Alotau rascals' attack on John Sinou House.

Tony Young has sent this statement. It is a disturbing occurrence but Tony notes that there are great problems with young people in PNG, unemployment, lack of education opportunities, violence.

Visitors to our site will remember Tony’s work with Hope Academy in Eastern Papua, possibilities for online education.  For past posts on Hope Academy and its outreach. Use the Search Engine above and type in Hope Academy.

John Sinou MSC was one of the earliest of the PNG priests – and did some secondary schooling at Chevalier in the mid 1950s.

Statement of the Bishop of Alotau, March 19, attack on John Sinou House.

We are very much saddened and decried the violence and loss of property that happened in Alotau last 19^th March.

About 2 AM, after a brief skirmish between around 50 rascals and five local policemen, about 12 of the rascals forced themselves inside the diocesan priests’ house where 11 of our priests and one deacon were staying. They broke the side door of the house which did not have iron. They assaulted 7 of our priests. They forced their rooms and robbed them of their laptops, mobile phones, cash money and other valuables. They also carted away a new outboard motor, solar panels, projector and TV. A Filipino missionary lost a lot of blood after receiving continuous bashing on the head. He was confined in the hospital but is now in a stable condition. Another young local priest was stabbed, barely missing his heart. The face of another young local priest was swollen after being punched. The others sustained minor injuries. All were traumatised by the attack.

What led to this? More than a week ago, Tommy Baker’s second-in-command was reportedly shot dead by the police. Just before the attack and John Sinou House, it was reported that Tommy Baker’s group organised themselves and retaliated. They were heavily armed. One group started shooting at the police from the oval, another near the fire station, and a third group entered the priests’ house seizing the opportunity to steal while the police were distracted. There were many priests there because of the just concluded presbyteral council meeting and celebration of Chrism Mass.

Our priests and deacons are still traumatised by what happened. However, because of the coming Holy Week, they feel obliged to resume their pastoral duties, and go back to their parishes.

The local people have expressed their sadness and anger over what happened to the priests. They are not happy about the growing deterioration of peace and order in Alotau and the rest of the province. They don’t feel safe and are living in fear. The Member for Alotau visited the priests the day after the incident but gave little or no assurance. We have not received any word from the provincial administration. The police look helpless because they are outnumbered by the rascals who are much better armed.

The Catholic Professionals Society of Alotau feel bad about what happened. The priests were not armed nor violent and are only there to serve the people. They don’t want this thing to happen again. They want things to change for the better, for the good of the whole of Alotau and the province. They want a meeting with the police superintendent, and issue a public statement.

There is need for dialogue between the government, Tommy Baker’s group, the churches and the people at large on how to bring about peace and order in Alotau. Differences should be settled peacefully and respect given to the rights and dignity of every person. Most of all we need to pray and beg God’s help and forgiveness. There is hope for a better tomorrow if we all act together and do what is expected of each one as we put our trust in God.

Rolando C. Santos, CM,

Bishop of Alotau.

Easter Monday, holiday break – and some brain-teasing

 ASTRONOMER : 
When you rearrange the letters:   
MOON STARER

DESPERATION :

When you rearrange the letters:   
A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES :       
When you rearrange the letters: 
THEY SEE

GEORGE BUSH: 
When you rearrange the letters: 
HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE :
When you rearrange the letters: 
HERE COME DOTS

DORMITORY   :   
When you rearrange the letters:   
DIRTY ROOM

SLOT MACHINES :
When you rearrange the letters: 
CASH LOST IN ME

ANIMOSITY :
When you rearrange the letters:   
IS NO AMITY

ELECTION RESULTS :
When you rearrange the letters:       
LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

SNOOZE ALARMS : 
When you rearrange the letters:       
ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S

A DECIMAL POINT : 
When you rearrange the letters:   
I'M A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES : 
When you rearrange the letters:   
THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO : 
When you rearrange the letters:   
TWELVE PLUS ONE

New Paintings, Paul McCormack MSC, Holy Week, Stations, Resurrection

Paul has been painting last year at Henley Beach.

