The Story of the Irish Province of the MSCExpulsion from France and early growth The local police evict Fr Chevalier from his presbytery on the orders of the Mayor The early years in France were turbulent times for the fledgling congregation. Anti-clericalism, especially at government level, was gathering pace. This resulted in many religious orders being expelled from France in the late 1800s and up to the turn of the century.
While Fr Chevalier succeeded in remaining as Parish Priest in Issoudun with a small community of fellow MSC, all the other Missionaries of the Sacred Heart were forced to leave Issoudun. They found refuge in Spain and Italy and the northern European states of Holland, Belgium, Germany and England. So, due to the harshness of the prevailing political and social climate, the congregation began its rapid growth beyond France.
As Father Chevalier would say himself in 1870, "When God wants something done, obstacles for him are means. He makes sport of human wisdom, upsets its expectations, calls to life what, in its view, should never see the light of day. He gives growth, strength and fruitfulness to what human wisdom had condemned to death. The foundation and growth of the little Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart is proof of this truth."
Apostolic Schools
 Sacred Heart College Cork The presence and work of the MSC in these new European countries attracted more followers and it was decided to set up schools where young boys could be given an education with a view to becoming future MSCs.
One such school was established in Glastonbury, England in 1886, just four years after establishing the first MSC presence in Great Britain at Madely in Shropshire.
Many of the pupils arriving at the Apostolic School in Glastonbury, however, were coming from Ireland. As a result it was eventually decided to transfer the school to a suitable location there. In 1909 Dyke House on the western side of Cork City became the first foundation in Ireland and became the apostolic school and headquarters of what was to become in 1952, the MSC Irish Province.
 First MSC leave for South Africa
Early in its history the congregation had been asked by Rome to send men to the new foreign missions of Oceanea and New Guinea. Many of the early Irish MSC joined their German, American and Australian brothers in those areas.
As the Irish part of the MSC congregation grew stronger and closer to becoming a Province in its own right it looked towards taking responsibility for its own missions. In 1950 the Irish MSC established their first mission in the Transvaal area of South Africa. Later, in 1967 a mission was also begun in Venezuela, and more recently in 1997 in the Caucuses region of Southern Russia.
Preaching and Retreats
Over the years many members of the Irish Province have engaged in preaching parish missions and retreats throughout Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. This has been a powerful means of living our mission at home by continuing the passionate preaching of the love of God that was so central to the daily ministry of our founder. We have also established retreat centres at Myross Wood in West Cork, Grace Dieu Manor in Waterford, Croi Nua in Galway (all in Ireland) and at Princethorpe (in England). These are special places where people can come away for a day, a week or month to find refreshment and renewal in the loving embrace of God.
Education
 Princethorpe College, Warwickshire Education has also been an area where the MSC members sought to witness to the motto “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved”. As well as having its own apostolic school in Cork, first on the Western Road in Cork city, then in Carraig na bhFear, the Irish Province also began a school in Warwickshire, England in 1957. Initially the site was St Bede's in Leamington Spa, but in 1966, having outgrown the premises, the MSC acquired Princethorpe College between Leamington and Rugby, a beautiful ex-Benedictine Priory. Many MSC have taught in both Carraig na bhFear and Princethorpe, while others have worked in schools in the parishes where they ministered. There has also been a strong tradition of members who have dedicated themselves to lecturing and research in third level establishments.
 Fr Fintan O'Driscoll MSC chats with a parishioner after Sunday Mass
The Irish Province currently staff parishes in Ireland, England, United States, South Africa, Venezuela and Russia, mainly concentrating on areas of special need.
A particular focus of parish ministry is forming and sustaining strong partnerships with lay ministers. Also through hospital chaplaincies, counselling and therapeutic ministries, community work and many other specialised ministries, MSCs seek to bring the love of our compassionate God into the particular circumstances of today’s world.
Mission in Brotherhood
 Fr Dave Nixon MSC (England), Fr Vicente Buitrago MSC (Venezuela) and Fr Joe Jablonski MSC (USA Provincial) at the Irish Provincial Chapter 2005 It is as brothers, as fellow MSC, that we engage in the mission entrusted to us.
Due to the circumstances of ministry not all members can physically live in a community house, but it is as a community that we support and sustain one another, and as a community that we seek to discern God's desire for the shape and character that our mission takes in the Irish Province.
To this end we come together regularly in local community groupings, in national assemblies and in Province-wide meetings and Chapters to share our joys and struggles, celebrate our life and mission together, and to plan for the future.
 Different generations of Venezuelan delegates at the Irish Provincial Chapter 2005. Fr Vincent Screene MSC (left) was among the first group of MSC to arrive in Venezuela in 1967
The search for meaning, for hope and for love in the people of our day continues.
The circumstances and characteristics may be different to those of France in 1854 or Cork in 1909, but the answer remains the same. The answer is a person: Jesus Christ, who, in his human heart, has revealed the love and compassion of the heart of God.
As MSC in the Irish Province we continue to be witnesses to that love in a great diversity of ministries and works. Our vocation is a precious and humbling gift, and at the same time an exciting and engaging challenge – to be true missionaries of God’s love in our world today. |
