AN INSIGHT INTO THE WORK OF PRISON MINISTRY:  PETER CARROLL MSC.

The work of Catholic prison chaplains was celebrated at a conference in Melbourne last week.

From left: Alison Burt (Executive Secretary, Bishops Commission for Social Justice), Paul Zammit (Master of Ceremonies), Fr Peter Carroll MSC (Chair, Australian Catholic Prisoners Pastoral Care Council), Bishop Vincent Long (Chair, Bishops Commission for Social Justice), Sr Mary O’Shannassy SGS (Member of the Australian Catholic Prisoners Pastoral Care Council and Director, Catholic Prison Ministry Victoria, CatholicCare Melbourne), Melbourne Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli.

Catholic prison chaplains have heard how their mission is becoming increasingly vital as Australia’s corrections system expands, conservatively costing the country $16 billion annually.

The two-day gathering in Melbourne, supported by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the Australian Catholic Prisoners Pastoral Care Council, focused on the theme “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Catholic chaplains currently visit prisoners, those on remand and refugees in detention centres to provide a range of pastoral care services and support for individuals and families. The national gathering last week sought to provide chaplains with time for formation, professional development, spiritual nourishment and fellowship with peers.

Some years ago, Peter Carroll at an international prison chaplains' conference in Cameroun

When Catholic Church Insurance donated goods and funds to support the inaugural Catholic Prison Ministers Gathering, they spoke to Fr. Peter Carroll MSC, who helped organise the event, to learn more about the work of the Catholic Prison Chaplaincy and why it needs the support of the Catholic community.

The role of prison chaplains

Fr. Peter is the Catholic chaplain at Sydney's Long Bay Prison and provides sacramental support to the Catholic chaplains at the Silverwater Correctional Complexes. He says prison chaplains support inmates in various ways: "Firstly, the prison chaplain provides the opportunity for people to express their faith, to take time to pray, to support people who want to pray. A lot of people have an experience of loss – perhaps in their family – while in prison, (and even though they may not usually go to church), we [the chaplains] are an avenue for people to express their grief. We also run programs of loss and grief for people in prison."

He adds: "Even just being people that the inmates know are not judgmental. We are the one avenue they can go to if things are not going well for them, or they need support, or if their family needs some extra support. We can be a listening ear for both the inmate and their family."

Putting judgments aside

Fr. Peter notes that non-judgment is an essential quality for those working as prison chaplains.

"They [inmates] have already been judged by the courts, and by society; so they feel like they don't belong. And so they come to prison and – because they have already been told by society they belong in prison – they have a sense they don't belong anywhere else," he says.

"So an important aspect of prison ministry is to preach to them that, 'We know you are here and the church cares for you'. Sometimes they are not convinced of that and sometimes it is difficult to convince them the church cares for them. But we try to tell them God cares. They say: I don't have any experience of belonging. Because sometimes they have been cut off from their family. They have been cut off from their friends. So to even have that experience in prison... we tell them God cares."

Helping build bridges

This year's Catholic Prison Ministers Gathering is the first to date. High on its agenda is the development and creation of a three-year plan of action; one that will work towards Pope Francis's Jubilee Year of Mercy, which begins on 8 December of this year.

Fr. Peter says this includes looking at how to engage the Catholic community in the process of people coming out of prison.

"People often call it reintegration, but it's not reintegration because we don't always want people who have come out of prison to go back to where they started. It's about building a bridge into the community – positive places where they can find a home. A community. Sometimes, even if they have had a home, families don't want them back. So people find themselves having to build new relationships. I've had guys who have got out of prison say they have gone back to where they began, where they put their life on pause, and then realised that if they kept going back to this - these people and that relationship – that they are going to end up in prison again. So they want to stop and ask: What relationships do I have to go back to?  

Fr. Peter says: "The plan of action is to see: Can we engage with the Catholic community? And how do we engage with the Catholic community to be a bridge prisoners can walk to?"

EXPLORING NORTH VIETNAM

By Hoang Huy Nguyen MSC - Community leader of the MSC in Vietnam

From the MSC Magazine

Hoang with the Bishop of Thai Binh province

June 3th - 12th June, 2019, Chris and Hoang made a trip to North and Central Vietnam. The purpose of our trip is to live out the spirit of our founder "no one is a stranger nor foreigner but all are brothers in the heart of Christ”.

