CONGREGATIONAL NEWSLETTER

Transcription

1 M I S S I O N A R Y S I S T E R S O F T H E S A C R E D H E A R T O F J E S U S CONGREGATIONAL NEWSLETTER ISSUE NO / March 50 YEARS PRESENCE OF MSC SISTERS IN KOREA It was in 1961, Bishop John Choi from Busan, Korea asked for Sisters to come and help in his young diocese. After an informational trip to Korea by Sisters Bridget and Edelgith, six candidates went to Hiltrup. Inside this issue: 50 YEARS PRESENCE IN KOREA 1 Sisters Edelgith and Vocata were sent to establish a mission in Korea. They arrived in Busan in In 1979 the community in Korea began to train their novices in their own country. PERSONNEL 2 ADMINISTRATION 2 GENERALATE 2 INTERNATIONAL MISSIONING INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER P/D/C DEVELOPMENT 3 TRI-GENERALATE 4 UPDATE FROM ROME 6 PLANNED TRIP 6 JPIC EVENTS 6 JPIC CALENDAR In 1977 Sister Theresa Kim, a Korean, was appointed superior of the Korean community. It was the first foundation in a foreign country to have been started by only two German sisters two were joined by two other German sisters. The community continues to grow. Today, there are about 171 Sisters in more than 55 houses in Korea and 20 Sisters are on mission abroad or studying in other countries: the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Germany, the Generalate, Marshall Islands, Paraguay, and in the USA. In order to respond to the needs of the times, the Sisters expanded their areas of ministries to include: parish pastoral, social work, youth, children, elderly, prisoners, children and adults with special needs, education, migrants, retreats, Lay Associates, etc. There are four Chinese Sisters who belong to the Korean Province who made their formation in Manila. We continue to get new candidates from China and Vietnam. Our Sisters will celebrate the 50 years anniversary on March 25 th, After Mass there will be the blessing of the Sacred Heart Spirituality Center which was built for the Study and Teaching of Spirituality and Retreats. As a Congregation we celebrate with our Korean Sisters on this most significant occasion and hold with gratitude the history and story of the Korean Province. Heartfelt congratulations and good wishes on this anniversary!

2 2 PERSONNEL FIRST PROFESSION: Namibia: The following Sisters made their first profession on January 05, Sister Hilalia Enok Hangula Sister Maria Daria Iikuyu Sister Mechttilde Tomas Naunyango Sister Johanna Akundungila Sister Lydia Tileinge Jevelinus Sister Agatha Uulumbu USA: Sister Carolina Mendoza Serrano made her first profession in Mexico on January 11, Korea: The following Sisters made their first profession on January 24, Sister Faustina, Hye-Young Choi Sister Rosetta, Ji-Seon Lee Sister Bona, Mi-Kyeong Park We rejoice and thank the Lord for the gift of these Sisters and assure them of our prayer and support. May they experience God s blessings as they continue their missionary commitment in the Congregation. ADMINISTRATION New Province Leader in Australia Sister Barbara recently conducted an onsite consultation with the sisters of the Australian province for their new province leader. We congratulate and deeply thank Sr. Mary Drum for accepting the role of province leader in Australia. After consulting with the sisters, she will appoint her council and the handover of leadership will take place on April 30, Let us keep Sr. Mary and her council in prayer as they take up their role of leadership in the province. GENERALATE Members of the Congregational Leadership Team and General Administration During meetings held in January 2015, the following roles were established for the congregational leadership team: Sr. Bonaventura Kim has been appointed as First Councilor. Each councilor has taken up the following specific areas of responsibility: Formation and Laity: Sr. Bonvaventura Kim Sr. Nicola Sprenger Justice and Peace: Sr. Dorothy Patiu Sr. Juanita Valera Sr. Blanca Modino will continue as Congregational Treasurer and Sr. Johanna Kwon is assisting her with the generalate finances. Sr. Gratia Kim also is continuing in her role of General Secretary and she is responsible for congregational communications, media and the web page. From April 27 May 2, the members of the CLT and Sr. Blanca will do team building and planning with Sr. Kate DuVal. Please pray for a fruitful outcome for these meetings. INTERNATIONAL MISSIONING On March 1, 2015 Sr. Veronica Mary received her mission cross from Sr. Ancy, the District Leader in India, during a meaningful and inspiring prayer service. It was a touching moment since for the first time an Indian sister was missioned to Papua New Guinea. We extend sincere thanks and good wishes to Sr. Maureen Smith and her councilors, Sisters Maureen Sheehan, Carmel Slattery, Carmel Butler and Rosalind Cairns who during these past six years have given their best in the service of leadership in their province. God bless and guide them in the days during this time of transition.

