OLSH Novena

Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

31st August
to
8th September

In the Sacred Heart Church, Western Road, Cork

A novena - a grace-filled time

A Novena is a very special grace-filled time of reflection. It is a time of intense personal prayer and petition, especially for our young people as they return to school or begin new jobs.

It is also a time of communal prayer with many hundreds of others who join with us, in person at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road in Cork, or remotely across Ireland and Great Britain with people following the novena in their own homes or via this website.

During the Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart we not only pray in intercession to Our Lady for our own needs, and the needs of those close to us, we also pray in communion with all those others who are making the novena.

We join with those who are far away in many different parts of the country and abroad. We remember in a special way all those enrolled in the Blue Book of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and those enrolled in the MSC Golden Book.

Each day special attention is given at the public Novena in the Sacred Heart Church, Cork, and by the MSC Communities at Grace Dieu in Waterford and at Myross Wood Retreat House in West Cork to the thousands of petitions that are sent in to the Mission Support Centre in Cork.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart was the title that our founder, Fr Jules Chevalier MSC, first used in 1857 to honour Mary. His entire understanding of the person and role of Mary was summed up in the name he gave her.

To understand fully the meaning of this title one should read it backwards, so to speak.

The important part of the title is the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He is the centre. Mary is the mother who offers him to us, who desires that we enter into union with him, who longs to form us as she formed her Son Jesus, so that all humanity may discover the tenderness, compassion, mercy, strength, power, fidelity and constancy of the love of God revealed in the human heart of God’s own Son.

Our title for Mary, therefore, is essentially Jesus-centred. It is she who leads us to him and who offers him to us.

Mary is the mother who gives, who offers and who surrenders her Son so as to make us sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.

Using the language and imagery of his day Fr Chevalier wrote...

"Mary,
we understand more than ever
the inestimable part you play
in the work of our redemption
and the importance of your mediation
in applying its fruits to us.
Never perhaps have we understood so clearly
the basis for your all-powerful intercession,
your love for us,
and your role as Queen over us.
And so we understand the validity of your title,
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,
that expresses the meaning of these sublime privileges!
This title means that Mary is our Queen, our Mother
and consequently, Our Lady;
it means that the graces she gives us
come from the Heart of Jesus,
who has been pleased to put into her hands
all the treasures of his mercy.
And all these perogatives arise from her cooperation
in the work of our salvation."

Fr Jules Chevalier MSC
Founder of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart

Fr Chevalier and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Tshwarang Hospice Project & Fr Frank Gallagher Projects

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The AIDS epidemic in South Africa has caused huge social problems for families and for communities. Today, there are many thousands of orphans left, sometimes with a child as young as 12 years caring for younger brothers and sisters. Many families have no bread-winner after death caused by the HIV virus. Many people are sick and in need of care and medical treatment. Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSCs) are deeply involved in care programmes for the poor.

Tshwaranang hospice is located in the Midrand area of South Africa. The area has a population of one million people including many refugees and is comprised of informal settlements and low incomes. It has a high HIV infection rate well above the average of 30% of the adult population.

MSC Funds this hospice

The hospice has 17 beds and caters for AIDS patients. It is funded by Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Fr. Herman MSC is the project manager and is tasked with raising enough funds to keep the service operating. It is the only facility of its nature in the area. Patients are referred by the local clinics or the hospital for intensive palliative care. The aim is to nuture patients back to life, or if they are in an advanced stage of AIDS to let them die in a dignified and peaceful environment. The local department of health gives a grant but it is inadequate to keep the hospice running. Like so many other services, the community is reliant on Catholic organisations. Missionaries of the Sacred Heart provide 70% of the funding for Tshwaranang hospice. Supporters of Irish MSCs are always generous with help for such humanitarian needs. Over the next six years the demand for hospice care is expected to grow. Fr. Herman and his team hope to begin accepting cancer patients as well if funds are available. novena2

MSCs reaching out to create self-reliance

Fr. Frank Gallagher as well as his 14 Mass centres is providing a Drop-in Centre, a Night Shelter and a Boy’s Shelter. Fr. Frank started off small with support from MSC Mission Friends in Ireland and Great Britain, particularly a voluntary group in Macroom, Co. Cork and a very generous donor in Galway. During 2009 over 8,000 people called to the Drop-in Centre that provides a welcome and rest place for those seeking employment in the town.

They can get a cup of tea and biscuits or a cool drink out in the sweltering heat. The rent for the centre is €350 per month.The Night Shelter is used by those stranded with no place to stay. The local police bring people to it who are vulnerable, and the prison service often bring relatives of prisoners who have travelled long distances to visit a family member. Since 2009 the number of women refugees from Zimbabwe seeking work and shelter in the cities has risen. Often these have babies with them.

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St. Therese’s Boys Shelter provides safety for 14 boys but up to 20 have sometimes stayed ranging in age from 10-15 years. Fr. Frank gets them into local schools even if only for a short while to keep them off the streets. The Sisters teach them catechism. Since 2009 twelve boys have been re-united with their families and one boy was adopted. Fr. Frank liaises with local social services who visit the centre regularly. He pays €580 per month for rent and wages for a housekeeper.

The Novena at Western Road, Cork

This year the Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Cork (at Sacred Heart Church, Western Road) is being preached by Fr. Patsy Kelly MSC.

Fr. Patsy, a native of Hacketstown, Co. Carlow was ordained to priesthood as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart in 1968.

Although he has been accredited with many academic accolades, Fr. Patsy has devoted much of his life to Retreat and Mission work to both clergy, religious and laity, at home and abroad. He is internationally known as a Retreat Master and has preached the Word of God in the moderate climate of Ireland, England and continental Europe and the vastly contrasting climates of the heat of South Africa and the cold of Iceland.

Fr. Patsy's constant effort is to ensure that the love of the Incarnate Jesus is made known throughout the world in this work he truly portrays the charisma or spirit of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

Fr Patsy is presently based at our MSC House, Croi Nua, which is located at the western Side of Galway city where the wonderful facilities are the perfect basis from which to promote the Spirituality of the Heart.

Fr. Patsy will be delighted to meet you after all Novella Sessions and will also be available for Confession.

Please note:

There are two sessions daily – one at 10am and another at 8pm.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will take place on Friday, 3 September, and the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick on Tuesday, 7 September.

Novena Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Remember, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,
the great things the Lord has done for you;
He chose you for His mother,
He wanted you close to His cross,
He gives you a share in His Glory,
He listens to your prayer.
Offer Him our prayers of praise and thanksgiving.
Present our petitions to Him...

Share your petitions silently with Our Lady

Let us live like you
in the love of your Son
that His Kingdom may come.
Lead all people to the source of living water
that flows from His Heart,
spreading over the world hope and salvation,
justice and peace.
See our trust in you; answer our prayer.
Show yourself always, our Mother.
Amen.