ACKNOWLEDGING JOHN CONROY MSC

Another acknowledging website post.  John Conroy MSC turned 85 on Monday April 22^nd.

John was what was called in those years ‘a late vocation’. He entered the novitiate at age 24.

He made his first profession on February 26^th 1960. He was ordained on July 16^th 1966 after studies in Canberra and Croydon.

He has spent most of his ministry of over fifty years in parishes, especially in Randwick and in Kensington. He also spent some time in Darwin.  In recent years, he has been resident at the Sacred Heart Monastery, Kensington.

SRI LANKA, GOOD FRIDAY SUFFERING ON EASTER SUNDAY

After the sadness of the deaths of worshippers in Christchurch, now more than 300 children and adults dead in Sri Lanka.

We pray in solidarity with those who mourn, with those who have been injured and the far too many who were targeted and killed, whatever their faith, whatever their belief in human values.

SAD REMINDERS

CHURCHES

The Catholic Shrine of St. Anthony in Kotahena, Colombo, was the first to be hit, followed by the Catholic Church of St. Sebastian in Negombo. Sri Lankan news media reported at least 93 people killed at St. Sebastian's.

The Zion Church in Batticaloa, a Protestant congregation, was also bombed. Local news reported at least 27 killed in Batticaloa, with 9 of these reported by a police official to be tourists. A hospital official in the region said that more than 300 people had been admitted following the explosion.

HOTELS

Three 5-star hotels on the beachfront in central Colombo were attacked around the same time as the churches: the Shangri-La Hotel, the Cinnamon Grand Hotel and The Kingsbury.

The Shangri-La bomber struck at 08:57 hours (UTC +05:30) during breakfast in the Table One Restaurant on the hotel's third floor, which was reportedly full of foreign tourists who made up the bulk of the hotel's clientele.

The suicide bomber who struck at the Taprobane restaurant in the Cinnamon Grand hotel checked into the hotel with a fake name the night prior, under the false pretense of a business trip. Carrying a plate, the bomber entered the queue of the packed restaurant's breakfast buffet the next morning and detonated explosives strapped to his back as he was about to be served. One of the hotel's managers who was present welcoming guests was among those killed instantly.

The reception hall of a guest house near the National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka, the Tropical Inn Hotel in Dehiwala, was also attacked later in the day, with two deaths reported.   (Wikipedia summary)

CONTACTS FOR PURCHASING MSC MUSIC AND MSC RECENT BOOKS

[Just before you note the MSC Music address, there is a clarification concerning the excerpts from Tony Arthur's reflection on Good Friday, published for the Triduum. The attribution of his central paragraph to Donald Senior CP, Jesus, a Gospel Portrait, 1992.]

There have been several enquires, especially on the Australian Province Facebook page, enquiring about how to purchase MSC music, especially the special offering of hymns by Frank Andersen and James Maher, as well as the new CD by Paul McCormack.

Please contact:   www.mscmusic.com.au

Paul McCormack self-portrait

MSC books from 2018 and early 2019,

Brian Gallagher:   Communal Discernment, A Way of Discernment for a Pilgrim Church

                                 Set Me Free, Spiritual Direction and Discernment of Spirits

Peter Malone:       Hearts Burning within Us, Scripture in the Parish, for small groups and for private prayer.

Noel Mansfield,    Dawn to Dusk, Towards a Spirituality of Ageing.

Khoi Doan Nguyen:  A Quiet Place Within, Contemplation from the Heart.

They were all published by Coventry Press

33  Scoresby Rd, Bayswater, Vic. 3153

Phone:  +61 (0) 477 809 037.

For email requests, Google Coventry Press Contact and fill in the request. 

EASTER BLESSINGS

Catholic Easter Prayer

Lord, the resurrection of Your Son
has given us new life and renewed hope.
Help us to live as new people
in pursuit of the Christian ideal.
Grant us wisdom to know what we must do,
the will to want to do it,
the courage to undertake it,
the perseverance to continue to do it,
and the strength to complete it.

source: New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book

A reflection by G.K. Chesterton

AND ANOTHER EASTER PRAYER

O Lord,

How amazing is your love,
A love that overcomes, endures and redeems.
How astounding is your life,
A life that sustains, heals and creates.
How awesome is your hope,
A hope that promises, restores and inspires.
How absorbing is your truth,
A truth that releases, changes and rebuilds.

How we worship you, as we remember the moment when your love conquered.
When out of the cave of sorrow Jesus arose to release forgiveness to the world.
And each time we encounter this resurrection day we are again lifted to an eternal place.
Our sin, brokenness and darkness fall away and your light and peace flood our lives.
How we thank you for this incredible celebration we call Easter.

Amen.

