MSC International, South Sudan, a story from Alan Neville MSC, Ireland

Whistling Tunelessly

What is the meaning of happiness? Philosophers have speculated on the topic since the beginning of the human story. The answers provided to date are varied and many, but few would include driving along a dirt road, at night, in the rain, perched precariously on a half a driver’s seat (the rest has somehow mysteriously disappeared over time) in a pick-up truck that your average NCT technician would not only refuse to examine due to concerns for their personal safety, but would happy fire bomb with a Molotov cocktail from the comfort of their office. Yet, this is where I found myself a week ago on a Thursday night, whistling somewhat tunelessly as I drove alone. Happiness. It comes in the most surprising of places.

The destination for my rather battered pickup filled with tables was our clinic, which the following day, would the site of the Loreto Graduation. Over fifty young women marked the end of their formal studies with us and are now looking forward to their Senior Four national exams in just over a week. The day is not just a graduation though. It means much more, as it is a visible sign of how far these young women have come in the face of many challenges. The number of women successfully completing secondary school in South Sudan remains one of the lowest in the world according to the UN.

So, for these young women and their family who attended, it really is something to celebrate. It symbolises a continued new chapter in the history of the country, where slowly (in reality too slowly) women are making their own way in the world. The early mornings and late nights of study, along with their daily classes, have paid off. For their graduation their families all gathered to give thanks to God for what has been achieved in a Mass with Bishop Christian. After that, it was all singing, dancing, and sharing food with one another, but overall it was pure joy. Even the hardest of heart could not help to be happy there.

Sister Orla at the Graduatiion

From the General Bulletin, News of Hope -  Some Highlights

New Country. New MSC Presence. New MSC Formation House.  Kenya.

It is with great joy and hope that we announce that at the beginning of August 2023 a new MSC presence will start in Nairobi, Kenya (East Africa). It is an initiative of the Province of Ireland, through the MSC Southern Africa Section.

This mission also begins as a community with international collaboration: a confrere from UAF (Lucien Beh Evina) and one from India (Antony Peter), together with a native Kenyan MSC belonging to the South African Section (Peter Ng'ang'a). Congratulations to our confreres and courage in the new mission.

DOMINICAN PROVINCIAL CHAPTER

The XIV Dominican Provincial Chapter was held on the week of April 17-21, 2023, at Monte de Oración, San Victor, Moca, Dominican Republic.

Bernard Mongeau and Fr. Marc-André Gingras, from the community of Quebec, and Joel Dépré, from the community of La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, recalled the process that led to the merger of the Canadian Province and the Dominican Province, pointing out that it was the first time in our Congregation that a Province was dissolved so that its members could join an- other Province.

Fr. Marc-André Gingras spoke on behalf of the companions of the community of Quebec, Canada, and of their views on the consultation on the elderly to which they responded. He thanked them and emphasized the climate of welcome and fraternity experienced during the Chapter.

FRENCH AFRICAN UNION, UAF

On March 5, 2023, coming from Italy, Senegal, Congo, and Cameroon, we started the Chapter, trusting in God's Mercy and carried by his Spirit. Our interest broadened when we heard about the vision of our schools in relation to the Educational Project of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart developed by Fathers Charles Biloa and Yvon César Banackissa.

PROVINCE OF FRANCE-SWITZERLAND

Issoudun on March 27 to 31, 2023. we talked about the future of Issoudun, with our buildings now oversized in relation to our needs, in the context of the strong secularization that is invading us and forcing us to think differently about how we live out our mission. Proclaiming the Gospel is part of a new paradigm that we cannot ignore. This is bound to have an impact on the way we feel, our dreams, our expectations, our hopes, etc. We need to consider the principles of reality, without which we could become utopians and wishful thinkers. The very mystery of the Incarnation obliges us to this principle of reality: we are not above ground! But we also need to know how to trust as Father Jules Chevalier and Mother Marie-Louise Hartzer did in their day.

We are also moving towards the creation of a new community close to a major urban area, with the mission of being present on the "periphery" according to the pastoral intuition of Pope Francis. This community would be proposed to an entity of the Congregation that would come on mission to Europe. Once again, we realized that JPIC (Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation) is a concrete expression of our Spirituality of the Heart.

IRISH MSC OPEN PROVINCIAL CHAPTER

Our first Open Chapter with 40 members present from all territories of the Province. This week has been one of honest conversation, sharing, struggle, and searching. The discerning conversations began in the pre-Chapter process and will continue over the coming years. As we shared together on the Chapter Road, five areas of our MSC life emerged, calling us to deeper re- flection and consideration:

• Our MSC Mission
• Our partnership with the laity
• Healing of past and present hurts
• Mapping the future of Venezuela and South- ern Africa
• Our MSC Mission for Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation