One Year Later We Remember Victims of Flight MH17

"MH17 The Sunflowers: Sister Philomene Tiernan a loved, 'charmingly persistent' force of nature"

A loving, compassionate and spiritually engaging RSCJ that I had met in England last year was one of the many victims in the Malaysian airline crash. So today as the world recalls this senseless tragedy, I remember with gratitude that I had the opportunity to meet Sister Philomene Tiernan in England before her fateful journey to her homeland in Australia.  And, while there are many stories in the newspapers marking this one year anniversary, one story and video in particular caught my attention  - "MH17 The Sunflowers: Sister Philomene Tiernan a loved, 'charmingly persistent' force of nature" printed on July 14, 2015 in The Sydney Morning Herald.

PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair; hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be 

consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive, 

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal

Life.

Amen.

Quote by Janet Erskine Stuart: "You begin every day,..."

Barat House Court Yard Garden - Roehampton

July 7th

"You begin every day, just where you are, no matter where.  It is always here and always now."

Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ (1857 - 1914)

6th Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart

The above quote is taken from the perpetual spiral-bound calendar "The Life Lived" which celebrates the Centenary of Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ - (click here to order).   And, to order your very own Janet Erskine Stuart Centenary Memorabilia - click here. 

The American Flag: A Pilgrimage to Cottesmore

Photos above from the Janet Erskine Stuart Centenary Celebrations
A Pilgrimage to Cottesmore

On Saturday, June 28th a group of RSCJ, Sacred Heart alums and Educators made a Pilgrimage to Cottesmore, the birthplace of Janet Erskine Stuart. Our group of seventy was spilt into two coach buses.  Our bus headed to a charming little town called Oakham for a delightful self guided tour of the town. Next we stopped not too far at the Barnsdale Gardens for a delicious lunch prepared and waiting for us.  Our last stop was to visit St. Nicholas Church where Janet's father, Rev. Andrew Godfrey Stuart, Rector at Cottesmore.  Behind the church is a cemetery and therein lies both her parents as well as many siblings.

The highlight was that we were given permission to see the inside of Janet Erskine Stuart's home  which has been occupied for the last twelve years by a very gracious couple and their two teenage children. The host family could not have been more gracious. In anticipation of our arrival the homeowner had an American flag flying for all of us to see.  

More on my trip in the next week or so.  In the meantime, I wish you and yours a very safe July 4th holiday weekend!

Janet Erskine Stuart Centenary Celebrations and Feast of the Sacred Heart Celebrated in England

Top L-R:  Superior General, Kathleen Conan, RSCJ and Anne Wachter, RSCJ,
Headmistress Sacred Heart School Halifax; Sacred Heart Students;
Robert Kaggwa, Chaplain, Digby Stuart College;
Helen McLaughlin, RSCJ (Superior General 1982-1994) and
Muriel Cameron, RSCJ; Mon McGreal (ENW) and Kathleen Friel, RSCJ (IRS);
Dorothy Bell, RSCJ and Joan Faber, RSCJ (both from ENW);
Helen Ryan Sinclair, Principal Stuartholme, Brisbane and Jane Maltby, Provincial for England - Wales Province

This past Friday, I celebrated the Feast of the Sacred Heart in Roehampton, England.  What a spectacular day!  In the morning a group of us (RSCJ, Sacred Heart alums, and educators) took the Number 72 bus into Hammersmith and toured the Sacred Heart High School that opened in 1893.  Our tour guides (Catherine and Nicole) were delightful and charming young ladies.   

Afterwards I headed via the tube to Mayfair to visit the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Farm Street.  I was told that this is the very same church where in the Sacred Heart Chapel, Janet Erskine Stuart was received into the Roman Catholic Church.  I arrived in the afternoon as Mass was being said for the Feast of the Sacred Heart.  

My day culminated with a very special mass celebrated in the Digby Stuart Chapel in Roehampton.  It was a treat to see so many familiar faces and to meet many new folks that were in town for the Janet Erskine Stuart Centenary Celebrations.   

The Seeking Spirit Conference begins on Sunday June 29th until Wednesday, July 2nd - so stay tuned  or follow me on Twitter as I will try to post more photos and stories of my most memorable trip this summer!

Quote by Janet Erskine Stuart: "Day by day..."

Courtyard near Sacred Heart Chapel - Roehampton University

June 19

"Day by day we write the story of our lives; no day in our life is without influence on the last, for ourselves as well as others."

Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ (1857 - 1914)

6th Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart

The above quote is taken from the perpetual spiral-bound calendar "The Life Lived" which celebrates the Centenary of Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ - click here to order

Quote by Janet Erskine Stuart: ..."Don't attempt the impossible..."

