MSC Administration, The Chetail Centre.

A move from Treand House to the Chetail Centre.

At the grave for the 120 years memorial

Some background: Henri Chetail, Lyons, France, 1859-1904, made his first vows in 1878 with a significant group of fellow novices: 14 January, 1878, The MSC General Council accepts 12 novices for first vows, including Brothers Verius, Merg, Meyer, Vandel, Chetail, Hartzer, Fromm.

He spent time at Glastonbury, UK, then to Australia, serving in Botany parish 1894-1903. He was then appointed to open a house in Tasmania, 1904, four months later he was stricken with erysipelas and died.

From the centenary celebration in 2024, Ed Travers MSC:

One hundred and twenty one years ago the Australian Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart established its first mission in its own right in the Archdiocese of Hobart. Campbell Town was chosen as the place. Accordingly, we, who are now very few, gathered there to celebrate Fr Chevalier's 200th birthday which happened also to be the 120th anniversary of the death of Fr Henri Chetail MSC, one of our first of our confreres in this place who died with a reputation for sanctity which endures amongst local people to this day. Moreover, two of the churches of this region, in the villages of Ross and Mangana, were dedicated to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart thus standing in testimony to the influence of our pioneer members in this region.

From the Archdiocese of Hobart:  Ministering in Tasmania for some 121 years, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have a rich history in the state, following the invitation extended to them by then Archbishop of Hobart, Daniel Murphy, to take charge of the spiritual needs of what was then known as the Campbelltown mission.

Fr Bartha MSC, parish priest of Moonah-Lutana in2024, thanks for the photos

Fr Henri Chetail MSC was the first priest of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart to serve in Tasmania, sadly passing away in 1904 only four months after arriving, coincidentally, on 15 March.

“A contemporary of our founder, Fr Henri Chetail died in Campbelltown on that same day, 120 years ago, with a reputation for sanctity in the Campbelltown region,” Fr Edmond said.

“Our congregation has been in Tasmania in an unbroken line since then.”

According to Bishop Patrick Delaney, then Co-adjutor to the Archbishop, Fr Henri’s last words were prayers for his people, and offering his life for the perpetuation of the foundation he had established in Tasmania.