Some significant October days for the Chevalier Family, 2020

Many of the significant October days are part of the life of Jules Chevalier, not only the anniversary of his death, October 21st but other days: his vision of the role of the laity in the MSC, his resignation, his anointing.

1 October, 1905
The MSC Generalate transfers from Belgium to Rome, Piazza Navona, the site of the first MSC house in Rome. No longer the Generalate, but the Church and Shrine of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Piazza Navona, continues to draw pilgrims from all over the world and continues to be served by the MSC today.

2 October, 1901
The MSC Generalate, expelled from France, is established at Remy-lez-Chimay in Belgium.

3 October, 1901
Father Founder resigns as Superior General. French MSC, Father Arthur Lanctin succeeds him as General (1901-1905). Father Lanctin is also buried in the Crypt in Issoudun.

3 October, 1918
Death of Father Emile Maugenest, O.P., co-founder of the MSC Society. Maugenest had been compelled to leave Issoudun and the MSC's in 1857 in obedience to the Cardinal Dupont, Archbishop of Bourges who appointed him as Archpriest of Bourges Cathedral. He later entered the Dominicans, but remained on good terms with the MSC and was at Father Chevalier's side in 1904 for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the MSC Society.

4 October, 1904
The old Third Order becomes "The Society of Souls Consecrated to the Cult of the Sacred Heart of Jesus", a title suggested by Rome. Chevalier had envisioned this branch, not so much as a work of the MSC's, but as an extension of it into the laity. However, this original vision was lost when the MSC General Chapters of 1905 and 1907 rewrote the 1877 Constitutions. The re-written text gave the impression that the MSC Society consisted solely of religious priests and brothers.

5 October, 1922
Father Hubert Linckens, MSC, first Provincial Superior of Germany (1897-1910) and historical founder of the MSC Sisters, dies in Hiltrup, Germany. Linckens guided the MSC Sisters until 1911 at which time he became the first General Assistant of the MSC in Rome, and in this capacity lived in Australia from 1914-1920. Because World War I, he couldn't return to Italy and therefore stayed in Australia, during which time he helped in the up-building and promotion of the Australian MSC Province.

9 October, 1907
Fr. Chevalier receives the Anointing of the Sick, administered by Fr. Hériault in the presence of his confreres, some FDNSC Sisters and M. Bernard de Bonneval, in whose home he was living after having been expulsed from his presbytery in January of the same year.

10 October, 1867
Inauguration of the Apostolic School at Chezal-Benoît.

11 October, 1953
 For the first time since the death of Fr. Founder, an MSC parish priest is installed in the parish of Saint Cyr, Issoudun. The parish priest of Saint Cyr continued to be an MSC until 2010 when it was again handed over to the diocese. However, today there remains an MSC presence with Vicars Fathers Joseph Desbois (Fr) and Lazare Elenge (DRC).

14 October, 1853
Father Jules Chevalier is transferred as curate from Châtillon-sur- Indre to his third parish, Aubigny-sur-Nère. The following year, on 21 October, 1854, he would go to Issoudun and remain there until his death, exactly 53 years later to the day.

15 October, 1906
Because of the expulsions, Father Chevalier authorizes the transfer of the FDNSC Generalate and novitiate to Thuin, Belgium.

17 October, 1872
Consecration of France to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

17 October, 1884
Departure of the first five FDNSC from Issoudun to the mission of Melanesia.

21 October, 1907
Death of Father Chevalier, founder of the MSC, the FDNSC and spiritual founder of the MSC Sisters. He is buried in the Crypt in the Basilica on the 24 October, 1907.

27 October, 1913
Monsignor Couppé founds the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (the FMI Sisters) the first local Congregation of Sisters founded in PNG.
Their formation is entrusted to the FDNSC Sisters.

Acknowledging Paul Castley MSC, 85

Paul at a Chapter 2016 Eucharist

Paul Castley is a Queenslander, Townsville and Brisbane.  He made his first profession, February 26^th 1955. His studies were at Sacred Heart Monastery, Croydon. He was ordained in St Stephen’s Cathedral, Brisbane, June 29^th 1961.

After a year in Randwick parish, he taught at Monivae for most of the 1960s. He then served in parishes, Hindmarsh, relieving in Park Orchards, Camp Hill. He spent 1978 at St Paul’s National Seminary. In 1981, he moved to Sacred Heart Monastery, Croydon, working in pastoral supervision and training in CPE, Clinical Pastoral Education, then spending two years at Navarre House, Drummoyne.. He supervised courses in CPE at the Heart of Life Centre, Melbourne as well as at the National Pastoral Institute.

Pilgrim

He has walked the Via Francigena in 2011, has walked the Australian Camino from Portland to Penola, and has twice walked the Camino, in Spain in 2015, and through Portugal in 2018.

He has continued this pastoral work in Melbourne, based at the MSC House in Kew, part of the team for the Spiritual Leaders program at Heart of Life in 2019-2020.

Hung, Trieu and Kew Community 2018

Rochus Tatamai tp be installed as Archbishop of Rabaul.

Tuesday, September 28^th, will see the installation ceremony in Rabaul. The German MSC were the initial missionaries in New Britain – and provided the early bishops, including Bishop Leo Scharmach who was imprisoned with MSC, OLSH, MSC Sisters in Ramale Valley during the war.

Rochus is a media man (and still afficianado of Facebook), a producer of radio and television programs in Port Moresby, spending some years in Issoudun at the basilica, briefly PNG Provincial, then bishop in Yule Island, more recently in Kavieng. And, an MSC is once again Archbishop of Rabaul.

World Day of Migrants and Refugees, September 27^th.

The last Sunday of September of every year is World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

For 2020, Pope Francis has chosen the theme “Forced like Jesus Christ to flee”, with a focus on the need for the pastoral care of internally displaced persons.

The Bishop Delegate for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees has encouraged Catholics to see in the Scriptures and in Pope Francis’ example the Christian imperative to care for those “on the move”.

Archbishop Christopher Prowse, in a letter for this Sunday’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees, said the understandable focus on the COVID-19 pandemic must not distract people from another ongoing crisis.

“Global migration is a major challenge for much of today’s world and a priority for the Catholic Church,” he wrote.

Pope Francis at Lampedusa

“In words and deeds, Pope Francis repeatedly shows his deep compassion for all who are displaced. Witness his encounters with migrants and refugees on the islands of Lampedusa and Lesbos. Witness his call for their full embrace: to welcome, to protect, to promote and to integrate migrants, refugees and victims of human trafficking.”

Those four verbs – welcome, protect, promote and integrate – have been a constant refrain for the past three years, after they formed the basis of Pope Francis’ 2018 message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

Archbishop Prowse said the biblical image of the flight into Egypt of Jesus, Mary and Joseph has been the inspiration of many statements of the Catholic Church on various aspects of migration.

“Like an icon of so many of the displaced, the Holy Family represents people ‘on the move’,” Archbishop Prowse wrote.

“The Church stands alongside the fragilities and dangers of the millions attempting to find a dignified home in the world.”

Paul Stenhouse MSC: A Book of Tributes.

Australian Scholarly Publishers are about to release a book of tributes to Paul Stenhouse. It is called, Paul Stenhouse, a Distinguished and Distinctive Missionary of the Sacred Heart.  It can be ordered from the publishers, details below.

The range of tributes can be seen in the Contents.

The photos on the cover of this tribute to Paul Stenhouse MSC show the enthusiastic young priest, aged 27, his life in ministry before him, then the veteran older priest, aged 83, living with illness but over half a century of generous outreach achieved.

CONTENTS

Foreword:    Chris McPhee

PAUL STENHOUSE - MSC

Michael Fallon: Eulogy for Paul

Random Memories, Paul's early life.

Jim Littleton: Paul as an MSC

Peter Malone: A Personal Memoir

Tricia Kavanagh: Memories and Connections

Anthony Brereton: A Memory

John S. Madden: Recollections

Annals: Paul’s own overview

PAUL STENHOUSE – PRIEST-SCHOLAR

Karl Schmude: Priest-Scholar

Wanda Skowronska: Extraordinary Scholar, Writer, and Witness to Eternity

Greg Sheridan: Good Polymath, Good Pastoral Priest

Marek Jan Chodakiewicz: Samaritan Studies

Tony Abbott: Islam

Piers Paul Read: Islam

Michael Wilding: John Farrell

PAUL STENHOUSE – MINISTRY

Philip Collignon: Aid to the Charity Church in Need

             Johannes Freiherr Heereman von Zuydtwyck

             Regina King

             Project Section Co-worker, Germany

             Neville Kyrke Smith     

Joseph Assaf: “Lebanon Is More Than A Country – It Is A Message”

Robert Teo: An Asian Ministry

Mary Ruth OLSH: The House of Mary

PAUL STENHOUSE - TRIBUTES

From the Annals Office: 

Peter Macinante: Talk at the Annals Farewell Lunch

Hendrikus Wong: A Tribute

Greg Quinn: Annals Computer System

From Annals Contributors:

James Murray: The Stenhouse Irregulars

James Franklin: Hope is Not Lost

Michael Wilding: ‘Dipped in ink’

Christopher Dawson: Peerless and Fearless

Giles Auty: A Very Special Friend: Giles

R. J. Stove: Eight Men, Not One Man

A Tribute from Cardinal George Pell 

[A sad note: Giles Auty died Wednesday September 23rd]

To order your copy please email, mail or telephone your order with the following information:

Title: Paul Stenhouse Price: $20.00 (plus $9 p&p within Australia)

Number of copies: Name: Delivery Address: Phone: Email: Payment: Cheque (made out to Australian Scholarly Publishing)

Visa Mastercard Amex Card Name: Number: ———— ———— ———— ———— Expiry date: —— / —— Signature

John Graham MSC: A True Missionary of the Sacred Heart

by Priyo Susanto msc

Earlier in the year John celebrated 50 years of priesthood. This weekend he celebrates his 82nd birthday. This article by the MSC community leader in Japan appeared in the MSC Magazine.

This year John Graham MSC is celebrating his golden jubilee, 50^th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. He and his parish have been preparing a golden celebration in the parish. inviting the local bishop to celebrate the with a chrism Mass. He and his classmates have been preparing to celebrate the jubilee back in Australia. And the MSC Japan Region has been planning to have a community celebration in Nagoya. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted all our plans.

Although he has always been interested in vocation to religious life, John joined the MSC when he was already 26 years old.

Graduated from Sydney University in 1959, John built his career in teaching mathematics and physics. He also, from an early age, has been attracted to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He said that he always had with him the picture of the Sacred Heart.

While studying at the university and then later while working as a high school teacher he joined the Aquinas Academy, a Catholic adult education for the Lay, run by the Marists. He nurtured his faith in this institution, but also was influenced by the Passionists through their retreats. He had with him the picture of Sacred Heart, educated in faith by Marists and spiritually led by the Passionists! And he decided to knock on the door of the MSC!

He entered the novitiate in 1964 and took his first vows in February 26, 1965. After the completion of his study in Philosophy and Theology he was ordained to the priesthood in May 9, 1970. His first ministry as MSC priest was teaching Math and Physics in the Chevalier College, from 1971 to 1973. The former Provincial Superior John Mulrooney was one of his students.

With Chris McPhee

His dream was as missionary to be sent to the mission. He applied to be sent to Japan, was granted and he was off to Japan in 1974.  Since then, with his missionary zeal, he dedicated his life to the Japanese Church and the Japanese people. Learning a new language was not an easy task. He learnt his Japanese in a Japanese language school in Kamakura, and old city just south of Tokyo, a city in Kanagawa Prefecture for two years or so. After finishing the language school he came back to Nagoya and since then most of his missionary work were related to parish ministry, always in contact with the Catholics as well as the non-Catholics who came to the church searching for the truth. Despite facing many difficulties, he stayed faithful to his work, because he believes that it takes time to get used to the local language, culture and customs.

He has always drawn his strength to carry out his mission from the community of missionaries. He treasures the regular gathering and the sharing of prayers and experience. He treasures his commitment to the society, to the parish and to the people. He treasures the support from the parishioners with whom he works closely.

He is a true missionary. Though he has not seen results of his work in leaps and bounds such as the influx of people to the churches asking for baptism, he won’t give up in serving the people through his work of witnessing in parish and other charity involvements.  He believes that Japan and Japanese church are still in need of the missionaries’ presence. True that the local priests are doing their best, but the spirituality side of the church is best shown by the religious missionaries. He believes that the missionary work has to be continued with the emphasis on promoting peace, since peace in the Christian belief has a universal value.

He is a true missionary of the Sacred Heart. It is his resolution that he has to continue to give witness to the love of the Sacred Heart. He feels the need to promote more the devotion to the Sacred Heart.

MSC in Japan 2019

Mark Hanns MSC, Ordination, Silver Jubilee

Congratulations today to Mark Hanns MSC, 25 years of Priesthood.

