The St. Louis Children of Mary (E.de.M) ... Spreading the Love of the Sacred Heart for 175 years

Pictured L-R are a few of the RSCJ in attendance with Bishop Edward M. Rice
 and MER: Srs. Lillian Conaghan, Connie Dryden, Sheila Hammond, 
Nancy Ghio, Carol Haggarty, Bishop Rice, Shirley Miller, Mary Pat Rives, 
Pat Thro, Elaine Abels, Maria Schlomer, Lucie Nordmann, and MER

October 9, 2011 ~ Today the St. Louis Children of Mary Sodality (E.de.M)  hosted a special mass at the Villa Duchesne Chapel in honor of their 175th Anniversary.  Helen Mashburn Penton fellow Barat alumna and a board member of the  E. de. M., had invited me to attend the celebration today.  I was honored to be at Villa and share with the Children of Mary both their joy and love of the Sacred Heart.  In his homily Bishop Rice encouraged the women to not rest on their 175 year history but instead look to the future and make it their mission to see the Children of Mary Sodality grow and flourish.  Pictured above with Bishop Edward M. Rice are just a few of the many RSCJ who were in attendance.  Coming the farthest was Connie Dryden, RSCJ from Africa and Lillian Connaghan, RSCJ from California.  

Following mass a delicious lunch complete with Champagne toast awaited us!  Each attendee received a copy of the recently published book, "The St. Louis Children of Mary - SPREADING THE LOVE OF THE SACRED HEART FOR 175 YEARS" written by past E.de.M President, Patricia Rice. 

Mary Ann Rourke a student at City House received the first Child of Mary medal in 1836,  A couple of years prior a St. Louis student returned home from studying abroad at the Hotel Biron Academy and hand delivered to Mother Duchesne a packet from St. Madeleine Sophie Barat.  Among the many items in the packet was "the rule for the Children of Mary who left school".  A descendent of the student who hand carried from Saint to Saint the Code for E.de.M. was our very first AASH President Sara Chambers Polk (1933-1935) and to this day many of the St. Louis Children of Mary include women that can say they are fourth generation members of the group.

To read more about the Children of Mary by longtime moderator Mary "Be" Mardel, RSCJ click here
and learn more about the St. Louis group - "Our History" - Children of Mary St. Louis.