At the end of September, the Network of Sacred Heart Schools hosted its first-ever learning and action conference entitled Sacred Heart Summit: Hearts Rooted in Change. The historic three-and-a-half-day conference brought together an international and intergenerational group of over 500 members of the Sacred Heart family to learn, build community, and commit to action. The Summit took place at McCormick Place in Chicago, and was one of the main events to take place during the Network's 50th anniversary year which commenced with a prayer service earlier in September.
Participants engaged in purposeful learning, analysis, and contemplation throughout the conference. They heard from an outstanding lineup of inspiring keynote speakers: Suzanne Cooke, RSCJ, Provincial of the United States – Canada Province; Dr. Sheila Davis, chief executive officer at Partners In Health; Betty Ogiel, a transformational leadership and career coach, professional speaker, author, and Sacred Heart alumna; Alexandra Codina, a documentary filmmaker and Sacred Heart alumna; Rose Farah, an associate at CrossBoundary in Dubai and Sacred Heart alumna, along with her sister Rania Farah, current student and a Sacred Heart alumna; and Imma De Stefanis, RSCJ. Participants also had the opportunity to attend two sessions from eight featured speakers as well as five opportunities to choose from over 50 breakout presenter sessions.
The over 200 student participants had multiple opportunities to connect with students from Sacred Heart schools throughout Mexico, Canada and the United States as well as with Religious of the Sacred Heart in "Kit's Corner." The space, named in honor Catherine "Kit" Collins, RSCJ, who was instrumental in the development of the Goals and Criteria for Sacred Heart Schools in the United States and Canada, provided opportunities to build community through conversation, crafts such as making friendship bracelets, games like Sacred Heart trivia offered by the United States – Canada province archives, and more.
In addition to all the sessions, participants were able to encounter and learn about current Society of the Sacred Heart ministries and organizations that are Society mission partners, that is, those whose missions align with the Society's mission and who often work in partnership with RSCJ, Associates and other Sacred Heart sponsored ministries.
In bringing them together as one community, this conference energized many members of the international Sacred Heart community, setting them forth on a common path of transformative action in pursuit of a world characterized by compassion, hope, justice, and solidarity.
Watch a highlight reel covering the Summit below
