Fr. Linckens founded the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1900. He gave them the spirit of his own congregation, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Hubert Linckens grew up in the Dutch province of Limburg in the Netherlands. At an early age, (14 years old)…
Peter To Rot was already in prison. His cell was small, stuffy, and windowless. The soldiers only took him out of there from time to time to tend to the pigs. But even in this humiliating confinement, Peter remained serene. He prayed. He was grateful for the food brought by his mother and Paula, his…
During the first months of the Japanese occupation, there was still some tolerance for religious practice. But as the war progressed and fears of defeat grew, Japanese officials began to ban public prayers, disperse groups of worshippers, and monitor Christian leaders. Faith came to be seen as resistance. In Rakunai, Peter To Rot was at…
Peter To Rot was born in 1912 in the small village of Rakunai, Papua New Guinea, a land surrounded by tropical forests, volcanoes and islands. He was the son of Angelo Tu Puia, the village chief, and Maria La Tumul, both of whom were among the first converts to Catholicism thanks to the missionary work…
In 1934, Mr. John Dicks bought the 119 acres Kohler farm on Route 39 and then sells it to the MSC for $1! This property expanded several times over the years. It served as the house of philosophy and theology, the novitiate, and adult education and conference center. Shelby closed as an MSC house in…
The second church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart was built and owned by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. The church was dedicated by Bishop Gabriels on May 31. Sadly the church was destroyed by fire in 1969. Photo above: A news account of the fire at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart…
Excerpt from Sister Lorraine Molchanow, MSC When France lost their colonies in the Pacific Islands to Germany, French MSC’s were no longer welcome there. This created a great need for German priests, brothers and sisters. Father Hubert Linckens, MSC was entrusted with the foundation of the Mission House for his congregation in Germany around 1894…
In September 1881, at the request of Pope Leo XIII the Congregation sent its first missionaries overseas. From Barcelona three missionaries set out for Papua New Guinea and founded the first overseas mission in 1882 near Rabaul on the island of New Britain. Despite meager financial resources and lack of men, Fr. Chevalier took responsibility…
On July 22, 1939, the General Council in Rome established the Province of the United States. They also decreed the creation of the Province of Canada that included the New England states. The Second World War (1939-1945) isolated the new Province of the United States from most European communities. The experience created a fresh spirit…
1888 – First American Priest – Father Pierre L’Esperance, MSC was ordained in Watertown, New York on June 12, 1885, becoming the first Missionary of the Sacred Heart priest from America. Father L’Esperance was a native of Putnam, Connecticut and served as Pastor of Our Lady of Sacred Heart Parish in Watertown from 1893 to…