); there is no privacy. If you breathe in one room, somebody will hear you in the next room. Space is at a premium – one of my photographs shows a house extension in progress. There had been a landslide, which cleared the ground, so people then had room to extend.

We visited one house located up a hill so steep that Fr John wouldn’t bring his car up the final run, in case he couldn’t get it back down again. We took the last leg of the journey on foot, to give Holy Communion to a lady who was very ill. One of her family members who had come to Mass that day brought us to see her.”

“Our MSCs do their best to make life more tolerable for parishioners.”

“In Maracaibo, there are a lot of little markets popping up, selling bits and pieces. Houses are selling food, and little ice-creams called Coffey. People are now selling their clothes. Tyre repairs and replacements are on the go 24 hours a day. Tyres for a Ford Fiesta would cost about 20 million bolívars – around USD $76.

Fr Vincent Screene has given out water cooler boxes to parishioners in Maracaibo, so they can make and sell fruit juice using local fruits, particularly mangoes. These coolers have a tap on then, and they can hold about 44 litres of liquid. They cost around USD $30, but people can sell juice and make some money in the long term. Fr Vincent has also provided coffee grinders and vacuum flasks to parishioners, so they can make their own coffee and sell it. All of these things help people to gain back a little bit of independence and self-sufficiency, and help to make life more tolerable for families. Fr Vincent has also bought beds and mattresses where he could, especially for children.”

“Our parishioners are wonderful, warm people who are simply doing their best in the face of an impossible situation.”

“The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs recommends that you don’t go to Venezuela unless you have to, and if you do go, stay away from certain areas – such as Maracaibo. The people of Caracas seem to be treated better by the government. Caracas is the capital, and the government appear to be more keen to keep people there happy, for fear of rebellion. Caracas contains more barrios, and more people who live there immigrated from other countries when the standard of living was better. People who were not born in Caracas are living in severe poverty, and there’s a fear they might rebel, so the government keep the system rolling. In Maracaibo, I noticed far more issues with electricity outages and with problematic internet – and the food boxes that the government are supposed to issue to every household each month are very rarely, if ever, seen there.

Despite hardship, poverty, and hunger, our parishioners are very generous, and are a very patient people. They give what they can. We have had extremely poor people bringing gifts of food to one of our MSCs who was ill. They are also extremely enthusiastic in their faith. Our parishioners are wonderful, warm people who are simply doing their best in the face of an impossible situation.”

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS

Find out more about our missionary outreach in Venezuela

Read more about Fr Michael’s visit to Venezuela:

Visiting Caracas

An Economy in Crisis

Food for Thought

On the Road

In the Classroom

MSC Easter Draw 2019: €100 Shopping Voucher Winners

The 30 lucky winners of the €100 shopping vouchers are as follows:

 

1. M. Murnane – Innishannon, Co. Cork

2. M. Dinneen – Macroom, Co. Cork

3. A. Blanchfield – Smallheath, Birmingham, England

4. M. Campbell – Dungannon, Co. Tyrone

5. M. Kennedy – Finaghy Road North, Belfast

6. M. Heffernan – Kenmare, Co. Kerry

7. H. Griffin – Castletownroche, Co. Cork

8. E. Osborne – Ardfinnan, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary

9. S. Butler – Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny

10. P. Meehan – Raheen, Co. Limerick

11. C. Tierney – Birr, Co. Offaly

12. A. Halpenny – Navan, Co. Meath

13. S. Ryan – Glasson, Co. Westmeath

14. T. Nyhan – Ballineen, Co. Cork

15. E. McCann – Dungannon, Co. Tyrone

16. M. O’Reilly – Portumna, Co. Galway

17. K. Smith – Hall Green, Birmingham, England

18. K. O’Mahony – Rathcormac, Co. Cork

19. P. O’Malley – Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo

20. N. Higgins – Mullingar, Co. Westmeath

21. N. O’Mahoney – Mitchelstown, Co. Cork

22. M. Doran – Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford

23. R. Kelly – Clarinbridge, Co. Galway

24. M. O’Donoghue – Cappoquin, Co. Waterford

25. N. Grannell – Kilronan, Co. Galway

26. P. Walsh – John’s Hill, Waterford

27. A. Treanor – Tydavnet, Co. Monaghan

28. N. Rahill – Newtown Forbes, Co. Longford

29. J. Martyn – Sligo Town

30. D. Jones – Donnybrook, Dublin 4

Congratulations to you all! 

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MSC Easter Draw 2019: €200 Shopping Voucher Winners

The 10 lucky winners of the €200 shopping vouchers are as follows:

 

1. V. McElroy – Omagh, Co. Tyrone

2. M. Delaney – Nenagh, Co. Tippeary

3. P. Flannery – Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo

4. M. Kennedy – Thurles, Co. Tipperary

5. V. Devlin – Navan Road, Dublin 7

6. D. Finan – Newcastle, Co. Galway

7. K. Mackey – Cobh, Co. Cork

8. P. Leonard – Ennis, Co. Clare

9. K. & N. Maher – Carrigrohane, Co. Cork

10. R. Doolan – Newcastle, Dublin 22

Congratulations to you all! 

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