Overseas Missions Mission candle from the 2005 Provincial Chapter Overseas missions have always been a central undertaking of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Very early in its history, when there were still only a few members, the MSC congregation had been asked by Rome to send men to the new foreign missions of Oceania and New Guinea. The sacrifice was great, but it was one that the Founder made unhesitatingly.
As the Congregation grew, and more men from across Europe swelled those already working on the missions, so a good number of the early Irish MSC joined their French, German, American and Australian brothers in those South Seas areas. However, as the Irish part of the MSC congregation grew stronger and closer to becoming an independent Province it looked towards taking responsibility for its own missions.
 Southern Africa
In 1950 the Irish MSC established their first mission in the Transvaal area of the very north of South Africa. While initial efforts were focused in that remote part of what is now called Limpopo Province, new ministries were later established in the apartheid townships between Pretoria and Johannesburg, in the mixed race communities of Cape Town and in Namibia. Read more here...
 Southern United States of America
From 1933 Irish MSC had been stopping off in the USA on their way to and from the South Seas missions. During their stay they raised funds for the missionary work. In the 1960s and 1970s some stayed for longer periods of time to help out in parish ministry. A base was established in San Antonio, Texas and today some 21 MSC continue to minister in Texas and California, predominantly in parish ministry. Read more here...  Venezuela
In 1967 a mission was also begun in Venezuela. Beginning in Maracaibo it soon spread into the Andes mountain area and finally, by 1982, to the barrios of the capital, Caracas. Currently we have three extensive parishes, an evangelization centre and two formation houses. Read more here...
 Southern Russia
More recently in 1997 the Irish Province decided to undertake its latest overseas mission in the Caucuses region of Southern Russia. Two Irish MSCs and two young MSC deacons from the South German/Austrian Province are currently based in the town of Piatigorsk and working in the area that borders the troubled Republic of Chechnya. Read more here... |
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