MSC COLOMBIA
MSC from the USA began working in the parish of Santa Margarita Maria, which is located in a poor, working class section of Bogotá, in 1969. Because the families in the area were very poor and schoolbooks were expensive, one of the MSC's first projects at the parish was establishing a library with all the textbooks children needed for school and where children could come to study. Since then, the MSC in Colombia have been involved in a variety of pastoral activities such as youth programs, teaching, family enrichment programs and social services. For instance, the MSC have a long history of volunteering at Fundación Vida Nueva (New Life Foundation), which works with prostitutes and their children to help them break the cycle of prostitution. MSC seminarians teach catechism classes to the children there.
At the MSC community house, which is located in a poor section of Bogotá, the MSC provide meals 2-3 times a day, every day, to everyone who comes to the door asking for food. A couple of years ago, the MSC also founded the Fundación Justicia en la Verdad (Truth and Justice Foundation) which builds houses and provides educational assistance for poor families in Bogotá and other regions of Colombia. Last year, through the Truth and Justice Foundation, the MSC were able to provide 43 families in Bogotá with the very first place they could call "home".
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere!
In Colombia Today
Today, in addition to Santa Margarita Maria Parish, MSC in Colombia are also involved in formation and provide direct assistance to the poor. The formation program (Casa Chevalier) is flourishing and 6 young men recently took their first vows (August 2008). As part of their formation, the seminarians studying at Casa Chevalier go on mission experiences to very remote areas in Colombia during their Christmas and Easter vacations. Seminarians also help manage the MSC farm, thereby helping to provide the food they eat.You Can Help!
| Eduard Riascos Takes Final Vows as an MSC |
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| Tuesday, 24 June 2008 13:17 | |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 June 2008 13:26 ) |
Eduard Riascos, MSC, a member of the Colombian Section of the MSC USA Province, took perpetual (final) vows as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart on Saturday, June 21, 2008. Eduard took his first vows with the MSC in June 2005 and since that time has been studying Theology in the Dominican Republic. The vows celebration took place at Parroquia Santa Margarita María de Alacoque (St. Margaret Mary of Alacoque Parish), which was founded by the MSC in 1969. Several MSC, including Fr. Luis Segura, MSC, (Pre-novitiate Formation Director ), Fr. Darío Moreno, MSC (Section Superior and Director of Formation for Professed Students), Fr. Hector Mejía, MSC (Parochial Vicar at St. Margaret Mary Parish) and Fr. Joseph Jablonski, MSC (Provincial Superior) attended the ceremony. They were joined by Eduard's parents, family members and friends as well as Fr. Javier Bautista, an MSC alumnus, and several MSC seminarians who are currently studying in Bogotá. We are very happy for Eduard and continue to pray for him as he continues on his life's journey as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere!