St Mary’s Towers, Douglas Park, a visit to the Ashram, Part I

----- Part II next weekend, renewal.

Coronavirus prevented many visits to Douglas Park in 2020.  We hope that 2021 will enable many visitors to come – and to visit the Ashram set up by Fr Vyn (Mervyn) Bailey in 1985.

Vyn spent two years in India, learnt Sanskrit, practised yoga, and brought Indian ways of prayer and contemplation to the Ashram where he also led retreats.

With every facility...

Photos, Roy O'Neill

First Friday, Chevalier Family.  Justice Challenge

Each First Friday, the Chevalier Family offers us a Justice, Peace, Environment reminder and challenge.

MSC Spirituality, OLSH, MSC, Lay MSC Justice Spirituality.

Awareness: Everything and everyone is interconnected. The crisis in our world cannot be resolved by purely technological means, but requires a new way of living and interacting with each other.

Prayer: Creator God, we can choose to live differently. Inspire us as we make choices so that we recognize the impact that our lives have on our environment and our human family around the globe.

Action: What little changes can you make in your lifestyle to live more sustainably? Choose at least one concrete action that you will do, beginning this month.

A further notice for the coming week

Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking

February 8th: Online Marathon of Prayer against Human Trafficking

Parishes, Installation time

St Paul’s Nightcliff, John Kelliher MSC.  (Then scroll down for St John’s Kippax, Kimi Vunivesilevu MSC)

Fr John Kelliher msc was officially installed as Parish Priest of our parish this morning.

Bishop Charles celebrated the Mass together with Fr John and Fr Bartha, and visiting MSC priests Fr Malcolm Fyfe and Fr Tan.

Leaders from our parish joined the service to install Fr John. Morning tea followed. Welcome again Fr John!

St John’s Kippax, Kimi Vunivesilevu MSC        

Installation led by Stephen Hackett MSC, Secretary to the Australian Bishops Conference 

With parish assistant priest, Michael Nithin MSC.

International MSC Formation News, Latin America, The Philippines

Congratulations to the new novices from Latin American countries and approval of new deacon and priests for the Philippines.

One of the deacons approved for Priesthood is Michael Angelo Acera Dacalos MSC.  Facebook followers of his site, the Philippines Province site and the Ametur site will be familiar with his, many, sometimes very many, postings on news, scripture and liturgical reflections, songs, TikTok moments….

Philippines

Latin America

Shoreham event. Blessing the next phase of ministry at The Cliffs.

Sunday January 31^st saw a quite large crowd, covid regulations permitting, gathered at The Cliffs, Shoreham.

A year ago, it was hoped that we could celebrate Clare and Artie Shearman taking over the management of The Cliffs from Brian Gallagher as he retired to Blackburn. The plan was to continue the ministry for people to come for quiet and retreat. Then coronavirus – no official blessing and then long lockdown.

A year later, we were able to celebrate the blessing of the work, and Clare is now taking bookings for 2021.  Clare welcomed the visitors, friends, Heart of Life and personal connections, Melbourne MSC.  Clare was part of the Siloam program for Spiritual Directors at Heart of Life, graduating in 2014. She is now responsible for Heart of Life promotion.

The occasion was also the time for the launch of Brian’s two recent books, The Eyes of God and God’s Foolishness. Hugh McGinley, of Coventry Press, the publishers, also spoke.

It is a joy for the Province that The Cliffs continues to be part of MSC Spirituality.

Some Significant February Days for the Chevalier Family

Juan Alonso Fernande MSC, see February 15th

2 February, 1892

The title of Saint Joseph "Friend of the Sacred Heart" is changed to "Saint Joseph, patron and model of those of love the Sacred Heart".

5 February, 1900
Canonical Erection of the Congregation of MSC Sisters and approbation of the Statutes for five years.

6 February, 1855
Chevalier and Maugenest finish their second novena to the Blessed Virgin.
Their prayer is answered. They are promised 1000 francs, per year, from a generous benefactor, for their living expenses.

10 February, 1885
Fr. Verjus and three Italian Brothers leave Sydney for Thursday Island.

15 February, 1981
Fr. Juan Alonso Fernandez, MSC, of the Spanish Province, is violently assassinated in Guatemala.

                 Juan Alonso Fernandez.

                 The commander of the post, told him that "it was disgusting for him to have a priest in front of him, that's why he spat on him, because

                 it made him nauseous to see a priest." The Asturian Juan Alonso Fernandez endured a cruel torture that night. He said that "what

                 they wanted was to kill me and I don't know how, they refrained from doing it, because I feel that they would have better killed me

                 and not done what they did to me. In spite of everything, Juan did not give up. He celebrated the Eucharist in the village and went out

                 to celebrate it in a neighboring village. There they waited for him, kidnapped him, tortured him again and shot him three times in the

                head. Days before, he had said, taking the crucifix that he always carried in his chest: "I became a priest because of this one, and if I

                have  to die because of this one, here I am". It was February 15, 1981. He was 47 years old.

16 February, 1915
Fr. Charles Piperon dies in Thuin, Belgium. He was longtime companion and confidant of Jules Chevalier.
         

22 February, 1908
Marie Louise Hartzer, first Superior General of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, dies in Thuin, Belgium. She is buried four days later. Marie Louise had left France due to the expulsions of religious by the French Government.


23 February, 1945
29 Dutch MSC are freed form the concentration camp at Los Baños, Philippines.

Prisoners released

24 February, 1985
Fr. Henri Verjus arrives at Thursday Island after having left Sydney earlier in the month.
  

25 February, 1875
The Vatican orders that, in future, all new images of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
must represent the Child Jesus on the arms of his mother, and not standing before her. 

From...   

To...

Annual Report, MSC Vietnam, 2020

Looking back last year, 2020, a year of worry, scare, stun and death, everyone in the world is still being stunned by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Although the people know how it is and have some tests of antivirus or vaccine for people, but until now we’ve still not controlled it yet or had any effective treatment because of its fast spreading and danger. From time to time, it can be variant to another type, more dangerous. This disastrous virus affects all people in the world and brings about serious consequences in economy, relationship, religious practices, etc.

On 23 January 2020, the first known case of COVID-19 in Vietnam was reported. As of 11 January 2021, the country had 1,515 confirmed cases, 1,361 recoveries, and 35 deaths. More than 1.39 million tests have been performed. Da Nang, as of January is the most-affected city with 414 confirmed cases and 31 deaths.

Vietnam has suspended the entry of all foreigners from 22 March 2020 until further notice to limit the spread of COVID-19. The measure will not apply to diplomats, officials, foreign investors, experts, and skilled workers. For foreigners that entered the country before 1 March including those with temporary residence permits will also be entitled to extensions till 30 June but must present health declarations.

Vietnam is cited by global media as having one of the best-organized epidemic control programs in the world, along the lines of other highlights such as Taiwan and South Korea. Despite inferior economic and technological capacity, the country's response to the outbreak has received widespread international acclaim for its immediacy, and effectiveness.

Therefore, in this annual report, I would like to summarize all significant events of MSC community in Vietnam into 2 parts:

The first one is events before January, 23, 2020:

The first event was welcoming mass of pre-novitiate house for one new postulant, which was organized on the first of January at Pre-novitiate house.

The second one was on January, 11th, 2020, we had a very important event, Reception of new postulant and Sending Off of the five incoming novices.

The celebration was held in the HOP AN parish with the present of MSC Fathers and brothers, MSC sisters, OLSH sisters, Aspirants and LAY associates, family members of the 6 candidates and some benefactors.

Fr. HOANG NGUYEN is the celebrant together with Fr. Chris Mc Phee, our Provincial; Fr. KHOI NGUYEN, MSC; and Our MSC priest and some Priests, friend of our candidates.

In this occasion, we also celebrated the Tet celebration for Lunar New Year and farewell to Fr. Andrew for his new mission. Fr. Chris McPhee gave some lucky charm to everyone as our Vietnamese tradition in TET holiday. After some days of this celebration, the five flew to Phillipines and Fr. Andrew flew back to his province in Indonesia.

