"May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere." That's the motto that has driven the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSC) for over 150 years.
The Pontifical Congregation of the MSC was founded in France on Dec. 8, 1854 by Servant of God Father Jules Chevalier. The young priest had a burning desire to spread the love of Jesus to people suffering physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
This summer, representatives from the MSCs made rounds at various parishes throughout the Allentown Diocese, "to connect the local Church to the world effort of the establishment of the Church throughout the world," explained Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies Father Andrew Torma, M.S.C.
“In delivering this message to each of the parishes, we bring an awareness of reconnecting each local person to the world mission."
Some of the parishes that hosted the missionary talks were St. Thomas More, Allentown; St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bethlehem.
Father Torma encourages compassion for people of other nations, “so that we can see past what comes to us in the news … and to individualize the compassion that is shown by the Catholics of this country. So that we are caring for the hungry. We are caring for the poor. We are caring for those who are marginalized, and also to gain the support of the local Church to work among the people evangelizing them."
Father Thang Nhu Nguyen, M.S.C., from the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Vietnam, is grateful to the benefactors who have already supported the mission, but he said there's still a long road ahead.
"In 2003, the MSCs from Australia arrived in Vietnam. But we just got recognized by the Vietnamese Communist government last year. During more than 20 years of living in [an] underground situation, we endured so many difficulties and trials caused by the local authority,” he said.
“The police officers often came to check on us and investigate all our members and activities. However, the difficulties and trials could not stop us from living out and sharing our spirituality with people."
According to Father Nguyen, their perseverance paid off and the missionaries have been able to help "cancer patients, HIV patients, the disabled, orphans and many others...." After two decades in Vietnam, Father Nguyen reports the group has 14 priests, 2 deacons, 2 brothers, and 15 professed students.
Prayers and financial support are greatly needed for the missionaries to continue their efforts. But both priests assert that equally important is the need for parents and grandparents to foster the need for missionary work.
"By fostering the need for missionary work, we are contributing our part to building a better world in which we are living," said Father Nguyen.
"One of the things that I realized growing up is that it's important for the parents to communicate to their children and their grandchildren, their interest and concern," said Father Torma.
"My interest in missionaries came directly from my own parents. My father was very interested in the world mission of the Church. At times he subscribed to mission magazines that were in our house, and he encouraged us to read them. My mother had many cousins who were involved in religious orders, and they would come over and visit her, and that's how we connected with persons who were in mission countries.
"More than personal contacts, if the parents and grandparents themselves can show their children their interest in the world mission of the Church, that helps to pass on from generation to generation this awareness that the mission of the Church never ends.
“It's been going on for over 2,000 years and will continue to go on because that was the commission that Jesus gave to the disciples."
This year, World Mission Sunday will be celebrated on October 19. On that day—and during vigil Masses that weekend—a special collection will be taken to support the vital work of the Pontifical Mission Societies around the world.
By Katya Fitzpatrick.
Image: Artwork of Father Jules Chevalier by C. Soyo.