3 3 Sr. Veronica Mary is a trained nurse and has eight years of working experience in two different hospitals in India. She will be working in health care with our sisters in PNG for three years. We hope and pray that she will adjust well in PNG, and that her missionary service will enrich the province and the people she will work with and attend to. At the same time, may this time contribute to her own enrichment and growth in her vocation as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart. Sister Veronica Mary left India on March 4, 2015 for her new mission and reached safely. INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER On January 28, 2015 Sr. Francisca, Gwon-Hye Yeom transferred from the Korean Province to the Province Latina. Since last three years she has joyfully given herself in service to the community and people of Peru. At present she has her new mission in Paraguay. We thank her for her dedication in her missionary endeavors and appreciate her readiness to serve the people of Paraguay. P/D/C DEVELOPMENT KOREA: The Savior of my life whom I met from the thousands of miles away! Sr. Andrea accompanied him to the Sejong Hospital in Bucheon city for a medical check-up. He was diagnosed with congenital heart valve disease. Upon hearing the result of his health condition Alberto almost wanted to give up but for his family in Peru he had to continue. In order to help Alberto Sister Andrea tried to look for the possibilities of medical treatment and to get the help from benefactors. After two months, with the help of the Korea Heart Foundation and the Sejong Hospital, Alberto underwent heart surgery on January 9, After being discharged from the hospital, Alberto wrote a letter to the Korea Heart Foundation and related persons in the Incheon Diocese. He expressed I never knew that I could be healed from my lifelong disease in Korea. Through Sister Andrea my Lord gave me graces and gifts. I hope and think that I can recover soon and start to work for my family. I pray for all of you who helped me to experience a miracle. May the Lord bless you always. Thanks for the Sister who holds the hands of the foreigner. Since last year October, after having spent 16 years of her missionary life in Peru, Sr. Andrea Shin has been working in the Migrants Pastoral Office in the Diocese of Incheon for the Spanish speaking people. That is where she met Mr. Maximus Alberto who was in much need of help. Alberto (36 years old) is a Peruvian who came to Korea in September 2014 as a migrant worker. After two months he felt very sick. He could not work or even walk. His language in Korean is not fluent. He could express only some basic greetings, such as Ahn nyeong ha se yo! which means How are you? He has no one to ask for help. At the community Mass for the Spanish speaking people in the office he met Sister Andrea. Alberto shared his situation with Andrea. After this experience Sr. Andrea shared I thank the Lord who used me as his vehicle. I did not know that 16 years of my missionary experience in Peru helped me make a connection in this way. I wish and pray that the people in Korea continuously help many migrants who are facing difficulties and undergoing sufferings. Selected article from the Pyeonghwa Broadcasting Corporation in Korea, 23/01/2015