                                                                                      ______________________________________

Good Friday, April First Friday, Beatification coming

Good Friday

The Martyrs of Central America, Quiche, mirror the self-sacrifice of Jesus in laying down life for others.

Beatification

We are only a few weeks away for the beatification of the MSC Martyrs of Quiché, which will take place on the 23rd of April. We are preparing for this unique event in the Quiché Diocese and in the lives of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

First Friday

The intention from our Justice and Peace, Chevalier Family intention.

SOME SIGNIFICANT APRIL DAYS FOR THE CHEVALIER FAMILY, 2021

Church of St Cyr, Issoudun, See April 7th

April seems a northern hemisphere season for focusing on buildings and foundations – some Spring eagerness, perhaps

3 April, 1857

First meeting of the "Oeuvre des Campagnes" ("Work of the Countryside") arranged by Father Vandel, held in the house of Madam de la Rochejaquelin. This was a social and spiritual outreach to diocesan priests working in isolated areas. This groups continues to the present day, and meets in Issoudun once a year.
 

5 April, 1925

Arrival of the first three MSC Sisters from Hiltrup, in Vunapope (PNG), after World War I.
                   

6 April, 1864

Bishop de la Tour d'Auvergne (of Bourges) presents the Statutes of the Fraternity of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Issoudun and signs as first member. To make membership in the Fraternity possible for everyone,
Father Chevalier stipulates that the only requirement is to pray daily: "Our Lady of the Sacred Heart pray for us".
               

6 April, 1904

Death of the first Superior General of the MSC Sisters, Sister Servatia Rath, Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence.

7 April, 1872

Official installation of Father Chevalier as parish priest of St. Cyr parish, in Issoudun.

Interior, St Cyr

8 April, 1850

Jules Chevalier is ordained sub-deacon in the seminary chapel in Bourges. "On the very day of his ordination, he showed himself completely renewed, from silent and severe to affable and gentle." (Piperon)

Bourges Cathedral

9 April, 1866

Fathers Chevalier and Vandel planned the foundation of an "apostolic" school, which did officially open in Chezal-Benoît on 10 October the following year, about 17 kilometers from Issoudun.

This was an apostolic school for boys interested in becoming missionaries in the MSC's. In order to meet the cost of this work, an appeal was made to give a apenny a year - thus the name the "Petite Oeuvre" (the "Little Work").

11 April, 1868

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is opened in Issoudun.
                   

12 April, 2012

Feast of Saint Jules, (Pope Jules I, who protected Saint Athanasius from the Arians), name day of Father Founder.

16 April, 1881

Chevalier accepts the two Vicariates of Melanesia and Micronesia offered by the Congregation of the propagation of the Faith.

20 April, 1876

First mission departure ceremony in MSC history:

Memory of Mark McDonald     Present PP, Frank Natale

Father Durin and two scholastics are sent from Issoudun to Watertown, in New York State, USA. They arrive in Watertown on 6 May, 1876.
The previous General of the MSC's, Father Mark McDonald, was from Watertown!

24 April, 1879

Canonical erection of the first MSC House in Rome, at Piazza Navona.

26 April, 1877

Father Jean Marie Vandel, founder of the Apostolic Schools, dies in Issoudun. Chevalier said of him: "His life ... is that of a saint."

30 April, 1907

Sale by auction of the confiscated property of the MSC and FDNSC in Issoudun. Count de Bonneval buys the MSC property for 100,000 francs; ten minutes later Madame de Lapparent buys the house of the Sisters for 40,000. The property is thus saved for both the MSC and FDNSC.

MSC Lay Council, Vatican Response on Blessing Same-Sex Unions.

The communication that the Lay Council sent to the Tri-Generalate, MSC, OLSH, MSC Sisters, on the CDF statement.  From the General Secretary, Alison McKenzie.

Special Easter greetings to our dear friends.

This email is to update you on our response as the International Council of the Chevalier Laity to the recent statement on blessing homosexual relationships. The statement has been the cause of distress to the members of the Council and we consider one of our responsibilities as a Lay Council is to discuss and possibly, to respond to issues such as this that affect our evangelising mission.  

