In early November, students and educators from member schools of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools traveled to Florissant, Missouri, for "Living Our Sacred Heart Mission," a program aimed to engage participants in intergenerational dialogue on the mission of Sacred Heart Education and the history of the Society of the Sacred Heart in North America.
The program opened with a presentation by Suzanne Cooke, RSCJ, Provincial of the United States – Canada Province, on founder of the Society Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat's life and her vision for education. Participants then spent two days in small group conversations with Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ) – Reyna Gonzalez, RSCJ, Sharon Karam, RSCJ, and Diane Roche, RSCJ.
During these small group discussions, participants explored the implications of Vatican II on Sacred Heart Education and heard stories about the sisters personal call to religious life and their vocations. The group also heard from Sheila Haggas, Executive Director of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, on the importance of partnering in our shared mission, and Carolina, a senior from Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City, on the role many RSCJ have played in her life.
The students also visited Villa Duchesne School of the Sacred Heart in and educators visited the United States – Canada Province Archives in St. Louis, Missouri. The program ended with a closing ceremony at the Shrine of Saint Philippine Duchesne in neighboring St. Charles, Missouri, at which the RSCJ presented all participants with their “Sacred Heart Inheritance," a symbol of their role in carrying out Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat's vision.
Text courtesy of the Network of SacredHeart Schools
