MSC Mission Office, Roger Purcell MSC on the move

This year has been a year of travel for the work of the Mission Office to meet with our overseas people, especially the National Directors. To visit projects and the recipients, and to see potential projects. In all places there are needs everywhere for water, assistance of students for school and training and for health. Fuller accounts in our Mission Outreach newsletter online.

Philippines (May 6-20. 2024)

I spent a couple of days in Manila to visit a Centre for the Poor helping school students and met with the Province. Then on to Butuan and El Monte on Mindanao to see, and stay in, more sites of the Centre for the Poor (CEPAGCO). This organization, CEntre for the Poor AGricultural Cooperative, is recognized by the Government and is an umbrella for a number of projects. it is Fr Richie Gomez msc initiative.

We visited St Luis parish with the school for the Indigenous Lumad people with over 100 students. Next was Surigao where the Dutch MSC began in 1908 and out to the Dinagat Islands. Here too we visited two Evacuation Centres housing people victims of a recent mining tailings dam collapse.

Vietnam: June 17th-25^th

From Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) we travelled to Hue in Central Vietnam. In the countryside we visited families of disadvantaged children needing assistance for school. A highlight was a visit to the shrine to the 117 Martyrs of the persecutions during the 19th-century. They were 96 Vietnamese, 11 Spaniards, and 10 French of whom half were clergy and half laypeople, including a 9-year-old child: 8 bishops, 50 priests, and 59 lay Catholics.

Indonesia: July 23-28

From Jakarta I went to Manado where our Seminary is with other MSC works, including a project to build a Centre for our Aged MSC. The highlight of the trip was Merauke in the Indonesian Province of Papua, which is now divided into 6 Provinces. Here I met with the Asmat people native to the area where we have funded two Formation Centres to give some education to children. A lot of their area is swampy and subject to flooding. The Dutch MSC worked there since 1905.

The Indonesian MSC Province is our largest working in many dioceses, from different regions and ethnic groups and are working throughout the nation from east to west over 3 times zones.

Democratic Republic of Congo; August 17-September 7.

This was the most difficult trip entering a country that is vast and remote, poor and oppressed by corruption so much so that people say “we have no government”. Kinshasha a city of 17 million people, is frankly, dirty, untidy and messy… a shock to the system.

I visit Bishop Toussaint Iluku MSC in Bokungu-Ikela diocese, going by plane to Boende, then road to Wema and boat to Bokungu. This is a very remote part of our church and the welcome was very warm and genuine from the Bishop, priests, sisters and laity. Here and in Kinshasa the Sunday celebration was the Zairean rite which went for 2½ hours, which was considered short. It was lively, musical and energizing.

MSC Mission Office, end of financial year

The Office depends on donations – it’s the end of the financial year.

Our challenges and opportunities in 2024

The year 2024 is not an easy one for anyone. We face the threats of war, labour shortage, materials supply disruption, loss of real wages, inflation and so on. But we are not alone in this struggle.

We have many good people at all levels internationally, nationally, and locally. They are doing great work to solve the many issues and to help people at home and overseas. We are grateful for your generosity and resourcefulness.

The Mission Office is also affected by these challenges. We receive less funds and have fewer donors as people age and die. This means we can fund fewer projects for people who need our help.

But we are not giving up.We are launching into the next 25 years with a vision to do more in every category of Projects. Our Directors and Boards overseas are sending in applications for many worthy causes, and we are doing our best to support them. Our people are also reporting back to us the outcomes and impacts of the projects we fund.

The needs are still great. We are moved by the stories of people who live with great disadvantages that affect their health and advancement in life. They lack clean water, quality education, adequate healthcare, and a safe environment. They also need spiritual guidance and support from their local churches and communities.

Our mission and inspiration

Jesus challenges us to understand and live more fully our faith and his command to “love one another”. He calls us to move from worry and pessimism to active hope. He reached out to people to heal them so they could live a full, fruitful life.

The miracles we work in our time are to help people to stand up and walk; to live more fully.

The MSC Mission Office wants to give everyone a hand up in life. To give a chance of a good, decent life. To give so each generation can live better in joy and hope.

All of you who support us in your own way are part of this mission. You are an integral part of the Mission Office. We thank you for being on mission with us.

Landslide Relief Update 

Prayerful wishes from Catholic Diocese of Wabag, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea.

Thank you very much for the transfer of the money. Money is received in the Catholic Diocese of Wabag Account already. Thank you for the additional $45,000.

On 20.06.2024 we did the second time relief materials distribution using your fund along with medicines for the survivors. Shortly I will be back to you with the report. Heartfelt thanks to you all.

Based on the needs of the survivors we will have another materials list and with your approval we will use it wisely and send you the report.

God bless you, your staff and donors for all your hard work. 

We are continuing to pray for you, MSC mission and the Individual donors in our daily prayers, adoration and Holy Mass.

United in prayers

Sr. John Mary

Secretary and project Manageress