Gospel Reflection for March 15 2020 | Third Sunday of Lent

Gospel Reflection

A spring of water welling up to eternal life.

The Gospel (John 4:5-42).

The theme of water is central to the first reading and the Gospel reading today. Water slakes thirst in the present life and can point to water of another order that looks forward to future fulfilment. In this journey through life and history, faith in the source of living water is a requirement. Our reflection on the reading can combine a little of historical background to the Gospel text, leading into reflection on the central role of faith.
This Gospel text is a rather lengthy reading containing different themes. Central ones are the Samaritan woman, the well and water. In Jesus’ day there was deep enmity between Jews and the Samaritans, who were regarded by the Jews as heretics and not part of the Jewish people at all. The Samaritans, however, regarded themselves as part of the family of the patriarch Jacob, and were awaiting the advent of a messiah, whose nature and mission remain unclear. A noted well in the area was connected with the patriarch Jacob. In the text as John presents it, the episodes in this reading function at two levels – this earthly one, and at a spiritual level, to which the earthly ones point. Thus, the water from the well is a symbol of the water that Jesus will give his followers, welling up to eternal life, that is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Samaritans worshipped at their own sacred site and the Jews at their Temple in Jerusalem, which led Jesus to speak of the coming age when both these would be irrelevant, and God would be worshipped in Spirit and in truth — everywhere.. His own hunger gives Jesus an opportunity to speak of his intense desire, his hunger, to complete the work the Father had given him, with the sowing of the Gospel seed and the ensuing harvest.

Reflection & Dialogue with today’s world: Christian hope brings certainty.

A common feature of the world in which we live is doubt in matters relating to faith, doubt about elements of moral teaching, about truths of faith, even at times about the very existence of God. An assertion of a certain philosophy, prevalent today, is that there is no certainty on anything. All we can have is speculation, guesswork, rather than certainty, opinions that vary from age to age.
An atmosphere of this sort adds to the difficulties on religious observance. Such doubt on fundamental matters is completely contrary to the teaching of the faith in matters relating to truths concerning this life and the life to come. Christian faith is thus described in the Epistle to the Hebrews (11:1): “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen” (NRSV). Two of the terms used there call for our reflection: assurance, conviction.
The assurance and conviction spoken of in this verse are not psychological attitudes of souls rooted in the human mind or soul. They refer instead to the divine, theological, virtue of hope, a gift from God that gives conviction which is beyond that which human nature can provide. This assurance and certainty bring with them a peace of soul, the peace which Jesus has granted to believers, and a peace that no one can take from them.

Fr Martin McNamara MSC

US ambassador visits Loreto Rumbeck in South Sudan

On February 19th, the American Ambassador to South Sudan, Mr. Thomas Hushek visited the Loreto school in Rombeck that is run by the Loreto sisters and commended them for their efforts in keeping the young Sudanese girls in school. The school has been giving support to the young girls by providing a secure learning environment without the threat of child marriage. The drop out rate for girls and young women in school is very high in Sudan and the director Sr Orla Tracey has done magnificent work in her efforts to provide education and support for the people of South Sudan.

The US department of state awarded Sr. Orla Tracey, Loreto Rumbeck’s director an international women of courage award for her work in in March last year, an annual honor that recognizes women who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment.

During his visit the American ambassador was shown all the various projects run by the Loreto Sisters including the recently launched clinic and malnutrition programme established for mothers and babies, a primary school school and a girls’ secondary school with boarding facilities in the country’s Catholic Diocese of Rumbek.

In Mr Hushek speech, he encouraged the girls to be courageous in the face of discrimination against women in their country and revealed that Loreto has a nice model for young girls in South Sudan because the girls are taught to be united from various communities and that their main benefit from the school as the freedom to access education. “A year ago, Sr. Orla was nominated for an award and won on behalf of the entire school. I have been wanting to come up here ever since because of the work that is going on here especially focusing on girls’ education,” the U.S. national said, “Going forward, this is the key to development and peace for the country.”

An intern from the The Mary Ward Primary Health Care Clinic that was lauched in February said “In South Sudan, healthcare providers continue to deal with the challenge of health care versus traditional doctors. Having been enlightened through my internship at this clinic, I feel there is a need for more people in South Sudan to access health education”.
Other students spoke about the challenge of girl child education and how school has given them the chance to grow and to become people who can help their respective families ,more spoke about the issue of inter clan conflicts and how boarding in Loreto has allowed them build bridges between fellow students of different tribes in the classroom regardless of ethnic differences.

Addressing the audience that included the U.S. diplomat, teachers and students, Sr. Orla acknowledged the struggles that South Sudanese girls who choose to go to school face and the odds they have overcome saying, “We have great hopes and I know the girls are very ambitious for the country of South Sudan.”
“It is not easy for the girls in this country to be in school , but they are strong, courageous, ambitious and peaceful women who are looking for a better South Sudan,” she added.

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are always proud to support the wonderful work done by the Loreto Sisters for the young women of South Sudan.
For more photographs and further information about Loreto Rumbek, visit their website or visit their Facebook page.
You can also find out more about how MSC Missions work with Loreto Rumbek – and how you can help to make a difference to the young women of South Sudan.

PLEASE HELP US TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN SOUTH SUDAN

Mission Outreach in the Phillipines aids Batangas Taal Victims

Msc Phillippines shares an appreciative message from their Outreach Programme for for the victims of the Taal volcano eruption earlier in the year where the community of Taal in Batangas were on permanent lockdown.

January 27, 2020 – The MSC Mission Office posted A Call for Donation campaign in various social media platform to gather funds for the project. “With the help of a company, organizations and generous individuals, we were able to collect amount of funds in just a span of few days. We also received handful of grocery items from a private organization who have been very supportive to our missions”. Having enough resources, the office decided to schedule a relief operation as soon as possible.

February 6, 2020 – The MSC Mission Office with the help of the MSC Scholastics & MSC staff started the repacking of relief items for Taal evacuees. A total of 200 families were expected to receive the relief packages which contain of rice, canned goods, noodles, monggo beans, biscuits, dried fish, bottled water, toiletries, bed mat, blanket, towels, pail and water dipper.

February 8, 2020 – The MSC Mission Office Philippines together with some volunteers from various organizations distributed relief items in Bgry, As-is, Laurel, Batangas. Through this project, a total of 200 families received relief packages. In addition, we were able to also give milk supplement and clothing for the children in the evacuation center.

“The evacuees were thankful as they received the relief packages. They had big smiles and were saying endless pasasalamat as they took their own relief goods. We appreciate the help of our volunteers and of course, a million thanks to you our donors for your generosity and support to this project. As we worked together for this Mission Outreach, we became witnesses of Christ’s heart here on earth.
Thank you and God bless us all.”

-Msc Mission Office Philippines.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Mother’s day Celebrations here with MSC

The love of a mother is the veil of a softer light between the heart and the heavenly Father.

Mother’s day this year falls on the 22nd of March and it’s a great opportunity for us to show our mother some love and gratitude for all she has done for us through the years.

Our beautifully designed Mother’s Day cards all include a thoughtful Prayer for my Mother, and each one includes remembrance in a special Triduum of Masses, which will take place this year from Friday, March 20th to Sunday 22nd March at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road in Cork. This is an especially lovely way to remember mothers who are no longer with us, and who memories are carried in our hearts always.

Our special Mother’s Day candle features a poem to celebrate a beloved mother, and is a gift to treasure throughout the year.

 

Elegant angel statues inscribed with affectionate messages are the perfect way to show you care.

 

The traditional Madonna and Child image honours maternal love in its purest form. With a white resin holy water font and a hand-painted statue to choose from, these are timeless gifts to celebrate a mother’s love.

Of course, when you choose from our range of Mother’s Day cards and gifts, you’re not just making a special gesture for your mother, but you’re also reaching out to help mothers and their families all over the world. Your support helps us to continue bringing the gift of hope to families and communities in need across the globe. Our MSCs work in regions of extreme poverty and hardship, bringing vital aid to people who have nowhere else to turn, and every order we receive makes a real and valuable difference.

BROWSE OUR MOTHER’S DAY RANGE

Gospel Reflection for the Sixth Sunday of the Year | 16 February 2020

Gospel Reflection

You have learned how it was said to our ancestors;

but I say this to you.

The Gospel (Matthew 5:17-37).