From a western perspective, we agreed that the recent statement was unnecessary and divisive and created a distraction from our core message offering hope in these troubled and difficult times.  It does not reflect the cultural and social shifts in attitudes and understanding of human sexuality that are occurring in the west and does not reflect a consistent ethic of love. But, we also realise that the developed world is not the whole world and that we must speak prudently, mindful of the attitudes in other places where our laity are present.

We agreed to encourage, where appropriate, our National Co-ordinators to support Bishops and others who were speaking a more loving response in their regions. As a Lay Council, we have a clear vision for the laity to be a group that is not simply inwardly focussed on personal spirituality, but rather, to be people who see that the journey to their own hearts and the  Heart of Christ always calls us out into the world in which we live. We hope that this focus will draw us to be people who can engage deeply with the ills of our times and places.

MSC Philippines, Happy News, Sad News

Happy News

Congratulations to our newly ordained MSC Priests!  Featuring our media/Facebook confrere, Michael Angelo Acera Dacalos MSC.

Sad News

On this Solemnity of Saint Joseph, our dearly beloved confrere, Rev. Fr. Kees Swinkels, MSC has returned to our Father. He is 92 years old. Just like Saint Joseph, Fr. Kees has been a father to many.

Fr. Cornelius Swinkels, MSC or just “Fr. Kees” was born on March 29, 1928 in Vught, Netherlands. He professed as an MSC on September 21, 1948. He was ordained as priest on September 6, 1953. In 1955, he was sent to the Philippines and arrived on December 26 of the same year. Fr. Kees, we will always be grateful to God for the gift of your person, of your priesthood, of your truly being God's Heart on Earth.

Good News

The Holy See has promoted of the LST faculty to the rank of Associate Professor, rescripts dated 17 December 2020 and 2 February 2021:

Fr. Abundio R. Babor, Jr., MSC, STD, Moral Theology (known as Jay Ar).(Seen at top right)

John Walker MSC, a creative ministry

John writes from Kensington

Great news … I have returned to my Calvary roots, and my first love palliative care, but not as a nurse! I am engaged as a biographer; someone who sits with a person with a terminal illness over a period of time, recording their life story for publication as a legacy for their family and posterity.  Most of my training has been provided by Julie and Robyn from the Sacred Heart Hospice, Darlinghurst as more fully described in the following article:

Telling their story: Sacred Heart’s volunteer biography service wins hearts and awards

Since 2016 Julie Gissing and Robyn Swanson have jointly managed the volunteers involved in the Sacred Heart Biography Service.

The Biography Service in its current form started at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney with one volunteer in 2009. 

Julie and Robyn, both experienced volunteers, were recruited as joint coordinators to develop the Service and ensure its sustainability. 

Since then the number of trained biography volunteers has grown to 45, enabling members of the Community Palliative Care Team to offer it with confidence to their clients, with referrals coming from community nurses and allied health.

 “We visit every client that is referred to us. The match between the client and the volunteer is really important. We aim for the process to be pleasant and enjoyable for them, not stressful.”

 Ideally clients have three or more months to live and the process can last for a few weeks or a few months.

Volunteer biographers listen, record and transcribe what the client recalls, adding photos and other memorabilia. At the end of the biography sessions clients receive two copies of the book that can be shared with, and kept by, family. 

Ready for portraits as well as biographies

So what is it that makes biography so valuable for the client?

“Almost always, 99% of the time, it’s about the process. It’s about the telling of their story.”

The Sacred Heart Biography Service was recently awarded the prestigious 2018 Innovation and Excellence Award, a national award from St Vincent’s Health Australia under the category ‘Leaders in Catholic health care and service to the poor and vulnerable’.

Victoria - Tasmania Community, 2021    Who? Where?

The second largest community in the Province: in Melbourne, in Hamilton, in Hobart, in Launceston, and online from Vietnam.