4 4 USA: MSC Sisters Presence among Native Americans in Califonia The sufferings of the Native Americans caused by colonizers, settlers, governments and the consequences (violence, alcohol, drug abuse, diseases such as diabetes ) are well known. The churchdid not always have a good relationship with the Native Americans. Soboba, in California, had been for several years without priests to minister to the Native Americans. In 2000, Fr. Earl Henley, MSC came to work with them on six reservations. He invited the MSC Sisters to come and minister with him. In 2002 Sister Deborah started to work with the Religious of the Sacred Heart to establish a school. It was a difficult task. The first building was set on fire. The people did not commit to the plan. However in 2004, St. Jude School opened and served children from Kindergarten to 5 th grade. Sister Mary, a nurse/midwife in Papua New Guinea for many years, came as a companion to Sr. Deborah. Sister Mary started visiting a women s prison about an hour away. She also accompanied Fr. Earl on his weekly visits to the different reservations. In doing this she became acquainted with the families and realized the need for religious education for the Indian children. She was able to start religious education classes on four reservations. A Lay MSC supported religious education classes and prepared children and adults for the sacrament of Initiation and Confirmation and other sacraments which some adults had missed out. In 2005 Sr. Deborah gave the administration of St. Jude School over to lay people and returned to Pennsylvania. Sister Catherine Cellini, MSC, an experienced teacher, joined Sister Mary. She took the older children. This made confirmation classes possible on more reservations. She also implemented some diocesan requirements and served several years on the Diocesan Women s Commission. Sister Catherine returned to Pennsylvania in In November of 2012 Sr. Bernette Ball volunteered to join Sr. Mary in California. Sister was an experienced teacher and was able to attend to children of different age groups. She also held a weekly Eucharistic Service at an assisted living center while Sister Mary visited Indian women who were homebound. Over the years, as the classes increased we were able to recruit lay people, mostly mothers, who volunteered to teach. In 2014 Sister Mary overheard some of the good teachers indicating that perhaps they were not needed anymore because the sisters were there doing the work. As missionaries we are to work ourselves out of a job and we realized it was time for us to do this. How do we do it gracefully? It happened in April of 2014, when Sister Dorothy invited Sister Mary to join her in Circus Ministry. Perhaps this was God s way of bringing our ministry in Soboba to a graceful end. We handed the ministry over to the generous lay people in the various parishes. Teachers and parishioners were very appreciative of the years the MSC Sisters had spent with them. We left California grateful for the years we had been there and trusting that the people left behind will continue to make the Sacred Heart of Jesus loved everywhere. TRI-GENERALATE MSC BROTHERS & FATHERS: New MSC Bishop On February 23, 2015 Pope Francis named Fr. Rafael Rodríguez, MSC, the First Assistant General, Bishop of the Diocese of La Vega in the Dominican Republic. Our sincere congratulations and best wishes to Bishop elect Rafael! This is a great honor for our Congregation and a further confirmation (with the

5 5 appointment of Bishop Plinio in 2007 to be auxiliary bishop of Santiago) of the missionary zeal and dedication of our Canadian and Dominican confreres who for eighty years have sacrificed so much to build up the Church in the Dominican Republic. New Vicar General of the MSC: Fr. Mark McDonald appointed Fr. Franciscus Xaverius Wahyudi, MSC, of the Indonesian Province, First Assistant General and Vicar for the Congregation. MEETING THE COR-AMERICA TEAM IN EUROPE COR AMERICA started a few years ago as a dream of the Tri-Generalate for the region of the America. It is formed by members of our three congregations and its mission is to guide and animate ongoing formation in the Chevalier Family including the Lay-Chevalier. In 2014, COR AMERICA organized in Brazil a first course for the members of our three congregations and our lay people promoting the Spirituality of the Heart in the region. This year the COR AMERICA team has been invited to come to Europe: Fr. Paulo Roberto Gomes, MSC and Sr. Marta Maria Pinto, FDNSC, both from Brasil; Sr. Carolin Romero, MSC and Fr. Marvín Sotelo, MSC, both from El Salvador. From April 12 to19 they will have a week s exposure and meeting with the COR NOVUM team in Issoudun to learn from their experience in promoting ongoing formation in our common spirituality and be inspired by walking in the footsteps of Jules Chevalier. From April they will meet in Rome with representatives of the Tri-Generalate to share about their experience so far and on our common vision of formation as well as on dreams and expectations for ongoing formation in the region. A DECREE RECOGNIZING MARTYRDOM for Samuel Benedict Daswa Tshimangadzo ( ) Catechist, Martyr, Lay Member of the Chevalier Family On January 22, 2015 Pope Francis recognized the martyrdom of Benedict Dawsa and ordered the publication of the decree solemnly declaring him Blessed. Samuel Benedict Daswa was born June 16, 1946 in South Africa. He was baptized on April 21, 1963 by Fr. Augustine O Brien, MSC and confirmed the same year. He married in 1974 and when his wife became a Catholic, they were married by Fr. Patrick O Connor, MSC who became their spiritual guide and helped Samuel make progress on the road of Christian fidelity. He was a highly appreciated teacher of youth and an exemplary husband and father. He was a catechist, liturgical animator, promotor of works of charity and a builder of peace and justice. The Circumstances of his martyrdom: On January 25, 1990, lightning from a powerful thunderstorm caused a number of houses in his village to be destroyed by fire. For the people this was not something natural. They had to find the one responsible. The decision was taken to consult a sorcerer from a nearby village to find out more about the cause. To do this, each member of the village had to pay about 5 rands. Benedict was absent when this decision was made. When he arrived home, he stated that thunder and lightning are natural phenomena but his explanation was not accepted. The decision to consult a sorcerer stood. For the people it was very clear that Benedict refused to pay the required contribution because he claimed that his Catholic faith did not permit him to take part in anything related to witchcraft. Upset by this attitude, a group of men decided to get rid of him. They organized a plot against him and on the evening of February 2, 1990, he was cruelly assassinated in the village of Mbahé, not far from his home. While his executioners were killing him, Benedict was on his knees praying. He prayed until the last minute of his life.

