Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart Hosts Annual Congé and Honors Barbara Wood-Prince

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart hosts  Congé 2013

Saturday, April 27th,  Woodlands hosted its 40th annual major Fundraising Event - Congé 2013

The Event Co-Chairs: Heather Kotlarz, Tom Flint and Lori Rosdalsky and the Live and Silent Auction Chairs: Mary Oelerich and Alison Kohlmeyer did a fabulous job! The room was beautifully displayed with an array of auction items and every detail was carefully thought out... from the Program, the Menu, right down to the Special Congé dessert!  

Tami Rocha, Associate Director of Marketing for Special Events and the Advancement office did an outstanding job as well!  

Congé Co-Chair Tom Flint said, "this year’s event will have a special twist. Congé will honor someone who has made an incredible difference to the Woodlands Academy community. Barbara Wood-Prince, a Board of Trustee member since 2007, will be recognized for her tremendous philanthropic initiatives to Woodlands. Congé is one way we come together as a community to celebrate the special place that Woodlands is and to help financially ensure that the educational mission of Woodlands Academy continues into the future. Woodlands is a place where each girl is encouraged to be a leader. So it’s fitting that we recognize one of our leaders while we raise funds to be solely used to help educate future leaders.”  

Barbara Wood-Prince, an alumna of Woodlands and Convent of the Sacred Heart (Noroton, CT) has been nominated by Woodlands Academy for the 2013 Archdiocesan Development Council IMPACT award which honors a volunteer or staff member whose commitment, energy and vision have promoted Catholic education in the school community of which he or she is a part. A resident of Lake Forest, Barbara co-chaired a multi-million dollar campaign to build a new Science Center to better equip students to pursue study in STEM fields, where women are generally under-represented. Barbara attended elementary school at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, in the basement of what later became Barat College in Lake Forest, the predecessor of Woodlands Academy.

It was a special evening for me as I first "met" Barbara Wood-Prince many years ago over the phone as I did research on alums who had attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart elementary school, in preparation for the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the founding of the school.  After many years our paths have finally crossed, and we met in person at last year's Congé.  Barbara so richly deserved to be recognized and honored this evening for her faithful dedication over the years to Woodlands Academy. 

It was most rewarding to listen to Bridgett Riverol WA'13 speak of the gratitude she has for her Sacred Heart education.  Bridget proudly told us that she has been accepted at Northwestern University and will start this fall. 

I was especially grateful to be seated with Woodlands Academy Board Trustee, Margaret Mary O'Neill Conley, WA'49 and her husband, John who I have known for over 20 years, when we worked together. Additionally, Trustees John Popoli and his wife Chris; Mike Paterson and his wife Ann; and Marni Soderland Mans, WAAA President, were at my table. It was a delightful group and spectacular evening!  

Woodlands Academy hosts annual Conge

Congé  at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart

To students and alumnae of the Sacred Heart, the word “Congé” elicits a smile and shared understanding. Derived from the French word for “play day,” Congé is traditionally an unannounced day of play and fun in the midst of the school year. It is still a part of our Sacred Heart tradition and a day the students anticipate each school year.

In 1972, Woodlands Academy adopted the term Congé for its annual black-tie dinner and fundraiser. The adult community deserved a time of fun and camaraderie, as did the students. Over the years, Congé has become a tradition of community building and celebration that directly benefits students through Live and Silent Auctions and a dinner party. This event has become the school's largest fundraising effort. Attracting more than 200 guests from the Chicago and North Shore area, the event's proceeds are used to directly benefit the student body by enhancing educational programs and funding special projects at the School.

On the last Saturday of April, I was invited to partake in the Congé that Woodlands Academy was hosting at the Glen View Club.  


A highlight of the evening was when Mary Therese Kraft-Williams a 1992 graduate of Woodlands and current member of the WAAA board spoke about her decision to attend Woodlands Academy,  her experiences as a student and finally coming home what it means to be an alumna of the Sacred Heart. "I think back at my time at Woodlands and am amazed at the opportunities and experiences I had, from going on Exchange to Washington DC, to a week long service trip in Appalachia, to multiple leadership roles and of course a couple championship titles. One of which my Dad, aka my coach is very proud of. You'd think he was Coach K.But, what amazes me most as I reflect back on my days at Woodlands, is the environment we were all surrounded by. The various cultures, the tradition, the faculty, the ability to see no boundaries, it is truly unique. And this progressive mentality lives on today, just take a stroll through the science wing or see the flags in the chapel and you cannot help but be proud."  


It was an enjoyable evening and one in which many parents showed their pride by the generous way in which they bid on both the live and silent auction items.


Now the seniors are busy preparing for graduation day on June 7th.   I wish them well!  Perhaps amongst this class will be an alumna like Mary Therese who comes back to speak of her days at Woodlands and what her Sacred Heart education has meant to her.

Kate O'Flaherty Chopin, Sacred Heart Alumna to be Honored in her Hometown - St. Louis, MO

Bust of Kate Chopin by Sculptor  Jaye Gregory 

March 11, 2012 ~  Today in St. Louis, Missouri, the Central West End Association will unveil the bust of Kate Chopin to be on display at the Writers' Corner in the city (the intersection of Euclid and McPherson).  

Catherine (Kate) O'Flaherty was born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 8, 1850.  Her father Thomas had imigrated from Ireland and was killed in a railroad accident when Kate was a young girl leaving her to be raised by her mother, Eliza Farris O'Flaherty of St. Louis and her mother's family who were of French decent. She was very close to her great-grandmother Victoria Verdon Charleville who spoke only french and taught Kate the art of story telling.  Kate's great-grandmother died at age 82 in 1863. Shortly thereafter her half-brother George O'Flaherty died at the age of 23 of typhoid fever. He had been serving in the Civil War as a Confederate soldier. Her grandmother Athenise Charleville Faris died at age 89 in 1893 thus outliving both Kate's mother and husband.  

The many strong woman who influenced young Kate also included the Relgious of the Sacred Heart.  Kate attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis from 1855 - 1868.  She graduated with a blue ribbon and was a Child of Mary.  While a student at the Academy one of her teachers Mother O'Meara encouraged Kate to write.  She wrote a poem The Congé – 1867 which made reference to both Mothers' Hamilton and O'Meara, as well as, one of her best friends Kitty Geresche who later entered the Society of the Sacred Heart.

As a young girl Kate found that writing was a great way to express her feelings and as a young widow she again found writing to be therapeutic.  Her family doctor encouraged Kate to write as a means of therapy and financial support.  

To learn more about Kate Chopin, click here  - Kate Chopin International Society.

Catherine O'Flaherty Chopin
1850 -1904

Summertime Congé to be hosted on Thursday, August 25th - Erie Cafe (Chicago)

Alums had a great time last year at the Conge ....I look forward
to attending again on Thursday and hope to see you there!

Sacred Heart Schools and the Sheridan Road Alumni Association Invite Chicagoland Alumnae/i of all Sacred Heart Network Schools To a special event Summertime Conge  A social hour and networking event  Thursday, August 25 6-9 pm Erie Café  536 W. Erie Street Chicago Bring your classmates - an over 21 event. Complimentary Hors d'oeuvres . Cash Bar . Free Valet Parking . 50/50 Raffle RSVP as soon as possible! Presented by Sacred Heart Schools and Sheridan Road Alumni Association

Louise Lundergan, RSCJ (1911-2011)

Louise Lundergan, RSCJ (1911-2011) sits with
Margaret "Kelly" Howe, RSCJ (1920-2009)
photo taken in Albany, NY on September 17, 2005

Louise Lundergan, RSCJ passed away at age 100 years last Wednesday (July 20th)  and will be laid to rest tomorrow in the Kenwood Cemetery.  I had the distinct honor to attend my very first Conge hosted by the Rochester alums in 2005 for the retired religious before they all made the move to the Teresian House.  Sr. Lundergan and I discovered that we both had ties to Chicago and Barat College.  It was a lovely afternoon and I am so very happy I attended the wonderful celebration.

Both Sr. Louise Lundergan and Sr. Kelly Howe pictured above are now deceased.  May they rest in peace!  To read the full obit for Sr. Lundergan click here.