HAROLD BAKER MSC, 70 YEARS ORDAINED

While our website was being restructured, we were unable to note a happy celebration on July 24. We make up for lost time as we congratulate Harold Baker, senior professed member of the Australian Province, 70 years ordained. 

The above photo is up-to-date - from the recent Douglas Park celebration of Barry Smith's Golden Jubilee of profession.

Harold has spent these priesthood decades in MSC education, at Chevalier, at down land is (where he was the principal) and, long time in Canberra at Daramalan.

A note of gratitude – Harold was in charge of the Leading Certificate year at Chevalier in 1956, 63 years ago where he was in charge, of amongst others, four boys who became MSC, Tony Arthur, Terry Herbert, Peter Malone, Doug Smith.

Whoever wished Harold Ad Multos Annos when he was ordained has had their prayer and good wishes abundantly fulfilled!

ONLINE AGAIN – WITH BLESSED PETER TO ROT, PNG

After two weeks of transferring the site from one server to another, we return with our daily posts. So here we are with Peter To Rot.

We had intended to feature Blessed Peter To Rot whose feastday is July 7^th – with PNG stamps.  Worth Googling.  Here is a selection.

CATECHIST AND MARTYR

BEATIFICATION BY JOHN PAUL II

SACRAMENTS

PHONE CARD!

OPEN LETTER, ASYLUM SEEKERS, MANUS ISLAND AND NAURU - MALCOLM FYFE MSC, VICAR GENERAL, DARWIN

“It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.” Prayer of St Francis.’   

THE POSSIBILITY OF A BI-PARTISAN AMNESTY

An open letter to our political leaders by Fr Malcolm P. Fyfe msc, Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Darwin.

The Honourable Mr Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia.

19.07.2019

Dear Prime Minister,

Today is the sixth anniversary of PM Kevin Rudd’s announcement that no person seeking asylum by boat would ever be resettled in Australia.

Every single person arriving after that date was to be subjected to indefinite detention on Manus Island, PNG, or in the Republic of Nauru, under ‘processing’ arrangements between the Australian Government and those Pacific states.

Six years on, roughly 800 refugees and people seeking asylum remain trapped on Manus Island and Nauru.

I am writing to every Member of the Australian Parliament from the Diocese of Darwin, on behalf of many, many well-informed and thoughtful Australians who are deeply concerned, indeed appalled, by that component of Australia’s current Border Protection Policy.

The offshore processing regime is claimed to be essential as a deterrent to ensure there are no more asylum seeker or refugee arrivals by boat.

Regardless of that claim’s validity, this is actually a classic and clear case of legislation that is immoral in the most basic of ways: an evil act is engaged in for the purpose of achieving some good outcome.   

How far can one go inflicting suffering on one group of people to prevent unrelated others from acting in a certain way?

Why stop at indefinite detention, which is already just a slightly civilized form of torture? Indeed, in my opinion, it has similarities with the use of “human shields” in warfare.

But back to 2013. The fact that the “stop the boats” slogan featured strongly during the 2013 federal election campaign should not at this point in time prevent changes being made to  Australia’s Border Protection Policy to achieve a more humane treatment of people who have committed no crime.

Earlier legislation should not be so set in concrete as to justify a stubbornly   maintained policy of keeping hundreds of fellow human beings locked away in our Offshore Detention Centres, with scant hope of reprieve in sight.

With relentless regularity, Government Ministers have blatantly repudiated and debunked the raft of concerns raised by United Nations personnel, the Human Rights Commission, Church Leaders, Medical and Legal Experts, Children’s Welfare Organisations and other highly principled members of the public. Our elected leaders simply take cover behind a Jericho Wall of total secrecy regarding Operation Sovereign Borders, the treatment of persons intercepted at sea and those in immigration detention centres generally.

Tragically, as might have been expected, the incidence of self-harm in detention centres has risen to epidemic levels.

The crippling cost of maintaining the current detention arrangements is also a very real concern, putting huge pressure on the budget. Is this unnecessary outlay to go on and on unchecked?

Here is the first and preferred proposal I would like to make:

Operation Sovereign Borders involved from the start a two-pronged strategy, characterized by (1) a deterrence policy (“Don’t attempt to come here by boat or you will face the unbearable treatment we are meting out to our detainees”) and (2) by the diligent efficiency of our Australian Defence Forces monitoring and controlling the seas surrounding us.

