Daramalan Residence to a Performing Arts Centre.

The future.

In1966, the MSC residence was full – 24 brothers and priests living there, plus to more in the flat in the Sharpe wing.  Over 55 years and more, a big number of MSC had resided there plus many visitors.  End of an era.

As most would know, the old Naughton Wing/Residence is coming down to be replaced with a new Performing Arts Centre.

The new building will comprise a multi-use foyer, performance space, drama and music classrooms, music tuition/practice rooms and a rehearsal space for bands, with the performance space holding about 200 people.

The new building will be sustainable and energy-efficient incorporating rooftop solar and water recycling and is expected to be completed by late 2022 in time for our 60th anniversary.

It was announced at Chevalier Day the Wing will be called the “Issoudun Wing” after the French town where Fr Jules Chevalier started the MSC order in 1854. The name pays honour to the Daramalan priests and brothers who vacated the site last year after living there for the last 57 years

Rita Daniels, outgoing principal, reflects on MSC vision for Australian education.

I have spent more than 32 years working at Daramalan – the last 12 as Principal - so this school covers a very significant proportion of my working life.  It has been a wonderful journey – working with many outstanding people who have made a huge impact for good on the lives of thousands of young people by their care, their compassion, and their commitment which have been illustrated in many different ways. While many educational institutions promote themselves as excelling in single things such as academic or sporting achievements, languages or the performing arts, I know that Daramalan College has been, and I am sure will continue to be in the future, a place which welcomes all young people – the talented, the strugglers, the middle of the road students, the lost souls and those needing a great deal of help throughout their school journey. Keeping this school as being a place that welcomes everyone, not just the talented or gifted, at the centre of our thinking and of our work, is critical to us continuing to live out our core values and I take much comfort in knowing this is what we do day by day.

Cardinal John Ribat MSC – interview on his life, commitment and causes

From The Catholic Leader

Cardinal John Ribat: “(Jesus Christ) said; ‘When I was hungry you fed me, when I was sick you came and visited me, and when I was homeless you came for me’. And it is a message we cannot just forget, pretend it is not there.”

A CARDINAL best known for defending Pacific island nations swamped by the impacts of climate change has spoken candidly of another challenge – his own daily commitment to be a priest.

“The question really is how do I live my life in relation to the formation but also the sexuality that is deep within us. How do you live that?” Cardinal John Ribat, president of the Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania, said in an interview with The Catholic Leader.

“For me, the thought of having a wife, in life, it will always be there, and a challenge that I have to face until I die.

“And I talk to priests about it, and I work with seminarians as well, and that’s what I talk about.

“How do we see this God-given gift to us? How do we see giving life to others, and building the community and unity that we want to see?”

Praying at the tomb of pioneer missionary bishop, Henry Verius MSC

In 2016, Pope Francis elevated John Ribat, Archbishop of Port Moresby since 2008, to become Papua New Guinea’s first cardinal, an appointment widely seen as an example of the Pontiff reaching out to include leadership voices far from Rome.

In the same year, Cardinal Ribat was honoured with a knighthood – named in the Queen’s Birthday honour list.

Since then, Cardinal Sir John Ribat has publicly focused much of his ministry on addressing climate change, drawing on Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment Laudato Si’ (On Care for Our Common Home) to advocate for urgent global action to address rising sea levels and predictions of hotter days and more volatile rainy days in PNG and Pacific islands.

Yet, just as important, he said, was the life-affirming personal witness he can offer to strengthen the resolve of seminarians and younger priests.

“The sexuality that we have – we did not choose it. It is a gift to all human beings … we did not choose it, God gave it to us,” Cardinal Ribat said.

“But then how do we use it? In a way that helps us to live our life … joyfully and meaningfully.

“It’s a challenge and each person has to realise it.”

At Kensington Monastery with MSC confreres

In his own, early formation, as a young seminarian Cardinal Ribat said he reached a life-defining crossroad when a former school friend proposed they get married.

His rector told him to take time to reflect and pray about the direction of his life.

“This is deep within your soul – you need to have a partner in life,” Cardinal Ribat said, recalling his thinking at that time.

“This person has prepared for life and now she is looking for a partner … do you follow her now or assume your intention and be that person (a priest) in life?”

He said it became clear to him that God wanted him to prepare “not for this life, but for another life”.

“… The Lord has said this for me, and I have accepted it,” the cardinal said.

“He will always see that this is fulfilled.

“That was the beginning and that was not the last challenge. 

“The challenge is … I have to make decisions all the time about where I am with my life in relation to the God-given gift of sexuality in my life.

“It’s not always easy, but if it is Him helping us I believe we’ll find strength to continue to do this until the end.”

Cardinal Ribat has applied this same zeal of faith in addressing even the most difficult issues confronting his ministry.

