The Church with its Sleeves Rolled Up: The MSC Mission Office

Roger Purcell MSC, Director, Reports

This expression came up in discussion here in the Mission Office and appealed to us, and something that sticks in my mind. In thinking about evangelization to which we are all called I often say we do this in a practical, on the ground way, by assisting people with real life needs. Sleeves rolled up seems to capture that vision.

Highlights for me were Vietnam and India where I met many of our MSC Brothers and travelled many kilometers with them. They had a good programme worked out as I had indicated I wanted to see the Projects and to meet people who we are assisting. We certainly fulfilled that! I saw a lot of Vietnam from the hubbub of Ho Chi Minh City to other cities and rural villages. The Projects varied in type and technology from water principally to medical cases, youth support and a very vigorous Caritas organization in Da Lat. I learned a lot about all these projects, about Vietnam and our young and growing MSC community.

India

In India I was again on a high learning curve with many hours of travel in urban and rural India, many projects and meeting many people. Again our MSC Brothers had organized a great schedule and gave much of their time to our travel and inspection of sites. They asked if I wanted to visit the sites of St Thomas and Francis Xavier which I declined. I am not a tourist and have no interest in seeing tombs and monuments, saying was there to see our projects and meet the people.

Impressions

There are several impressions that stay with me.

• The very, deep and genuine gratitude for our assistance with vital projects. This is clear in their gracious welcome and words of thanks and written on their faces.
• The many and varied ongoing needs in so many places.
• The great generosity of many people in Australia in support of all we are doing.
• This together with the genuine concern of many in Australia and overseas to relieve the needs of the people.

The food was very different, but delicious and interesting; a bit hot, and as the Indians say, ‘pungent’, but something I like. The hours on the road travelling and meeting people was exhausting, but it was why I was there. 

Mass of Blessed Peter To Rot

To other matters.

• We had a brief visit from some Downlands staff and students in June, and as always it was a delight to meet such engaging and promising young people.
• The work of the Office continues with processing of mail and donations, both through the mail and online. Phone calls often lead to interesting conversation with donors who often have a long contact with MSC and connections to MSC. They often inquire about MSC they have known in the past.
• Our new data entry system is, finally, nearly completely installed an operational.
• Meetings, projects, banking, fundraising advertising, newsletters and much more keep us busy.

I have been to Erskineville and Coogee for the Mission Appeal where people are still generous, but numbers remain low, so the income is not yet as it once was.