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

Stories from around our MSC Colleges, Downlands, Chevalier, Monivae, Daramalan 

And not forgetting his one year at Daramalan doing his final secondary school year in2012!  He's still hitting.

From Monivae

Congratulations Aaron Pederson (Class of 1988) on winning the peer judged AACTA Best Actor in a Series Award from a finalist list including international actors Hugh Grant, Daniel Levy, Jason Bateman and Paul Mescal.

From Chevalier College Alumni

We received the sad news today that Brother John Gibson OH from the class of 1948 had passed away on Sunday 14 March at 88 years of age. 

Br Gibson was one of our founding students here at Chev and was a student here from 1946 to 1948. In fact, as you can see in the photo from our big book below, he was the 23rd student to be enrolled here at Chev. 

From Santa Sabina

It is with deep sadness that we announce that our beloved Father John Gibson OH passed away on Sunday. He was the College Chaplain for 20 years of loving and loyal service to the Santa Sabina community. Father John will be greatly missed by all who knew him. We extend our condolences to his family, friends and the St John of God community.

From Daramalan

You really can’t go wrong if you have Kitty Flanagan writing a comedy show for TV. So her latest offering called “Fisk”, starting at 9.00pm tonight (Wednesday) on the ABC, looks really clever. Especially when you realise Kitty’s co-star is ex-Dara boy Marty Sheargold (1989) a true comedy professional who’s been performing on radio, TV and stand-up for over 30 years. Check it out.

Prickly Problem at Press Club

Last Wednesday, the lunchtime address at the National Press Club had to be cancelled due to the no-show of the Defence Minister. Which posed a prickly crustacean problem for Chief Executive and ex-Dara boy Maurice Reilly (1978).

With not wanting to chuck out 200 thawed – and delicious - WA crayfish (Western Rock lobster) Maurice hastily organised a special members-only $10 champagne-poached lobster lunch. Now you’d think that was a great idea, especially as 220 crays sold out in 72 mins. But, in this age when offence is found everywhere, Maurice was bombarded with criticism of “being out of touch”, “being part of the Canberra bubble” (whatever that means), and generally showing bad taste when JobSeeker only went up by $3.57 (?).

Maurice explained that they couldn’t be donated and apologised if anyone was offended. Crisis averted. All that Dara education certainly came in handy!

From Downlands

Congratulations to Downlands Past Student, Trevor Magei (91-93), who has been selected as ORO Provincial Administrator, Papua New Guinea. Magei had never worked for any other organisations other than the Oro provincial administration. He joined the public service on July 12, 1994. On Nov 23, 2020 he was selected as the provincial administrator. He was only 20 when he entered the public service. Now at 45, he is one of the youngest to become a provincial administrator.

What do you do when you can't visit our Japanese exchange school?

We teleconference!

This week a range of our Japanese classes have been conferencing with students from Fukuyama High School who are studying English. It was an opportunity for students use their second language in an authentic setting. Students from both schools gained language and cultural insights that were not otherwise possible.

And this week

Doan Nguyen Danh MSC, A Grateful Year in the Tiwi Islands

The Australian province welcomes Danh to Melbourne after his year, 2020, in the Tiwi Islands.  Danh made his profession on June 6^th 2011 after his novitiate In the Philippines. He completed his studies in Vietnam, ordained July 27^th 2019, and then came to Australia.

He is now a member of the Melbourne community, living at Cuskelly House in Blackburn. He is part of the Siloam, Spiritual Direction program at the Heart of Life Centre.

We asked Danh to reflect on his time on mission - and we have delved into our archives for some photos of Danh and his ordination.

One year and 4 months is the time of I carried out my first assignment as an assistant priest of the Tiwi Islands in the Diocese of Darwin. It was not a long time but it gave me some valuable and unforgettable experiences, realizations, encouragements, challenges and Graces as well.

Generally, the Tiwi People, who I ministered to, are so friendly, welcoming and caring. I feel safe, happy and blessed to be with them. Some of them really care for me. They want to share and try to help and teach me a lot. However, their way of life and the way they practise their Catholic Faith as I see, is mostly different from my experience in other places, and this actually is a big challenge for me.