Has not our experience over recent years shown that the Australian Defence Forces are quite capable by their own resources, of achieving the goal of “stopping the boats” to the point that we no longer need the deterrent factor associated with our costly and inhumane detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island? 

We should henceforth guard our shores by military skill and effective intelligence and discreetly dismantle our offshore detention centres, re-assuming responsibility ourselves for on-shore processing as swiftly as possible. 

As regards the detainees still on Nauru and Manus Island, why not consider the feasibility of a carefully planned, once and for all AMNESTY, with cross-party support, for as many of them as possible?

What an innovative and laudatory move that would be!  Our international standing would be greatly enhanced by such an act.

If the above is rejected out of hand and an objective appraisal of it simply vetoed, then I would make the following (fall-back) proposal:

It was back in August 2012 that the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers delivered its Report. I believe it is time for another “Expert Panel” to be set up on cross-party lines to review the situation and to indicate what changes can now be made to the conclusions and outcomes of the earlier Report.

Australia is capable of something a lot savvier and more generous than our current harsh and mean treatment of asylum seekers and refugees. The majority of people I encounter are most uncomfortable with this ongoing reprehensible phenomenon and there is a growing sense that, as Australians, we are better than this.

As an elected representative with good moral principles, can you stand aloof and make no effort to achieve a more positive and humane future for these already damaged and hapless human beings?

Instead of subjecting them to even harsher Medevac arrangements, let’s bring them out of their current confinement into the realm of freedom and opportunity that we Australians inhabit and so put an end to this ugly and unnecessary 6 year episode.

With appreciation for the many good things our elected Members are doing,

(Father) Malcolm P. Fyfe msc

Vicar General,

Catholic Diocese of Darwin“

Eulogy: Sr Damian Mary George fdnsc (12.10.1925 - 7.06.2019)

Eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

What amazing and reassuring words given to us by Jesus! With confidence in these words, we slightly understand what our Sr Damian Mary George is now experiencing.

Jessie George was born on 12th October, 1925, the third child to loving parents Mary McDermott and John George. Her mother was an Irish nurse, who met John when working in a military hospital in England. John was an Australian soldier who had been badly wounded in France. She followed him to Australia and they were married in 1919. Jessie was the third born in the family. Her siblings, Nancy, John and Frank have all predeceased her. Jessie’s father was raised as an Anglican but he never wavered from the promise he made to raise his children as Catholics. The depression years were difficult as John lost his job but eventually had his own carpentry business and built the family home in Bondi.

After completing her Intermediate at OLMC Rose Bay, Jessie worked in an office but found her niche in the book-binding trade. Having left school at 16 she belonged to the parish CYO and entered into its activities – tennis clubs, socials, dances etc. Later she worked for the American army for almost two years and found this a great experience. She was also very active in the Theresian Club and Sunday mornings were taken up with catechetical teaching of children from state schools. Through the Theresians she was introduced to an MSC priest and then went to Kensington to visit Mother Concepta. Waiting until she was 21 at her father’s request, she entered the postulate at Hartzer Park in February 1947, making her first vows on 6th January, 1949.

Her dream of ministering in the missions was realised the following year when she arrived in Papua New Guinea in February, 1950. Then followed 45 years of teaching and pastoral work in the Papuan region. She firstly spent a few months at the mixed race school at Bomana, outside of Port Moresby. From there she went to rural Veifa’a in the Papuan Mekeo area. She was there for seven years and became very fluent in the Mekeo language. During this time, Damian and Sr St Francis made their professions of final vows on 6th January 1952 at Yule Island.

Damian was a woman of determination and fortitude. In 1958 she was appointed to teach in Ononge which was our most distant mountain mission station located in the Owen Stanley Ranges – an isolated and rugged place high up in the mountains. In those days to get there was ten days by horse along tracks made by the French MSC priests and brothers assisted by the local men. It was a dangerous and tiring journey. There were small rat and snake infested huts available at the end of each day’s journey. On arrival there were chores to be done: saddles to be attended to, horses fed as well as the men accompanying the sisters on this journey etc. Once Ononge was reached the missionaries were usually there until the time of the annual retreat at Yule Island. So once more the trip there and back! However there was her ministry of teaching in the primary school at Ononge and assisting teachers at nearby schools which would have been on other mountain ridges!