Laudato Si’ became his guiding document on “how we are shaping the future of our planet”.

“He (Pope Francis) did not address this message only to the Catholic Church, no, it is to humanity because the planet we are living on belongs to all of us and we should work together.

“When I saw that, I said: ‘This is the point’.”

Cardinal Ribat watched with concern as bushfires engulfed Australia’s east coast, and resolved that Australia and Pacific nations must be united in pressing for climate change solutions.

“The rising seas level across the Pacific – we are all affected by this,” he said.

“In Europe and here in Australia you don’t see this affecting the lives of the people. 

“But for us coming from many islands – Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu – we are seeing what the sea is doing … washing away good parts of our islands already.

“The first island that has to be evacuated … Carteret Island in Bougainville has been broken into three parts and is really disappearing.

“By 2050 most of the islands will be gone, and that is a great threat to us.

“The work of the Church is to make governments aware that we are responsible for our nation and the common good of our people.”

Similarly, the housing of refugees and asylum seekers on PNG’s Manus Island, and now in Port Moresby is an issue for the Church to help resolve.

“How can we help them (refugees) so they are not affected psychologically?” Cardinal Ribat said.

“It is really an issue that challenges our nation and our people.

“And of course we have our own refugees coming across (the border) from West Papua.

“We realise it is not an issue just for us but for the whole world where people are moving, and their movement is because of something that has happened in their country and has caused them to move out.

“This always reminds me of the voice of Christ – how he challenges us.

“He said; ‘When I was hungry you fed me, when I was sick you came and visited me, and when I was homeless you came for me’. 

“And it is a message we cannot just forget, pretend it is not there.”

Cardinal Ribat said a great strength in PNG can be seen when Catholic and Protestant churches work closely together, to “journey with the people” and help the government solve national crises. 

“We always want the message for all the churches to be united,” he said.

“(In the past) one of the issues that brought us together was the HIV/AIDS. I was there when we launched an ecumenical movement to address AIDS.

“Now the issue is refugees. Our aim is to be ‘one voice’ and in this way we pull the churches together.”

On December 8^th, the OLSH Sisters celebrated the Silver Jubilee of their Foundation in Japan.

Amongst the pioneers was Mary Fyfe, later to become Superior General.

The MSC foundation dates from the post World War II years.  Fr Archie Bryson MSC had been a military chaplain (and quite a presence in Japan – and everywhere), Harry Reid MSC was commissioned to establish a mission presence in Japan He was joined by young, but experienced in Rabaul, missionaries, John Askew and Frank Quirk.

For many years, MSC going to Japan were from the Australian province. In more recent decades, MSC have come from the Philippines, Indonesia, India. There are three Australian MSC still in Japan, Brian Taylor, Keith Humphries, John Graham.

A happy day for the Australian MSC Province – Trieu and Daniel make their first profession.

Saturday, December 12^th.  In the chapel at St Mary’s Towers, Douglas Park,  Trieu Nguyen and Daniel Magadia made their first vows as MSC.

Trieu came from Vietnam some years ago.

Daniel is from Adelaide, his family originally from the Phillippines.

Douglas Park Community Leader, Dominic Gleeson, welcomed those present.

Celebrant was the Provincial Superior, Chris McPhee.

During the Mass, Vincent Phuong served, Music by Gerard McCormick MSC, Josef Senjuk, new novice, Anh, and including Daniel.

1^st Reading: Samuel 3: 1-10 (Fr. Peter Day).  2^nd Reading: Romans 8: 31-39 (Sr. Katrina Zhang RSM)

Gospel: Mark 1: 9-11 (Provincial)

Prayers of the faithful: Peter Harvey-Jackson, Novice Director, Kimi, Kenji, Josef Senjuk, Anh,

David Magadia (Daniel’s younger brother)

Witnesses: Daniel (Len Helm & Tony Arthur), Trieu (Michael Fallon & Frank Dineen)

With Pre-novitiate Director, Khoi

And the Profession cake.

Celebrating 166 years of MSC Foundation Day in the MSC Vienam Community

Our Correspondent, Quang, writes that he is to be our correspondent with MSC Vietnam news. We welcome his future articles

Before Dec 8th, there were some cases of positive Covid-19 around our community, but the government quickly controlled it and it did not affect much the life of people. So, our Foundation Day was celebrated in the spirit of unity, happiness, joy and gratitude without any worry of virus.

Our celebration was organized 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.

For the Mass, Fr. Hoàng, MSC as superior of MSC community in Vietnam was presider. He invited us to look back the legacy of our Founder, Fr. Jules Chevalier, particularly the times of trial or difficulty of him in the early years of founding the MSC Congregation. From that, he encouraged all members of the MSC family to enhance and value the sense and spirit of unity among members of the MSC family in Vietnam. We are so grateful for this sharing. It reminds us about what Fr. Jules Chevalier desired for all MSC members: “The greatest charity, the most perfect unity will always prevail among members of the little community of the Scared Heart of Jesus” (Jules Chevalier, 1855).

