Sending festive cheer with MSC Christmas Mass Bouquet Cards

Remind family, friends, and loved ones that they’re always in your thoughts this Christmas with a beautifully designed Mass card from the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

In an age of email, text, and social media, it’s something special to find a surprise popping through the letterbox, and never more so than at Christmas time. Whether you’re sending festive greetings to friends and family nearby, or reaching out to loved ones around the world, our Christmas Mass Bouquet cards are a wonderful way to let those you hold dear know that you’re thinking of them at this special time of year.

Each card is designed with care and brought to life with stunning gold highlights and embellishments. Cards can be ordered individually, or in sets of five, with a selection of different designs to choose from. Every card contains a thoughtful blessing and is signed by MSC Missions Office Director Fr Michael O’Connell MSC for inclusion in our annual Christmas Triduum of Masses, which will take place this year from December 20th to 22nd at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork.

Don’t forget, by choosing to send one of our Christmas Mass Bouquet cards, you’re supporting the life-saving work our missionaries are doing across the world. Over the past two years, our ongoing mission projects have come under tremendous strain as a result of the challenges introduced by the pandemic, and our missionaries are working tirelessly to combat the effects of COVID-19 in areas where even basic resources like clean water are sorely lacking, while also maintaining ongoing ministry in the provision of education, healthcare, and community support in vulnerable and disadvantaged regions. By choosing to send one of our Christmas cards this year, you’re giving families and communities in need a real reason to celebrate this festive season.

The best Christmas gifts can’t be wrapped in a bow – capture the true spirit of Christmas and give the gift of prayer to your loved ones this year.

MSC Christmas Mass Bouquet Cards are available to order online, and from our MSC Missions Office on the Western Road in Cork.

A lovely range of Christmas gifts is also available.

BROWSE OUR RANGE OF CHRISTMAS MASS BOUQUET CARDS

 

Remembering together at our 2021 Light Up a Memory Mass

Our Light Up a Memory Mass has become a much-loved annual tradition to close the Month of the Holy Souls since our first ceremony in 2014, and this year’s candlelight memorial Mass, which took place on the evening of Saturday, November 27^th, was another beautiful commemoration of the memory of treasured loved ones who are now with the Lord.

As we come to the end of another year of uncertainty and anxiety, with all the challenges presented to us by living with the COVID pandemic, it was a truly wonderful thing to be able to safely welcome mission friends and parishioners, old and new, to the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road in Cork. We were also delighted to welcome many, many more friends who joined us via our live stream on the night, with almost 900 viewers joining us in prayer from across Ireland, the UK, the US, Germany, Australia, Indonesia, Italy, Canada, France, Bulgaria, Romania, and Malta.

At 6.30pm on Saturday evening, the Sacred Heart Church was filled with the light of hundreds of candles, a beacon of light and of hope on a dark November night. The Mass was celebrated by Fr John Fitzgerald and Fr Michael O’Connell, and was a particularly special evening for both MSCs, as Fr Michael celebrated the Light Up a Memory ceremony for the final time as Director of the MSC Missions Office, before handing over the reins to Fr John in the new year. With a beautiful musical accompaniment led by Gerry and Deirdre Tuohy, this was a very special evening of reflection and prayer to mark the ending of the month of remembrance.

“We’re here to give thanks to God for the gift of those who loved us, to give thanks to God for the gift of those who shared our lives.”

Fr Michael began the ceremony with a special reflection on the purpose of the evening, of a “very special” Mass. “We’re here to remember those who have shared their lives with us,” he said. “We’re here to remember those who have gifted us their love, their presence, to remember those who have given us so much. We’re here to acknowledge the loss, the grief that might still be present in us. We’re here to give thanks to God for the gift of those who loved us, to give thanks to God for the gift of those who shared our lives, for those who gave birth to us, who brought us into this world, for those who told us they loved us, those who maybe brought us for Christening. And so we pray with those who are in Heaven, who we join in that great family of God, everyone at home and here in the church, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Fr John’s homily incorporated a selection of poems and prayers, from W.H. Auden to Cardinal Newman, each one a fitting reminder of the power of grief, of faith, and of love everlasting. As Fr Michael lit candles on the altar, Fr John reminded us, “The symbol of light is the symbol that Jesus picked himself: ‘I am the light of the world’.”

