 Our Parish of Ss Alban & Stephen.
Despite being part of the Diocese of Westminster,
the parish of Ss Alban & Stephen is one of the few which are served by
priests from outside the diocese - in our case, by priests from the Order of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
 Ss Alban & Stephen parish has been served by priests and Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) since
1899, and is currently one of six in England served by the Irish Province of the MSC.
MSC Corner
If you
have time after Mass, please visit the MSC corner at the back of Church,
next to the Statue of St Antony. There's plenty of information
about the Order, about Issoudon and pilgrimages to Issoudon, as well as
copies of the periodical "MSC Messenger"
Pilgrimages to Issoudon
September 2002,
Fr
Michael FitzGibbon, the then Parish Priest at Ss Alban & Stephen
led a pilgrimage to Issoudun, visiting Lisieux, Chartres, Bruges, Nevers,
Paray le Monial, Taize & Paris – all in eight days! The retreat
team at Issoudon gave an introduction to the life and spirituality of
the founder, Jules Chevalier, whose vision was that everyone should experience
the love of the Heart of Christ. “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere
loved”. Click here to read more about the
trip.
Vocations - Missionaries of the Sacred Heart The
MSC are an international group of men who belong to a religious society pledged
to sharing God’s love with people everywhere. Today we need more missionaries
who will continue to proclaim the message of God’s love to people throughout
the world. If you would like more information email vocations@mscireland.com or complete the coupon below and send to Fr. Joe McGee, 8 St John Street, Tamworth, Staffs, B79 7EX.
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Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC)
The MSC (from the
Latin "Missionarii Sacritissimi
Cordis") are an international community
of priests and brothers within the Roman Catholic Church who witness
in the world the compassion and generosity of God.
The MSC congregation was founded in France in 1854 by Jules Chevalier who gathered together a small
group of like-minded men to form the first MSC community at Issoudun.
Presently the MSC is around 2,500 strong and is working in
over forty countries in all continents.
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Past Priests -
We're blessed in this parish to be supported by the priests of the Missionaries
of the Sacred Heart. Shortages of priests is not a new thing, and for
this very reason, in 1899, the then Cardinal of Westminster, Cardinal Vaughan,
invited the MSC priests to help out. They've been part of our community ever
since! There isn't room to list them all here, but click here for a snapshot of the more recent priests
The Faithful Years is a beautiful book, compiled
and published in 1999 by the late James Corbett, RIP.
It's a fascinating insight
into the history of the MSCs in St Albans since 1899.
A few copies are still available at the Presbyterym, or from St Andrews Christian Bookshop in London Road, St Albans.
ISBN code 0 9517037 3 6, Published by MMA, St. Albans, 1999
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Novena to the Sacred Heart
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"Come to Me all who labour and are heavily burdened and I will refresh
you. Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will
find rest for your souls."
Jesus,
You are filled with the Holy Spirit and joined to the Father in bonds of
love. We join with You in giving thanks to the Father for
having revealed himself through you, and for having revealed his great
love for each of us. You are His visible sign of that Love.
Assured of
Your compassion and love, we turn to You and ask you to hear our own private
intercession.
May the Sacred
Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved. Forever
Our Lady of
the Sacred Heart, Pray for us.
St Joseph,
model and patron of those who love the Sacred Heart, Pray for us.
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