2 February, 1866
Fr. Jean-Marie Vandel enters the MSC community in Issoudun.
He becomes the first director of the Apostolic School at Chezal-Benoît.
  

2 February, 1892
The title of Saint Joseph "Friend of the Sacred Heart" is changed to
"Saint Joseph, patron and model of those of love the Sacred Heart".

2 February, 2012
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.



5 February, 1900
Canonical Erection of the Congregation of MSC Sisters
and approbation of the Statutes for five years.



6 February, 1855
Chevalier and Maugenest finish their second novena to the Blessed Virgin.
Their prayer is answered.
They are promised 1000 francs, per year,
from a generous benefactor, for their living expenses.




10 February, 1885
Fr. Verjus and three Italian Brothers leave Sidney
for Thursday Island.




15 February, 1981
Fr. Juan Alonso Fernandez, MSC, of the Spanish Province,
is violently assassinated in Guatemala.
 



16 February, 1915
Fr. Charles Piperon dies in Thuin, Belgium.
He was longtime companion and confident of Jules Chevalier.
 
 



22 February, 1908
Marie Louise Hartzer, first Superior General
of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,
dies in Thuin, Belgium. She is buried four days later.
Marie Louise had left France due to the expulsions of religious
by the French Government.




23 February, 1945
29 Dutch MSC are freed form the concentration camp
at Los Baños, Philippines.
 



24 February, 1985
Fr. Henri Verjus arrives at Thursday Island
after having left Sidney earlier in the month.
  




25 February, 1875
The Vatican orders that, in future, all new images of
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
must represent the Child Jesus on the arms of his mother,
and not standing before her.
                   

Cor Novum welcomed Sr. Toua Konono from Kiribati and Sr. Megan Donahue from Australia for a Preparation for Final Vows Program in December, 2011 - January, 2012. Both sisters, pictured in the photo below, will make their Final Profession in February, 2012. Their comments regarding their time in Issoudun follow.

                                   

Toua writes:
"It was an amazing winter time experience in Issoudun and I can't believe how quickly the 30 days passed. I had a wonderful time and am ready to say YES! I am ready to commit myself to God.
What I appreciated most was the life of the Cor Novum community and how we had time to listen to one another and to have some fun-times together. Winter was wet and cold, but thanks to Saint Joseph, our days of outings to Bourges, Richelieu, Wissembourg and Strasbourg were blessed with sunshine and sunsets, which reminded me of my home in Kiribati."

Megan writes:
"Being in Issoudun, the cradle of our Chevalier Family, has been a delight, a privilege and, at times, a most moving experience.
Walking in Jules Chevalier's footsteps, praying where he prayed, sitting beside his tomb and re-living his sotry, have been absolute gift. Sharing daily Eucharist and the Prayer of the Church with the Cor Novum Team have only deepened these experiences.
Opportunities to travel to Richelieu, Bourges and Wissembourg have touched and enlivened my heart as I have come to know more deeply my place in the Chevalier Family, and my heart-resonance with Jules' story and my belonging to Jesus. My experience here in Issoudun only makes me want to shout and to live as fully as I am able : May the Sacred Heart of Jesus Be Everywhere Loved! Forever!"  

1 January, 2012
Motherhood of God

8 January, 2012:
Feast of the Epiphany ~ one of Chevalier's favourite feast.
The true nature of God is manifested through the flesh of the infant Jesus.

10 January, 1854
Father Maugenest, 1829-1919, is appointed curate of Issoudun.

10 January, 1979
The FMI Sisters ~ The Daughters of Mary Immaculate ~ founded by Bishop Louis Couppé, MSC, in Papua New Guinea in 1912, elect their first General Superior.
Since their foundation a FDNSC sister had been their 'Superior'.

12 January, 1877
The first MSC Constitutions are approved for 10 years by Rome.

13 January, 1985
The cause for the canonization of the lay Papua New Guinean catechist, Peter To Rot, is opened.

15 January, 1927
Archbishop Couppé, MSC, xho died 20 July 1926 at Douglas Park, Australia,
is reburied at Vunapope, Papua New Guinea.

15 January, 1930
Marie-Thérèse Noblet dies.
She was Mother of the Handmaids of the Lord,
who were founded in Papua New Guinea by Bishop Alain de Boismenu, MSC, in 1920.

15 January, 2012
World Day for Migrants and Refugees ... Chevalier responded to the evils of his time.
In our time, we respond to the inhumanity of our world ...
with compassion of the Heart of Jesus.

16 January, 1912
Bishop Navarre, MSC, vicar apostolic of Britsh New Guinea.

20 January, 1925
The cause of beatification of Bishop Henri Verjus and of the Baining martyrs is introduced.

21 January, 1852
The young Father Chevalier receives his second appointment after ordination.
He becomes assistant priest at Châtillon-sur-Indre.

21 January, 1907
The aged Father Chevalier and his curates
are expelled from their home,
the presbitery in Issoudun.

22 January, 1811
Jean-Charles Chevalier and Louise Ory,
the parents of Father Jules Chevalier,
are married in Richelieu.

24 January, 2012
Feast Day of St Francis de Sales (1567-1622).
The 'heart' is the central image for Francis and Jane de Chantal,
in their attempt to portray who God is,
who the human person is
and how they are intimately related.
Both these figures appear in stain glass windows in the Richelieu Church.

29 January, 1861
Birth and Baptism of Father Hubert Linckens, MSC, in Wijlre, Netherlands.
Linckens is the historical founder of the Missionary of the Sacred Heart Sisters of Hiltrup.

31 January, 1885
The first five Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart arrive in Australia,
accompanied by Fathers Couppé, and Verjus, and three Italian Brother Novices.

                     We are happy to announce that our summer program

                                "Spirituality of the Heart:
                     Yesterday, Today, Towards the Future"
                                                          will be held 
                                     in Issoudun, 1 - 29 July, 2012. 

            We encourage you to share this information with all communities
                                 as well as Chevalier Family lay members.

This session gives members of the Chevalier Family, both lay and vowed, the opportunity of a refreshed encounter with the person, life, charism, spirituality and mission of Jules Chevalier. Visits to places connected with Fr. Chevalier in Issoudun, Richelieu, Bourges and Paray-le-Monial are a special feature. Conferences, reflections, and sharing centred on a contemporary understanding of our Spirituality of the Heart for the world today, are also significant aspects of this program. Presented in the light of the reality of life and ministry in the 21st century, all aspects of theprogram challenge and re-energize! A retreat during the third week helps participants personally integrate their experience in a supportive, prayerful atmosphere.

We are happy to announce that Fr. Hans Kwakman's new book
on "Jules Chevalier's Charism and the Identity of the Chevalier Family"
has now been published. 



This book is an attempt to enter more deeply
into Jules Chevalier's special charism as a founder.
The idea behind this book is that a good understanding of Chevalier's charism
is of utmost importance in strengthening a sense of identity and mission
as members of the Chevalier Family in the Church and in society.
This book will be helpful to everyone interested
in the charism and identity of the Chevalier Family,
more specifically to formators and members in formation,
as well as the growing number of lay members of the Chevalier Family.

Originally written in English, the book is currently under translations
and will be made available in French, Spanish, Dutch and Indonesian. 

Warm congratulations and thanks to Fr. Hans!