MSC SISTERS GENERAL CONFERENCE, MANILA, FEBRUARY 2019

February 2, 2019
Quezon City, Philippines

The Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSC Sisters) celebrated the 25th year of their mission in the Philippines; the event was made even more blessed with MSC Sisters from around the world who have gathered in Quezon City for their 2019 General Conference.

The celebration started with the Eucharist presided by Fr. Leonaro Cabrera, MSC (Philippine Provincial Superior), with the Chevalier Family in Metro Manila well represented.

Mary Drum, Australian Provincial Superior.

After the Mass, the scholars of the sisters rendered beautiful cultural performances; some MSC sisters and their scholars also shared their testimonials during the dinner program.

MSC WEEKEND: MORE STORIES AND PICTURES

Jonas Hassan MSC, Cameroun, who studied in Sydney two years ago, sent condolences at the death of Adrian Meaney and some photo mementos.

Word also came this week of the death of former Irish MSC Provincial, Pat Courtney. May he rest in peace.

A catch-up story from last year. Tony Young MSC received the Star of Melanesia for services to PNG. Joe Ensing has sent the following story and photos of a dapper Tony Young.

On Thursday 6th December Frs Tony Young, Paul Jennings and myself went to Government House, Port Moresby, for the 2018 Independence Honours List Programme of INVESTITURE.

There were over 80 persons to be invested for a variety of insignia.

Reverend Father Anthony Young, MSC, was to be invested with the Insignia of the "Companion of the Order of Star of Melanesia" (CSM), for service to the Catholic Church as a Priest in the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart working for over 50 years in Milne Bay Province.

Unfortunately, the wife of the Governor General had died very recently so that his Deputy came from Manus Island that morning to officiate, causing a slight delay in the ceremonies.

The launching of a new book at the Litury Conference in Melbourne this week, Fit for Sacred Use. Photo with Bishop Pat O'Regan, Sale, Fr Tom Elich, Fr Stephen Hackett MSC, Secretary of the Bishops Conference.

And, with a lighter touch:

Intruder/ visitor in Peter Hendriks' shower in Darwin.

RIP, ADRIAN MEANEY MSC

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of our brother, Adrian Meaney.

Adrian has been in and out of hospital over the past couple of weeks with infections and complications.

He was placed in intensive care with kidney failure and liver problems. He died just before 11pm last night. John Kelliher and others  visited him and Adrian’s cousin Mary and her husband George were with him. Adrian’s younger brother Damian and his daughter Helen arrived from Brisbane this morning.

We posted this tribute to Adrian on the site on the occasion of his 85th birthday December 5th last.

Professed, 26th February, 1955, ordained (with his brother, Basil, of Brisbane archdiocese), June 29th, 1961.

Adrian spent many years in the Northern Territory, especially in Alice Springs, and many years in PNG, especially in Bereina and Port Moresby, including work for the Papal visit there in 1995 for the beatification of Peter To Rot.

His principal focus for the many more recent years is the MSC Mission Office.

In Vietnam at the time of his last birthday.

INTRODUCING THE MEN WHO HAVE JUST JOINED THE MSC: TRIEU NGUYEN

“To be MSC means to be yourself”

This is the sentence that impressed me and helped me make the decision to join the MSC order.

My name is Trieu Nguyen and I come from Viet Nam. I was a diocesan seminarian for three years. At the end of the third year I was directed by the Rector to leave the seminary and go to the Philippines to undertake a leadership course. At that time although very disappointed and sad to leave my brothers, I trusted that I would come to understand God’s will through this decision. I looked for where I could best serve God because I accepted that I was not suited to the diocesan priesthood.

During the time in the Philippines I remembered that I had been introduced to the MSC order by a priest who had been given a spiritual direction scholarship by them. I asked an Australia friend, who was my English teacher in the seminary to help me connect with the MSCs in Australia. He did that for me and that is how I began my association with them and was in time invited to join them.

Looking back on my life story so far there is joy and sadness, happiness and suffering, hope and disappointment. I have always believed that God is present in my life even though sometimes I have felt abandoned.  I also understand that God has a plan for each of us and it is a mystery that must unfold as we journey with Him. When I was in the seminary, I had no desire to go overseas. I didn’t give it a thought. But here I am and ready to join the pre-noviciate year with three others.

I do not know what will happen in the future, but I believe that God has called me here. He will help me and remain with me. I am at peace and I take this gift with me as I begin this important year. It will inspire me to trust God further and to share it with all I meet in my new life as a missionary of Jesus’ love.

RELIGIOUS CARTOONS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO FOLLOW UP

THE NAKED PASTOR: DAVID HAYWARD, US.

You may be familiar with the cartoons. If not, try going to Google and click images and insert The Naked Pastor, Cartoons.

You will find a great deal of clever observation on religious and Gospel themes.  Some included in this post.

DAVID HAYWARD, BACKGROUND.

David was baptized Anglican as a baby, came to faith in a Baptist church when he was a teenager, changed to Pentecostal in his late teens, married another Pentecostal named Lisa, was ordained Presbyterian, pastored a Vineyard church, and planted others.