The third one was Continuing Formation Gathering that happened in Australia. Hoàng, Hưng, Minh and Quang flew there. THE CONTINUING FORMATION GATHERING of MSCs in first years of ministry was taken place at Douglas Park, from Feb 17th – 21st, 2020. This is the first time that the gathering includes young MSCs from Australia, India and VietNam. What a such beautiful and memorable gathering! We spent time on sharing about our life stories, about our journey of greeting to know MSC (vocation story), about our cultures, background of religion, of family, and of government; TABOO; planning for next year… It happened in the spirit of listening, understanding and accepting the differences. We also had a precious time of praying, sharing, playing, eating, drinking…, having fun together, and to be inspired by one another.

Thanks for this gathering, because all of members of this gathering love it very much as I have sensed. We feel a strong sense of belonging and being in the community. This such gathering really refreshes and encourages us moving on with trust and confidence. It enhances the sense of being a missionary for everyone and everywhere. We work and share the same mission of the universal MSC.

The second part was after January, 23, 2020:

The first event in this stage was reception of Pre-Postulants on the 1st of June.

We had three candidates: one for late vocation, the two for initial formation. They will have six months to focus on theirs English skills as well as to experience MSC community life. Three of them come from different background and life style.

Vu is a city boy with a long time working as a doctor and an ex-Jesuit seminarian.

Thang is a doctor with 2 years experiences and a former CMF aspirant.

Khanh is a mechanist and had few year accompanying with MSC aspirants.

August is a big month for our MSC community in Vietnam.

The Feast of the Sacred Heart, June 19.

Silver Jubilee of Ordination of Fr. Thời – September, 9, 2020.

On June, 19 and 20 we went to the house of Loving of the Cross of Chợ Quán Congregation in Long Hai, near the beach to celebrate two big events on these days. The first one was the Feast of the Sacred Heart on June, 19. The second one was the Silver Jubilee of Ordination of Fr. Thoi, which celebrated on June, 20.

The Feast of the Sacred Heart is always an opportunity for the Chevalier family. This is always a chance for fraternity, love, unity and understanding as well. This is a special day for us to reflect the meanings and qualities of the sacred Heart of Jesus Christ for us.

Because of some reasons from Covid - 19 pandemic, we celebrated Silver Jubilee of Ordination of Fr. Thoi in this day instead of Sep, 9. We joyfully and gratefully celebrated Fr. Thoi’s Silver Jubilee of Ordination with the presence of all members of Chevalier family, MSC students, some ex-MSCs and their family. We are blessed by his being and accompanying with us. He is really a precious gift for MSC, particularly for us in Vietnam.

Investiture: Five Vietnamese postulants have been invested with the religious habit of the Missionaries of the Sacred as they started their Novitiate Formation in Philippines – August, 1.

First profession: 4 Vietnamese novices took first profession on August, 6 in Philippines.

Lector: Duong Duc Nguyen and Thanh Vu Nguyen – August, 14

Acolyte: Quy Thien Bui and Tinh Dao Anh – August, 14

Renewal of vows: Tien Minh Nguyen – August, 14

Perpeptual Profession: Hung Quoc Le – Ausgust 15

Deaconate: Thi Dinh Nguyen and Bang Hai Dinh – August 21. The presider was bishop Joseph Nguyen Tan Tuoc of Phu Cuong Diocese together with MSC priests and fr. Joseph Luc of the diocese as concelebrants. Some OLSHs and MSC sisters were also with us

On Dec, 8, we celebrated 166 years of MSC Foudation Day. Our celebration was at Le Van Sy house (house of MSC scholastics) with all MSC Vietnamese members, one postulant, two OLSH sisters, and three MSC sisters. In this celebration, we had Mass together, and followed by Agape meal.

Big Day: October, 18

Every year, our community celebrates the Anniversary of the Death of our Founder on October, 21. We call it Big Day. October, 21 of last year is Wednesday. We couldn’t celebrate on that day because our brothers had classes. Therefore, we celebrated it on Saturday, October, 18.

We celebrated this Big Day at Phat Diem retirement home for diocesan old priests, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City with the presence of members of Chevalier family. First of all, we gathered for Mass. After that, we had some activities, games together and Agape meal was followed. One of the activities, sister Cherry, DOLSH, presented to all the history of three Congregations: MSC, DOLSH, MSC sister and Fr. Chevalier’ Charism and Spirituality in general. We also had a game of quizzes which regards to the life of our Founder.

25/12: MSC Family Gathering for Christmas Celebration

In the morning of December, 25, 2020, we, all members of three Congregations gathered at Pre-Novitiate house for Christmas celebration. We have Mass together at 10.Am, and followed by meal. Fr. Thoi was the homilist of this Eucharist celebration. He invited us to reflect and to experience the Incarnation of the Son of God, not only in Christmas celebration, but in our daily life, especially in the daily Mass when the Deacon, or the Priest, pours wine and a little water into the chalice, saying quietly: “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity”. After that, we had the act of exchanging gift. For sure, everyone was so excited the most with this activity.

Some thoughts:

Looking back and reflecting on all significant events of a DISASTER year, but a year of gratefulness as well, 2020, firstly I see that we look like the Magi in the Epiphany’s Gospel. They follow the star to find the Child Jesus. They have no fear and have great hope. This is our spirit at the beginning of the year. Our celebrations were happy, joyful and grateful with all members of Vietnam Community and especially with the presence of our Provincial, Chris McPhee.

The star was still there. Our hope was strong in each of us with so many visions and plans for incoming months of the year. And then, the terrible virus has come, Covid – 19. It seemly brought us into the time darkness. Allow me call it “time of DISASTER”. In Greek: Disaster = Dis + Aster; Dis = not, aster = star; and in Italian: Disaster = Disastro means losing the trace of the star. It means that losing the trace of the star is a DISASTER. I see that it also coincides with the society, the world nowadays.

We have lived in a year of disaster of disease, misery and loss. We lost so many things. In our country in last year, disaster followed previous one. Meanwhile we have been fighting with Covid – 19, we have also faced with consecutive tropical storms at the central of Vietnam. Although we are safe from the good policy of preventing disease of the government, of the social community and our MSC community, but we are going to suffer about economy and for flooding. In that disaster, we lost the way, got into darkness in our life, and got many corollaries after that.

So, why the people understand the word “disaster = losing the trace of the star”. Maybe with the people of ancient times, there were some reasons. Every person is led by a star. It can be an ideal, value of life, good example of someone. One day, we lost this star, we do not know how to go or we do not know what is the next step for us? That is a darkness in life, in experience of living. In this situation, what did the Magi do? They went to Jerusalem. They found Herod in order to ask: where is the newborn King of the Jews? This is a good reminder. When we lost God, lost the light, what are we looking for? We find Herod. He symbolizes for power, fame, standing, jealousy, envy, self-centeredness. When we come to Herod, we don’t see the light of the star of God. That is sign of losing the star.

We were sometimes in darkness at this time, because in this disaster we were always in passiveness. We weren’t able to have mass and agape meal together. We lost our communication in face to face. We had online classes and retreat, etc. We lived in scare and stun. It seemed that all our plans that we made were cancelled.

Gradually, like the Magi, the star appeared to us again. We have found the way to make all our plans happened, but in the other ways that accorded with situation of quarantine.

Thank God very much for it, although we couldn’t still have celebration of priesthood ordination. Therefore, that is why I call last year, 2020, is a year of DISASTER and GRATEFULNESS. In darkness, God is always still there, among the world and in our heart and soul. He always finds the way for us to have His Star again. From that, I recognize that we have been blessed by God very much.

We are not only loved very much by God, but also by our confreres from Australia, Rome and other countries. Once we don’t lose hope; we trust in God; and we try our best to find God’s Star, with a great fidelity in seeking, we will bring Him glory as our Founder said: “The undertaking may appear foolhardy, but we have signs of God’s blessing. In so far as the arm of God remains with us, confidence is a duty. Our prayer is that the Divine Heart of Jesus may guard and protect the Society always. May he give us, as one of His favors, a great fidelity in seeking only what brings him glory.”

Jules Chevalier, 1866.

Written by Quang Vu Bui, MSC

MSC Students Vietnam, Graduation

Bob Irwin has sent this news and photos...graduation from Dominican seminary on Saturday, our two students, Hung Le and Toan  who are featured in the photo above...the third graduate Bang, could not be there as he is away on diaconate pastoral experience year.

AN ALERT. OUR WEEKEND POST WILL BE THE 2020 MSC VIETNAM ANNUAL REPORT.