Throughout the time, there was no lack of hard and discourage times. For example, many lovely people just passed away one after another - too many funerals, or there was time celebrating the Eucharist with almost no one to say the responses, or most of the schedules could not be on time, etc. These moments somehow caused me to be tired, los my enthusiasm, became lazy and afraid to start something new. Fortunately, at the same time, there were many happy and delightful experiences for me as well. Such as, looking at the so beautiful smiles of the children we baptized, or a few times seeing some young people at mass, listening to the sharing of some people about their life and faith journey, teaching religion to the kids at school, seeing families fishing – hunting – cooking together at the beach, etc.  These moments really cheered me up and strengthened me in my ministry.

Doing ministry over there, I was really challenged about my capacity to be patient and flexible. Even if I have a good plan, I make it very clear, prepare it very well and try my best to carry it out, then whatever comes just comes. And for many times what happened was not what I planned or imagined, so I must learn hard to be flexible and very patient.  The most challenging for me in the ministry there was to have no expectations, just try my best and then accept the situation as it is, let it be and happily put my trust in God’s work and in God’s Grace. Nothing that I can predict so let God makes the way.

Relating to the People there, I learned more in respecting people with their Culture and way of life, and be more optimistic. No matter how a person lives their life, there are always good values in him or her, and for sure they are People of God. The most valuable lesson I realized and learnt from the life of the People there is that for every one of us, no matter we realize and accept or not, the spiritual need is always there and is the core and the remedy for all problems. We can look for satisfaction and even be drown in so many other things, but deep in our heart, there always exist the desire for spiritual needs. We can be fully satisfied and our problems can be solved only if our spiritual needs are fulfilled, or in the saying of Saint Augustine: “Our heart is restless until it rests in You”

Aside on working with the Tiwi, I also had chance to gather a few times with the Vietnamese Catholic Community in Darwin. We had Mass and caught up together, and I also visited some families some times. This was also a great help and support for me as I live away from my country. I also had time for relaxation. I enjoyed walking along the beautiful beaches with 2 loyal dogs, doing some gardening, enjoying the music, reading some books, and most enjoyable is fishing with friends. These activities helped me to regain my energy and refresh myself. Especially, celebrating the Sacraments and Liturgy, doing pastoral services, and nurturing my own spiritual life (praying and reflecting) helped strengthen my Faith and urge me more in my ministry.

Reflecting on the past time, through all the up and down moments that I encountered, I feel so happy and blessed by the accompaniment, the support and encouragement of so many People: the Tiwi and non-Tiwi People (especially some close friends) in the communities, my MSC brothers both in Australia and in Vietnam, the Sisters in the parishes, my family and friends back in Vietnam, together with other people I encountered. All these People are God’s Blessing for me, and they all reflect God’s presence in my journey. I am deeply grateful to all, and May God bless us all in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Covid-19, a letter from the MSC Generalate.

We have had a number of covid-19 infections and death around the congregation.  At the moment, the Australian government is trying to assist PNG for vaccinations as infections rise. Over the weekend, there was news that the Philippines had the highest increase in infections in South East Asia.

Dear MSC confreres

As you all know, it has been several weeks, or even months, since we have made these brief updates on the situation of COVID within the MSC Family.  Unfortunately, we cannot say that it is because the situation seems to be any better, even in some parts of the world it is much worse than before.

Several weeks ago, Fr. André Mayor of the Issoudun MSC Community, and recently Fr. Joe Hegglin of the Slovakia MSC Community both passed away due to COVID.  Our deepest condolences go to the MSC Province of France.

In many countries (apologies if we miss mentioning any country): Indonesia, Mexico, Senegal, Mozambique, Philippines, USA, Brazil, Spain... there have been several confreres affected by this situation.  We particularly want to ask your prayers for a confrere in Brazil who is in a critical condition. As it has been for so many people, it was complicated for him to get a vacancy in the intensive care unit.

Currently, the situation in Brazil is extremely difficult and dramatic. The situation in Europe is still challenging, and in countries like Papua New Guinea or Mozambique, among others, the number of cases is increasing significantly.

Dear Confreres, we know that the world system of access to health and vaccination is metaphorically speaking like air-travel: some go in business class, others in economy, and others can't even get a ticket or go to the airport.  We are not judging anything, but we are being made aware of how complex the system is. Indeed, we are called to transform it, so we kindly ask you to value the opportunities we have at our disposal and so that we may help in the transformation of this system.

May St. Joseph inspire us to remain committed to the protection of life.  Let us continue to be united in prayer and solidarity.

MSC General Leadership Team