GLIMPSES OF MSC MINISTRY BEYOND AUSTRALIA

After the local glimpses yesterday, here is some activity in PNG and the Philippines – people we might know.

PNG and a visit to the PNG Province by the MSC Superior General, Abzalon

And quite a welcome to De Boismenu College – a welcome to a Chieftain

– visiting Cardinal John Ribat MSC

( and Ben Fleming taking some time off from the OLSH Chapter as reported yesterday)

And to the Philippines and some people we know -

Fil Pelingon MSC who studied theology in Australia, was Bursar General in Rome and the Director of CFA, Communication Foundation for Australia, celebrated a Golden Jubilee of ordination.

The death of Dutch Missionary, Henry Groenewegen, so many decades in the Philippines, in the Chevalier School since the 1950s.

And Arci Nabellana, former Assistant General in Rome, now a local bishop, appointed as head of the Bishops Conference  department for Migrants and Itinerant People.

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 GLIMPSES OF MSC MINISTRY BEYOND AUSTRALIA

After the local glimpses yesterday, here is some activity in PNG and the Philippines – people we might know.

PNG and a visit to the PNG Province by the MSC Superior General, Abzalon

And quite a welcome to De Boismenu College – a welcome to a Chieftain

– visiting Cardinal John Ribat MSC

( and Ben Fleming taking some time off from the OLSH Chapter as reported yesterday)

And to the Philippines and some people we know -

Fil Pelingon MSC who studied theology in Australia, was Bursar General in Rome and the Director of CFA, Communication Foundation for Australia, celebrated a Golden Jubilee of ordination.

The death of Dutch Missionary, Henry Groenewegen, so many decades in the Philippines, in the Chevalier School since the 1950s.

And Arci Nabellana, former Assistant General in Rome, now a local bishop, appointed as head of the Bishops Conference  department for Migrants and Itinerant People.

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SOME GLIMPSES OF MSC MINISTRY

Visitors to the site sometimes wonder what MSC are doing, where they are.

Here are some glimpses.

Peter Hendriks, parish priest of Nightcliff, Darwin, First Communion.

And from the NT to the highlands of PNG

Brian Cahill, Tarpini, PNG, fund-raiser, with a cheque

and on patrol. Then down to Port Moresby

Ben Fleming, Vicar General, Port Moresby and, in this photo, behind the scenes, as facilitator of the 9^th OLSH PNG Provincial Chapter.

Finally, to Sydney,

Claude Mostowik, MSC Justice Office, promoting Justice and contemporary issues and causes.

SOME GLIMPSES OF MSC MINISTRY

Visitors to the site sometimes wonder what MSC are doing, where they are.

Here are some glimpses.

Peter Hendriks, parish priest of Nightcliff, Darwin, First Communion.

And from the NT to the highlands of PNG

Brian Cahill, Tarpini, PNG, fund-raiser, with a cheque

and on patrol. Then down to Port Moresby

Ben Fleming, Vicar General, Port Moresby and, in this photo, behind the scenes, as facilitator of the 9^th OLSH PNG Provincial Chapter.

Finally, to Sydney,

Claude Mostowik, MSC Justice Office, promoting Justice and contemporary issues and causes.

Do you know the Australian congregation of Sisters, The Missionary Sisters of Service?

This year they are celebrating 75 years. And their Melbourne celebration is being hosted by the MSCs at Blackburn parish.

Here is some history well worth knowing. (Story by Fiona Basile and photos)

 Celebrating 75 years of going out into the highways and byways

It is with great excitement and joy that the Missionary Sisters of Service (MSS), an Australian grown congregation of Religious women impacting the lives of people living on the margins, is celebrating their 75-year anniversary this Sunday 7 July at our parish, St Thomas the Apostle Parish, Blackburn. Archbishop Peter Comensoli will celebrate the Mass at 10.30 am with the MSS playing a role in the Mass, followed by a celebration for all in the parish hall. 