We went there to meet people in real life. We met those who are in authority such as bishops and parish priests, those who are parishioners, those who are living family life, those who are searching for meaningful life, searching for God, those who are trying to live out the Gospel’s values. Even though we are different in cultures, lifestyles, mentality and backgrounds, but all of these people and us are longing for God's love, for the Spirituality of Jesus’ Heart.

Benedictine Monastery, Thua Thien Hue

On June 4th, we met Joseph Vu Van Thien, Archbishop of Hanoi Archdiocese. In our conversation, he shared about some difficulties in doing mission and ministry here. There is a great need of presence of missionaries with people in remote areas (ethnic peoples); but the difficulty is their mentality. They don't have a need to go to school, to church for mass, to study and improve course of life.

Another difficulty is economic problems. Most of them are very poor and life is so hard. They have to suffer so many disadvantages. The local governments strictness is also another obstacle for doing mission here. The Archbishop also stressed the need for mission here. The people need help in living out the values of the Gospel. They need to be upgraded in knowledge, culture, improvement, in their course of life. And there is a great need of presence of religious and priests in the parishes.

Sacred Heart Cathedra, Thai Binh

On 7^th June, we visited another diocese, Thai Binh diocese (around 110 km away from Hanoi, the capital). In conversation with the bishop, Peter Nguyen Van De, we could see that he was very happy to welcome religious communities in the diocese.

This is a very large diocese, covering two big provinces, with around 140,000 Catholics (4.2% of the population of the diocese's area). 110 parishes, 370 sub- parishes, and around 140 priests. Thus, there is a great need of priests to minister the parishes.

The bishop’s wish is to have more presences of religious, especially missionaries; so that the evangelisation of the Church would be developed more and more. The bishop said that the local government here somehow is more welcoming compared to Hanoi.

Bell Tower of Phat Diem Cathedral in Ninh Binh province

Chris's suggestion is that we may be present and involved more in the diocese. And in future we may have one parish to minister. This is a good way to spread the Spirituality of the Heart through our presence with the people. But this really needs more preparation.

Shrine of Our Lady of LaVang

On June 8th, we flew to Central Vietnam. We visited the most famous pilgrimage site in Vietnam Central, Our Lady of La Vang church.

Our Lady of LaVang Church

We spent time in one rehabilitation house, run by one religious priest. Then we went to Da Nang, a new city. And on June 12th, we travelled back to Saigon.

Hoang, Chris and the Archbishop of Hanoi

RIP, SISTER JACQUELYN BENDER MSC

TRIBUTE BY PROVINCIAL SUPERIOR, MARY DRUM MSC

“From Him we come, in Him we are enfolded, to Him we return.”
                                                                        (Julian of Norwich)

Sr. Jacquelyn MSC – Jacquelyn Claire Bender

Born: 6^th August 1935 in Ipswich, Qld

First Profession:  9^th September, 1956

Entered Eternal Life: 1^st September, 2019 Heidelberg, Vic

Jacq was baptized in the local Sacred Heart Church and began her schooling in the Sacred Heart Parish School in the country town called Booval where she grew up.  She was the fourth of five children, one of whom died in infancy. Later her family moved to Brisbane where Jacq completed her education and worked for a time as an assistant librarian.  A significant influence in Jacquelyn deciding to enter our Congregation was her participation in a retreat preached about the life of St. Peter Chanel, the first martyr of Oceania, canonised in June 1954.

Jacq entered at Mary’s Mount, Balwyn in October 1954 and after her first profession her multiple gifts and talents were developed and drawn upon in a variety of ways.  Firstly she trained in institutional cooking and worked in several of our communities, including Sacred Heart hospital.  After this Jacq did some studies in book-keeping and was then was asked to move into teaching. On receiving her teaching certification she was appointed to New Ireland, PNG to teach in Our Lady of Sacred Heart School, Kavieng. However, unfortunately due to health reasons she had to return to Australia after some months.  On her recovery Jacq continued her teaching ministry in Australia for twelve years, but later in her life was able to return to PNG to spend a year at Mongop, in New Ireland as a relieving teacher.

Following her ministry in teaching, Jacq was appointed to serve as Province Treasurer in Australia for twelve years and then later as General Treasurer for eight years. After which Jacq was reappointed Province Treasurer in Australia and during this time served on the Congregational Finance committee.