Paul Stenhouse MSC, posthumous award of Order of Australia medal

For more on the life and ministry of Paul Stenhouse, see the book of memories and tributes to him, A Distinctive and Distinguished Missionary of the Sacred Heart with contributions from Michael Fallon, Tricia Kavanagh, Karl Schmude, James Murray, Michael Wilding, John Madden, Wanda Skowronska, James Franklin, Christopher Dawson and friends who worked in the Annals Office, migrant friends around Sydney. 

Copies from Australian Scholarly Publishing, Melbourne, phone (03) 9329 6963.

Priest-scholar one of more than 800 honoured in 2021

Catholic Weekly Report

The extraordinary contributions of Missionary of the Sacred Heart priest Fr Paul Stenhouse to the Church, scholarship, journalism and migrant families across Sydney and the country was recognised with an Australia Day award more than a year after his death.

Fr Stenhouse was one of 845 Australians whose decades of service were recognised in the Australia Day 2021 Honours List, in which posthumous awards are rare.

The founder of Annals Australasia magazine, former chairman of Aid to the Church in Need Australia and international expert on Semitic cultures and languages, was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to the Catholic Church in Australia.

Fr Paul Stenhouse pictured in 2015 upon receiving an Australian Catholic University honorary doctorate.

Author of a new biography of Fr Stenhouse, Wanda Skowronska, said she was “delighted” to hear that he had made the list of honours.

“It is recognition so richly deserved by this pioneering scholar, journalist and compassionate priest,” Ms Skownronska said.

“He saw beneath the surface of things, and expressed his supple perceptiveness in all his writings, particularly the journal Annals, the longest lasting journal in Australian history. He was outstanding, kind and a humble Australian; a true ‘national treasure’.”

Current chair of ACN Australia Terry Tobin paid tribute to the many-faceted life of the quiet-natured yet extraordinarily gifted priest.

“Fr Paul Stenhouse was of course a scholar, at home in Arabic and semitic languages (including Samaritan), who had taught at Sydney University,” Mr Tobin said.

“He was a learned editor who produced Annals, the journal of Catholic Culture, for 50 years before signing off on its very last print edition just before he died in 2019. He was a Christian humanitarian who for more than 20 years was president of Aid To The Church In Need Australia in which time he oversaw, with the Collignon family, the raising of more than $60 million to assist priests and religious in building or maintaining hospitals, schools, seminaries and convents all around the world.

“Above all he was a priest, a true country man, an Australian whose vision reached far beyond our shores. It is good that we honour him and those like him who are such great examples for all of us.” 

Australian Senior of the Year, 2021, Miriam Rose Ungenmerr-Baumann

    From her acceptance speech:

"I've learnt to walk in two worlds and live in towns and cities, and even worked in them.

"Now is the time for you to come closer to understand us and how we live."

"When you come to visit or work in our communities and leave your comfort zones, I ask that you bring your knowledge and wisdom.

"But we ask you also to learn and understand how we live and function in our communities, and listen to what [our] needs are."

The MSC honour Miriam Rose for her national acclaim.

There are many links between Miriam Rose and the MSC.

*   She is from Daly River/ Nauiyu, the mission served by many MSC. She was baptised as a Catholic at the age of 15.

*   She taught at the primary school and was a community leader.

*   She was on the staff at St John’s College, Darwin, MSC and OLSH staffed in those years.

*    She is celebrated for her art, including her well-known series of Stations of the Cross.

*    The patron of her Foundation is Frank Brennan MSC.

We honour her for her spirituality: Dadirri, Deep listening.

From her description of Dadirri, 1998:

in recent times we have come to listen to a most sacred word that comes to us from God, our Father. This new Word is Jesus. I have said how Dadirri, which is the deep listening and quiet stillness, can make us whole and revive us. This is a special quality in our lives. It is born in our culture. The Word of God finds a home here. Jesus enriches and renews our culture.

He gently stirs as stillness, but he does not take away our peace. We like to hear words of peace, like Jesus spoke. We want to listen and to pass on words that are true and good—but the words that have come to us through our culture and traditions; and like the words that come to us in the Gospel of Jesus.

This is what I long for: that with these words to guide us, everyone will come to listen to the Sound of God. We have to try to listen—to the God within us—to our own country—and to one another.