In this reading he gives a new understanding of the commandments believed to have been revealed to Moses on Sinai, and he does this with authority, implicitly placing himself above Moses. He brings out deeper implications of the commandments. To take some examples: With regard to the commandment “You shall not kill (murder)” – murder was a most serious sin, even blasphemy since it destroyed the image of God in a human person. Jesus goes beyond the negative “You shall not” to the positive, highlighting the regard and esteem in which the human person should be held, and the actions deriving from this: forgiveness and reconciliation, absence of anger and insulting nicknames, such as Raca (an obscure term of abuse), fool or renegade. (These terms of abuse must have been considered very insulting in the original Aramaic setting, given the severe punishment attached.) Jesus goes beyond adultery, to impure thoughts and desires. He goes beyond the permission to divorce to a complete ban on divorce; beyond the permission and practice of taking oaths to advice to avoid all oaths, and lead a simple life where one’s word should be sufficient guarantee. Jesus’ purpose in all this is made clear at the end of this comparison with “those of ancient times”, when he says:

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”

 

In Sirach’s (Ecclesiasticus’, from which first reading is taken) day the question was implicitly put: “Can we keep the commandments”, and answered categorically in the positive by that sage. Similar questions have been put with regard to the Sermon on the Mount, and indeed with regard to many tenets of Catholic moral teaching. Indeed many have complained that the teaching of part of today’s Gospel reading, from the passage “Do not kill” down to “Do not commit adultery. In this context the words of Dostoevsky’s Grand Inquisitor are recalled, to the effect that “Jesus judged humanity too highly”, for “it was created weaker and lower than Christ thought”. With regard to this we may note that this reading, apart from the ban on divorce, is not a law code. Rather is it a presentation of the nature of the kingdom of God, of Christ’s kingdom, and of the perfection to which those within it are called. The passage clearly states that with Jesus a new age has come, and his followers are called to be witnesses to this new age in their way of life. Another matter discussed today is whether we can live in keeping with the Gospel message, or with the morality as taught by the Church. Christ was once addressed a similar question, to which he replied:

“For God all things are possible”.

 

Fr Martin McNamara MSC

First Communion and Confirmation Gifts

Young boys and girls all over the country are getting ready for their First Holy Communions and Confirmations that are coming up soon and here at MSC missions we have a wide range of gifts for them to remember their special day.

From gold-foil embossed cards to a specially selected range of gifts, you’ll find the perfect keepsake to mark the big day.

Our beautifully designed Communion and Confirmation cards each contain a prayer for the child celebrating the sacrament, and those named in each card will be remembered in the Masses and prayers of our MSC priests at this special time.

From prayer books and missals to photo frames and albums, our collection of gifts and keepsakes has something for everyone.

Our First Holy Communion and Confirmation sets make a wonderful gift with all of the essentials to celebrate the day. Choose from a boy’s, girl’s, or classic white set, each one containing a prayer book, a set of Rosary beads, and a pendant or rosette.

Our classic Roman Missals are an ideal gift for a special Confirmation Day, with elegant gold highlights and gilt-edged pages. Choose from a pure white or dark blue cover, which is also made with Balacron for extra durability.

Of course, no Communion or Confirmation day would be complete without photographs to mark the occasion! From decorative resin to classic silver-toned photo frames, you’ll be sure to find a lovely way to display treasured memories of a very special day.

Remember, when you choose from our range of cards and gifts, you’re not just making a special gesture for a loved one, but you’re also reaching out to help vulnerable children across the globe. Your support helps us to continue bringing the gift of hope to families and communities in need all over the world. Our MSCs work in regions of extreme poverty and hardship, bringing vital aid to people who have nowhere else to turn, and every order we receive makes a real and valuable difference.

BROWSE OUR COMMUNION & CONFIRMATION RANGES

MSC Centre for the poor Philippines addresses plastic waste

The MSC Center for the Poor in the Philippines initiates a project called “Beat the Plastic” in Butuan. “Small-scale activities in respond to global warming may not be the ultimate solution but surely will give a big impact to our environmental problem” says Fr Ritchie Gomez MSC community leader. The Center bought a Plastic Pulverizer & Densifier Machine that makes Plastic Trash into Bricks or Flower Pots .

“During preparation, we have to properly collect used cooking oil from establishments or household kitchens, instead of throwing them away to the sink or canals that may cause cloggings. Garbage styro foams and plastics (washed/clean/dry) will also be needed. ”

“We hope for greater efforts and unity towards a sustainable environment that will also benefit human beings.”

A single resident in Butuan produces an average of .7 kilograms of waste a day. Hence, 8,400 to 8,600 tons of garbage is accumulated in every City across the country everyday. This is 25% of the country’s daily solid waste generation of 35,000 tons.

About half of the garbage is bio-degradable waste such as food scraps, leftovers, and animal carcasses. About 17% are paper and 16% are plastics. The rest are discarded metal, ceramics, rubber and leather.

The social costs of wastes are not managed wisely and are devastating. Ill effect of peoples’ health, socio economic condition, coastal aquamarine environment, and climate is observable. Slum communities generally emit smelly, disgusting, filthy, yucky and revolting putrid smells. Flies and rats abound and hence endless health problems. On the other hand, if managed wisely, these wastes can be turned positive. Indeed, somebody’s waste can be another’s treasure (concept of Zero Waste).

When God created the world, everything was good and has its own purpose and interconnected harmoniously. The concept of “waste” or “garbage” is human’s – a clear damage of the integrity of creation. The extent of the destruction has reached a level where human kind is threatened of its meaningful existence. All the streams and rivers within our cities are considered dead. Half a century ago, these waters were the source of life for the people. These days these rivers cannot sustain any life.

Ownership of land in the rural areas and in the urban centers is concentrated on few families pushing the majority in the margins such as riverbanks, under the bridge, on the beach front, and in the side streets. Slum living is the life condition of the majority in the urban centers in the Philippines.

“Beat the plastic” is hope for the Butuan community to organise their community and gather their collective efforts to carry out the following:
1. Education on the integrity of creation .Restoring the integrity of creation calls for a “new vision” and a “new heart.” Genesis 1:2 tells us that everything in the world that God made was good, beautiful and fruitful. And humankind was made as stewards of this beautiful creation. The need to respect all beings which constitute the world – humans, plants, animals, birds, air, water, etc. shall be promoted. This respect prevents humankind from using the elements in our environment indiscriminately, according to what we want. The delicate balance must not be disturbed. Otherwise, all forms of life are threatened.
2. Zero Waste and Segregation/Garbage Management
Garbage must be managed from its source. Industries need to ensure that when things go out from their sites, these are not poison to living things. Households need to manage wisely the kitchen refuse for greater value. But these facts remain to be campaigned vigorously and militantly. Consumerism has pushed the people into wanton buying and disposing. Overproduction of goods has flooded the earth with lots of junks.
Zero waste – Nature is designed as a zero-waste system. Every out- put is someone else’s input. There is no such thing as waste in nature. By contrast, the human economy is full of waste: waste that is produced while sourcing from nature. Only tiny fractions of our waste are being cycled back into a closed-loop system of reuse.

3. Ecological Balance
Caring for creation includes acceptance of the fact that natural resources are limited. Some are not renewable. Using them as if they are inexhaustible, with absolute dominion, seriously endangers their availability not only of the present generation but above all for generations to come. Care for the sustainability of the material environment is also caring for our fellow human beings who will come after us. A sense of solidarity with future generations should move us to care for our environment now.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

MSC Missions in Mozambique welcome Bishop Luís Fernando

November 2019 saw great excitement for our MSC communities in Mozambique, when a visit from Bishop Luís Fernando “revived the faith and strengthened the bonds of friendship” among local parishes, according to the MSC Mozambique Facebook page.

Many families in the region are still working to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the savage cyclones that hit their country early last year. In mid-March of 2019, Cyclone Idai wreaked havoc in north-eastern Mozambique, killing over 600 people, and just six weeks later, at the end of April, the Pemba region was hit again by Cyclone Kenneth, with the death toll rising further. In addition, over 21,000 people lost their homes, livestock and crops; for many people in the area, the cyclones signalled the end of life as they knew it.

This dual disaster was a devastating blow to a country that was already struggling, and every little helps a lot. During his visit to the region, Bishop Luís met with local communities and performed blessings and ceremonies that were a tremendous boost to parishioners, bringing them together in reflection and thanksgiving.

On his visit to the MSC missionary area, Bishop Luís stopped in Quissanga, an area particularly affected by last year’s natural disaster, where he visited hospital patients. Quissanga is just one of the places that suffered a great deal from the effects of the cyclones, and the bishop’s visit brought renewed motivation and encouragement to the people in the region.

The MSC Mozambique Facebook page expresses their gratitude towards Bishop Luís, posting: “Thank you to our pastor for the availability of the heart”.