Jacq engaged in a ministry of service to many of our sisters internationally, but she also reached out in love and assistance to many of the migrant peoples here in Australia.  Jacq had a sense of humour and a genuine interest in and concern for the welfare of people from all walks of life.  She was further aided in her reaching out through her linguistic abilities – able to manage to communicate, read and translate in German, Spanish and Italian with some greetings in other cultures.

In these last years as her body became frailer through illness, Jacq accepted gratefully the help of friends and carers, preparing in her own way for death.  Inspired by the words of Julian of Norwich, she grew in trust that truly through, and in death we are embraced in the love of God.

On Monday 9th September at 10.30 am we gathered at St. Bernadette’s Church, Ivanhoe for Requiem Mass and then accompany Sr. Jacquelyn to the Eltham Cemetery. 

United with you, in gratitude for the gift of Sr. Jacquelyn’s life with us,

Yours sincerely,

Sr. Mary Drum, MSC

“Give us generous and courageous hearts to lift the burdens of others
whenever and wherever we can.”
(extract from a prayer of Fr. Linckens for his Sisters used by Sr. Jacquelyn)

Thanks to Carmel Butler MSC for the photos.

MSC MEDIA,  BOOK LAUNCH, SCREEN PRIESTS

            Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

NEW BOOK EXPLORES PRIESTLY CINEMATIC REPRESENTATIONS

An Australian Catholic priest who has been reviewing films for more than 50 years has just launched a new book about the cinematic coverage of Catholic priests since 1900.

Richard Leonard SJ, launching

Screen Priests, Depictions of Catholic Priests in Cinema, 1900-2018, was written by Melbourne’s Fr Peter Malone MSC, and officially launched by the Director of the Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting, Fr Richard Leonard SJ, at the Study Centre of the Yarra Theological Union on August 30.

Philip Malone MSC, hosting the occasion

Fr Malone said the book was designed for reference rather than academic study.

“It’s an overview of as many priests on screen that I could track down, some commentary on significant films, notes on others,” he explained.

“Moviegoers might like to read right through. For others, there are 30 pages of indices so that film titles, actors playing priests, film directors, can be referenced which makes the book accessible to the specialist as well as to the ordinary reader.

Hilary Regan ATF publisher.

“The main sections of the book offer some historical background and film information for each decade and a key film for each decade, like Going My Way for the 1940s, On the Waterfront for the 1950s, Of Gods and Men and Calvary for the current decade.

“There are also extensive chapters on priests in Irish films, in Australian films, priests in exorcism and possession films, priests and sexual abuse issues.”

Fr Malone is a Missionary of the Sacred Heart, was world president of OCIC (International Catholic Organisation for Cinema) and, then, SIGNIS (World Catholic Association for Communication). 

Author's response

He has been reviewing films since 1968 and is an Associate of the Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting.

Fr Malone has described his ministry as “a dialogue between faith and movies, working with ‘secular’ reviewers”, and, “one path to promoting the credibility of faith”. 

An author of over 20 books, including Screen Jesus and Screen Priests, Fr Malone has edited the theological journal Compass from 1972-1998.

Screen Priests, Depictions of Catholic Priests in Cinema, 1900-2018, is available for purchase for $50 for a softback or $80 for hardcover by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

MSC MAGAZINE, AUSTRALIA – NEW EDITION

The print magazine, MSC, began publishing in 2018.  It features articles and photos and some Province information.  The present edition is Spring 2019.

Visitors to the site who would like to receive copies by mail, please contact the executive assistant to the Provincial at:   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or phone  (02) 9665 8999.

This issue is something of a souvenir, featuring a number of articles on MSC Vietnam, some history, visits exloring the North, articles by MSC students about their vows and ordinations.  Plenty of photos.

The are also some tributes to veteran MSC, articles on some MSC College activities at Downlands and Chevalier and on the withdrawal from Hindmarsh parish, Adelaide.  There are also some articles on Heart Spirituality by Alison McKenzie, Director of the Chevalier Institute,,Tony Arthur MSC, Belgian Assistant General Andre Claessens MSC and Irish MSC Diarmuid O’Murchu as well as Chris McPhee from the 2019 Province Conference.

[And with the texture of the glossy paper used in the magazine, photos come up better than on the site!]

THE CHEVALIER FAMILY FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE IN THE WORLD,

FIRST FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2019

Each month, the Chevalier Family for Justice (MSC, OLSH, MSC Sisters, Lay MSC) promote an issue for prayer and action for each month and provide us with a poster.

Our Spirituality of the Heart has a key element: justice in our world.

Here is the September poster and its focus on current issues.

MSC COURAGEOUS STATEMENT, PHILIPPINE PROVINCE

We, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart – Philippine Province, meeting in a Provincial Conference, are convinced of Pope Francis’ advice to view reality from the “periphery” and not from the center in the light of the Gospel (EG, 51). We are inspired by our Founder, Jules Chevalier, when he said: “From the love of his heart comes the infinite mercy that Jesus shows towards sinners and that tender compassion for those who suffer” (Chevalier, Le Sacre-Coeur, 214). We are heartened by this call of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light (Matt 11:28-30)”.  And thus, we are deeply moved by the following reality as one Sign of the Times:

• Above all, the almost daily killings happening throughout the land that victimize the poor and church people. In Negros Island, four Catholic Bishops have issued an Obligatory Prayer to stop the killings and massacres of the poor done in the name of the War against Terrorism and Communist Insurgency.  In Cebu, the Catholic Archbishop has urged the faithful to recite the “Oratio Imperata” to stop the killings done in the name of the War Against Drugs.  In the Lumad ancestral lands in Mindanao and Northern Luzon, indigenous people, human rights advocates and defenders and the clergy and the lay especially of the Protestant Church and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente are killed, after their Bishops, Priests and Lay Leaders were demonized as members of the New People’s Army or its sympathizers, again invariably in the name of the War against Drugs and Terrorism and Counterinsurgency. In the urban areas of Manila and in the peripheral nooks of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the killings are done either by men in uniform or by assassins riding in tandem. 

We MSC declare that we take the side of the poor seriously. The Signs of the Times we cite above plea for Compassion and Conversion and Conversation for Change and Transformation. 

• In the name of the God of Compassion, we urge the killers and the brains behind them: Stop the killings of the poor! Stop the attacks against human rights advocates and defenders! Stop persecuting the pastorally-engaged Church people, both clergy and lay!

• In the name of the God who calls us to Conversion, we plea: Give the poor who are into drugs a chance to reform themselves just as you are given the chance for conversion to mercy and justice!  Put an end to this impunity to kill which is really in your political will power to stop!

As we plea for Compassion and Conversion, we also ask that we engage one another in a fruitful and honest Conversation on what is best for our people and our common home even in the midst of war.  For God’s love and justice which we share are more powerful than the greed and self-interest that divide us.

Signed:
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
Philippine Province
August 2019 Provincial Conference

NEW DIRECTOR OF MSC EDUCATION, MARK McGINNITY.

This appointment was announced earlier in the year - it is now published in the MSC Magazine, Spring 2019

It is with great pleasure that the Provincial and Council announce the appointment of Mr Mark McGinnity to the position of Director of MSC Education for the Australian Province. Mark is the current Principal of Monivae College, and will commence as Director early in 2020, taking over from Bob Irwin msc, who has been the Director for many years.

Principals and administrators of MSC Colleges visiting Issoudun.  Mark, front and second from left.

Mark has a wealth of executive experience in Catholic schools, including Xavier College, Riverview, St Joseph's Hunter's Hill, and ten years at Monivae.  He is known to bring positive cultural change, in both the spiritual and academic focus of schools. Mark embodies the MSC ethos, and is highly regarded in our education apostolate.  He and his wife Sue, will be moving to just north of Sydney.  His office will be at Chevalier Resource Centre at Kensington.

A Monivae memory, a passing out parade, Principal, Military officials and Mick and Pat Dodson visiting the old school.

The Director of MSC Education has delegated authority from the Provincial and has oversight of MSC schools, including in supporting their mission and MSC ethos.  The Director has similar oversight of the Chevalier Institute.  Among other duties, the Director is Chair of the Education Committee (Principals and Directors of Mission and some MSC) and the Education Council (on behalf of the Provincial); is a Company member for the four schools, and is on the school boards.

THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM, 

A NECESSARY AND COMPELLING EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

This post is immediately relevant for Australian visitors to this site.

We hope that it will of interest and concern to visitors from beyond Australia

Racism often surfaces in Australian life. Two films about the experience of professional indigenous AFL footballer and Australian of the Year, 2014, Adam Goodes, was subject of a toxic combination of racial hooligan animosity with cutting down of tall poppies.

The two current documentaries should be necessary viewing for us all: The Final Quarter which aired on Channel 10 and The Australian Dream which is in current cinema release.