Happy the feast of MSC Foundation Day to all members of the MSC family all over the world. May this celebration energize us to go through all the hardships and bring remedy of Jesus’ Heart to all kinds of evil of our time.

By Quang Vu BUI, MSC

Prison Ministry 

From the MSC Magazine: Barry Dalton recounts a meeting with Peter Carroll MSC, longtime chaplain at Long Bay, and developing a prison ministry - with some support from the MSC Mission Office.

Our introduction into the prison ministry began almost 8 years ago when Fay and I met Fr. Peter Carroll (MSC) who has been a Prison Chaplain for 16 years. From that auspicious occasion, we became involved in a number of areas in this wide and varied ministry.

Firstly, we are part of a team of 24 women and men who volunteer at the Downing Centre Courts in Sydney. We serve tea/coffee at the morning tea and lunch breaks to the people in the holding cells down in the basement.  Sandwiches are supplied at lunch by Correctional Services.  However we provide biscuits for morning tea funded by MSC Mission and the SOJ Sisters at Mary Mackillop Place North Sydney.

The other areas we work in are: - Visiting Inmates in Prison; Supporting chaplains with Sacramental      services; Conducting Positive lifestyle programmes; Escorted day leave for long-term prisoners;           Supporting ex-offenders under a special post release EAST-works programme. (Acronym for EAST is: - Education; Accommodation; Spiritual support; Transitional services)

An often-asked question is “Why do you do this work and how does it relate to our Christian faith, the charism of Jules Chevalier and MSC Spirituality of the heart”?  My response comes from Karl Rahner who said “We are not essentially different from the prisoners whom we visit in prison.  It is only circumstances distinguish us and we must be grateful to God for these circumstances”.

Saint Augustine asked the question, “What does love look like”? He then said, “It is the hands that reach out in need. It is the feet that hasten to the poor.  It is the eyes that see misery and want.  It is the ears that hear the cries and sorrows. That’s what love looks like”. We are Jesus’ hands and feet; we are His eyes and ears. Jesus asks us to be His presence in our world today.  People who are the outcasts of our society or those who are in prison, may not only have lost control of themselves but have lost the most precious thing of all--- their SENSE of DIGNITY and WORTH.  Without this, nothing good can ever happen in a person’s life.  I guess that is what we are trying to do in our ministry, helping them to realize that they do have dignity and     value, that they are a person.  “Every time you have done these things to one of these little brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me” (Mt25: 40). 

Barry and Fay Dalton

Superior General, Abzalon Tovar MSC in Mozambique

After social unrest and some natural disasters in recent times, the MSC mission in Mozambique is a difficult and isolated ministry. Superior General, Abzalon, has gone to Mozambique for some weeks as moral support.

Cyclone devastation, 2019

Celebrating MSC Foundation day with Fr Jose Eduardo Paixao.

After so many suffering and despair we are living in. We discover that we are full of God's grace. We celebrate with great hope the foundation day of our Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - MSC. We need to have heart of flesh, open heart in times of Lockdown.

A reminder of the foundation of the mission, 2018.

The MSC assumed one of the most difficult places in the immense Diocese of Pemba, Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique. We are again willing to go where many do not want to go. The two companions have to start from scratch both at the level of apostolate and infrastructure. The mission area is immense with three districts (municipalities): Melucco, Quissanga and Ibo Island, with very high poverty rates, very precarious means of communication, great distances between them and a very high level of Muslim presence. But the seeds of the Kingdom are there in the Heart of the Makua and Maconde people.

The MSC will live in Melucco, which is 215 km from the seat of the diocese and a great part of that distance is on dirt roads. Both Bishop Luiz Fernando Lisboa and the religious Sisters from different missionary areas were very welcoming and made our MSC companions feel like a family. A great inter-congregational fraternity is experienced in the mission.

Joane Sigarara MSC retires from active military service.

Today our military chaplain, Fr Ioane Sigarara, MSC retired from active military. He served our military well in many places. May he be blessed in the next part of his life journey. I'm sure he leaves behind many friends who had their lives enriched through his friendship and service.

Looking back:

From the website, 15^th December, 2011.

From the website, 9^th May, 2014

EASTER IN AFGHANISTAN. Update from Fr. Ioane Sigarara, MSC  [From the US MSC website]

Fr. Ioane, who serves as an Army Chaplain, was in Afghanistan during Holy Week.

'Easter blessings to all of you. We had some truly memorable Holy Week and Easter Services here in Afghanistan.

