October 26th 2012 saw the last day of SSCC's Vocations and Promotions Director, Shane Halpin.  Shane, who was over three years in post has left to take up a position with Sacred Space the online prayer site of the Irish Jesuits in Dublin.  Shane joined the Congregation's Vocation team at perhaps the most challenging of times in the recent history of the Irish Church but never let it get to him and immediately began to look at creative ways to put the SSCC on the map.  To this end he initiated the province's latest apostolate the Adventure Retreats Programme in Cootehill in Cavan as a much needed resource for youth evangelisation.  In a three way partnership with Tanagh Outdoor Education Centre and Net Ministries he put in place a programme with the assistance of Br Ultan Naughton SSCC and members of the Damien Centre board of directors. This project continues to grow and is now in its third year of operation at the Congregation's Damien Centre facility near Cootehill.  He was also instrumental in starting the Damien Mission Group at the SSCC parish in Sruleen another project which continues to grow and is active in raising awareness and money for the SSCC overseas mission.  Shane was adamant that the future of the Congregation lies in harnessing the skills and enthusiasm of the three branches of the SSCC, the brothers, sisters and lay associates working together in creative partnership. In terms of new members to the Congregation, a number of young possible candidates continue to walk on the first stages of accompaniment with Vocations Director Fr Pearse Mullen SSCC. It was refreshing to see two of these at the recent profession of Br Ultan. 

Br Ultan Naughton SSCC makes his final profession with his provincial Fr Derek Laverty SSCC in the Sacred Heart Parish, Sruleen, Clondalkin. The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary are a worldwide congregation of over 1,500 made up priests, sisters and a lay associate movement. The ceremony was attended by his Roscommon friends and family, a large contingent of Spanish members of the Congregation along with representatives from the Sacred Hearts community in West London where Ultan undertook his novitiate training while attending Heythrop College. .

Following their recent election to the position of superior general, Sr. Emperatriz Lima of Ecuador and Fr Javier Alvarez meet with His Holiness Benedict XVI at a private audience in Rome.

As decided by the Enlarged General Council and following the tradition in place for some years, the General Chapters of the brothers and the sisters will be held in the same place and at the same time beginning in Rome on August 30^th to September 27th 2012. Superior General Fr Javier Álvarez-Ossorio sscc says “This is a strong sign of the unity of the Congregation and it offers an excellent opportunity to know one another better and to work together. We will do a reflection together on the topic of mission, which can then serve as a common source of inspiration for both branches. To that end, we will take three days at the beginning of the Chapters to look together at the topic in depth in the form of a seminar. We will also put aside two more days during the Chapters for joint sessions on other topics that we collaborate on, for example, the animation of the Secular Branch."

Invitation to prayer

From now until the end of the General Chapter, Fr Javier says, "let us take as a special intention for prayer that the Lord assist us with his Spirit so that we can bear good fruit for the animation of the Congregation’s life in the next six years. We have not composed any special prayer, but we would invite you daily, or at the rhythm you consider best, at some time of common prayer, to recite this simple prayer for the General Chapter. It is made up of the Gospel text from which we have taken the chapter motto:

"Everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good,

but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor?

Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another."

                                                            (Mk. 9:49-50)

 “The General Chapter is the highest authority within the Congregation. Its purpose is to support and encourage the Congregation in the realization of its mission, with renewed fidelity to its proper vocation. It belongs to the Chapter to determine general orientations and to establish norms that it considers opportune for the common good of the Congregation, in accordance with common law and our proper legislation.” (Const. 121) To follow, contribute and obtain information on the chapter we encourage you to log into the special blog which will be updated each day of the Chapter. August 30^th to Sept 27^th 2012 http://gcsscc2012eng.wordpress.com/