Our MSCs continue their tireless work in aiding these families in their struggle to rebuild their lives. Please keep our MSCs and the communities they serve in your prayers – all support, no matter how big or small, provides very welcome encouragement and much-needed practical aid as they continue on their mission.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS IN MOZAMBIQUE

Images via the MSC Mozambique Facebook page.

MSC World Projects Appeal 2020: OLSH GLobal Outreach

The Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) are a vital part of our Sacred Heart Family, working all over the world, often in partnership with MSCs, under our shared motto:
“May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved.”

OLSH in Brazil

Helping a children’s choir

The municipality of Mirinzal is a small, remote region in Maranhão, Brazil. Sr Maria José dos Santos Lira runs a children’s choir in the area, which gives local children great motivation and inspiration to be part of something bigger. The OLSH Sisters teach the children about music and liturgy, and choir regularly performs during special liturgical events in the parish.

Families in the region have very little, and the OLSH Sisters are doing their best to keep the choir going with the extremely limited resources available to them. The choir are currently raising funds for new equipment, including two microphones, a cajon (a local musical instrument), and a keyboard stand.

The cost of these items is low: €21.50 will buy a microphone, €43 will pay for their new cajon, and a new keyboard stand costs just €21.50. A small donation will make a truly great difference to these children as they create bright and beautiful music in a life dogged by hardship and poverty.

A centre for the elderly 

In the convent in São Paulo, Brazil, Sr Maria da Paricida leads the sisters in local social work. Twice a week, elderly people from the area attend workshops that provide lessons in different life skills, such as technology classes, yoga sessions, English classes, embroidery lessons, and choir practise, among other things. The main aim of the Sisters’ work here is to help these elderly people feel part of the wider community, fighting in the face of loneliness and the depression brought about by extended solitude.

The majority of people who come to these workshops are very poor, and have no other opportunities to meet and mix with others. However, the hall where they currently gathering is in poor condition and is currently in need of repair to create a comfortable space for these elderly people to gather together to learn. The Sisters here are raising funds to buy paint as part of the hall restoration.

A donation of just €110 will provide paint for the entire hall, and will help to provide a bright, comfortable space for elderly people who have nowhere else to go.

Residents’ Association Stove

The area of Morumbinho, on the outskirts of the city of São Paulo, is home to approximate 800 families. The majority of these families are migrants who are living in extreme poverty. The local Residents’ Association have appealed to the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for funds to purchase a professional stove, which will allow them to cook for the families who are unable to provide meals for themselves.

Just €175 will cover the cost of the new stove and provide desperately needed meals for families who have no other way to feed themselves.

OLSH in Cameroon

As a result of social and political unrest in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon, many children have been displaced from their homes and families, and are seeking shelter with extended family in the towns of Baffusam, Yaounde, and Douala. Many of these children are suffering greatly as a result of malnutrition and poor hygiene, and the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the locality are doing their best to help.

Regional leader Sr Marie Solange OKO is raising funds for an aid project which will assist 50 internally displaced children in the Yaounde region, providing food, essential medication, and basic hygiene products.

Just €125 will support one of these children for five months.

CAN YOU HELP THE OLSH SISTERS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

OLSH in Papua New Guinea

A safe Novitiate Chapel

The OLSH Novitiate in Papua New Guinea is located on Yule Island, where the first MSCs and OLSH Sisters began their mission over 130 years ago. Since then, the OLSH Sisters in the region have set up schools and health centres to help local communities, and today, there are 86 Sisters currently working in the area.

Recently, the Sisters’ novitiate chapel had to be demolished following an infestation by white ants. They are sorely feeling the lack of this sacred space, and are raising funds to rebuild the chapel at a total cost of €4,800.

Daru School Library Books

The region of Daru in Papua New Guinea is an extremely isolated one, which takes five days to reach by boat, or a flight in a small place followed by another journey on land. This area is plagued by poverty and hardship, and two OLSH Sisters are currently teaching in the school there. The conditions are very basic, and the school’s library facilities are extremely limited. The books are old and in poor condition, and students must share books between them during their classes.

The Sisters in the Daru school are appealing for help, at a cost of €1,330 to purchase the books that the school so desperately needs. Education is the only hope for many of these children, and the gift of a book can make all the difference to their future.

OLSH in the Philippines

Sr Precy Peralta is principal of the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Integrated School, an OLSH-run pre-school in the Philippines that currently accommodates 54 children. The majority of these children come from backgrounds of extreme poverty, and resources are very limited within the school.

The school is currently in need of a steel cabinet to store important documents safely, at a cost of €300, and a TV for classroom use, at a cost of €250. These small additions will make a great difference to the quality of education and administration for the staff and children at the school.

OLSH in South Sudan

The region of Mapuordit is currently home to four OLSH Sisters, two from Australia and two from Indonesia, who minister to the two groups living in the area, the Dinka and the Jur. Children from both groups attend the OLSH primary and secondary schools there, with 1,400 primary school pupils and 440 secondary school students.

In recent years, the OLSH Sisters have been trying to make the best possible use of the land around the schools by cultivating it for growth. The Sisters currently grow vegetables such as sweet potatoes and green vegetables for consumption by local families, using the natural resources available to provide a much-needed food source. The land in the region is extremely fertile, but with six months of regular rain and a six-month dry season, the garden is in need of a simple irrigation system to allow it to be used on a year-round basis.

The Sisters here are appealing for the funds to successfully establish and maintain two gardens. With a borehole fitted with a hand pump costing €8,000, the cost of each garden will total just over €10,000 – an investment which will provide years upon years of profit to local communities, from being a source of nutritious food to providing students with the physical and mental benefits of gardening.

PLEASE SUPPORT OLSH GLOBAL OUTREACH

MSC World Projects Appeal 2020: Education in the Congo

Educating for the future in Bokungu-Ikela

The diocese of Bokungu-Ikela, located in North West of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was founded by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1961. Coming up to its 60^th anniversary, the diocese has 15 parishes and a small clergy of 24 priests, with three MSC communities ministering in the area. Covering an area of 42,000 km, the population of the diocese is estimated at 620,000 – 30% of whom are baptised Catholics.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is ranked as one of the poorest countries in Africa, with enormous natural resources but terrible corruption at government level. The majority of parishes in the diocese are located in extremely isolated areas, where transport is difficult as the roads are in almost destroyed. Cars are rarely used, with locals sometimes travelling by motorbike, or, most often, on foot. The population depend on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods, and their living conditions are both difficult and precarious.

The Catholic Church is one of the main sources of hope for struggling families in the region, particularly when it comes to education. However, schools in the area are severely lacking in even the most basic necessities – many children study and learn while sitting on the ground, as they have very little in terms of facilities such as benches and tables, or even notebooks and pencils. School buildings are rudimentary, often little more than straw and clay bricks in a state of disrepair.

Bishop Toussaint Iluku MSC, who became a Bishop of the diocese of Bokungu-Ikela in July 2019, is now attempting to bring some relief to students and teachers in the region by raising funds for education in the area. Over the next five years, his aim to begin repairs on existing school buildings, and to build new ones where repair is futile, giving the new generation of local children a spark of hope for a brighter future.

“I would particularly like to encourage young girls to go to school, and even later, to have their mothers back in school, so they can learn to read and write, as most women abandoned literacy classes because of lack of resources. I am convinced that the one who educates a girl prepares the future of the nation.”

The initial stages of Bishop Toussaint’s project involve building a new school in the Yetsi region, with the construction of a school building with six classrooms and an administration office estimated at approximately €66,000. The provision of education facilities for the children of the area, and future generations, is priceless, and will provide a vital resource for a region that is currently locked in a serious struggle for survival.

CAN YOU HELP OUR MISSIONARIES IN THE CONGO?

Thank you from the MSC Centre for the Poor, Philippines

A recent letter from Fr Richie Gomez, community leader at the MSC Centre of the Poor in the Philippines, expresses great joy and gratitude to mission friends in the Irish Province for the generosity and enthusiasm received following our 2019 Summer Appeal, which raised funds that have allowed the Centre to continue its wonderful work in the local community and beyond.

Fr Richie sent us an update highlighting the Centre’s most recent projects, which include:

• Spearheading a relief operation for survivors of a recent earthquake in the southern Mindanao region. Together with local volunteers, the MSC community from the Centre provided victims of the earthquake with 150 sacks of rice, 220 containers of water, 250 food packs containing dried fish, milk, sugar, juices, coffee, Milo (a nutritious tonic drink), soap for personal hygiene, laundry detergent, a blanket, and a mosquito net. The relief campaign took place in mid-November 2019, following three days of urgent preparation. A 10-wheeler truck and an Elf truck full of supplies accompanied MSCs and volunteers in two large vehicles on an 11-hour journey from Butuan to Makilala town in Cotabato, at the boundary of Kidapawan. Here, MSCs and volunteers distributed their aid packs to almost a dozen different local communities.

• A scholarship for disadvantaged youths, which is currently giving 20 students the opportunity to further their education and opportunities. Many of these students from the Lumad community (a local indigenous group) live in a boarding house near the university in Butuan City, while other students are staying in their own homes where possible, or with relatives. During their spare time, they contribute to the daily work in the Centre for the Poor, and each Sunday, they attend development workshops at the Centre, which focus on elements such as life skills, Bible studies, group dynamics and social skills, and environmental awareness. The beginning of the last academic year saw an influx of applicants for the programme; however, funds remain limited, and the MSC community at the Centre for the Poor continue to help as many youths as they can.

• An Honesty Store, operating as part of the Centre’s sustainability programmes. With a focus on green economics, the Honesty Store deals in organic Lumad products provided by different local tribes. This support small scale business locally, while also promoting livelihood programmes and employment opportunities to alleviate poverty in the region.

• The on-going renovation of the Centre, with a view to harnessing renewable sources of energy (including solar energy, wind energy, and bio-fuel), can now be completed thanks to the funds raised by our 2019 Summer Appeal.
• Funds donated by the Irish Province will also allow the MSC community at the Centre to fulfil their plans for a Living Museum across a 4.7-hectare area, which will allow for reforestation in a region where natural resources have been plundered mercilessly for mining, logging, and plantations including palm oil.

“When I was sent here to establish the Centre for the Poor, my congregation and I were full of faith and confidence,” writes Fr Richie. “What makes that faith and confidence complete is the trust of those who also believe in our mission, and advocate our work. There is much to do, and it can be overwhelming, but everything is up to Him. ‘I am just a lowly servant of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word.’”

“Thank you very much to the people of the Irish Province, whose hearts extend to people they may never know, and remain full of compassion for others.”

Images via the MSC Centre for the Poor and the MSC Mission Office Philippines, Inc. on Facebook

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

World Projects Appeal 2020: A Parish in need in Nicaragua

Parish of St Joseph of Bocay, Diocese of Jinotega, Nicaragua

 

MSCs in the parish of St Joseph of Bocay in the diocese of Jinotega, Nicaragua, are appealing for funds to build a safe and secure space for the MSC missionaries and the communities they serve in the area.

The parish of St Joseph of Bocay belongs to the diocese of Jinotega, situated in Northern Nicaragua, approximately 240km from the country’s capital, Managua. There are two parishes in the municipality, which has a population of approximately 66,000 people: San Isidro Labrador, and the parish of St Joseph of Bocay. St Joseph’s parish was established in 1992, and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have been ministering to 80 communities across the parish since November 2016. Of these 80 communities, only 30 have a church or chapel in which to gather together to pray, to reflect, to unite as a community, and to celebrate Mass and the sacraments.

 

The people of the parish suffer greatly with poverty and have very little. Agriculture is the main source is income for many, and for most, even this is not enough. Educational facilities are extremely poor, and there are very few resources available to local people. While the people of the region struggle to live without basic necessities on a daily basis, they find great strength and comfort in their faith, and our MSCs are living and working amongst the communities of the parish, ministering to their needs as best they can.

The scale of poverty in the area means that our missionaries face daily challenges in carrying out their pastoral ministry. Since they began their ministry in the area three years ago, our MSCs have been doing their best to carry out workshops, educational programmes, and pastoral work from a parish chapel, to improve the quality of life for local people. The construction of a parish hall would provide a secure and dedicated space for our missionaries to provide for the needs of the people of St Joseph’s in a far more effective and efficient way. Here, they will be able to train pastoral workers to address different needs and issues, have a safe and comfortable space for children’s ministry, educational workshops, catechesis, training programmes, and pastoral group work, and provide safe shelter for visiting MSCs who need a place to stay.

Our MSCs in Nicaragua are working daily to make a great difference with very little resources. With your help, we can provide them with the safety and security they need to continue to bring about positive change in an area of real and pressing need.

 

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