BLACKBURN

Cuskelly House

Mark Hans, Formation Director, Heart of Life program, Spiritual Leaders

Doan Nguyen Danh,  Heart of Life program, Siloam, Spiritual Direction, Full-time

Trieu Nguyen, professed student, YTU, English language program

Daniel Magadia, professed student, YTU theology studies

Tuan Anh Nguyen,  Novice, YTU English language program.

71 Central Rd.

Tru Nguyen, Heart of Life program, Siloam, Spiritual Direction, Full-time

Khoi Doan Nguyen,  Heart of Life program, Part-time

Tran Van Long, On line from Vietnam, YTU, English language program

Parish House

Alo Lamere, St Thomas, Parish Priest

77 Central Rd.

Brian Gallagher, retired, writing

KEW

Paul Castley, semi-retired, parish supply

Peter Curry

Peter Malone, semi-retired, media, Heart of Life

Philip Malone, Community Leader, YTU lecturing, Moral, Liturgy

MONT ALBERT

Frank Andersen

NORTHCOTE

Michael Sims, Chaplain, Little Sisters of the Poor, St Joseph’s Home

HAMILTON

Ted Mc Cormack, resident at Monivae College, parish supply

HOBART,

Krish Mathavan, Parish Priest, Moonah  (Michael Hangan, Deacon)

LAUNCESTON

Des Holm, Parish Priest, Kings Meadows

LAY MSC, Margaret O’Loughlin, Neville and Mary Hackett, Carol Dyer, Daryl Marsh.

RIP, Sister Bernadette Koning OLSH

Condolences in solidarity with our OLSH Sisters

My Song will be for you forever you the music in my Heart.
You, my love, my light my friend. You the way and path before me.
You will lead and guide me home.

These words from Bern’s favorite hymn speak beautifully of faith, gentleness, serenity, joy, and hope. All that was Bern. On the 10th March our dear Sister and friend, Bernadette gently and peacefully breathed her last breath as she was lead home by God, her love, her light her friend, the one who called her into life 65 years ago and whom she had served faithfully as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart for 36 years.

To her siblings, Peter, Ben, Robin, Francis, Theresa, Donna and Paul and their partners and her many nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews, who loved her so much and are deeply saddened by her death, we offer our deep sympathy and love. 

Bernadette Jacoba Maria Koning, Bernie to her family and Bern to many of us, was born on 22^nd February 1956 to Ben and Corrie Koning, the second eldest of eight children. Her parents grew up in Europe, as children through the depression and as teenagers through the Second World War. In January 1954, a month after they were married, they migrated to Australia from the Netherlands. Her father was a plumber and gasfitter who worked very hard to provide for the needs of his family, including a good Catholic education. Her mother, a housewife, was a wonderful homemaker, surrounding her large family with love. Bern recalls being influenced by her parent’s faith in God which was simple, - demonstrated not so much in words but in practice – in how they cared for others, especially the less fortunate, the lonely and for those who were a little different.

All of Bern’s education was in Brisbane.  She attended Our Lady of Fatima, Acacia Ridge and St Brendan’s, Morooka, primary schools.  Her secondary education was at Our Lady’s Secondary College at Annerley. On the completion of her schooling Bern spent some years doing clerical work in the Queensland public service. It was at this time she was drawn to do something for God and for others. Seeing an advertisement for PALMS advertising for lay missionaries Bern made an appointment for an interview with them. She packed her bags and then told her parents she would be travelling to Sydney the next day for the interview. Bern was decisive in this decision as she knew want her heart wanted. As they did with all their children, Ben and Corrie supported Bernadette in her decision.

In 1978, she went to PNG as secretary to Marianville Girls’ High School, Port Moresby. Bern’s time in PNG was life changing. She made lasting friendships and enjoyed many adventures with her three sisters when they visited her. It was here that she met the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and was strongly attracted to their charism: ‘to be the heart of God on earth.’  The seed of a religious vocation was sown in Bern’s heart.

When Bern returned home, she completed an Office Education Course for six months. Little did she know at this time, these months studying secretarial skills would take her all the way to Rome to be the Congregational Secretary, where her skills, efficiency, and attentiveness to detail helped ensure the smooth running of our International Congregation for 12 years.

In 1981 she wrote to the Provincial leader of the Daughters of our Lady of the Sacred Heart to enter the novitiate, not being one to waste words Bern wrote: ‘Dear Sister, I would like to join your Congregation. Please send me the forms.’ When she received the forms, she wrote back to the Provincial leader: ‘Dear Sister, I was glad to receive your letter. I didn’t realise there was so much involved in becoming a nun.’

Bernadette was professed on 31^st of January 1985 and made her final vows in 1990. Bern’s words written at this time were evident throughout her life, both in her living and her dying, when she wrote: ‘I am prepared to live this life, relying on God’s grace and in union with Our Lady of the Sacred Heart whose continual yes to whatever God asked I wish to imitate.’

After her profession Bern worked at St Joseph’s as a Nurse’s Aid. In 1986 she commenced her nursing training and after two years she realized this was not for her. From 1988 she began her lifelong ministry serving the needs of the Province and Congregation in administration. Bern worked in the office of our Colleges in Kensington and Bentleigh. Here, she was loved by staff and students alike and was famous for always maintaining calm even in the midst of the occasional chaos found only in schools.

In 2006, Bern moved to Rome to be the Congregational Secretary, she was an excellent administrator, and worked very hard and very efficiently, in a spirit of kindness and generosity, her eye for detail and attention to small but important things, deeply touched the Sisters in the Generalate Community. As the Community leader not only was she a caring and helpful sister but to the many visitors who passed through Rome she was a welcoming and warm presence. While in Rome Bern formed deep friendships and I know these friends of hers, our Sisters, are joining us today from all around our world.

When Bern returned to Australia in 2018, she once again took on the role of executive officer for OLSH Overseas Aid. Bern had a passion for our OS Missions as it was during her experience as a lay missionary that the spark of Divine love within her heart was ignited and deepened.  Bern worked tirelessly and was meticulous in tasks that were often tedious and mundane. She generously  assisted our Sisters with painstaking tasks such as writing funding applications, acquittals,statistics and reports,  She sought no accolades, it was reward enough to be able to assist in some small way of bringing God’s love to God’s people, especially the poor and needy.

Today, we don’t just remember the past and events of Bern’s life, we also remember and celebrate the beauty of her person. Bern was a remarkable woman with a kind and caring heart who always thought of others. She was beautiful in every sense of the word, giving everyone around her the gift of a nicer world to live in. Bern loved her family and her OLSH Sisters, she enjoyed gardening, classical music, movie afternoons, walks along the beach and so much more.  As her health declined and she became physically weaker Bern’s courage, gracious acceptance and surrender was an inspiration to us all.  What a gift Bern has been to our Congregation and to each of us whose lives have been enriched by her attentive listening, beautiful smile, sense of humor and deep faith in God.

Bern’s desire was to die at home. I am grateful to the Sisters, Yolanda, and Bern’s family especially Donna, Robin and Treez whose love and care of Bern allowed this to happen.

I thank the doctors and Medical staff at the Royal Women’s Hospital for their compassionate love and care of Bern over many years and more recently, the medical staff of St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Accompanying Bern on her final journey was a precious, sacred time. In these last days Bern had turned her face toward death with dignity, graciousness, and serenity, she was undemanding and uncomplaining. Last week she said she needed nothing, just the love that surrounded her.  And she knew with absolute confidence when death came who was waiting for her, the God who called into to life: her love, her life, her friend, as well as her beautiful parents, Ben and Corrie.  We will be ever grateful to Ben, Corrie and the Koning family for the gift of Bern to our Congregation!

Let us surrender to our deep grief as we enter the sacred circle of loss, trusting that Bern’s gentle soul is at peace. Go dear friend, surrounded by our love … thank you for your kindness, simplicity, generosity, trust, and love. Thank you for your smile that brightened our lives.

Philippa Murphy fdnsc
Provincial Leader

Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart