Australian Province, 1 January – 30 June 2024, Analecta record
And a welcome to our new contributor,
John Walker MSC
Ordinations:
The first ordination of an MSC, Thanh Vu Nguyen, in the Archdiocese of Sai Gon in Ho Chi Minh City, occurred on 29 January 2024. Thanh was ordained to the diaconate.
On 9 February 2024, Kenji Konda MSC was ordained to the priesthood at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Randwick. Fr Kenji has been appointed to our mission in Nagoya, Japan.
Toan Dinh Vinh Le MSC was also ordained to the priesthood on 25 May 2024 in Nagoya, Japan.
Golden Jubilees:
Steve Dives and Paul McCormack celebrated their Golden Jubilee of profession (12 January 1974), while Paul and Peter Guy celebrated their 50th anniversary of ordination (17 May 1974).
Top left: Paul McCormack, Bottom left: Steve Dives & Right: Peter and Paul Guy
Easter Retreat:
Steve Dives offered an Easter-guided retreat at St Mary’s Towers from Sunday, 26 March to Sunday, 31 March, the first of its kind since the retreat house closed during Covid. It was well attended and received.
Paul Jennings:
Paul returned to Australia from his beloved PNG some years ago due to ill health and lived in the Kensington Monastery community. However, over recent years, his health continued to deteriorate, and he passed away at the Sacred Heart Hospice on 3 April 2024. Apart from his missionary services in PNG and his time on the Provincial Council under Brian Gallagher and Bob Irwin, Paul was awarded an OBE by the Government of Papua New Guinea for his services to education and the Church in Milne Bay and PNG.
St John the Apostle, Kippax, Canberra parish:
Early in the year, several past serving MSCs gathered in Canberra to celebrate the 50th anniversary of St John’s parish in Kippax. They included Frank Dineen, Michael Fallon, John Bosman, Michael Nithin, Chris McPhee, Kimi Vunivesilevu, Gerald McCormick and Mark Hanns. The Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn has asked that bringing together the neighbouring parish of Charnwood proceed under Tru Nguyen, Chung Minh Tran, and Gerard McCormick. Tru has been appointed Parish Priest of Kippax and Moderator of the two parishes.
Dominic Gleeson in India in March, facilitating the Ignatian Exercises as follows:
In March 2024, I travelled to Kerala, India, to the place of the MSC Novitiate to facilitate the 30-day Ignatian Exercises for the three (3) young men of the novitiate. Kranthi, Sumanth and Sanu welcomed me wholeheartedly into their novitiate community. During my stay at the l novitiate house where I conducted the retreat, I was supported by the MSC novice director, Fr Kulandai Alexander, msc, assisted by Fr Nelson Machado, msc, who looked after our day-to-day practical needs. The nature of the retreat can be very challenging, and yet I found the men of the novitiate to be very open and well-prepared to journey more deeply into their experience of who God is for them. It also allowed each man to prepare their heart, listening to the Spirit to where God may be leading them in their discernment to take vows as Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
Jim Littleton’s historical contributions:
Jim has been researching various aspects of Australian MSC’s contribution to our mission for over two decades and publishing his invaluable mini projects for our archives. This year, he published a revision of his original book on MSC in The Armed Services, noting and acknowledging especially MSC brothers and priests and armed services before they entered the congregation.
Appointments to date for 2024:
Br John Walker msc – Douglas Park, community ministry and Chapter implementation
Fr Vince Carroll msc – Taroom Parish and Downlands College MSC community
Fr Albert Chan msc – Retirement, Sacred Heart Monastery, Kensington
Br Peter Curry msc – Community ministry, Douglas Park
Fr Gerard McCormick msc – Superior, Canberra and Bowral
Fr Shane Carr msc – Chaplain, Downlands College, Toowoomba
Fr Dominic Gleeson msc – Superior Melbourne/Tasmania
Fr Kimi Vunivesilevu msc – Superior St Mary’s Towers, Douglas Park
Fr Tru Nguyen msc – Parish Priest, St John the Apostle, Kippax
General movement of MSC personnel:
Fr Peter Hearn msc—Peter was appointed to administer the Kensington parish while Fr Terry Bowman, the parish priest, underwent and continues to convalesce at Kensington monastery from major spinal surgery.
