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EVENTS
The Missionaries
of the Sacred Heart are celebrating the 150th year of existence
worldwide on 8 December 2004. Our
founder, Jules Chevalier, who fought the evils of his time, always placed
great value and tremendous confidence in Divine Providence.
He was convinced that God was at work among us and that God did
great things in the MSC society. The
MSC priests, the MSC Sisters and Brothers and lay MSC came together at
We
thank all friends for their attendance and continued prayers for our society.
**OPENING DAY and BLESSING OF THE PROMOTION OFFICE IN SOUTH AFRICA**It was a week of
intense preparations, but finally the big day arrived on Friday 22 June
2001. The late afternoon African sun joined us in the celebration of the
official opening and blessing of the SA Promotion Office. Priests, After Ivor Bailey’s
introductory talk as chairman of the Promotion Office Board of Management
everybody joined Fr. Thomas Plower, Regional Leader msc, in the Blessing
of the Promotion Office. The Blessing was complimented by a very special liturgical mass lead by Fr. Thomas Plower at the Chevalier House chapel where the Promotion Office is situated.
**GOLDEN JUBILEE 1950-2000**
Frs. John Durkin (later Bishop), Bill Cadogan and Sean Sheeran, Donal MacCarthy and Bill Fleming were the first MSC to work in South Africa. They arrived in July and December 1950. These five pioneers paved the way for many more MSC priests and brothers, who would follow over the next half century, and beyond. Fr. Richard Scriven was the Irish MSC Provincial Superior in 1950, whose vision led to the MSC accepting responsibility for mission work in the Northern Transvaal (now called the Northern Province). The church authorities assigned them to the magisterial districts of Zoutpansberg and Letaba. Fr. Fleming was the first priest to reside at Dwars River. Fr. Cadogan began his pastoral work at Louis Trichardt, Fr. John Durkin at St. Scholastica in Mulima and Fr. Donal McCarthy at Ofcolaco. These pioneers were joined a year later by Frs. Daniel Shine, Jeremiah McCarthy and Jerome O’Mahony. Fr. Cadogan died in 1971, Fr. Sheeran in 1988, Bishop Durkin in 1990, Fr. Shine in 1993 and Fr. McCarthy in 1998. Fr. Fleming retired from active ministry this year. Fr. Tom Plower, the Regional Superior, was the chief celebrant at the Mass in Tembisa. The superb homily was delivered by Fr. Themba Khanyile of St. John Vianney Seminar. His Excellency Mr. Hugh Swift, the Irish Ambassador to South Africa and Mrs. Maura swift attended. Church members flocked to all celebrations in hundreds accompanied by representatives of several religious congregations, and local priests and deacons. Many overseas guests honoured us with their presence. All Eucharistic Liturgies were excellent. The singing, dancing, harmony and movement expressed the spirit of joy and thanksgiving at progressing beyond this milestone. Much has been achieved in terms of evangelisation in spite of the great difficulties; political, cultural and vocational. Much has been accomplished and much remains to be done. The celebrations were memorable occasions and the MSC are hopeful that the next 50 years will be even more fruitful than those that have passed.
MSC
Promotion Office; PO Box 8042, Halfway House, 1685, South Africa |
Sisters
and Brother, invited guests joined us in this special celebration.
The
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) celebrated the Golden Jubilee of
their presence in Southern Africa last year. Three celebrations took place
during the month of July. One was held at St. Vincent’s Church in Tembisa
(Gauteng), one at Louis Trichardt and the other one at Ofcolaco, both
situated in the Northern Province.