Tuesday 8th December is the Foundation Day of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.  On the day of the promulgation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 the young Fr Jules Chevalier and his early companions founded our "Little Society".

155 years later our present Superior General, Fr Mark McDonald MSC addresses a letter to the whole Congregation:

December 8, 2009
24/Sup/09

Dear MSC confreres,

On this feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the 155th anniversary of the foundation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, we extend our best wishes and congratulations to all the members of our “Little Society.” We should all be proud and thankful that we have been given the grace to follow in the footsteps of Fr. Jules Chevalier and the privilege of sharing his vision of God’s love with the world. As we celebrate today, let us remember these 155 years of history and recommit ourselves to living and sharing our charism in today’s world.

We wish to take advantage of this important anniversary to call our Congregation to its 24th General Chapter. According to Const/Statutes 188-194 and 212, § 27, we hereby convoke a General Chapter of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart to meet in El Escorial, Spain, from September 5 to September 24, 2011.

The General Conference that met in Yaoundé in September, discussed the 2011 Chapter and decided that the general theme should be around the two important points of OBEDIENCE and MISSION. The General Council has chosen as the motto of the Chapter a proposal made by one of the Provincials following the Conference: “In verbo tuo laxabo rete” (At your word I will lower the net). These words of Peter to Jesus in Luke 5,5 make reference to both obedience (In verbo tuo) and to mission (laxabo rete). Moreover, Fr. Chevalier quoted this text in his famous letter to Cardinal Simeoni (April 16, 1881) when we accepted the mission of Micronesia and Melanesia. It is fitting that, 130 years after that historic decision of our young Congregation, the Chapter, and indeed all the MSC around the world, be inspired by the same Gospel text.

We would like all confreres to be involved in the preparation of the Chapter through different community discussions and especially through the work of the Provincial Chapters that will precede the General Chapter (cf. Const. 158). With all the opportunities afforded us by the media and modern means of communication, everyone should have his part in preparing and celebrating this Chapter.

By Easter we hope to have ready a letter for all members on the theme of authority and obedience in our Congregation. The main points of this letter were presented to the Provincials in Yaoundé and met with their approval. This letter and other preparatory materials should facilitate the dialogue that will lead to the decisions of the Chapter.

Prayer is an important way of putting us in the right attitude for celebrating a Chapter. We suggest that each local community or Province choose a moment of prayer each day for the General Chapter. One suggestion is to use the prayer for the beatification of Fr. Chevalier for this intention.

We take this opportunity to wish you all a Blessed Christmas 2009 and a New Year 2010 of peace and joy. God bless you all"

In Corde Jesu,

Mark McDonald, MSC, Superior General

Narciso Abellana, MSC, Assistant General

F.X. Wahyudi, MSC, Assistant General

Faustino Fernández García, MSC , Assistant General