He has a Masters in Theological Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, as well as a Diploma in Religious Studies and Ministry from McGill University in Montreal.

In 2010 David left the professional paid clergy. He is still passionate about how people can find and follow their own spiritual path with courage and joy, as well as in how people can freely gather and form community in healthy ways.

David started a blog called nakedpastor in 2006, and initiated his public analysis of religion, religious community and spirituality through his writings, art and cartoons. Thousands of people are challenged and entertained by nakedpastor every day.

In 2012, David launched The Lasting Supper, and online resource site and community for the spiritually independent.

His art, cartoons, writings and book have found their way all around the world.

David lives with his wife Lisa on the beautiful Kennebecasis River near Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. They have 3 grown children close by.

BACK TO SCHOOL TIME, MONIVAE, MSC COLLEGE HAMILTON: KIRIBATI CONNECTION

MONIVAE OUTREACH

KIRIBATI

Kiribati is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean composed of 32 atolls, several of which are visited by the Monivae group. The unique opportunity gives students the chance to step outside their comfort zone and learn about other cultures and is an experience which they will carry for life.

The Monivae Kiribati Mission Experience Program started in the Year 2000 with students visiting our sister school Chevalier College on the outer island of Abemama. Many describe their visit as being the ‘experience of a lifetime' as they are able to immerse themselves into the subsistence living of fishing, making thatch and local coconut mats on a remote atoll environment.

While the students and staff support the teaching and learning of English at this school, many other benefits are enjoyed by all in the group, namely the incredibly friendly hospitality of the I-Kiribati people and their unique culture.

Farewell, and God bless to our Kiribati and PNG students.
Ketrina Tawati, Tatioma Birate , Andrew Airi & John Vilvivili

AND INDONESIAN EXCHANGE

Monivae encourages and supports students to develop a greater cultural awareness and relationship with our nearest neighbours in Indonesia. A valuable experience of immersion within the Indonesian culture through mutual exchange programs is offered to students who continue to study Indonesian beyond Year 8.

Through the Commonwealth BRIDGE Project, Monivae has been fortunate to develop a strong sister school relationship with Kusuma Bangsa in Palembang, Indonesia. This regular reciprocal partnership enables students to experience home and school life in the Indonesian culture and the opportunity to host Indonesian students when they visit Monivae and the Western District of Victoria.

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INTRODUCING THE MEN WHO HAVE JUST JOINED THE MSC: DANIEL MAGADIA

Kamusta,

My name is Daniel Magadia, and I am from the festival city of churches, Adelaide, though I did not originate from there. I was born on November 24, 1992 in Quezon City, near the Philippines’ capital, Manila. My family migrated to Adelaide almost twelve years ago, and our first exposure to Catholicism in Australia was at the Our Lady of Sacred Heart Parish at Henley Beach. That was also where I was introduced to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

Through my time in the parish, I was also introduced to the Antioch Youth Movement, which has made an enormous impact in many aspects of my life and faith. It opened me as well to so many opportunities in being more active in the Church. Through Antioch, I was able to attend three Australian Catholic Youth Festivals, and the 2016 World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland. I found lifelong friendships in Antioch too.

So, what brought me to this point. Why now?

For the past five years or so, I have revisited the possibility that maybe I am called to religious life, a call I once had as a little child (when I used to do “play Masses”, complete with costume and props).

So, I discerned. I attended a monthly vocation discussion group with young men from the Adelaide Archdiocese like myself. I finished a Theology degree. I had many conversations with recently ordained Fr Krish Mathavan MSC, who was guiding me for a couple of months leading into meeting the provincial and vocations director in Sydney. I also brought it to prayer.

Eventually I have reached the point, that I realized God cannot drive a parked car. To use another analogy, I cannot be stuck aiming a basketball at a hoop, asking “what if” questions to myself. “What if it misses?” “What if shooting was not worth the effort?”

But amidst doubt and hesitation, there will come a time when I have to shoot the ball, to take that risk. Of course, this involves leaving the comforts of the familiar, and hopefully setting out into the deep. This is in the hope I find what God is calling me to be, what He has in-store in this journey of life.

But why the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart?

To put it simply, I was inspired by their witness of faith. I was attracted by their joy (despite facing challenges and suffering), their humour (which I later found out was encouraged in the MSC constitution), and their service for others. Before I was made aware of the MSC spirituality or charism, my first exposure of it was through how the MSC’s lived it out, with the aim of being on earth the heart of God.

Lastly this brings me to exploring where do I see God working in my life. To be honest, this was the hardest to reflect on. Eventually I had to start with one of the fundamentals of the faith: The Sacraments. During my time in the parish and in Antioch, I have developed a greater appreciation of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Here I intimately witness God’s mercy for me. Through the Eucharist, I am spiritually nourished and reminded, that my Catholic faith is first and foremost a relationship. Then I looked into the events when God was showing his sense of humour at my expense. In occasions like these, I learned to be humble, and that my relationship with God is not all seriousness. Some levity and mirth are essential.

CAN MSC VOCATION POSTERS WORK? DO WE LIKE THEM? WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED? ATTRACTED?