To begin with, the chief pastor of the Archdiocese for the Military services was here on his pastoral visit over Holy Week. I wrote him requesting that he confer the ministry of lector to one of my flock. The ceremony took place during mass on the Tuesday of Holy Week. So for us it was a double celebration, getting to be with the Archbishop and witnessing one of our own being invested to the ministry of lector in theater.

Due to a very international population here, one of the things I introduced at Sunday Masses was to have the readings and prayers of the faithful done in the various languages. So on a normal Sunday the 1st reading would be in French, 2nd in Italian and the prayers of the faithful in Portuguese, Tagalog, English, Spanish, Indian and Vietnamese etc.

For the Easter Vigil it was the full gamut of languages which made it very special. Having two extra priests was great indeed as I had five camps to cover. In all the celebrations went really well.

Abi Wood, THE COLLEGIAN, Hillsdale,USA.offers a memoir.

The Reverend Ioane Sigarara of Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Hillsdale, once a Fijian military man, will enter the United States Navy in January to serve as a chaplain.

Ioane grew up in Fiji-the islands where there are only two seasons: cool and dry or warm and wet. Ioane said he would describe Fiji as the place where fish and octopus are eaten raw for increased flavour, electricity is almost non-existent and "running water" is the creek out back.

Another unique characteristic of the Fiji Islands is the love of rugby that they inherited from British colonisation. Ioane said he played quite a bit growing up, and when he came to Hillsdale in 2007, he visited the college rugby club practice to provide insight into how to better their rugby game.

Ioane's passion was not limited to this sport, however. He said the Catholic community in Fiji is very strong, and even as a young boy, Ioane said he desired to become a priest.

As soon as he graduated high school, Ioane joined the military, as was expected by his family. His dreams of becoming a priest were put on hold. Ioane spent six years in the Fijian Navy. His duties ranged from serving on a minesweeper vessel to guarding the Israel/Lebanon border.

During his time in the navy, Ioane said he felt again the call to pursue priesthood. As he encountered countless young men and women returning from battle permanently scarred by the sights they had beheld, Ioane said he also developed a passion for counselling. Ioane returned home to become a priest.

Ioane said that this was a revolutionary decision in Ioane's family since everyone in his family was either a teacher or part of the military. They had trouble accepting this decision, he said. "They thought I was mad to become a priest," Ioane said, Nevertheless, Ioane followed through with his education, keeping his ties with the Fiji Armed Forces so he could minister as a chaplain.

December 8^th  MSC Foundation Day. 166 years.

We are all familiar with the Novena made by Jules Chevalier and Emile Maugnest to end on the declaration day by Pius IX of the Immaculate Conception of Mary – and the donation that enabled the two to establish the congregation.

The General Administration team prepared the following panels.  For a fuller set, go to Facebook, Ametur MSC

MSC Appointments, Northern Territory

Vicar General of the diocese of Darwin, Malcolm Fyfe MSC, has listed the appointments – and, at the end, information about ministry in the Tiwi Islands.

Baptism at St Paul's Nightcliff, Peter Henriks:  :Welcome Lillian! Lillian started coming to St Paul’s with her grandfather and has since made the decision to join our faith community. Lillian was baptised, confirmed and received her first holy communion this morning at the 8:30am Mass. She was joined by family and friends for the occasion."

Father Peter Hendriks msc has been appointed Assistant Provincial for the Australian Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.  We congratulate him on this appointment and wish him God’s special blessing in this new role, at a time of much change and challenge.

Father Peter will be leaving Darwin on January 11, 2021.

Father John Kelliher msc, already well known in the diocese from his earlier teaching at St John’s College, his ministry at Santa Teresa and his time as Administrator at the Cathedral parish, has been appointed to St Paul’s parish Nightcliff. Bishop Charles confirms his appointment as Parish Priest.  Father John Kelliher will arrive in Darwin early January. We warmly welcome Father John back to the diocese.

After completing 6 years on the Tiwi Islands, Father Pat Mara msc will spend 9 months next year engaged in a Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Studies course at Notre Dame University in Sydney

Adequate pastoral care arrangements for Wurrumiyanga (Bathurst Island) are being worked out for the period of Father Pat’s absence.

Father Nguyen Thanh Danh Doan MSC’s appointment assisting Father Pat Mara on the Tiwi Islands will come to a close in early January. Father Danh Doan will spend 2021 at the Heart of Life Centre in Melbourne before returning to Vietnam. We warmly thank Father Danh Doan for his generous contribution as a Missionary during his time with us.

Father Francis Jayakody is a priest from the Colombo Archdiocese and has been working in the diocese of Sale VIC. He has volunteered to work in the diocese of Darwin for the remainder of his Visa period. We are in the final stages of organising his inter-diocesan transfer. Bishop Charles has offered him a ministry appointment in the parish of Pirlangimpi/Milikapiti (Melville Island). We expect Father Francis will arrive to take up this post as soon as the ACMRO approve the transfer and travel options become available