Film reviews from the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting.

Australia, 2019. Featuring Adam Goodes, Stan Grant, Nova Peris, Gilbert McAdam, Michael O'Loughlin, Paul Roos, John Longmire, Tracey Holmes, Linda Burney, Nicky Winmar, Nathan Buckley, Natalie Goodes, Brett Goodes. Directed by Daniel Gordon. 105 minutes, Rated M (Racism and strong coarse language).

The Australian aborigines have the Dreaming. For those who came later to the land, there is always the reshaping and re-hoping of The Australian Dream.

Adam Goodes, AFL star, Brownlow medallist winner, Australian of the year 2014, is the subject of two 2019 documentaries, The Final Quarter, shown on television, and this film which has a commercial release.

It is a film which is significant for all audiences in Australia.

Initially, a collage of images and episodes indicates the controversial nature of the film and opinion divisions in Australian society about Adam Goodes, his aboriginality, his response to racist responses and insults leading to continued booing during his play, especially in 2014 and 2015, and the criticisms of his being named Australian of the Year.

For those who admired Goodes as a talented player and for those who do not know much about him, the first part of the film is an excellent tribute to his talent and skills, telling excerpts from a variety of games. It is in this context that we see him as Australian of the Year, hearing his speeches, focusing on his background as an aboriginal Australian, Australian aboriginal, and the challenge to long attitudes of racism, the challenge to fairness and justice.

Goodes agreed to be interviewed for this film which gives him an opportunity to reflect on his upbringing, lack of knowledge about being aboriginal, his gradual learning, doing courses, becoming more articulate on the issues, the affirmation that he received in the first decade and more of his football career, it also ships, the shock and disappointment of the insults, the wear and tear of the continued booing harassment, the psychological consequences, the growing disenchantment with AFL.

The narrative of the film was written by Stan Grant who also appears significantly offering comment on Goodes himself and his experience with excerpts from significant speeches that he gave on these issues, speaking from the inside and his own experiences as a national and international journalist.

There are also many interviews, the strong presence of Adam Goodes’ mother, his marriage to Natalie and her support, a variety of football personalities, inside racial and political views by Nova Peris and Linda Burney, strong comment by sports television personality, Tracey Holmes.

All strong dramas have a significant villain – and, in this film’s case, media commentator, Andrew Bolt, with excerpts from his television programs, serves as a devil’s advocate concerning (with critical attack) Goodes. And, there are glimpses of an unwise fool in television personality Sam Newman. Eddie McGuire comes out on the side of the angels, but not without some thoughtless comments, but with some apologies.

The film, and Stan Grant, have created a challenging atmosphere for the Australian viewer, an experience of being alerted to and then being appalled at so much inherent racism, the faces and shouts of abusers, the gross inarticulate bombast of so many tweets that are shown on screen, and video of a sting racist rant.

So, the two films serve as a means for an Australian examination of conscience – and can lead to a profound challenge to Australian consciousness.

THE FINAL QUARTER

Australia, 2019, 75 minutes, Colour. Adam Goodes. Directed by Ian Darling.

In 2019, two films were made about AFL player, Adam Goodes. The Final Quarter was shown at the Sydney Film Festival and on channel 10. The other film, The Australian Dream, was screened at the Melbourne Film Festival and then had a commercial release.

For Australian audiences, both films serve as something of an examination of conscience. Adam Goodes was one of many AFL players with indigenous backgrounds – the time of the making of these films, 71 professional indigenous AFL players.

For overseas audiences, the offence depicted in these films might come to a something of a shock, the continued billing of Adam Goodes during matches, as well as racist verbal attacks, controversies in the media, the psychological pressure on goods and his finally retiring from the game. And, at the centre of the controversies, he was named as Australian of the Year, 2014.

This film has many sequences, dates and opponents, of various games from 2014 to 2016. There is plenty of opportunity to see goods and his talent on the field. He is also particularly articulate, in his making speeches, in making message videos. He acquitted himself with dignity as Australian of the Year.

While there were many commentators who are supportive of goods, and he received strong support from his mother who designed jerseys for the indigenous matches, there are quite a number of prominent names, considered Conservative (Andrew Bolt, Miranda Devine, Alan Jones) and it particularly of noxious television commentator, former player, Sam Newman, whose TV rents and accusations are featured in this film.

