OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA - Sacred Heart Missionaries celebrate 100 years of pastoral service in Oceania

Friday, 9 December 2005

Sydney (Fides Service) - The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart MSC, one of the most widespread and active religious congregations in Australia, are marking the 100th anniversary of their presence in that country. Main centenary celebrations in Sydney include a Mass presided by MSC Australian Provincial Fr. Tim Brennan in the presence of at least 200 missionaries and many lay people, as well as civil authorities.
The first Sacred Heart Missionary from France arrived in Australia in 1885. The Australian Province was instituted in 1905. The missionaries work in parishes, among Indigenous people, in schools, as chaplains and in social and cultural centres.
Moreover, the MSC one of the first congregations to welcome Aborigine members, is deeply committed to promoting reconciliation and integration of Aborigine communities who suffer from marginalisation and problems with drug and alcohol abuse, unemployment and crime, particularly among the young people. “We try to instil hew hope and promote social harmony”, said Fr. Tony O’Brien, MSC who works at Palm Island, where there is a large Aborigine community. “We work to promote unity in the Church and unity in society”.
Last year 2004, this French Congregation founded by Fr. Jules Chevalier in 1854, and present today in 50 different countries celebrated 150 years of commitment to spreading the Gospel and promoting the development. (Agenzia Fides 9/12/2005 righe: 25 Parole: 254)


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