New, enlarged: Some Significant May Days for the Chevalier Family
May, an Our Lady of the Sacred Heart month.
NOTE:
this is an amplified version of Significant Days, combining the list made originally by Cor Novum, Issoudun, now with the addition of dates from Father Jan Bovenmars MSC’s book, Jules Chevalier, Daily Readings. His book was published in 1993 – so, more recent just from all around the congregation and the Chevalier family would be most welcome.
22 new Significant Days have been added.
A reminder, May 6th, that the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Randwick was opened in 1888, only a few years after the arrival of the first MSC in Sydney. The parish in those days extended to Botany.
1 May, 1863
An article on Our Lady of the Sacred Heart appears in the Jesuit publication, "Messager du Sacré-Coeur", founded by Fr. Henri Ramière, SJ. It is the first presentation of this new title for Mary.
1 May, 1883
Canonical erection of three MSC communities in Peru: Lima (Seminiario Nuestra Senora del Sagrado Corazon), Acari, and Puquio.
2 May, 1864
An article on Our Lady of the Sacred Heart appears in the “Annals de Saint Sacrament” (May 1864).
2 May, 1950
Father Harry Reid MSC (AUS), arrives in Japan to set up a mission in conjunction with Father Archibald Bryson MSC, Army Chaplain.
3 May 1928
Mother Liboria Loeper, Provincial of the American Province MSC Sisters, arrived in Sydney to begin an Australian foundation that would be of support to the established Mission in Papua New Guinea.
4 May, 1923
The Vicariate of the Marshall Islands is united with the Vicariate of the Caroline Islands and the Marianas, and is entrusted to the Society of Jesus. The German MSC had to leave the Marshall Islands in 1919.
4 May, 1965
First canonical erection of an MSC House in the Dominican Republic at San Jose de las Matas, Santiago, Castillo.
5 May, 1894
Erection of the “the Northern Province” of the MSC (Holland, Belgium, and Germany-Austria). It has three houses: in Borgerhaut-Antwerp, Belgium, Tilburg, Holland, and Salzburg-Liefering, Austria.
6 May, 1876
Frank Natale MSC, PP Watertown (and made his novitiate at Douglas Park)
Watertown, New York, arrival of Father Durin, superior of the new community, with two scholastics.
6 May, 1883
The shrine of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Sittard, Netherlands is elevated to a Basilica by Pope Leo XIII. Today, it is the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the Netherlands.
6 May, 1888
In Randwick, Australia, the church built by Father Michael Tierney, is dedicated to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Today, it is the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Australia.
7 May, 1892
On his way to Yule Island to Europe, Bishop Verius arrives in Sydney. His confreres receive him well – and sending right away to the tailor and the barber.
10 May, 1887
The first team of missionaries leaves France for Quito, Ecuador, under the guidance of Father Morisseau, general assistant.
10 May, 1888
The first MSC Fathers Edouard Bontemps and Joseph Leray, and Brother Conrad Weber arrive in Kiribati! Fr. Leray would later become the first Bishop of Gilbert Islands.
10 May, 1889
Erection of the Vicariate of New Pomerania (Rabaul, PNG), entrusted to the MSC. Father Henry Verius is appointed as its first Vicar, soon afterwards replaced by Father Louis Coupe.
12 May, 1931
Father Eugène Meyer dies in Issoudun. He was the Superior General of the MSC from 1905 to 1920, the second after Father Jules Chevalier.
12 May, 1991
Ambrose Kiapseni MSC is ordained first PNG Bishop of Kavieng.
14 May, 1926
Father Pierre-Marie Tréand, founder and first Provincial of the Australian MSC Province, dies this day.
17 May, 1977
Death of Father Timothy McGrath MSC (Australia) who worked with Eileen O’Connor, in the founding of Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor.
18 May, 1856
Still early days of the MSC foundation. Father Charles Piperon joins the budding community of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, in Issoudun. Two days later, the Archbishop of Bourges appoints him as Prison Chaplain at Issoudun.
21 May 1928.
At Station Pier, Melbourne, she welcomed Srs Eulalia, Aquilina, Maurilia, Zaccharia, and Margareta. Their first destination was Rupertswood, Sunbury where they provided practical support to the Salesians.
21 May, 1899
First vows of Brother Robert South, first brother of the Australian Province.
21 May, 1910
The four houses in the United States (Watertown, Natick, Casanovia, Onowa) are united into a Quasi-Province.
22 May, 1839
Jules Chevalier is 15 years old. On this day, he received the sacrament of Confirmation at Richelieu. He received his First Holy Communion three years earlier on 29 May, 1836, again in Richelieu.
23 May, 1879
Blessing of the church of OLSH at Piazza Navona by the Cardinal Vicar of Rome.
23 May, 1970
The MSC Section in Rio De Janeiro, started by the Dutch Province in 1946, becomes a Region.
24 May, 1886
First Australian OLSH postulant: Sister Margaret Mary Sweeney.
24 May, 1911
Arrival of the first two MSC in Brazil from Holland.
24 May, 1912
The first MSC houses in England and Ireland are united into “the Section of the British Isles”.
26 May, 1860
Henri Verjus is born in Oleggio, in Italy.
30 May, 1945
Father L.Beeckman MSC (Belgium) returns home from the Dachau concentration camp.
31 May, 1865
The feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is publicly celebrated for the first time.
By 1872 the feast is celebrated worldwide in 950 churches or chapels.
For quite some time, this feast was held on this date, but today, globally, the feast is observed on the last Saturday in May.
31 May, 1868
The number of members of the Confraternity of OLSH reaches 2 million.
31 May, 1919
The first six postulants into the new Papuan Congregation of the Handmaids of the Lord at Kabuna.