Next Damian moved to the coastal areas of Inauaia, Orokolo and Putei. She was in Orokolo for fourteen years. This station and Putei in the Papuan Gulf were usually reached by travelling on the old mission boat St George, calling in at other missions on the way. As there was no anchorage for the boat at Orokolo she would have either walked or been taken by motorcycle to the station. The mission is on the Vailala river with settlements and villages all along the banks and dugout canoes with an outboard motor would have helped also to visit.

In 1981-82 Damian was in the Philippines where she attending the enriching programme at EAPI (East Asian Pastoral Institute). On her return to PNG she was mainly in the Mekeo area - once more at Inauaia and also at Waima, Mainohana and three years at Bakoiudu at the foothills of the Own Stanley Ranges. In these areas she did pastoral work in the villages and often was the stand-in when there were no priests available. Damian coped with situations with creativity as when she was in Inauaia the sisters didn’t go out after dark – partly due to snakes and partly due to prowlers. So Damian found a way to turn off the generator without going outside. She fixed a string to the controlling lever switch, brought the other end of the string to the convent and simply pulled the string which operated the control switch.

Sr Rita Grunke, who knew Damian well in these latter years, remembers her as a courageous missionary, a grassroots person. Compassion oozed from her wherever she was and with whomsoever she met. Everyone was a really special person to Damian. Status and rank didn’t enter her missionary ministries. Poor village drunks, the less sober politicians – all were people with dignity and this was the message Damian communicated to each. This all came from her deep spirituality of the heart and her prayerfulness.

At the end of 1993, Damian returned to Australia, officially leaving the Papua New Guinea Province in July 1995. She joined the Chevalier Community and in 2005 transferred to Daceyville. During this time she frequently visited the residents at St Joseph’s Aged Care Facility and spent some time each week with her brother Frank and his wife Mary-Ellen whom she loved dearly.

Damian was very appreciative that she had the opportunity in 1998 of visiting Issoudun and other places special to her. In September, 2014 Damian became a resident at St Joseph’s. She was quite unwell during this time, especially over the last year. Jesus, with whom she had walked for so long, called her to himself in the late afternoon of 7th June. She was 93 years of age and had celebrated 70 years of Profession on 6th January this year.

Sr Relida, Provincial Leader of the PNG Province, has written: Sr Damian Mary came to PNG at a time of post war expansion and she lived, worked and prayed in isolated and difficult places which required great resourcefulness. She made a lasting impression on one PNG Sister who lived with her in 1977, teaching her that in a missionary Congregation one becomes a “Jack of all Trades”: teacher, nurse, pastoral worker, catechist and home carer in order to help others. In this she summed up her own life.

Sr Damian Mary you left PNG almost 25 years ago but you are remembered as a true Daughter and a great missionary who really lived out the Spirituality of the Heart in all that you did to whoever you met and wherever you went. Thank you.

Website restructuring for two weeks. No postings for a fortnight, but then......

Website restructuring for two weeks. No postings for a fortnight, but then...

As recorded on Monday, there have been a number of difficulties in access to the MSC Province website.

News came today that restructuring will begin tomorrow with a new server and work will take up to two weeks (or, hopefully, sooner).

There are quite a few news items waiting for posting, so it will be a better late than never when we resume...

Thanks for your patience, your support... and looking forward to being in action again.

STEPHEN HACKETT MSC, GENERAL SECRETARY, AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE

Canberra hosts international meeting of general secretaries, France, Germany, England and Wales.

General secretaries of the bishops conferences of France, Australia, Germany and England and Wales at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

The general secretaries of the bishops conferences of England and Wales, Germany and France have completed a three-day visit to Canberra that examined key issues facing the Church in Australia and globally.

Fr Stephen Hackett MSC, general secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said he was “delighted” to host the “very beneficial” gathering, which moves from country to country each year. He said while the Church in Australia – and in the Oceania region – is somewhat isolated from the rest of the world, many of the experiences are shared.

“I find it very reassuring that every time we meet, in different ways we’re facing many of the same issues,” Fr Hackett said, while acknowledging that some of those issues have arisen at different times in the various countries.

“It’s good to get the different perspectives on how we respond to the issues that concern us at this time.”

Stephen also accompanied the Bishops in their Ad Limina visit - and participated in the final Mass in St Peter's.

Among the key topics for discussion were the Plenary Council 2020 and the Church’s response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Fr Christopher Thomas, general secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said while the Church in those countries can be “a bit parochial”, learning about the various “joys and difficulties” in other contexts around the world is important.

“The Plenary Council is a bold step because it’s most definitely not a top-down approach. It’s a listening and discerning exercise which I think the Church, under the leadership of Pope Francis, is certainly being encouraged to take,” he said.

Fr Thomas said another of the fruitful discussions that took place during the meeting of general secretaries was on the Royal Commission and the Church’s response to the Commission and its recommendations.

He said the lessons learned in Australia can help the Church in England and Wales respond effectively to the abuse crisis and to local investigations and scrutiny.

Germany’s Fr Hans Langendorfer SJ, who has attended a number of meetings of general secretaries, said the gatherings are filled with energy and provide insights into the Church and its mission in various countries.

He said the Church in Germany has suffered a loss in credibility and in its reputation, but a process similar to the Plenary Council could help the Church there respond to those challenges.

He and other Church leaders in Germany will closely watch how the Council unfolds in Australia, Fr Langendorfer said.

Fr Thierry Magnin, from the French bishops conference, said as someone who took up his role fairly recently, it was a “very good experience” to share with his international colleagues the mission he has undertaken.

He too was “very impressed” by the way the Church in Australia has embraced the concept of synodality, saying the Plenary Council provides an example for how the Church can better engage with the faithful.

As well as addressing significant issues the Church faces in the relevant countries, the general secretaries visited the Australian War Memorial, laying a wreath to commemorate those who died during military service, and celebrated Mass at the general secretariat of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

APOLOGY TO VISITORS TO THIS SITE, LACK OF AVAILABILITY

Increasingly, visitors to this site have found that a message comes up, "Resource Limit is reached".  It is doing this as I write for the MSC Home Page  and Peter Malone's website as well as not allowing photos to uploaded by the editor of the site.  Frustration all round.  Last Friday's post on the Missionary Sisters of Service Mass hosted by MSC Blackburn parish disappeared from the Current News page.

Steps are being taken to look at site server contracts and secutiry supervision.

Here's hoping, here's praying,

Site Management

HINDMARSH, MSC PRESENCE AND WITHDRAWAL

We present a tribute to MSC in Hindmarsh parish, Adelaide, as we withdraw and hand the parish back to the Archdiocese of Adelaide.

Noel Mansfield MSC collected the material and the photos.  With thanks.

In the coming week, we will have a post on Jim Littleton’s book on the parish plus a historic timeline of those who served in the parish.

Celebration of MSC Leadership

The Parish Bulletin:

Marking the end of our leadership of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart priests was a wonderful gathering and celebration last Saturday evening. Our Sacred Heart Church drew many present and former parishioners to mark this special occasion. Fr Chris McPhee, Provincial of the MSCs, led the celebration of Mass, together with Fr Philip Marshall, Administrator Delegate of the Archdiocese. Our local MSCs Fr Bill, Fr Noel, Fr Paul, Fr John, together with Fr Chris Murphy msc, Fr Jim Littleton msc, Fr Tru Nguyen MSC

Being in the evening allowed the beauty of our Sacred Heart Church to literally shine: the lights provided a gentle glow that set the scene for our celebratory Mass. To context our celebration symbols that represented each of our Mass centres over the years and our five schools were brought forth to a brief commentary that provided a glimpse of our 105 year history. The Italian and Preca communities were acknowledged for the contributions that they have each made, together with the many Religious Orders who have served alongside the MSCS over these years.

Fr Chris provided us with a homily that strongly encouraged us to not dwell on what has been but to move into our future, as the Gospel said, ‘to take up the handle of the plough’ and go forward. In recalling the history of this great parish (this) indeed has been what our former parishioners have done over the years. They have always taken on the challenges of their time and we today are the recipients of this great legacy and our task is to continue to move forward.

Parishioners past, present and long serving were involved in different aspects of our liturgy. In the ritual of the handing over of the leadership of the Parish, Mary Palazzo who has lived all her life in our parish, handed Father Chris our Parish candle. Fr Chris lit this candle and symbolically the leadership, which was given to the MSCs in 1914, was handed back to the Archdiocese through the passing of the candle to Fr Philip. He, in turn, passed the candle to Narita Perrotta (Chair of PPC) and Mary Hemmings (Acting Chair of PPC) and Fr Paul Cashen (interim Parish Pastoral Co-ordinator) to keep the flame of God’s love and care for our parish alight as we move into a new era.

Our Parish ‘Hopes for the Future’ which developed from our Parish Pastoral Council’s strategic plan had been framed and on Saturday night were passed onto two of our young people, Noah and Abigail. They represented the future of our Parish and, together with our young people, we will all need to work to bring these Hopes to fruition.

From this sacred space and time we moved to the gymnasium at Nazareth Findon to continue celebrating. The hall was set up to allow all to share in a meal together and to move freely around to engage with all who were present. The musical talents of several of our parishioners were evident as they provided the background to our celebrations. Fr Chris even displayed his singing talents! Fr Philip addressed us as did Joe Szakis, member for Cheltenham and a former student of St Michael’s College.

We again acknowledged Fr Bill, our beloved Parish Priest for these past nine years, who has led us so graciously to this moment in our parish story. His leadership has been greatly valued for its integrity and inclusiveness and we presented him with our gift of a Flight Centre voucher and wished him well as he moves to being involved in the Randwick Parish in Sydney.

The evening was a great opportunity for us as a parish to gather as one. Many comments such as ‘we should do this again sometime’ were made as all enjoyed the chance to be together.

Futures are unknown places: we move forward to the beat of this time and place, with the people who are our present companions and with those who will join us on the path ahead. May we who have had the gift of the MSCs for so long ensure that their spirit remains alive in our community by being people who look ahead and respond to the challenges of our wider community and world, ‘being Christ’s Heart on Earth.’ We are grateful to Fr Paul and Fr Noel who will continue their presence with us over the coming months and give thanks to God for all that has been, all that is and all that is to come.

Special thanks to Linda Arman, Narita Perrotta and Kath Coombs in our Parish Office: you all were involved in so many different aspects of planning for this event and still managed to co-ordinate ongoing Parish services  over the last few busy weeks. 

In the words of our theme for the celebration:

With Grateful Hearts, we have Remembered, we have Celebrated and we now Go Forth!                       

Mass to Celebrate MSC Leadership in Hindmarsh Parish                

Homily   Fr Chris McPhee

Findon Hindmarsh – 2019

Today, we MSC, after 106 years of Ministry here in Adelaide are leaving Sacred Heart Findon Hindmarsh Parish.

But, today is not about looking at ourselves, nor nostalgically looking to the past… our focus is and always will be - to point to, to lead others to, and to follow the heart of Jesus.

I heard recently: it was about Lot’s wife. It read – Lot’s wife; frozen in the act of looking backwards.

I love this, frozen in the act of looking backwards.  Today’s Gospel is very clear – Jesus is about moving on… not staying fixed. In fact, I would put that the Gospel imperative is to read the signs of the times. And in that it is not to be frozen in time by looking backwards.

Our task – leading into the future – is the mission of God – and for us that mission is really about following Jesus into the Kingdom – into love – into the heart of meaning, healing, forgiveness, direction and love.

For me the Soul’s Ground is the Sacred Heart. And this will never change – this is what this Parish is about – the Sacred Heart – and has been for over 106 years – is the Sacred Heart – and this mission continues today – may the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved – where everybody is a player and everyone is important – to be on earth the heart of God.

……..

It’s what we do today that will open a pathway into the future. It is what our focus is, our primary values are, its our way of being Parish ‘today’ that will open a pathway to the future – no one knows the future – it’s what we do today that will eventually take us forward gazing into eternity.

Fr Philip Marshall’s Talk at Dinner

The impact on me of Sacred Heart in Parish: a world embraced in all embracing love: this is the vision that inspires and directs the MSCs.

Jules Chevalier (Servant of God} founded in 1854; was captured by this vision of a new world emerging, and wanted to make God's love and care for humanity known, so that every human heart might be moved to respond. He made the motto for his new Congregation: "May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere."

He wanted those who followed him to live out love, concern, compassion, understanding, respect and acceptance of every individual, based on Jesus' words: "I give you a new commandment, love one another just as I have loved you"

The Constitutions of the Congregation direct that its spirit "is made of love and kindness, humility and simplicity; but above all, it is a spirit of love for justice and concern for the welfare of all, especially the poorest ones."

The missionaries believe that Christ's love for all people is empowering, healing, all-embracing, liberating and challenging.

They are committed to: schools at Henley, Flinders Park, Findon, the emergence of presbyteries  and community centres...all inspired by and at the service of this beautiful vision of a world drenched in the love of God revealed in the heart of Jesus, through to the community that has served us to this day, led by our Parish Priest, Fr Bill Brady.