This poster incorporates a photo of MSC Brothers at the APIA Conference in Sydney, September 2018

The Facebook pages of the MSC Filipino Students and of Vocations Promotion there provide a wide ranger of posters.

Here is their declation about posters and some more posters:

We, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus are an international religious congregation of brothers and priests working in more than 50 countries.

We are engaged in various ministries: in parishes, schools and universities, media, hospital and military chaplaincies, and orphanages; with indigenous peoples, laborers, farmers, fisherfolks, people living with HIV/AIDS, and people in drug rehabilitation programs; in marriage and family life, group retreats, and youth development among many others. All to make the Sacred Heart of Jesus known and loved everywhere.

Poster with local appeal

JOIN US IN A MISSION THAT KNOWS NO LIMITS!
We do mission as brothers!

SIGNIFICANT FEBRUARY DAYS FOR THE CHEVALIER FAMILY, 2019

Image of St Joseph

2 February, 1892
The title of Saint Joseph "Friend of the Sacred Heart" is changed to "Saint Joseph, patron and model of those of love the Sacred Heart".

5 February, 1900
Canonical Erection of the Congregation of MSC Sisters and approbation of the Statutes for five years.

6 February, 1855
Chevalier and Maugenest finish their second novena to the Blessed Virgin.
Their prayer is answered. They are promised 1000 francs, per year, from a generous benefactor, for their living expenses.

10 February, 1885
Fr. Verjus and three Italian Brothers leave Sydney for Thursday Island.

15 February, 1981
Fr. Juan Alonso Fernandez, MSC, of the Spanish Province, is violently assassinated in Guatemala.   See poster below.
 

16 February, 1915
Fr. Charles Piperon dies in Thuin, Belgium. He was longtime companion and confidant of Jules Chevalier.
 

 22 February, 1908
Marie Louise Hartzer, first Superior General of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, dies in Thuin, Belgium. She is buried four days later. Marie Louise had left France due to the expulsions of religious by the French Government.

23 February, 1945
29 Dutch MSC are freed form the concentration camp at Los Baños, Philippines.

24 February, 1985
Fr. Henri Verjus arrives at Thursday Island after having left Sydney earlier in the month.
   

25 February, 1875
The Vatican orders that, in future, all new images of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart must represent the Child Jesus on the arms of his mother, and not standing before her.
                    

INTRODUCING THE MEN WHO HAVE JUST JOINED THE MSC: DANIEL O'CONNOR

We posted news and photos of the four men who joined the MSC last Friday. We will introduce them individually during this week and next. Their stories in their own words. Today, Daniel O'Connor from Queensland.

Life in the Catholic Church.

I was baptised into the catholic faith, July of 1994 a month after being born. My family attended Catholic mass on a regular basis, however I never really had parents who live the call to holiness, which created a question later in life about the purpose of church. I went through the sacraments and classes which was a very important to my early faith. In those classes through Stella Maris I learned about the Eucharist and why it was important. It was great to spend time with my children of my own age who were engaging in faith. Learning faith through community is very important to me.

November of 2016 I was blessed to help out at schoolies as a red frog. It was a wonderful experience to walk with Christ to help schoolies be safer as well as to encounter Jesus. To show someone the love of Jesus by keeping them safe or praying with them or having a conservation which changes someone’s view of Christianity and/or Jesus, is indescribably profound. To know you have positively influenced someone’s life more towards Jesus is an amazing feeling which does not disappear. To be able to fully give my life to the service of God’s church to bring the message of Jesus into the world is only thing I can find meaning in.

Throughout the early part of 2017-18 I discerned the call to the Priesthood through the Brisbane Archdiocese discernment house. I enjoyed my time there however I felt stifled in terms of service and community life and felt perhaps a religious community might be more fulfilling. After attending a retreat at Douglas Park, and experiencing a wonderful I felt the MSC’s could better fulfil these questions about service and community.

After applying to the archdiocese of Brisbane to start seminary training. The seminary panel suggested I go to Canali house. Canal house discernment 2018 has been a wonderful year of continuing to grow in Gods love. Started work with Centacare, in the information management team and serving an elderly men’s community group through Centacare.  Continued to serve with Red Frogs as I have done so since 2015, in universities, schoolies, sports events music festivals and the commonwealth games. Started reading ministry at St Stephens cathedral and St Mary's South bank, cameras for ignite live charismatic community. Served as youth leader with Jubilee parish’s Lighthouse youth. Served with the St Stephen’s Young Adults community through reading at Mass and volunteering through their barbecues. It has been difficult in some respects, as I tried to conform to what I thought an archdiocese candidate looked like. After my three trips to India and one to to Bali in 2017-2018, I have had the desire to serve people as a missionary. I thought if ignored that and much more about me God would work it out in the future. As much as Brisbane is a wonderful place to live and the people here are good, my heart does not beat to serve them.

God has given me the gift of enjoying where I am because I am with him. From this I love to serve God by serving others. In order to show the love of God to others. I imagine myself serving the needs of people where they are and building community through the eucharist as this is how God brings together His family in Love. I look forward to exploring this further as a MSC pre-novice.