On the 14^th Aug. 2009 the 2009-2010 African MSC Novitiate opened with 5 candidates and their 2 formators from six different countries.  Now the Novitiate is a little over half way through and the Novices are about to begin their 30 day silent retreat following the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola.

The Novitiate is located in Chevalier House, in Midrand, half-way between Pretoria and Johannesburg in South Africa. Despite the global financial crisis there is a mass of road expansion and industrial development all around. Day and night the preparations continue for the World Cup due in June 2010.

We have launched a range of cards for Mother’s Day that falls on 14 March. There are three cards in the range – all with images of roses. MSC are the first religious congregation in Ireland to produce such a card.

The card contains prayers for mothers and includes a remembrance in a Triduum of Masses that will be celebrated in Sacred Heart Church, Western Road, Cork on 13-15 March.

Fr. Michael O’Connell, Director at the MSC Mission Support Centre said that Mother’s Day is a very special occasion within families, and it was felt appropriate to give praise for all mothers including “the many who gave their sons to the missions over the years”.

The cards are available at the Mission Support Centre, Leebrook House, Western Road, or through the post. The suggested donation is €10 towards MSC missionary work.

The death has taken place of Fr. Jack Shanahan who was the oldest member of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Ireland. Fr. Jack was born in 1911 in Castletownbere, Co. Cork, the eldest of two boys and three girls.

He received his primary education at Castletownbere National School and then travelled to Sacred Heart College, Western Road, Cork for his post primary education.  His home town is almost one hundred miles from Cork city.  As a young student at Sacred Heart College, Fr. Jack began his studies after a two-part journey from Castletownbere to Bantry by boat, and then by train to Cork city.   Mid-term breaks were not a feature of the educational system at that time.