Missionaries of the Sacred

January means a new year.  We don’t know what to expect in our new year.  On December 29, 2011 I started my new year, my seventy-ninth.  And I don’t know what to expect either.

I remember when I was a novice.  We got up at five in the morning. I recall sitting on my bed and thinking that I would spend the rest of my life getting up at five in the morning.  I didn’t like the idea, but if that is what it took to be a Missionary of the Sacred Heart, I thought I would just have to put up with it.   Now I didn’t actually have to get up at five AM for the rest of my life though as an old man, I prefer getting up at that time. Over the years, getting up time has varied with the needs and works affecting our lives as Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Just like I didn’t know what to expect from the new year or my seventy-ninth year, I didn’t know what to expect from religious life.

Here is what I got. First of all a family of fellow Missionaries of the Sacred Heart priests and brothers. These men are not just men in the same organization. They are my brothers. And we have a special brother/sister relationship with the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart and Daughters of our Lady of the Sacred Heart.  For us they are not just sisters, they are our sisters.

When I came I thought I would become a priest and do priestly work. That didn’t come about. I became a Missionary of the Sacred Heart brother. I was involved in all kinds of work depending on the needs and outreach of the community and my abilities. I did house and kitchen work in our retreat house in Youngstown, Ohio. I did office and recruiting with our vocation department. I am back at it again writing this letter. I worked among the poor in Youngstown, Ohio and later in Watertown, New York.  I worked with Marriage Encounter here and there in eastern USA.

In Papua New Guinea I taught religion, looked after the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, worked as formator for the Diocese of Kavieng, and as spiritual director for a minor seminary, gave several retreats for sisters and sister novices, high school aged students and one for some lay teachers. I gave workshops on prayer and healing to all the nurses in the Kavieng Diocese.

Now I help out a little around the house, give some teachings at a local prayer group, do a little spiritual direction, and take lots of naps. I am satisfied with my life and hopefully with whatever our new year will bring. I never dreamed I would experience all I just wrote about.

If you think you might be called to experience life as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart you can contact:

Peace,

Brother Joe Tesar, MSC