 MSC Centennial in Ireland - 2009Centenary Celebrations of the arrival of MSCs in Ireland
1909 - 2009
 2009 marks the centenary of the arrival of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) in Ireland. In 1909 Fr. Michael Tierney MSC – a native of Churchtown in north Cork – arrived back in Ireland having joined the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in France, and established a house at Dyke House, Western Road, Cork city. From there the Society blossomed with many young men coming forward to study for the priesthood.
Over the past 100 years MSCs, in addition to our wide ranging ministries throughout Ireland, missionaries have gone to South Africa, Venezuela, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Russia, as well as to England and the USA to proclaim the Word of God and the Love of the Sacred Heart following in the footsteps of Fr. Julies Chevalier who founded the Society at Issoudun in France in 1854. During the centenary now being celebrated we have been encouraged by many thousands of friends and supporters from every corner of Ireland, as well as from Great Britain and further afield. We give thanks for that support and encouragement and the prayers that have made our work possible in so many ministries.  We want to live like Jesus who loved with a human heart; we want to love through him and with him and proclaim his love to the world. (MSC Constitutions)
 2009 – A Year of Celebration and Thanksgiving
The theme for the year is Called to be the Heart of God on Earth. For information about the meaning and significance of this theme, please go to the link below - "Spirituality of the Heart."
A programme of celebrations has taken place throughout the year. This programme was launched on 6th January at a ceremony in Sacred Heart Church, Western Road, Cork attended by Mr Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament, Fr. Michael Curran, immediate past MSC Superior General, and by Bishop John Buckley, Bishop of Cork & Ross.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Brian Bermingham hosted a civic reception for MSCs in City Hall, Cork on Tuesday, 10th March to pay tribute for their contribution to the religious and spiritual life of Cork city.
St. Mary and St. Anne's Cathedral, Cork was the venue for a special Mass of Thanksgiving on Saturday, 16th May at 3pm.
The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese visited the MSC Community at Western Road on Wednesday, 10th June to pay tribute to MSCs for their contribution in so many ways over the past 100 years.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheal Martin, T.D. opened a photographic exhibition on Monday 6th July in the Irish Aid Information and Volunteering Centre, O’Connell Street, Dublin. The exhibition depicts the early departures of missionaries from Cork and the development and humanitarian work being undertaken in various countries. The exhibition will be hosted in various public libraries throughout Ireland.
Ireland’s Own – one of the longest established magazines in Ireland – published a 5-page feature on our centenary, and the Cork-based Evening Echo newspaper published a two-page feature on 14th July. We appreciate their support and encouragement, and also that of the other newspapers that have covered our various celebrations throughout the year.
On Saturday, 25th July a Pilgrimage of Thanksgiving to Knock Shrine, Co. Mayo took place with MSCs being joined by Cardinal Sean Brady, a number of bishops, and by thousands of supporters and friends from throughout Ireland and Great Britain.
As the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart were founded on devotion to the Sacred Heart and to Our Lady, it is very appropriate that a booklet of prayers and reflections on these should be published to mark the centenary. This was launched during the celebrations at Knock Shrine.
More Information
For more information about these, and other events later in the year, please see the following pages in this Section, or contact the MSC Mission Support Centre at 021-4545704 or at
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Links to further information:
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