“Light is the symbol of Christ because light leads us in the dark,” he continued. “There is something about light that makes distance seem that bit closer… I would love tonight to go all over the country, or wherever you are, and give each one of you a candle, and ask you to hold that candle in your hand, and look into that candle, and say, ‘Give me time and space and peace to see the light of Christ here as I remember my loved one.’ The symbol of light is the light of Christ.”

Remembering the recently bereaved and those struggling with grief, Fr John prayed: “We pray for the light of Christ to light up the emptiness of your soul, the place they have left there in your soul, and the rawness of your soul, that you might get warmth there now in the frostiness of grieving. For you tonight, who are lately bereaved, may the blessing of light be upon you, light without and light within.”

A ceremony of faith, love, and hope.

The Mass ended on a note of hope, as Fr John reflected, “this is a ceremony of faith and love, and it is a ceremony of hope,” while Fr Michael finished the Mass with the lighting of the Advent wreath, reminding us to look to its light as we begin our Advent journey towards the birth of Christ.

We would like to extend our sincere and heartfelt thanks to all who took part in this year’s Light Up a Memory celebrations, in the Sacred Heart Church and beyond. At a time when so many of us are separated, the Light Up a Memory Mass is a lovely opportunity for families to come together in prayer and remembrance of their dearly departed, no matter where they are in the world. It was a beautifully poignant and truly special evening of prayer, reflection, and fond remembrance for all involved.

Click here to watch a recording of our 2021 Light Up a Memory Mass
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2021 Christmas Blessing from Fr Michael

Please note that the MSC Missions Office will be closed over the Christmas period,
from 4.00pm on December 23rd to 9.00am on January 4th.
With warm wishes to our mission friends everywhere for a happy, healthy, and safe Christmas season.

Dear Friends,

Christmas greetings to you and your loved ones! While we have all endured another year of uncertainty, it is a great blessing to be able to look to the festive season and the coming year with hopeful hearts.

This will be a particularly special Christmas for me, as it will be the last that I celebrate as Director of the MSC Missions Office. As such, this is the last time that I will have the opportunity to send you my Christmas wishes as Director, ahead of Fr John Fitzgerald MSC taking over the role in the new year. The ending of one year and the beginning of the next strikes me as an especially fitting time for change, and it is with fondest regards that I thank you for your friendship throughout the years. It has been a gift beyond measure, and I’m sure that you will welcome Fr John with the same generosity and kindness that I have been so privileged to receive in my time as Director.

Over the past two years, our ongoing mission projects have come under tremendous strain as a result of the challenges introduced by the pandemic, and our missionaries are working tirelessly to combat the effects of COVID-19 in areas where even basic resources like clean water are sorely lacking, while also maintaining ongoing ministry in the provision of education, healthcare, and community support in vulnerable and disadvantaged regions. With each year that passes, we are trying to do more with less, and the past two years have proved particularly challenging, in ways that none of us could have imagined. Thanks to you, our dear mission friends, we can continue to face those challenges head-on; your support provides a real and vital lifeline to countless families who would otherwise be without hope. Together, we are a powerful and wonderful force, a force that can continue to combat the fear, sorrow, and anxiety that plagues our world in current times.

Christmas can be a difficult time for many, and that has, of course, been exacerbated by the pandemic in its second year. Whether you are fortunate enough to be surrounded by the warmth of family this festive season, or whether you may be struggling with your own personal challenges, please know that you are in my prayers this Christmas, and in the prayers of our MSCs everywhere.

As we approach a new year and a new chapter for the MSC Missions Office, my prayers are with you and those you hold dear. May the light of the Lord’s love shine in your heart and in your home this Christmas season, and guide your path throughout the new year and always. May you be blessed with the spirit of Advent, and may God grant you and your loved ones a peaceful, prayerful Christmas and a safe, happy, and healthy New Year.

Wishing you and yours a happy and holy Christmas,

Fr Michael O’Connell MSC

Please click here to read letters from Fr Michael, Fr John, and Irish Provincial Superior Fr Carl Tranter MSC, as we begin a new chapter for the MSC Missions Office in 2022.

Christmas gifts of cheer and goodwill from MSC Missions

‘Tis the season of goodwill to all, and of course, the season of giving – and there’s no better way to celebrate than with a gift that gives back to the people who need it most.

Our wonderful selection of Christmas keepsakes make the perfect gift for someone special – and by choosing one of our festive gifts, you’re supporting the life-saving work our missionaries are doing across the world. Over the past two years, our ongoing mission projects have come under tremendous strain as a result of the challenges introduced by the pandemic, and our missionaries are working tirelessly to combat the effects of COVID-19 in areas where even basic resources like clean water are sorely lacking, while also maintaining ongoing ministry in the provision of education, healthcare, and community support in vulnerable and disadvantaged regions. By choosing to send one of our Christmas gifts this year, you’re giving families and communities in need a real reason to celebrate this festive season.

Explore our range of festive cards and gifts and bring Christmas joy to your home…

Delicately crafted angel ornaments inscribed with messages of peace and inspiration will bring a seasonal warmth to any Christmas display.

A beautiful nativity scene captures the essence of the Christmas season, with the Holy Family wrapped in the peace and goodwill of angelic protection.

A selection of battery-operated candles offer everything from prayers to the Holy Family to blessings for your home, while the LED flickering flame means that you can enjoy the warmth and glow of candlelight in safety, year after year.

You can also find the perfect Christmas Mass Bouquet Card to send seasonal greetings to loved ones at home and abroad, with inclusion in this year’s Christmas Mass Triduum, which will take place from December 20th to 22nd at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork.

Whether you’re choosing a festive ornament for your own home, or sending a seasonal surprise to brighten a loved one’s day, you’ll find the perfect Christmas keepsake – and a gift that keeps on giving – in our seasonal range.

This Christmas, please consider giving a gift that makes a difference. Your goodwill is a gesture that reaches far beyond the holiday season, and gives real and lasting hope to those in need.

BROWSE OUR CHRISTMAS GIFT RANGE
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The MSC Indonesian Province celebrates 50 years of ministry

In October, the MSC Indonesian Province celebrated its 50^th anniversary. Founded on October 6^th 1971 by the MSC General Conference in Rome, the Indonesian Province has since gone from strength to strength, working to provide vulnerable communities with everything from opportunities in education to emergency aid in the face of natural disasters.

As the Indonesian Province continues to grow and to serve in the love of the Lord, we wish our MSC brothers there every blessing, and heartfelt congratulations on this very special anniversary. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved!

Below, you can read a letter from Yoseph Harbelubun MSC, originally published on the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Australia website in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the MSC Province of Indonesia.

“In this part of the world, we have our largest province, Indonesia. We have PNG, Australia, Pacific Islands.

On October 6th, 2021, the MSC Indonesian Province celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the province. Before it became an autonomous province, MSC Indonesia was under the Dutch MSC Province. However, after going through various preparations, the MSC General Conference in Rome in October 6th, 1971 erected the MSC Indonesian Province and appointed Fr. P.S. Hardjasoemarta to be the first Provincial Superior.

The Acts of the MSC General Conference, held in Rome from 5 to 15 October 1971, states: ‘On October 6th, 1971, the General Conference erected the MSC Province of Indonesia. Consequently, Fr Hardjasoemarta is the first provincial superior of the new province.’ The preceding text says: ‘Indonesia has been a Vice-Province, or Provincial Administration since 1961. The special Provincial Chapter held in June 1971 judged that the time had come to ask for the erection of the Indonesian Province. The number of native-born Indonesians has been steadily increasing: 32 priests, 21 brothers, 20 students. Furthermore, there are still many foreign-born MSC working in Indonesia (136). These are free to decide whether they become members of the new Province or remain members of their Province of origin’ (Analecta MSC, N. IV, Anno LXIX – 1971, p. 322). Since then, MSC Indonesia has been independent, managing its life and ministry independently, apart from the Dutch Province.

‘Becoming Disciple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus who Remembers, Celebrates, and Renews His Being and Doing.’

Many events have shaped the MSC Indonesian Province as it is today and towards the future. Therefore, celebrating the 50th foundation anniversary is a historical moment that deserves to be remembered and celebrated – remembering the great works of God experienced in the history of God’s People, especially the journey of the MSC Congregation in Indonesia. This 50th foundation anniversary is not only an opportunity for Indonesian MSC to remember and celebrate, but also to renew their being and actions. Therefore, the theme is ‘Becoming Disciple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus who Remembers, Celebrates, and Renews His Being and Doing.’

In order to make this 50th foundation anniversary meaningful, the Provincial Superior with his Council launched the Jubilee Year in October 6th, 2020. The opening ceremony of the 50th Jubilee began with the celebration of the Eucharist, followed by a short ceremony to mark the start of the Jubilee Year. The launching ceremony took place in the Chapel of the Mother House in Jakarta and was broadcast virtually. In addition, following the launching ceremony, members of the province also marked the opening of the Jubilee Year in every District and Local Communities with different planned activities.

The Provincial Superior with his Council formed a committee in the province, headed by Fr. Florianus Miranta MSC (the vicar) to coordinate various activities to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the MSC Indonesian Province.

The committee worked to construct the history of the MSC Indonesian Province; to organize materials for reflection on the theme of the jubilee year; to construct a survey questionnaire and to present the results on the ‘being and doing’; to compose prayers; to prepare liturgies and to deepen understanding of the special prayers of the MSC; to prepare events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the province ; to produce publications and documentation; to hold social services and to raise funds to support activities of the 50th anniversary of the MSC Indonesia Province. Apart from the Province Committee, local committees were also formed in each District and Local Community.

The journey and growth of the MSC Indonesian Province cannot be separated from cooperation and partnership with the dioceses, institutions, diocesan priests, religious congregations, lay people and other partners. Therefore, this 50th Jubilee celebration is not merely a celebration of MSC but is expected to also involve our partners and all the faithful people. However, due to the Coronavirus pandemic situation, many activities were carried out internally, such as the preparation and publication of a book series on the history of the MSC Indonesian Province; prayers and novenas for the Jubilee Year; webinars on special prayers of MSC; recollection and reflections to deepen the theme of the Jubilee Year in the District and Local Communities; webinars on the theme ‘communio, missio, leadership and the future’. The committee has been preparing a memorial book and a ceremony for the 50th Anniversary of the Province. In addition to the activities coordinated by the Committee in the Province, each District and Local Community also carried out various activities to celebrate the Jubilee Year according to their context.

Thus, as a Province that is growing and developing, and remembering the historical milestones that have formed the province, together with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, all members of the MSC Indonesian Province exclaim: ‘My soul magnifies the Lord……. For the Mighty One has done great things for us’ (Luke 1:49). Let us gratefully remember this historical moment: ‘May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved!’ (Ametur ubique terrarum Cor Jesu Sacratissimum).”

Yoseph Harbelubun MSC
(Province of Indonesia)

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS IN INDONESIA

Images via the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Australia website.
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A new beginning for the MSC Missions Office

As it is written in Ecclesiastes,
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (3:1-2)
– and with the dawn of the new year comes a new season for the MSC Missions Office.

The Irish Provincial Leadership Team has announced that Fr Michael O’Connell MSC will be stepping down from the position of Director of the MSC Missions Office in the new year, with Fr John Fitzgerald MSC taking over the role in early 2022.

“I am writing today to share the news that, after 22 years as Director of the MSC Missions Office, Fr Michael O’Connell MSC will be standing down from this post in the new year,” writes Irish Provincial Superior Fr Carl Tranter MSC.

“I am glad to be able to tell you that Fr John Fitzgerald MSC will be stepping into the role of Director,” Fr Carl continues. “Having worked in close proximity with the Missions Office for many years now, I know that Fr John will bring with him many gifts and will be a wonderful addition to the team there.”

As we look ahead to the new year, Fr John is already working closely with Fr Michael and the team at the MSC Missions Office in order to make sure that this new chapter will herald a bright new era for our missionary work in the Irish Province and beyond.

“Thank you for your prayers, for your friendship, for your kindness, for your generosity, and for your continued support of our missionaries as they carry out their great work across the world,” writes Fr Michael, in a message to our mission friends. “Your support has been a real gift to me, and as we navigate our new paths, I know that your kindness and generosity of spirit will extend to Fr John in my stead. As I prepare to take my leave, rest assured that you will remain in my heart and my prayers as Fr John and I work together to make sure that this new season will be a peaceful, prayerful, and positive one for all.”

Fr John echoes these sentiments as he says, “At the moment, Fr Michael is journeying with me, and thanks to his dedication, he leaves a rich legacy; our missionary work continues, however, and I have every confidence in your support for the future. You are a marvellous community of mission friends and your generosity is a true reflection of the love of the Heart of Christ. I too, like Fr Michael, pray that this new season will be peaceful, prayerful, and positive for all.”

With heartfelt thanks to Fr Michael for his tremendous contribution over the past two decades,
we also extend a warm welcome to Fr John as he takes up his new role.

United in faith, we will continue to work together to shine the light of God’s love
where it is needed most.

Please click to read the full letters from Fr Carl, Fr Michael, and Fr John.

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart present our Light Up a Memory Mass 2021

In November, we remember, as we pray especially for loved ones who have gone before us. This year, we invite you once again to take part in a special live streaming of our annual Light Up a Memory Mass, which will be celebrated on Saturday, November 27^th by main celebrant Fr John Fitzgerald MSC. The candlelight memorial service will take place at 6.30pm and will be streamed live from the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork.

Traditionally, the Month of the Holy Souls is a time to reflect and pray for friends and family who have gone to their eternal rest in the Lord’s love. Sadly, loss and grief have been companions to many during the coronavirus pandemic, and this November, we remember specially those who are no longer with us.

Each year, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart invite mission friends to send the names of their dearly departed for remembrance, and the list is kept on the altar throughout the month as we pray for their perpetual peace. Marking the end of the month of remembrance, the Light Up a Memory Mass lights up the winter darkness in honour of our faithful departed.

Since the first MSC Light Up a Memory Mass took place in 2014, this has become a much-loved tradition to close the Month of the Holy Souls. “Bereavement touches us all, and our Light Up a Memory Mass is a very special way for families to remember together,” says MSC Missions Office Director Fr Michael O’Connell, who will also be participating in this year’s ceremony. “It is a welcome moment to pause, to reflect, and to honour fond memories, with every candle a tribute to beloved friends and relatives.”

All are welcome to join us in reflection on this special night, and to submit the names of departed family, friends, and loved ones for remembrance. We would greatly appreciate your support for our ongoing mission projects, and in gratitude for your contribution, we will be glad to remember your intentions at our annual Mass. You can then submit the names of your departed loved ones online, and our MSC priests will remember them specially during our Light Up a Memory Mass.

While the pandemic has meant that the way we pray together has had to change, we remain ever united in spirit and in faith. Please join us for an evening of reflection and remembrance in honour of the loved ones who are always in our thoughts.

Find out more about our annual MSC Light Up a Memory Mass.

Please click here to watch the Light Up a Memory Mass, and all November Masses for the Holy Souls, on our live stream.

 

Remembering the MSC Martyrs of Canet de Mar

The beginning of November marked the feast day of the seven MSC martyrs of Canet de Mar, who were the first members of the MSC congregation to be declared blessed, in May 2017.

November 6^th is the feast day of the seven martyrs, namely Fr Antonio Arribas, Fr Abundio Martín, Fr José Vergara, Fr Josep-Oriol Issern, Br Gumersindo Gómez, Br Jésus Moreno, and Br José del Almo. These seven MSCs lived and worked in the Pequeña Obra in Barcelona in the 1930s; this was a minor seminary in Canet de Mar, where they worked with 65 young people on their spiritual journey to religious life and priesthood. The religious persecution brought about in the course of the Spanish Civil War saw these seven men brought to a cruel and brutal death, murdered for their faith and their devotion to the Lord’s work.

The Spanish Civil War began on July 18^th 1936, and just three days later, on July 21^st, the parish church of Canet de Mar was set on fire and burned to the ground. On the afternoon of the same day, an armed group approached the seminary and demanded that the community there leave the premises with immediate effect, under the orders of the People’s Committee. Following the command, the community were brought to a park nearby, located near the Shrine of Mercy, and they were kept under close surveillance there for a fortnight.

On August 3^rd, the seminary director received a warning from a member of the People’s Committee, forewarning him of the danger to come. The Committee were planning a mass shooting, with the exception of children and elderly priests. In the face of immediate and severe danger, the religious leaders had to leave the seminarians, forming two groups for escape, one of four and the other of seven.

Fleeing under the cover of darkness, the group of seven MSCs travelled towards the French border in great fear and peril. While they were fortunate to receive help from several farmsteads, they travelled in hiding, through unfamiliar territory, without a supply of food or water and through all weathers.

Eight weeks later, on September 28^th, the group arrived at the farmhouse of Mont-Ros at nightfall. One of the group approached the house to ask for directions, looking for information about the correct road to take to the French border. Following the instructions they had been given, they had travelled just over a kilometre before they were apprehended by a group of members of the People’s Committee. Their whereabouts had been betrayed, and they were immediately captured and taken to Committee headquarters in a schoolhouse.

At around 10.00pm that night, the MSC group were handed over to the Committee of Sant Joan les Fonts, Girona. A woman in a neighbouring property saw the MSCs as they awaited their fate, pacing in the hallway and praying the Rosary. The following afternoon, the MSCs were removed from the schoolhouse before a watching crowd, bound two by two, with the remaining individual walking alone with his hands tied behind his back. They were silent, and largely appeared to be at peace, although one of the younger MSCs was in tears. The waiting crowd also remained silent in the face of such dignity, though one of the Committee members railed against the Pope, the church, and the clergy.

The prisoners were transferred onto a bus, which came to a halt on the banks of the River Ter. Several men working in the nearby fields saw the bus stop, and four men, bound in pairs, were removed and brought towards a nearby slope. These witnesses were able to hear loud arguing, followed by gunshots, and saw the four bodies fall at the same time. The final three men were then removed from the bus, to suffer the same fate.

“They clung so closely to Christ that they died carrying in their hands crucifixes, bibles, medals, bearing witness to their faith,” reflects the Ametur MSC Facebook page.

Men from the nearby town of Serinyà, known as good Christians, were compelled by the People’s Committee to carry the seven bodies to the town cemetery, where the MSC martyrs were buried in two tombs. They remained at rest here until March 1940, when their bodies were exhumed and brought to the cemetery of Canet de Mar, located close to the MSC community. Their remains now rest in one of the chapels of the Shrine to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Barcelona, following their beatification in 2017.

In the course of their lives, and through their dignity and devotion in death, the MSC martyrs of Canet de Mar lived and died in the full and true sense of the motto of the Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart: “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved”.

Images via the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Australia website and the Ametur MSC Facebook page.
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MSC students continue COVID-19 volunteer work in Vietnam

In September, four MSC students answered a call from the Saigon Archdiocese for volunteers to help at the COVID-19 treatment hospital in Saigon City, due to rising patient numbers and an urgent need for additional care.

Tien Minh NGUYEN, Hung Quoc LE, Thanh Vu NGUYEN, and Vu Thanh NGUYEN were granted permission to volunteer at the hospital, with Australian Provincial Fr Chris McPhee MSC noting, “I am very impressed by their eagerness and their openness to help, to be MSC men who are willing to volunteer, to be on the frontline and to be of service. This makes me very, very proud.”

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Australia website posted a recent communication from MSC student Hung, who sent pictures from the front line.

“Vũ and I are well here,” he wrote. “The number of patients with COVID-19 is reducing but it could increase when Vietnam opens again. We hope we can manage this situation.”

The images he sends show the stark reality of the care centre in Saigon City, where our MSC students continue to help in any way they can.

Please keep our MSC volunteers in your prayers as they continue their volunteer work in assisting the medical team and caring for COVID-19 patients in Saigon City.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR GLOBAL MSC COVID-19 RELIEF MINISTRY

Images via the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Australia website.
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A new water system for the people of Tulang Diot in the Philippines

We are delighted to be able to share these wonderful images from Tulang Diot in the Philippines, where the country’s MSC Mission Office, in conjunction with the MSC Mission Office Australia, facilitated the installation of new water tanks for the collection and storage of rainwater.

Tulang Diot is located in San Francisco, Camotes, where many local families struggle with poverty and hardship. The people of the region are hugely dependent on rainwater, with 90% of the area’s water source coming from the rain. 185 families in Tulang Diot will now be able to benefit from the installation of the water system, which will allow for easier access to safe, clean water for everyday use. With the coronavirus pandemic showing no signs of abating in the immediate future, the availability of clean, safe water and access to the best hygiene practices possible is truly vital, particularly in regions where local communities have very little.

The Facebook page for the MSC Missions Office in the Philippines posted pictures of the new water system, along with a message of gratitude. “We thank the MSC Mission Office and all the donors who have been so kind and generous to our mission to help the underprivileged communities in the country,” they wrote.

We echo their gratitude in our shared mission; please keep our MSC brothers and the communities they serve in the Philippines, and around the world, in your prayers.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MINISTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Images via the Facebook page for the MSC Mission Office Philippines, Inc.
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“Men of the heart”: MSCs volunteer at COVID-19 treatment centre in Vietnam

At the beginning of September, four MSCs in Vietnam requested permission to volunteer as assistants at a COVID-19 treatment centre in Saigon City.

As reported by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Australia website, the Saigon Archdiocese had called for volunteers from religious congregations in the area to volunteer their services at the COVID-19 treatment hospital in Saigon. “Personnel are desperately needed as the number of patients increase every day,” the MSC Australia site reports.

Tien Minh NGUYEN, Hung Quoc LE, Thanh Vu NGUYEN, and Vu Thanh NGUYEN have all finished their studies and are currently in pastoral ministry. Following a period of prayer, discernment, and discussion, these four MSCs asked for permission to volunteer at the hospital.

Australian Provincial Fr Chris McPhee MSC wrote to grant the request, noting that their desire to help in a time of such desperate need highlights that these are “truly men of the heart”.

“You know, I am really concerned for the wellbeing of our men, and the risk that this could lead them into catching COVID-19,” Fr Chris wrote to Fr Hoàng, MSC Superior in Vietnam. “However, I am very impressed by their eagerness and their openness to help, to be MSC men who are willing to volunteer, to be on the frontline and to be of service. This makes me very, very proud.  Truly men of heart.”

His letter continued, “Please, Hoàng, please let Tien Minh NGUYEN, Hung Quoc LE, Thanh Vu NGUYEN, and Vu Thanh NGUYEN, know how proud I am, please let them know that they can go with my blessing, love and support, and please let them know that they will be very much in our prayers.”

Please keep our MSC volunteers in your prayers as they minister to those in need in Saigon City, continuing in our shared mission to be on earth the heart of God.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR GLOBAL MSC COVID-19 RELIEF MINISTRY

Images via the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Australia website.

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Food Security Frontliners: MSC COVID Response in the Philippines

In response to the continuing needs of people affected by the coronavirus pandemic in the Philippines, the community at the MSC Centre for the Poor initiative have established a new campaign which aims to help those in real and urgent need in a sustainable way.

The new campaign calls for participants to “Be a Food Security Frontliner,” encouraging supporters to respond to the needs of the poor and hungry while protecting and nurturing the land and the environment.

“People go hungry not because there is insufficient food on our farms, but because they are poor.”

“With two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and more years of uncertainty predicted to come, we have seen the gradual collapse of the Philippine health system, our domestic economy, social services, environment, and food system,” writes Fr Richie Gomez MSC, community leader at the MSC Centre for the Poor. “Soon, we will be witnessing a massive escalating hunger crisis due to food insecurity. People go hungry not because there is insufficient food on our farms, but because they are poor. Agricultural products go to those with the greatest capacity to pay, not to the most vulnerable people. As our farmers say, ‘Kami ang nag tanim, kami ang walang makain’ (‘We plant, but we have nothing to eat’).”

In addition to the COVID crisis, several other factors have severely impacted on the ability of poorer families to put food on the table. “Violent conflicts here in Mindanao, extreme weather due to climate change, biodiversity loss, and the economic downturn cause by the COVID-19 pandemic and varying degrees of community lockdowns have worsened the situation of vulnerable people,” explains Fr Richie. “In addition, water becomes increasingly scarce for smaller farmers when bigger investors use it in intensive irrigation schemes. All of these crises limit poorer people’s capacity to buy food, or to produce enough to be self-sufficient.”

“Let us not wait for the situation to further deteriorate, when it is already too late to act.”

“Let us not wait for the situation to further deteriorate, when it is already too late to act,” Fr Richie encourages. “Let us create a food system that protects the health of both humans and the environment – providing a healthy diet for 120 million Filipinos without destroying the planet.”

The food system is one of the singular most important social and economic concerns in the Philippines, where some of the most vulnerable people, including those in farming and fishing, are ultimately the foundation. Now, the MSC Centre for the Poor Agriculture Cooperative (MSC-CEPAGCO) is focusing on building its capacity for “a more resilient, diverse model of farming and food production… based on community decisions and open-source ideas can help to develop local food systems”, eliminating dependency on larger corporate endeavours.

The Food Security Frontliner enterprise looks at developing alternative models of agricultural production and marketing, which focus on being sustainable and fair as well as generating income. This will involve “the organisation of people’s cooperatives, the use of organic agriculture and modern technology for post-harvest production, ‘the farm-to-table’ marketing strategy, and the continuing formation of the Spirituality of the Heart through the works of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation”.

“We will be green producers, bringing our produce to green consumers.”

Pope Francis has highlighted the need for a fair-trade system in an “inclusive economy,” and this is the essential aim of the Food Security Frontliner campaign. “This means that no-one will be left out in the cycle of economy,” says Fr Richie. “We will have a daily harvest from our coop members’ farms; we will be green producers, bringing our produce to green consumers.”

Together with disadvantaged youths on their scholarship programme, the MSC Centre for the Poor Agriculture Cooperative is implementing a programme on Environmental Management Systems, and creating income-generating projects to raise the quality of life for both rural and urban communities who use the two MSC Centre for the Poor locations, one in Butuan City and one in Del Monte Agusan del Sur.

“Our model farm in Del Monte Agusan del Sur has just been approved by the Department of Agriculture as a learning site for organic agriculture, and is soon to be a farm school for the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority,” Fr Richie says. “We want to empower small-scale farmers, the indigenous Lumad community, rebel returnees, people struggling with drugs and addiction, disadvantaged youths, and repatriated overseas Filipino workers.”

Currently, the MSC Centre for the Poor Agriculture Cooperative is working to raise funds to build three large greenhouses for organic vegetable production at the MSC Centre for the Poor Living Museum in Del Monte, Talacogon Agusan del Sur, in the Philippines, at a cost of 5,000,000 Philippine pesos, or approximately €85,500. This investment will provide the prospect of self-sufficiency and food security for generations to come.

“As an accredited cooperative organisation by the Cooperative Development Authority, our focus right now is to produce affordable, healthy food for all, producing healthy/organic farm products on a day-to-day basis.”

“This initiative is a concrete response to the needs of the poor,” concludes Fr Richie. “It is a concrete action that needs the support of our mission friends everywhere, in whatever capacity, including prayers and goodwill to promote a spirit of solidarity.”

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