The MSS story is one of inspiring and pioneering women who in their peak, travelled into the highways and byways of this vast country to meet the spiritual and practical needs of isolated people. They are ordinary women who took on the challenge of joining a new congregation, which started in Tasmania in 1944, to live out their faith in ordinary ways, but with extraordinary effect, and often in a changing and difficult world and church climate.

The initial purpose of the MSS mission was to provide spiritual education and support to isolated families and communities. The Sisters travelled to remote areas of Australia in the early days often in pairs, sometimes alone. For a time in Tasmania they had a caravan, which acted as a moving chapel or classroom. They would have a car full of books, which they shared with the families they met on the road. They went out for weeks, staying in homes, in shearing sheds, in vacant halls or church buildings, hotels or sheds. They established a correspondence school first within Tasmania, and later on the mainland.

Over the years, the Sisters’ mission adapted to the needs of the people they encountered. They were constantly challenged to develop deep, inner resources, to live creatively and to respond to situations and make decisions. In later years they have worked in different situations in adult formation, chaplaincy, counseling, pastoral care in the Deaf community, advocating for asylum seekers and refugees, assisting people impacted by human trafficking, counseling and spiritual direction and other areas of urgent concern in rural and urban areas, especially with groups of people who have been on the margins.

Today there are 26 Missionary Sisters of Service still living in Australia – in Melbourne, Toowoomba, Hobart, Mackay, Bribie Island and Whyalla. Though older and less mobile, they continue to serve in their local communities, in whatever way they can, as well as continuing to read the signs of the times and setting up structures that will enable the charism to be carried in new and innovative ways by the laity.

They have established a new entity, Highways and Byways: A community of Service, which seeks out and funds initiatives that develop the spiritual and human potential of people and communities living on the margins. It will see the spirit and work of the sisters in remote and regional Australia, and towns and cities, continue beyond the life of the religious community.

Throuhout 2019, the MSS have been celebrating their 75-year milestone. One of the highlights has been the release of their commemorative cookbook, Food for the Highways and Byways: Celebrating 75 Years of the Missionary Sisters of Service, which features stories, recipes and other information related to the MSS. This will be available on Sunday. They have also embarked on a pilgrimage in Tasmania visiting sites of significance to the MSS story. Another pilgrimage to Bruny Island, where the sisters’ story began will take place in November this year, to close the anniversary celebration.

We look forward to joining with the sisters and the wider community in celebrating this special occasion on Sunday! For more information, see www.missionarysisters.org.au and www.highwaysandbyways.org.au

CHEVALIER FAMILY FIRST FRIDAY, SOCIAL JUSTICE INTENTION

We join the Chevalier Famiy around the world in their focus and intention for July.

HINDMARSH PARISH: FAREWELL TO BILL BRADY MSC

Over nine years ago, Bill Brady was appointed to Hindmarsh. He has served as parish priest and as Community Leader of the Adelaide Community.  As the MSC withdraw from Hindmarsh, he is making his way to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Randwick.

Farewell Speech, with some memories of his ministry - with thanks to Noel Mansfield.

“A time for everything under heaven”  Book of Ecclesiastes.

One of those times is a “Time to say goodbye.”

That’s why we are here tonight – my departure – farewell.  I thank you for being here on such a night.

My time here, thanks to you has ben very rewarding. It’s been uplifting, edifying – I feel I have grown and that’s all thanks to you for your affirmation and support.  This Parish will always have a place in my heart and memory.

When I walked in here nine and a half years ago it wasn’t as if I was walking into a vacuum.  There has been 100 years of the MSC presence here long before me.  All I had to do was build on that great reservoir of goodness.

Its fallen on me now to be the one who turns out the light – the last MSC Parish Priest in the Parish.   Triggered by my ill health and no suitable person to replace me – the MSC Administration has withdrawn from the Parish.

This is a sadness for us all, but it is part of the sign of the times.  But Gods Spirit is part of all that unfolds, and we can have every reason to feel confident in the future.

Moreover, this is a Parish that is filled with resourceful people, spirit filled people, an I’ve got no doubt they will lead you in a way which will take you to greater heights.