Cover of an Adelaide booklet on the Mass

Mark was a foundation member of the Formation House, Navarre, Drummoyne, in 1986.  He was a ‘late vocation’, a Certified Electrician.  He made his first profession, 23^rd January, 1988. His studies were at St Paul’s National Seminary and the Catholic Institute, Sydney.

Mark’s appointments have included Monivae College, St John’s Kippax, St Mary’s Towers Douglas Park.

He participated in the Siloam, Spiritual Directors’ Program at the Heart of Life Centre.

In more recent years, he has been at Hindmarsh, SA, Moonah, Tasmania. At present he is Formation Director at Blackburn.

In Vietnam 2018 for Students' retreat

His celebration in this coronavirus year will be online this afternoon for the community, Lay MSC and friends.

A Letter from Henley Beach Parish:  Noel Mansfield MSC.

First, a reminder that the week of celebrations of MSC in Adelaide is under way. Tomorrow sees the special Mass with Archbishop Patrick O’Regan. There are further events for the rest of the week.

Noel has also sent some photos with the following note: These photos were from Mass last Sunday, Sept 13th at 9.30. I was trying to show the variety of people at Mass - from the young to the old. They also demonstrate social distancing. I was hoping that a few photos would show the way the church has to be set up for Covid 19.

Noel’s letter:

I have been at Henley Beach Parish now for six months. It has taken me time to settle to the routine and get to know how the parish operates.

We have a big week coming up. It all starts next Monday, 21st. There will be a talk each night for the week. It has been in the planning for many months and should tell the story of our MSC presence in this part of the world.

We have been here for over 100 years. So, we a looking back over the century and presenting a vision for the next period of our journey with the people of Henley Beak – and out dedication to the Archdiocese over these significant years – into the future.

To show what we are attempting at this time, I would like to share the overall plan for this time. 

In order to place this event in perspective, we need to acknowledge the MSC’s who have contributed to the parish life of over so many years. We cannot mention all of them at once. However, this occasion happens to coincide intentionally with the first anniversary of the death of Fr. John Rate.  It is also the second anniversary of another MSC, connected with the parish. This is Fr. Frank Perry. Each of them contributed to the parish life in his own particular way. 

We, as Missionaries of the Sacred, wish to acknowledge the contribution of all our confreres who have served the people of Henley Parish over these many years. Whatever we think of particular MSC’s who have served here, we want to acknowledge that they have all served to make this parish what it is today. We recognize that all of them have served here as part of the family of MSC priests and brothers.

Clearly, Paul Cashen’s contribution has been an outstanding feature of the whole episode. At the death of John Rate, he has had to move into areas that he would rather not have had to do. He has had to take up the role of Parish Priest and now as the co-ordinator of this conference concerning our future. He has reached retirement age and now he finds himself in the middle of a conference preparation.

We, as the MSC family would like to thank Paul for taking on this task. We support him in all that he has undertaken.

Abzalon at 50.

Congratulations to Abzalon on his 50^th birthday. Work in Guatamala, in Central America; Provincial and now Superior General – beginning his fourth year.

Providentially, before the 2020 coronavirus lockdowns, Abzalon was able to visit many provinces and meet a good number of MSC and Chevalier Family.

RIP.  Bill Penn, Lay MSC

We received the very sad news that Mr. Bill Penn died peacefully on Friday night.

Bill met Phil Hoy at Ozanam House in Melbourne and Phil took him to St. Mary’s Towers Douglas Park for a couple of weeks break back in the 1980s. Bill stayed on there and found a home, a new life and a loving family. He became a tireless worker and much loved member of that community. He worked mainly on the grounds and gardens as well as the washing up in the kitchen and his chooks.

With Pat Mara MSC

Bill became a Lay MSC and was much loved by all who came to DP.

He went into Queen Victoria Nursing Home at Thirlmere near Douglas Park in 2010. He has been content there and well looked after by the nursing staff and the DP Community members, especially Fred Stubenrauch and Michael Reis.

The staff checked on him about 10pm last night and he bid them all good night. Later when they checked he had quietly passed away. Bill turned 90 this year.

With Kim Mannix

Those who lived at Croydon in the early 1980s, came to know Bill and other Ozanam men like Fred Grundemann who also went to St Mary’s Towers.  And a tribute to the Hoy family, Phil’s father, Huey, and the foundation of Ozanam House, and Phil’s years as chaplain.

Old days at Ozanam House

May our dear friend Bill rest in peace with the loving God he came to know and love at Douglas Park.