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Archives Missionaries of the Sacred Heart mark 140 years

Aug. 17, 2016

By Deacon Kevin Mastellon
Staff writer

WATERTOWN -  "There's all kinds of hurt out there in the United States.  There are hurts that are disappointments; there are hurts that are the pain people feel in their daily lives.  Those will drive our missionary work in the United States going forward as we bring God's love to any situation."

Missionary of the Sacred Heart Father Raymond Diesbourg, the Provincial Superior, made those comments during an interview prompted by the 140th Anniversary of the MSC's arrival in the United States. 

Missionaries from Quebec first came to this country across the St. Lawrence River to Watertown in 1876.  They came to minister to a small French speaking Catholic community and to establish a school in the Watertown Father Diesbourgcommunity. 

The US Province Father Diesbourg shepherds includes Columbia, South America.  American MSC have worked for 65 years in Papua New Guinea.  The latter mission now has its own province and will be on its own.  Columbia is not quite ready to be self-governing as a province. On the occasion of the 140th Anniversary of the MSC presence in the United States the congregation is prepared to "redefine their mission with a renewed emphasis on sharing their charism of God's love and mercy" with those searching for support and healing.

"We consider the US in need of missionary presence, " Father Diesbourg said.  We see "immigrants, college students, professionals, returning military veterans, and men and women experiencing divorce" as examples of people in need of healing; in need of God's love.

The priests, deacons and brothers, with many lay ministers, will continue their pastoral work throughout this country and in Columbia.

In the Diocese of Ogdensburg, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are serving as pastors in Watertown (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) and the Roman Catholic Community of Cape Vincent, Chaumont and Rosiere.  In addition an MSC serves as parochial vicar to the linked parishes of St. Anthony's and St. Patrick's in Watertown.
"Pastoral work is ministry too and we will not abandon our parish work," Father Diesbourg said.  However the congregation will begin to promote its program of Life Healing Journey retreats as a way of bringing "the goodness and tenderness of God" to believers and those far away "as a sign that the kingdom of God is already present in our midst," Father Diesbourg concluded.

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