I want to express our sadness that this moment has arrived, and our complete understanding that this has been a decision that is painful for the Congregation and impelled only by the challenge of aging and diminishing resources...

...but       above all, I want to express, on behalf of all the bishops, clergy, religious and lay faithful of our Archdiocese from all this rich history, our profound gratitude for  the presence, the love, the unique charism, the generosity and service of all the priests we have known and loved over this long time.

You have shaped not only this parish, but have and will continue to be a most beloved part of our diocesan community, your presence here will live on in the hearts of all whom you have served, and we promise to do all in our power to continue the life and spirit of this parish in the grace and love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

FINAL WORD – BILL BRADY MSC

I’ve had my official farewell already – tonight is about the parish’s closure not me

Yet it was something about me (health issues) which has triggered a series of decisions and events that have brought us to this occasion.  It makes sense then to have a word but it will be brief.

I thank you for your presence here tonight and for being the parish you are and for all that you have achieved even if in part that has been on the backs of earlier generations.  Thank you for your generous servic3e over the years.

Whilst MSC administration will cease the heart & spirituality can live on so there is a bright future.

I would like to thank the special guests tonight – Fr Phillip Marshal, Chris McPhee and local member Joe Szakis

People have asked me how I feel about leaving.  I’ve been a bit too distracted with activities lately to fully grasp that.  When I get over there, I’m sure it will sink in.  I’m going to our flagship parish, Randwick, but I’m leaving the parish and city I love.

I’ve been somewhat overwhelmed by the words of thanks and best wishes in the last few weeks and greatly appreciate that.

Accepting criticism is not easy for anyone, but accepting praise can be even harder.  I hope the Lord doesn’t have some ‘thorn of the flesh’ lined up for me to stop me getting proud.

Finally, I’d like to say a word of thanks to the many people who have brought all this together tonight – the Mass and the dinner.

All the best now and God bless you .

PETER TO ROT FEAST DAY CELEBRATION.

 PNG Catholic Association New South Wales

Catechist from New Britain, Peter To Rot, martyr, killed by the Japanese towards the end of World War II, was beatified in Port Moresby in 1995.

His Feast Day, July 7th, is more than a day for significance for PNG and PNG expatriates.  Here is a story of celebrating him.

It has been a tradition to celebrate this Feast on the 7^th July at Sacred Heart Monastery, Kensington. We gathered again this year with over 80 people attending for the celebration of the Eucharist followed by a meal and social gathering together. The PNG Catholic Association NSW took the lead in organizing the liturgy, contact with different PNG groups and organizing the food and social gathering afterwards. The staff of the Mission Office organized the BBQ and did the cooking.

We had a whole range of people there: Papua New Guineans from many places, expatriates with PNG experiences, spouses and families, missionary priest, bishops and sisters, and members of our community here at Kensington. It was a great gather up of people and all seemed to enjoy themselves. There was plenty of PNG food which gave many of us a revival of tastes and enjoyment. People stayed around to meet friends and make new ones, to tell stories and catch up on news.

It was great to make contact with these people and see their organizations around Sydney. I look forward to continued association and communication. The next event is for PNG Independence Day on 14 September which will be a bigger day as people from all churches and way of life will turn up to celebrate and remember the birth of a nation and its continuing life in the wider world.

Fr Roger Purcell MSC

Director - MSC Mission Office

ANNOUNCING THE FIRST EDITION OF ENCOUNTERS OF HEARTS

This is the first edition of the magazine of the Lay Members of the Chevalier Family.

Jules Chevalier had a dream of a lay branch of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. This vision has come to life in recent decades, spreading over all continents and having regional as well as international conferences.

In this edition (an editorial by Hans Kwakman MSC reflecting on Jules Chevalier’s vision), there are articles from all around the world (with contributions from Australia by Fred Stubenrauch and Ancilla White on Lay OLSH). The magazine has been compiled by Rita Cleuren, Europe, longtime leader of the Lay MSC, Alison Mackenzie, Australia, first General Secretary, and Doris Machado, Brazil, deputy secretary.

To read the 32 page magazine on line, go to the MSC Australia website Home Page, Click the item, Who We Are, the first item on the top banner list.  When Lay MSC appears, click this and you will find a picture of the cover and click to bring up the magazine.  (If you scroll down, you will also find previous Australian newsletters and a link to the Spirituality course by Hans Kwakman.)