These years raised questions of how racist Australians were, attitudes towards indigenous people (for many a tolerance when they knew their place), outbursts, the episode of the young girl who called out a monkey epithet to Goodes and he challenged her and she was removed from the grounds, with the conservative commentators criticising him for this – while the film reminds audiences that he spoke very strongly to ask for help for the girl, that was not her fault, that this was the atmosphere in which she had grown up. There were further attacks and, prominent television broadcaster, Eddie McGuire, made a rash joke about Adam Goodes and King Kong, apologising but finding it hard to live down.

Goodes emerges from this film as a man with dignity, put upon, personally vilified at a time when other indigenous players were not. It is difficult in retrospect to understand why he was so targeted and how this targeting was contagious, month after month, for some years.

A lot of discussion, a lot of commentators, material presented for the assessment of the audience – and the challenge to the AFL and the apologies from leaders that they should have stepped in earlier to prevent the targeting of the building, but which contributes to a continued examination of conscience by all Australians.

SOME SIGNIFICANT SEPTEMBER DAYS FOR THE CHEVALIER FAMILY 2019

This month there are quite a number of significant dates for both Jules Chevalier and Marie-Louise Hartzer

- the date for the naming of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, the blessing of the statue at Issoudun, the profession of final vows

- Marie-Louise Hartzer making her vows.

1 September, 1897
The erection of the German MSC Province. Blessing of the first MSC house in Hiltrup, Germany.


1 September, 1899
First 8 candidates of the MSC Sisters are received as postulants in Hiltrup.



4 September, 1861
Father Maugenest becomes the first MSC to be parish priest of St. Cyr, Issoudun. He remains in this position until 31 December, 1871.


4 September, 1945
The missionaries imprisoned by the Japanese during WWII in Ramale Valley, Papua New Guinea, are set free. The movie, entitled Sisters of War, produced in 2010 by an Australian film company, tells part of this story.



5 September, 1907
This date commemorates the opening of a 'special' MSC General Chapter which revised the Constitutions in the spirit of the "Roman Norms" of 1901. This Chapter occurred only a few weeks before Father Chevalier's death. He could not be present at the Chapter.



6 September, 1962
Father Karel Verwilghen, from the Netherlands, is shot in San José Nueva Ecija, Philippines. He died on 8 September in Quezon City, Philippines.



8 September, 1869
The Archbishop of Bourges, Monsignor de La Tour d'Auvergne blesses Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chapel in Issoudun and consecrates the altar. The coronation of the statue of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart takes place this day in the name of Pope Pius IX.


8 September, 1876
Father Chevalier meets Marie-Louise Hartzer for the first time!



9 September, 1884
Five Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart make their first vows. Marie-Louise Hartzer is among them.



 12 September, 1855
L'abbé Caillaud, the General Vicar at the time, blesses the humble chapel (barns) in Issoudun and gives to the first two members of the society, Jules Chevalier and Emile Maugenest, the name Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was on this very day that Jules Chevalier thought, for the first time, of the title "Our Lady of the Sacred Heart".



13 September, 1901
Mother Marie-Louise Hartzer makes her application to the French Government for the authorization of the Congregation as exacted by the law of 1 July, 1901. This fact prevents the local authorities at this time during the political-religious unrest from affixing seals to the FDNSC mother house in Issoudun.


13 September, 1912
Father Franciscus Maria Victor Jouët dies in Rome. He is buried in Marseilles in the south of France, in his original diocese. On 2 July, 2003, his remains are interred in the Crypt in the Basilica in Issoudun.



14 September, 1902
Departure of the first seven MSC Sisters from Hiltrup for New Pomerania, New Britain, Papua New Guinea.



19 September, 1869
Victor Hartzer, husband of Marie-Louise Hartzer, dies in Vesoul, France, after being married 11 years. Together they had two sons: Marie Victor Fernand (born 1858) and Marie Léopold (born 1860). Both sons became MSC Priests.



24 September, 1881
The novices of Father Piperon, who arrived in the Netherlands, November 1880, after having been expulsed from France, make their first profession. Among them is Hubert Linckens, who will later become the historical founder of the MSC Sisters.



25 September, 1869
The first MSC General Chapter elects Father Chevalier as First Superior General. Fathers Piperon, Vandel, Bazire and Guyot are elected as his assistants.



26 September, 1889
Marie-Louise Hartzer makes her perpetual vows.



27 September, 1869
Jules Chevalier and his first companions made their perpetual vows at the end of a retreat preached by Father Ramière, SJ.