Featured Stories | November 24, 2025
“From the very beginning of my formation, I felt a desire to be a missionary”
For many of its students, Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology’s ECS program (English and Cultural Studies) is a stepping stone on the way to a new mission assignment.
That was certainly the case for Fr. Mário Henrique da Costa Nunes, SCJ, who was an ECS student earlier this year. Originally from Brazil, Fr. Mário is now a member of the Dutch Region, serving in the international mission based in Nijmegen along with Fr. Jesús Baena Valbuena, SCJ, of Spain and Fr. Michal Tabak, SCJ, of Poland.
Soon after his arrival in the Netherlands, Fr. Mário agreed to an interview about the new assignment, and what led up to it. One of the first questions was “Why the Netherlands?”
“That is an interesting question, since in Brazil our congregation has many other missionary works,” said Fr. Mário, meaning that Brazilian missionaries are found in many areas of the world OTHER than the Netherlands.
Fr. Mário Henrique
“From the very beginning of my formation, I felt a desire to be a missionary,” continued Fr. Mário, giving background to his current assignment, which now has him learning Dutch on top of his newly honed English. “This desire to be a missionary grew in me as we received visits from Brazilian SCJs who served in countries such as Germany, Ecuador, Uruguay and the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
The Priests of the Sacred Heart have been in the Netherlands since the earliest days of the congregation. In the 1960s, the Dutch Province had more than 800 members.
“They did extraordinary work with the poor in schools, with migrants, and even in the spiritual care of seafarers,” said Fr. Mário. “Throughout its fruitful history the Dutch Province sent more than 500 missionaries to other countries! The people of this country contributed so much to the evangelization of many places. Continuing this legacy is a task of great responsibility.”
The international community was established in Nijmegen in 2021. It is both a presence to the Dutch SCJs themselves, most of whom are now elderly and retired, and to the wider Dutch population.
“Many of these SCJs dedicated their entire lives to missionary service,” said Fr. Mário. “We learn a great deal from them, these men who exercised their ministry not only in the Netherlands, but also in Indonesia, Brazil, and many other countries.”
Daily Eucharist in the community chapel is open to the public. “People from various parts of the city join us, as well as visitors from Germany, Belgium, Poland, Indonesia, Nigeria, and other countries.”
Since 2024, SCJs of the international community also collaborate in two parishes, celebrating Mass, holding Eucharistic Adoration, hearing confessions, and offering formation courses. The SCJs are well-appreciated by local clergy.
“Without the SCJ presence, it would be difficult for the parish priest in these locations to keep up with liturgical and pastoral activities,” said Fr. Mário.
Besides parochial ministry, Fr. Michal works with young adults who wish to rediscover their faith, and Fr. Jesús collaborates with an outreach ministry to the homeless.
“Although coming here was a decision made by my superiors, I am grateful to God for being able to take part in the mission of the Church here,” said Fr. Mário. “I am also grateful for the four very blessed months that I had in the United States. I came to this mission enriched by that remarkable experience. In addition to improving my English, I was able to learn more about the mission of our Congregation in the United States.
“I am grateful to be an SCJ.”