June 15th

"Beware of extremes, beware of inhuman efforts, of violent measures, of all that drives you off your balance...Don't attempt the impossible...Take yourself as you are, whole, and do not try to live by one part alone and starve the other."

Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ (1857 -1914)

6th Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart

The above quote is taken from the perpetual spiral-bound calendar "The Life Lived" which celebrates the Centenary of Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ - click here to order

Celebrating National Poetry Month with Favorite Poems Authored by Sacred Heart Alums and RSCJ

In 1996 the Academy of American Poets inaugarated April as National Poetry Month.  So throughout this month I will showcase poetry authored by Sacred Heart alums and RSCJ.  To start off the month, I have selected a well known poem that was written by Mother Stuart.  This year we celebrate the Centenary of Janet Erskine Stuart 's death through October 21, 2014.  Click here for further info.

SONG OF THE SWAN

Spirit seeking light and beauty,
   Heart that longest for thy rest,
Soul that askest understanding,
   Only thus can ye be blest.

All the joy and all the fairness
   Fade away from earth's delight
By the steadfast contemplation
   Of the glory out of sight.

Through the vastness of creation
   Though your restless thought may roam,
God is all that you can long for,
   God is all His creature's home.

Taste and see Him, feel and hear Him,
   Hope and clasp His unseen hand.
Though the darkness seem to hide Him
   Faith and love can understand.

God, who loves all Thy creatures,
   All our hearts are known to Thee,
Lead us through the land of shadows
   To They blest eternity!

 Written by Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ

Sixth Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart (1857 -1914)

The above poem was taken from the book The Fable of the Ugly Duckling from Highways and By-Ways in the Spiritual Life by Janet Erskine Stuart (Longmans, Green and Co. London 1923)

Rose Philippine Duchesne: A Profile Carved in Hope

copyright 1988 - Elizabeth Sherman, R.S.C.J

Last Saturday, I attended a Day of Reflection hosted at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart. The  theme for the Day of Reflection was Spirituality and the Resilient Woman.  Dr. Nancy Kehoe, R.S.C.J. facilitated a discussion around the topic Women of Prayer. She asked each participant what we hoped to get out of the day and as we went around the room the answers were varied.  At one point we discussed St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne and Janet Erskine Stuart, R.S.C.J. (she served as the 6th Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart and this year we honor her by celebrating the centenary of her death).  All three of these women embody a deep sense of tenacity and resiliency.  

Each attendee received a copy of the book Philippine Duchesne, RSCJ A COLLECTION to take home. So today as I perused the book, I came across the following excerpt written by the granddaughter of Indian chief Rondon who was decorated by the governments of the United States and Brazil for his contribution to the Indians of Brazil.  Below is an edited version of what I read.  

"The history of the last century, and the history of centuries before that, will echo far beyond the 21st century.  Part of this history is the story of a woman of great contrasts but with inner unity. Many who knew her are repelled by her austerity.  Others place her among those who cannot be imitated and for this reason try to forget her.  Others allow themselves to be captivated by this woman who was unconquerable in her Hope and who dared to share her ideals with others.  You, who are full of hope as you begin to read these pages, Come with me and let us discover together "the height, the depth, the breadth, and the length" of this life wholly humble, and happy in the Love of God. ...For to understand someone deeply is to strengthen the bonds of friendship.

Let us read the life of Philippine.Let us contemplate this "profile carved in Hope"in order to learn from her union and conformity with the Heart of the great Missionary of the great Incarnated of the Son of God who chose the poor, the marginalized, the oppressed, the exploited, and the little ones of the earth:and who made herself one of them. In a world in crisis she found her place of incarnation...

Let us learn with her to contemplate the Heart of Jesus, a Heart broken but unyielding in Hope." 

by Maria Cecilia Rondon Amarante, RSCJ

The above excerpt is taken from the book Philippe Duchesne, RSCJ A COLLECTION Copyright 1988

Prayer for the New Year by Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ

Photo taken at Barat College, Lake Forest, IL
Window designed by Emil Frei 

"Heavenly Father, unseen Companion of our life, give us faith and eager expectancy as we begin this fresh stage of our journey.  Take from us all fear of the unknown and teach us to wrest treasures from the darkness.  As the days come and go, may we find that each of one is laden with happy opportunities and enriching experiences; and when this year is ended may our best hopes be more than ever fulfilled."

~ Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ (1857-1914)
Sixth  Superior  General  of the Society of the Sacred Heart  

Click here for info on Janet Erskine Stuart - 2014 Centenary Celebrations