My time here has seen a number of major changes I might mention –

One standout one was the relocation of the Flinders Park community to Findon and the sale of the property and demolition of the Church there.

This was met with such angst and sadness for many, but it was a complex issue, and in many ways involved forces outside the Parish – such as Catholic Education taking over that land well before I arrived.

At the time of our transition I referred to it as a dying and rising and in many ways, I think this is what has eventuated. That something very good has come out of it all, to become part of Findon, new facilities, and close association with Nazareth Catholic Community.

One major benefit of it all has been the renovations of the Hindmarsh church.  We have also seen a welcomed influx of people of other cultures arriving here in Findon and right across the Parish and schools.  This means we can model respecting diversity at a time when this is very much a work in progress for other sections of the Australian community

Throughout my nine and a half years the reputation of the wider church has been marred by scandal and embarrassment.  We’ve had the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse where our church particularly featured highly.  The conviction, quite unfairly in my view, of our Archbishop for concealment of child abuse which was later overturned.  And more recently the conviction for abuse itself of Cardinal Pell.

Never at any time did I feel our Parish relationship was affected by this, even though the Clergy were the ones who most came under the microscope for offences.

I’m not saying we are blaze’ about the seriousness of the crimes, but Faith is bigger than the church’s feelings.

I would like now to express my appreciation and gratitude to particular sections of the Parish.  The PPC, without whom I couldn’t have achieved much.  If good things have happened under my watch, you can put 99.9% down to them.  I thank you for your support, wisdom and hands-on knowledge.

The Schools – all six of you.  What a pleasure it has been to be in partnership with you.  How lucky we are to have such leadership and staff to be leading our children into real knowledge of the heart of Christ.

The Preca Community for the generous and devoted service to the Youth Group and new arrivals. We are grateful for your formative work as well.

The two main arms of the Parish – Hindmarsh with its strong Italian contingent and Findon.  You may feel I’ve given you a lot, but you have given me far more in return.

Last, but not least, my own MSC Community – when I was reduced to being here on my own and even worse when I had all my health problems – Paul, Krish, Noel and John have given valuable service to our Parish.

How do I feel about leaving?   Relief was my initial response – That was because of a lot of health issues and other things at the time.

But there is a real sadness in leaving a Parish I’ve come to love, and Adelaide itself.

The Parish is being left in good hands and you can have confidence in the future.

Fr Bill Brady, MSC

19^th June 2019

CELEBRATING THE SACRED HEART, BY WAY OF CONTRAST

How did you celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart?

Here are two stories – by way of contrast.

Each year, Fr Terry Bowman hosts an evening Mass for the Chevalier family in Melbourne and for parishioners of St Thomas, Blackburn.  And, each year there is a guest speaker on Heart Spirituality and a Justice outreach.  With the recent death of Jean Vanier, it seemed appropriate to invite a member of L’ Arche.

Our speaker was Fiona Winn, also a Uniting Church minister, who had investigated our Heart Spirituality, quoting our motto. She reminded us that L’Arche with its communities for those with disabilities has an aim of transforming the world, heart by heart.

By way of contrast, Bishop Rochus Tatamai MSC, bishop of Kavieng in New Ireland, PNG, describes the celebration on the island of Lihar.

“Feastday of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at St Clement Parish Lihir Island was animated by the MSC Lay Associates with the Parish communities.

It was well attended with active participation during the preparation stages the actual celebration and then the social activities.

Full credit to everyone for making it a truly family celebration day with everyone in order and respect for the common good.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved. Now & forever.”

IN MEMORIAM, GREG McCANN MSC, PHOTOS AND STORIES

Requiem Mass was celebrated at Kensington Monastery on Thursday April 27th, followed by burial at St Mary's Towers, Douglas Park. For memories, we reprint some of the stories told by his nephew, Greg, on the occasion of Uncle Greg's 100th birthday celebration in 2017,

One Hundred years ago on April 18^th 1917, at Sydney Women's Hospital, twins were born to Jim McCann and Catherine McCann. Little did I know at that time how much impact that would have on my life!!! It was a fairly smooth birth with Uncle Greg deciding to come out first and my Dad, Neil, come out 10 minutes later. But who'd know?...they were identical twins!

The Family had actually come from the country-side and lived at 'HILLVIEW' a sheep / wheat farm at a place called Begeribong just outside of Forbes.

In 1922 their father, Jim died, probably of pneumonia, and his wife, Catherine (known as Kate) was left with her six children Molly, Frank, Greg, Neil, Jim and Phyllis. Life on the farm was difficult for her and she left the country-side with her Family and moved to the city in the mid-1920's – just at the beginning of the Great Depression. She opened a lollie shop in Stanmore and the Family settled into life in the city. Uncle Greg and my Dad, Neil, must have been very responsible young people because they both left school early to help their Mum. Uncle Greg had a raptured appendix when he was about 14 years old and he nearly died. He still has the scars of the operation. He'll show them to you if you ask him!!!! (Don't ask!!)

During this time the Family were struggling to make ends meet and I admire my dear Nana McCann. She must have been an amazing woman i.e. Raising all those children on her own with very little support. They were a Family of Faith and very much a part of the local church community. Uncle Greg and Dad were alter boys and Auntie Molly (the eldest sibling) used to say she could tell the difference between the twins when they were kneeling at the alter with their backs to the congregation because their ears were at a different level! The twins had great fun trying to trick their Mother ...sometimes they would swap their names but Nana McCann would eventually say, "Stop that! I know who's who!!" Uncle Greg and dad were in the local Catholic tennis club and also active members of the debating society and the Catholic Evidence Guild but Uncle Greg will have more to say about that soon. Eventually three of them entered religious life Auntie Molly and Auntie Phyllis joined the Josephite Sisters and Uncle Greg became an MSC. ..but I digress.....

So now we come to the war times! That's the Second World War! When I'm talking to Uncle Greg and he's telling me some stories, I often ask, "Was that the First World War or the Second World War?"Anyway, he was in the army with my Dad, Neil, and they were both in the transport section delivering goods and chattels and also personnel around eastern Australia. It was there that Uncle Greg was arrested. You should ask him about that!! After his time in the army he was accepted to join the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. His first appointment was to Chevalier College as he was asked to be the main cook in 1946 and believe it or not, while he was the first MSC cook, I was actually, the last MSC to be the main cook at Chevalier College in 1968 when it was handed over to a more 'professional' group'. There must have been something about my food that they didn't like!!!

He had done his stint as cook at Chevalier and Kensington and by constantly asking the Provincial if he could to go to the missions, he finally got there and began teaching at Sideia, in the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. That was in the early 1950's. He went to the Trobriand Islands in 1958 and stayed there until 1974. In 1975 he went to Hagita High School in Milne Bay, PNG and taught for a couple of years and then, in 1977, he went to Japan. I don't know what happened there (maybe he'll tell you about that!) but his life began to change. In 1980 he entered St. Paul's Late Vocation Seminary and in 1983 he was ordained a priest. He went back to Hagita for a while; he went to Fiji and Kirribati and eventually became the priest in charge of Douglas Park Parish. In 1997 he was appointed to the Provincial house at Coogee. After that he semi-retired to the Monastery here at Kensington and he is now at St. Joseph's Nursing Home for Religious. Following Uncle's footsteps, I'll probably end up there in the near future!!! (and he'll be looking after me the way he's going!!!).

 I'd like to end with a couple of quick anecdotes – if I may. My memories of Uncle Greg...he gave me as a gift a smallish hand -made canoe from the Trobriand Islands and he and my Father spent most of the night putting it together. I was definitely the king of the kids!! I took it to Cronulla beach and played with this fantastic canoe – outrigger and all. I had special status with my life-saver friends after that!! On another occasion, I remember Dad put on a special 'Mission Night' at our house to raise money for Uncle's Mission on the Trobriand Islands. Dad was well known around Cronulla and many people would come to our house and talk to Uncle Greg and watch his slides of the missions. I remember this night...... Uncle Greg answered the front door bell and this woman came in and proclaimed..."What a wonderful idea Mr. McCann (my Dad) getting dressed up as a priest! Then Uncle Greg explained that HE was actually, Mr. McCann's twin - the Missionary from PNG.

One Christmas Uncle Greg was staying with us and we were all on the patio having a few Christmas drinks with the neighbours. My mother got up, went over to Uncle Greg, gave him a big kiss and said, " I won't be long Darling I'll just go inside and check the roast." "Yes, Gwen," came the reply and then Mum realised that she'd kissed Uncle Greg much to her embarrassment and much to our amusement. Dad and Uncle Greg had a kind of mental telepathy. They would be sitting at the table or in the lounge room and out of the blue one would say OK and they go off and do something!!

I can honestly say that I have never, ever, heard him say a derogatory word about anyone. May God continue to bless him, keep him close to His Heart and continue to give him Peace. He will always be to us an example of a true Missionary of the Sacred Heart.

SOME SIGNIFICANT JULY DAYS FOR THE CHEVALIER FAMILY, 2019

July seems to have been a mission establishing month: MSC in Yule Island, PNG; MSC in Bangalore, India; MSC in Canada; MSC Sisters in Peru.

It is also a month of memories of murdered MSCs, in Indonesia during World War II, of Peter To Rot in New Britain and in Central America of Faustino Villneuva.

1 July, 1885
Father Verjus, Brothers Salvator Gasbarra and Nicolaus Marconi arrive in Yule Island. The mission in Papua begins!!



2 July, 1985
Opening of the first MSC House in India. the original house was rented from the Holy Cross Fathers, in Bangalore.



4 July, 1885
Father Verjus celebrates the first Eucharist on Yule Island and 48 years later in 1933 Monsignor de Boismenu consecrates a chapel built on the site of the first Eucharist.



5 July, 1941
Unveiling of the statue of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Miribel, France. The statue is 33 meters high!



7 July, 1945
The death of Peter To Rot, Martyr and Catechist in PNG. He was beatified, 17 December, 1995.



10 July, 1980
Father Faustino Villanueva, MSC, from the Spanish MSC Province, is assassinated in Joyabaj, Guatemala.



11 July, 1946
The body of Marie Louise Hartzer is transferred from Thuin, Belgium to the Mother House of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Issoudun.



14 July, 1859
Father Jules Chevalier visits the Curé d'Ars, Jean-Marie Vianney. The Curé confirms Chevalier in his mission as founder! Two days after their visit, Father Chevalier and Piperon start a novena with the Curé d'Ars, who died shortly after on 4 August, 1859.



17 July, 1874
The church in Issoudun is erected as a Minor Basilica: the Basilica of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.



19 July, 1876
Father Chevalier buries his mother in Richelieu.


19 July, 1947
The first missionary group of MSC Sisters leave Germany to begin a mission in Peru.



20 July, 1926
Monsignor Couppé, MSC, founder of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, a local congregation in Papua New Guinea, dies at Douglas Park in Australia.



21 July, 1896
Father H. Linckens, MSC, is appointed Provincial of the newly-erected German MSC Province.


21 July, 1982
Father Eugene Cuskelly, MSC, former Superior General, is ordained auxiliary bishop of Brisbane, in Australia.



24 July, 1828
Jean Charles Piperon, one of Father Chevalier's faithful founding companions, was born about 50 kilometres from Issoudun, at Vierzon, France.



30 July, 1942
Monsignor Aerts and 12 Dutch MSC confreres are killed at Langgur, Indonesia, during World War II.



31 July, 1873
Father J.B. Chappel and Brother H. Dechâtre leave France for the very first MSC overseas mission: the mission in Canada! In 1875, they establish the first MSC residence in the USA, at Watertown, New York State. The present MSC Superior General, Father Mark McDonald, MSC, was born and grew up in Watertown!


31 July, 1878
Father Chevalier signs the purchase deed of the Church of St James of the Spaniards, Piazza Navona, Rome. Today it is known as the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.