Fr Tim Brennan msc – after many years in Rome, where he served on the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, has returned to Australia. Tim has significantly contributed to establishing a culture of safeguarding throughout the Society, which the 2023 General Chapter affirmed.
Fr Russell Anderson msc – returned to Australia for various health reasons and has been well cared for at Kensington monastery. He visited the Ranch at Darwin but sustained a severe injury whilst cycling and has returned to Kensington.
Fr Brian Gallagher msc – Brian suffered a stroke and has spent considerable time in both hospital and rehabilitation. He has, however, returned to his independent living unit. There has been significant progress, and Brian remains alert and attentive to his progress.
Fr Pat Sharpe msc – after some years in the community at the monastery, he moved to St Joseph’s to receive the extra level of care he needs.
Director, MSC Education:
With effect from 18 March 2024, Chris McDermott was appointed the new director of MSC education, replacing Mark McGinnity. Chris has extensive leadership experience in Catholic education, spanning 23 years, including 15 years as principal of Chevalier College, Bowral. He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and is an experienced company director, school reviewer, and sessional tutor, the latter with Wollongong University. Chris has been an Executive Member of the National Council of the Laity of the Chevalier Family and the Regional Coordinator – Australia and Pacific – of the International Council of the Laity of the Chevalier Family.
Pat Mara msc – parish priest of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Randwick, was invited by Bishop Terry Brady to preach at St Mary’s Cathedral for the Feast of St Patrick.
Heart of Life (HOL):
Following decades since its foundation, working from rented accommodation, the Province purchased a property for Heart of Life in Croydon. The property has been extensively renovated to a high standard under the project management of Br Barry Smith. The renovations were necessary to accommodate the formation programs, seminars and accompaniment ministries offered by HOL. Whilst the renovated premises have been officially opened, much work is needed on the exterior, including the gardens. To ensure the long-term sustainability of Heart of Life, a steering committee was established to recommend a sustainable way forward to ensure a stable future for its programs, and it has been meeting regularly throughout the period. The final report and recommendations have been submitted to the provincial council for approval. The Provincial Council endorsed the key recommendations and has committed to several initiatives starting in 2025. Clare Shearman, who has been the director for the past few years, has resigned, and Alison McKensie agreed to step up in the interim until a new director is appointed. Fr Peter Malone and Fr Khoi Doan Nguyen are on the HOL staff. Fr Krish Mathavan and Br Daniel Magadia are students.
Awards:
Fr Peter Malone, Br John Walker and Fr Bob Irwin have received awards this year. Peter, whose many film reviews and publications have educated us over many decades, was honoured by the International Catholic Film Critics Association (ICFCA). For the second time, Peter won the Outstanding Criticism award for 2023.
John, an avid amateur photographer since age 9, was awarded first place by judges and peers in an international competition for his photo of a cheetah shot while on safari in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Bob was also honoured with the Espirit du Chevalier Medal for his lifelong commitment to MSC education. He was presented with the medal during Sacred Heart Feast Day celebrations at Chevalier College, Bowral, and received a standing ovation from the assembly.
Vietnam:
Our MSC mission in Vietnam continues to grow and expand, with two students graduating from the Jesuit Institute of Vietnam. Vu Quoc Vuong graduated from the Philosophy three-year program, and Le Van Thanh from the Theology four-year program. Vuong will continue his theology studies for four years, while Thanh will embark on a one-year pastoral placement.
MSC Formation, Blackburn
Conferring of Ministries:
In late March, a ceremony occurred during mass in St Thomas’ church parish to confer the Ministries of Lector and Acolyte, part of the steps towards ordination. Delegated to confer the ministries by the Provincial was Kimi Vunivesilevu MSC, First Councilor, together with Mark Hanns MSC. Those conferred with Acolyte were Trieu Nguyen and Daniel Magadia. The ministry of Lector was conferred on Hoa Tran. Vincent Pham had spent some years in the Parramatta seminary and had already received the ministries there, which meant he could assist Kimi.
Beginning the Novitiate:
In the afternoon of March 1st, in the parish church of St Thomas, Nang Dinh Vu and Van Long Tran were officially received into the novitiate by Fr Khoi Nguyen, Director of Initial Formation and Novice Director, on behalf of the Australian Province. Many local MSC, parishioners and friends of Long and Nang were present to celebrate this milestone in their journey towards vows as Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