6 6 UPDATE FROM ROME: Pope Francis Lenten Reflection 2015 Lent is a time of renewal for the whole Church, for each community and every believer. Above all it is a time of grace. With this well-known sentence Pope Francis begins his Lenten Reflection. Then follows a beautiful paragraph confirming that we have a place in God s heart, who knows us by name, cares for us and he seeks us out whenever we turn away from him. He is interested in each of us; his love does not allow him to be indifferent to what happens to us. Looking at our world, the Pope speaks about the evil of indifference, locally and globally. Indifference to our neighbour and to God also represents a real temptation for us Christians, he says. To motivate our Lenten renewal, Pope Francis proposes three biblical texts for the three levels on which we encounter indifference today, as the Church, a parish and community and as individuals. The keywords are: If one member suffers, all suffer together ; Where is your brother? and Make your hearts firm! We join in the Pope s desire to become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference! Here is the link to the full text: documents/papa-francesco_ _messaggioquaresima2015.html PLANNED TRIP From March 16-28, Sister Barbara is visiting the Korean Province for the 50 th Anniversary of the MSC Sisters presence in Korea. Your prayers for safety when traveling and for a fruitful outcome of the meetings are appreciated. JPIC EVENTS International Women's Day - March 8, 2015 MAKE IT HAPPEN All around the world, International Women's Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality. Make It Happen is the 2015 theme for our internationalwomensday.com global hub, encouraging effective action for advancing and recognizing women. The first International Women's Day was held in Thousands of events occur to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organizations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women's groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day. World Autism Awareness Day - April 2, 2015 World Autism Awareness Day is about more than generating understanding; it is a call to action. I urge all concerned to take part in fostering progress by supporting education programs, employment opportunities and other measures that help realize our shared vision of a more inclusive world." - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon - Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that manifests itself during the first three years of life. The rate of autism in all regions of the world is high and it has a tremendous impact on children, their families, communities and societies. Throughout its history, the United Nations family has promoted the rights and well-being of the disabled, including children with developmental disabilities.

7 7 JPIC CALENDAR U E P V C E O N M T I S N G March 08 International Women s Day. Day for Women s Rights (UN) 21 International Year of the Forest (UN) 22 World Water Day (UN) 24 World Day of Tuberculosis (TB) Memorial of Bishop Oscar Romeo (Church) 25 Foundation Day of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart (1900) International Day of Solidarity for Those Detained and Disappeared 28 Earth Hours April 04 Day Against Child Prostitution 07 World Health Day (UN) 22 Earth Day 25 World Malaria Day 28 World Day for Security and Health on the Job (WLO) Love must urge us on This love must inflame and enkindle us; it must inflame everything that comes in contact with us. Love is stronger than death. It is creative to reach its goal (H. Linckens 5 th talk Retreat 1913)