Following the popularity of the MSC Exhibition of Photographs staged during 2009 to mark the Irish centenary of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, a new exhibition – Reaching out to Others – will be staged in various locations throughout the country during 2010 starting in County Kerry.

The Mayor of Tralee, Cllr. Terry O’Brien, opened the exhibition in Tralee public library. The exhibition has a wide range of photographs that depict the early years of MSC missionaries in Ireland, and their departure from there to Papua New Guinea, to South Africa, to Venezuela, and more recently to Russia. In particular it depicts the social and humanitarian work undertaken there by these men amongst the poorest of the poor – sometimes in very dangerous conditions.

Cllr. O’Brien in paying tribute to MSC missionaries said that they and other Irish missionaries were the forerunners to Ireland’s development aid to Third World countries. “They were the first development workers and they made an enormous contribution in improving social conditions in those countries. Living amongst the poor they brought them hope and encouragement which was critically important in uplifting their spirits. They built schools and clinics and provided water where there was nothing. Their vision and their work has been a great example especially to the many young people who are now opting to volunteer in those countries”.

At the opening of the exhibition, Fr. Michael O’Connell, Director of the Cork-based MSC Mission Support Centre said that the people of Kerry have for decades been fantastic supporters of MSC missionaries. “Kerry people are amongst our most dedicated supporters, and through their support they have been, and continue to be, an important part of our missionary endeavour. The photographs in this exhibition give a snapshot of the work undertaken in Africa, in South America, and in Russia, as well as in Papua New Guinea in earlier years. I’ve witnessed the difference that the building of a crèche or the provision of a well can make to a community there. And very often the cost in Irish terms is relatively small. Each donation can make a difference, and I thank the people of Kerry for their great generosity towards our outreach programmes for the deprived”.

Kerry County Librarian, Tommy O’Connor welcomed the exhibition to the county. After Tralee it was staged in Listowel and has now moved to Killarney public library where it was opened by Cllr. Michael Gleeson, Mayor of Killarney.

Cllr. Gleeson, whose cousin – Fr. Tim Gleeson MSC - ministers in South Africa, paid tribute to MSCs for their missionary endeavours over the years. “Whilst a Cork man brought the MSCs to Ireland in 1909” he said “many Kerry natives took on leadership roles since then within the congregation. Indeed, of its eight Irish Provincials, four of them were from Kerry. I think of the late Fr. Michael O’Leary of Killarney, Fr. Michael Curran of Waterville who not only served as Irish Provincial but also did two terms as Superior General worldwide, Fr. Tim Gleeson of Glenflesk, and your current Provincial, Fr. Pat Courtney of Kilcummin”.

One photograph in the exhibition depicts the departure of six missionaries from Cobh in October 1947. Fr. Michael O’Connell, Director of the MSC Mission Support

Centre 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 last year from Texas to his native Killarney to celebrate his 90^th birthday”

Fr. O’Connell thanked the people of Kerry for their excellent support for MSC missionaries over the years.

Mary Murray, Librarian in Killarney said that the library is delighted to host such a historical exhibition.