THE HOLY WEEK TRIDUUM – SOME HEART SPIRITUALITY

WHY DID JESUS DIE ON THE CROSS?

Excerpts from the article by Tony Arthur MSC in the latest issue of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, 2019/1. And with thanks to Patrick Sharpe MSC for sending the painting of the multicultural Last Supper.

"How does one explain why Jesus died such an ignominious death? How does such a disgraceful death fit with, on the one hand, the evident goodness and righteousness of Jesus the teacher and healer and, on the other hand, God’s judgement on the righteousness of Jesus by raising him up in glory?

The evangelists see the events of the Passion as the fulfilment of ancient texts and prophecies. They interpret these texts in the light of their lived experience of the impact of Christ’s death and resurrection.

It is suggested that the original setting of the Passion Narrative may have been liturgical, “perhaps in a service similar to our presentday Good Friday liturgy” (Donald Senior CP). Since the first Christians, following the Jewish tradition, also used readings from the Old Testament in their worship, there was probably an intentional liturgical linking of the Passion account with Old Testament themes (such as that of ‘redemption’ in Exodus). This early development of the narrative in the liturgical setting may account for the general agreement found in the four versions as well as for the interpretation of the meaning and significance of the story in the light of the prophecies.

Even more important, the Passion narrative’s use of the Old Testament is much more subtle and diffuse than any other part of the Gospels. The details of the story have been bonded so closely together with allusions to the Old Testament, particularly the Psalms and prophets, that it is often difficult to tell where the story leaves off and the allusion begins.

The simplest answer to our question, “why did Jesus die on the cross” is that he died on the cross in order to clearly reveal the real character of God to us that God is all-Love, all self-giving – and that we might make this the basis of our own life and faith and live the same spirituality of the heart."

CONGRATULATIONS, GREG McCANN MSC - 102 TODAY

Honouring Greg McCann, a full life (and more), almost three quarters of a century of MSC life and ministry.

A reminder of his appointments:

1946-1950: Chevalier College.

1950-1951: Kensington.

1951-1957: Sideia.

1958-1974: Trobriand Islands.

1975-1976: Hagita.

1977-1979: Japan.

1980-1983: Seminary.

1985-1986: Hagita.

1987-1988: Douglas Park, stomach virus, helping Fr. Stan Tyler.

1989-1992: Fiji and Kiribati.

1993-1996: Douglas Park, Priest-in-charge of parish.

1997: Coogee, Treand House.

2016: Kensington, semi-retired.

• St Josephs.

Remembering Hagita days with Bishop Des Moore MSC

ACKNOWLEDGING MARY SCARFE

On our site we have been acknowledging MSC priests and brothers as they turn a significant age, and upwards.

It is important to acknowledge the women who have been a significant presence in MSC life and ministry.

With this in mind, we offer a tribute to Mary Scarfe who turns 85 tomorrow.

Mary has been associated with the MSC since the late 1960s, especially with the staff and students at Croydon monastery, assisting with some counselling for students and group work.

YTU reunion, Mary with Peter Cantwell OCM and Kevin Goode OFM

During the 1970s, Mary was one of the earliest women lecturers at the Yarra Theological Union, specialising in Counselling courses, our MSC Students attending. During these years, Mary also contributed a number of articles to Compass Theology Review.

From the late 1970s, Mary was invited to St Mary’s Towers on spirituality teams for Renewal programs.

Mary launched the History of Hear of Life, with Peter Malone MSC, Paul Beirne, Director, and Brian Gallagher MSC

With the opening of the Heart of Life Centre in 1983, Mary was one of the supervisors for the Spiritual Direction program, Siloam, and led a number of seminars.

This is an opportunity to express our appreciation to Mary for long friendship and contribution to MSC life,

PAUL McCORMACK MSC, NEW CD NOW AVAILABLE, HYMNS FOR THE HARD ROAD

                                            Hymns for the Hard Road

                                             Paul McCormack M.S.C.

Paul McCormack writes about his new CD:

DOWNLANDS SENIOR STUDENTS COME SOUTH TO VISIT MSC HOUSES.

In recent years some Downlands students have visited MSC communities in Sydney, Douglas Park and a visit to Chevalier College.

Senior Leaders’ Pilgrimage Experience

Mrs Anne McAtomney, Assistant Principal - Mission 

The annual Senior Leaders’ Pilgrimage and Formation Experience took place over the final weekend in February (21-25 February). Accompanied by Mr Morrison and myself, our eight leaders were able to visit places of Catholic and MSC significance in Sydney and at St Mary’s Towers Retreat Centre at Douglas Park, approximately 70kms South-west of Sydney, with this latter often referred to as ‘MSC heartland’. Never free of their backpacks, the students were required to navigate their way to Kensington MSC Monastery, St Mary’s Cathedral, Mary MacKillop Chapel, Treand House (Provincial House) in Coogee and across the Sydney Harbour Bridge while carrying each other's backpacks.

En-route to Douglas Park for the Retreat phase of the pilgrimage, the group visited Chevalier MSC College, Bowral where they met and dined with Chevalier College Leaders. As for each year, this meeting is like the meeting of old family friends – instant connections around a common charism are formed, the conversation never stops and the students farewell each other somewhat reluctantly at the end of the visit.

All along the way, the Leaders were fortunate to enjoy wonderful welcome and warm hospitality at Kensington, at St Mary’s Towers and at Treand House where Fr Frank Dineen MSC celebrated Eucharist before inviting all to share the evening meal and tour the historic house.

We view this pilgrimage as integral to the students’ ability to ‘lead’ in the way that is expected of them in an MSC school. Certainly, the students themselves would say that the days away are/were critical in forming them as leaders who are able to understand, live and articulate the MSC charism as they move through Year 12.

MSC BISHOPS IN PNG: LOUIS COUPPE, FIRST BISHOP, RABAUL.

During this year we will be featuring articles on the MSC Bishops in PNG and the Pacific.

This article  by Hugh Laracy was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 8, (MUP), 1981

Louis Couppé (1850-1926), missionary archbishop, was born on 26 August 1850 at Romorantin, department of Loir-et-Cher, France, son of Charles Couppé, locksmith, and his wife Margeurite Vinéraude, née Cougnet. Ordained in the diocese of Blois on 30 May 1874, he worked in the parish of Selles-sur-Cher before joining in 1880 the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, recently expelled from France by the anti-clerical decrees. Couppé took his first vows in Holland in 1881 and made his final profession in Rome on 25 July 1884.

Aroused by the case of the Marquis de Rays, the Vatican appointed the Order in 1881 to evangelize the vacant vicariates of Melanesia and Micronesia. The first missionaries began work at Kokopo near Rabaul, New Britain, in 1882. Following the division of eastern New Guinea between Britain and Germany in April 1885, Melanesia was divided in 1889 into two new vicariates of New Pomerania and British New Guinea, coterminous with the new political jurisdictions.

Arriving in Sydney in January 1885 with three brothers of his Order and five nuns of the related Order of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Couppé was appointed by Fr Navarre to establish a house of the Order. At Cardinal Moran's request he also ministered to Botany and Randwick parishes. He landed at Yule Island, British New Guinea, in August 1886, joined Henri Verjus in exploring the headwaters of the St Joseph River and in 1889 was appointed vicar apostolic of New Pomerania. Couppé was consecrated titular bishop of Lero at Antwerp, Belgium, in 1890 and returned to his vicariate in 1892. After 1897 his jurisdiction was restricted to New Britain, New Ireland, Manus and the Marshall Islands. The latter group was withdrawn in 1905.

The population was not always receptive. In 1904 ten missionaries were killed in the Baining Mountains and in 1919 a catechist and his wife were killed there. Nor was the government always helpful. In 1889 mission work was banned because of the anti-Jesuit laws then in force in Germany and the missionaries were threatened with expulsion from New Guinea. As soon as these impediments were removed in 1890 it was ordered that the Methodist and Sacred Heart missions should occupy separate districts to avoid tensions.

When Couppé appealed, the German Foreign Office agreed that each mission should retain its existing stations whether or not they were in the territory of the other. The 'spheres of interest' policy was abandoned as impractical in 1899. There were problems, too, over land. To provide for the future growth and financing of the mission, Couppé travelled widely and bought large areas, particularly those with good anchorages. Bitter wrangles with competing claimants such as 'Queen' Emma Coe and the New Guinea Co. ensued, but these became fewer after the German government assumed direct control of New Guinea in 1899.

Couppé was plagued by patriotic sentiment. Under German pressure, his French confrères were replaced by Germans in 1904. Although he urged them to behave correctly towards the occupying force in World War I, the mission remained under official suspicion; funds from Europe were cut off and after the end of the war, until 1924, there were continual deportation threats. His mission nevertheless became largely self sufficient and its headquarters at Vunapope near Kokopo was almost a town, with schools, workshops, a hospital, an orphanage, a printing shop, a church and various religious houses.

When Couppé retired in 1923 he was administering thirty-four mission stations, a school for catechists and an indigenous order of nuns, the Daughters of Mary Immaculate. He had also converted most of the Rabaul Chinese community. He retired to St Mary's Towers at Douglas Park near Sydney, and died there on 20 July 1926, six months after being named titular archbishop of Hieropolis. He was buried at Vunapope. Couppé was 'a very tall, strong, portly, energetic man with a long black beard and, though French, has little of that nationality about him'. His energy, determination, foresight and business acumen gave the Church in the islands a good start.