MSC Centennial in Ireland - 2009
July - November 2009
Minister Micheal Martin TD with Fr Pat Courtney MSC (Provincial) opening the exhibition
The exhibition depicts the social and humanitarian work undertaken by MSC missionaries amongst the poorest of the poor in Papua New Guinea, in South Africa, in Venezuela, and in Russia. The Minister referred to our missionaries being the pioneer development workers in poor countries where their work enhanced the image and reputation of Ireland. “The historical roots of Ireland’s Aid programme” he said “lie in the remarkable work which has been carried out over many years by Irish missionaries, including Missionaries of the Sacred Heart whose first member left Cork in 1926 headed for the difficult terrain of Papua New Guinea.” 
Fr Michael O'Connell MSC (Director, Mission Support Centre), Minister Micheal Martin, Barbara Wilson (Irish Aid Centre), Fr Pat Courtney MSC (Provincial) and Ronan Barry (Co-ordinator of Mission Alive, IMU)
“Irish Aid support to missionaries through Misean Cara underlines the Government’s continuing appreciation and respect for the very valuable work being done by missionaries in the fight for education services, equality and human rights, and in the fight against poverty, exclusion and diseases such as HIV/AIDS”. 
The exhibition was launched by the Irish President, Mrs Mary McAleese, during her visit to the MSC Community on the Western Rd in Cork on June 10th 2009
"It is important to say thank you", she said, "so richly deserved for 100 years of humble and compassionate work that was driven by the heart. I know that Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have a special charism that focuses on and around the heart. The heart is the engine that drives us. It is a symbol of all that is good. It showcases for us what we are capable of doing. It is about giving rather than about receiving. Missionaries of the Sacred Heart found that love has the capacity to change first of all the individual person committed to this vocation, and then through their show-casing of that love and the generous giving, to draw from them a loving response that in turn is generous across the world with things that are good, things that are uplifting to help us get through life, things that heal people, reconcile, and make sense of their lives and their suffering." Referring to the exhibition she went on to say, "The photographs here give us a sense of pride in what people have accomplished by harnessing the energy of love… works that are uplifting, are healing and are reconciling. Missionaries of the Sacred Heart were the engine and the heart of that work." The exhibition depicts three MSC missionaries who lost their lives in Papua New Guinea during World War II. After Dublin the exhibition moved back to Cork where the Bishop of Cork & Ross, Dr. John Buckley and the Mayor of County Cork, Cllr. Derry Canty recently opened it in the public library in Glanmire. The exhibition is now on tour throughout that county. Bishop Buckley emphasised the role MSC missionaries played in expanding the Church into what had been unknown territories such as Papua New Guinea. Now that country is sending missionaries overseas itself with one of its priests currently ministering with MSCs in South Africa. The exhibition shows how the Irish priests developed the education and health services of New Guinea. Cllr. Derry Canty paid tribute to MSCs for their enormous contribution in bringing hope and encouragement to the poorest of the poor, and helping to uplift their spirits and their living conditions. “With support from Ireland they built schools and clinics that became the foundation of the social infrastructure of developing countries. They were ambassadors who created the hugely popular reputation of Ireland abroad”. One photograph depicts the departure of six missionaries from Cobh in October 1947. Fr. Michael O’Connell, Director of the MSC Mission Support Centre at Western Road, Cork told how a man born in Glenswilly, Co. Donegal wrote to him recently from Florida relating how he and his wife were aboard the troop carrier – Marine Falcon - which took the priests to the USA en route to Papua New Guinea. “I was lucky to get a bunk bed” said the man “but the six priests had to sleep on the floor”. Fr. O’Connell said that “the man was delighted to learn that three of those priests are still alive and one of them, Fr. Stephen White – aged 90 – travelled recently from Texas to his native Kerry to celebrate his 90th birthday”. After Glanmire the exhibition moved to Mallow, Co. Cork where it was opened by the Mayor, Cllr. Richard Dempsey. Then it moved to Bantry, Co. Cork where it was opened by Cllr. Tom Barry, Mayor of Bantry. It will be on show there until 2 October.
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