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Saturday, May 25, 2013

Prayer to St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat
1779 - 1865
Feast Day - May 25th


Prayer to St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

Gracious God, as the Psalmist said, “Your plans hold good forever, the intentions of your Heart are from age to age.” We thank you that in your holy plan you chose St. Madeleine Sophie Barat as foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart. During her long life (1779-1865) a life of joy, but also one often filled with struggles, trials, terrorism and with the opening and closing of loved schools, she consistently turned to You for inspiration and guidance, for energy & courage. Through our remembrance of her and through her intercession, we ask You Lord, our God, to continue to bless all of us in the worldwide family of the Sacred Heart.

With St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, enable us to grow in faith, which will shape and inform our choices and lives.  Enable us to deepen our love so that we might be creative and generous in our services to others. Help us also, Lord, to turn to You prayerfully with everything that touches our lives and our world.  We praise you Lord, and Thank You anew for the gift of all our loved ones.  We especially are grateful for St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, for the purpose and destiny of her life, which continues in your everlasting plan to touch and influence our lives.  Amen. 

Written by Patricia Reiss, RSCJ, BC ’57

Thursday, May 23, 2013

AASH End of Fiscal Year Appeal




Dear Sacred Heart Alumnae and Alumni,

Last month in Omaha we celebrated the 80th Anniversary of AASH at the 39th Biennial Conference.  The conference theme Celebrating our Legacy in the Heartland was aptly presented with an array of activities and speakers that left us feeling intellectually and spiritually fulfilled.  Eighty years is truly a milestone in our history of uniting alumnae and alumni in “federation, spirit and service.”  In the past your generous support has helped us to remain connected and to grow this wonderful organization.   I am writing to ask for your support as our fiscal year ends May 31st.  All gifts will be recognized in the summer issue of Esprit de Coeur, which will highlight the 39th Biennial Conference hosted inOmaha

Please know that your contribution allows us to meet our commitment to alumnae and alumni throughout the nation.  That commitment includes networking through our national website and our publication, Esprit de Coeur, and assisting alumnae and alumni associations around the country.  Your gift also enables us to continue our support of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools and the very important ministries of the Religious of the Sacred Heart.

We count on your financial support to help us stay financially strong and continue to improve the services we offer as an association so that we will flourish for the next 80 years.  I’d like to suggest that in honor of this momentous and special anniversary year, please consider a gift to AASH, either in honor or memory of a loved one: someone you wish to recognize, to show your appreciation and gratitude – a parent, a friend, a sibling, RSCJ, or mentor.

This month is special in many ways as we mark the end of our fiscal year, celebrate Mother’s Day, the Feast of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, and welcome graduates from twenty-two Sacred Heart schools throughout the United States as the newest members of AASH.  The tribute video Sacred Heart: Mothers, Daughters, Sisters and RSCJ is a photo compilation of Sacred Heart Alums, as well as, the many RSCJ who taught us. The video is meant to pay homage to these wonderful woman and St. Madeleine Sophie Barat foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart.

Please know that AASH is grateful for your gift in any amount. You can save time and postage by donating online now (click here) - our website www.aashnet.org.  You will notice a matching gift tab listing thousands of companies that will double or even triple your gift!  If you prefer to send a check, make it payable to "AASH" and mail to: AASH National Office, 801 S. Spoede Road, St. Louis, MO 63131. 

On behalf of the AASH 2011-2013 Board of Directors, I thank you for your support!

Warm regards in the Heart,

     Maureen Elizabeth

Maureen Elizabeth Ryan
AASH President 2011-2013

Enjoy the You Tube Video - Sacred Heart: Mothers, Daughters, Sisters and RSCJ



And the video Legacy in the Heartland... shown at the 39th Biennial AASH Conference in Omaha can be viewed if you click here.



Friday, May 17, 2013

Betsy Stahler Fallon WA'94 Receives St. Philippine Duchesne Outstanding Alumna Award at Induction Ceremony

Betsy Stahler Fallon '94 ~  recipient of the
St. Philippine Duchesne Outstanding Alumna Award

The Induction Ceremony began with a warm welcome by Woodlands Academy Alumnae Association President, Marni Soderland Mans, '90  and then fellow WAAA Board members: Pat Colbert, '69; Kamy Moorman Daddono '80 and Molly Keating '95 distributed AASH Passports to Forty-Two young ladies who now become part of their local alumna association, as well as, National (AASH) and International (AMASC) Sacred Heart Alum Associations.

Junior Class President Anne Kotlarz, offered the following tribute "Sisterhood…. by being a part of the Woodlands community, we have been given the grandest sisterhood a young woman can have. This sisterhood started the day we walked into Woodlands freshman year, and will continue for the rest of our lives. Seniors, after today you will have the support of one of the most profound alumnae associations. We have been fortunate enough to hear from numerous alumnae in previous years and each alumna evokes awe and gives us a glimpse of what we all dream to become in the future. The alumnae are also perfect examples of how our Woodlands experiences and the Sacred Heart Network will guide us for the rest of our lives." 



Above top right photo: Past Philippine Duchesne Outstanding Alumna Award recipients M. Julie McKinley, '74 (2012) and  Helen Bruns Ryan, '50 (2009) joined Betsy in front of the Triptych of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat by Mother Margaret Mary Nealis.  

From the WAAA website


Betsy Stahler Fallon graduated from Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart in 1994 and went on to St. Norbert College in Wisconsin and received her Master’s Degree from St. Xavier University in 2005. Betsy lives with her husband, Sean in Chicago. She has taught for nine years in an all-boy classroom at Sheridan Road and was nominated for a Golden Apple in 2011.

Betsy has dedicated herself to Woodlands Academy by serving on the Woodlands Academy Alumnae Association Board for seven years. During her years of dedication to the Alumnae Board, Betsy organized and launched an Alumnae Networking event for young professional alums to connect in Chicago. This event gathered alums in the heart of the city in the middle of February to support each other and Woodlands. This is now an annual event which continues to reconnect Woodlands alums to their Alma Mater. Betsy’s enthusiasm to gather Woodlands alums on campus, in her home, for dinner downtown, at Conge or Reunion is an example of her love of the Sacred Heart mission. Betsy is passionate about single-sex education and speaks nationally and in Canada at workshops about the best strategies for “reaching the male brain in the classroom.”



Betsy has dedicated herself to additional philanthropic activities at Sheridan Road. She has a hands on approach to getting her students involved in service. Her attitude of “many hands make light work” allows her students to understand that though they are young they can make a world of difference. She has her first graders bring in toys they no longer play with to donate to local shelters. Her students also work together to bring in supplies and make lunches for the homeless in the Roger’s Park neighborhood of Chicago.



Betsy’s dedication and commitment to Sacred Heart specifically exemplifies the second and third of the goals and criteria of the Sacred Heart “a deep respect for intellectual values” and “a social awareness which impels to action."

Betsy currently teaches first grade at Hardey Prep.  Betsy said that she and her first grade boys begin each day with the following prayer ~
Dear God, 

Today I will do my best to...
love you,
have fun learning, 
help others, 
be a good friend 
and make wise choices.

To read more of Betsy's inspiring remarks upon receiving the Philippine Duchesne Outstanding Alumnae Award - click here

Above lower left photo:  Nancy Scott Considine, SR'44 was all smiles surrounded by five of her seven daughters and two granddaughters.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Sacred Heart: Mothers, Daughters, Sisters and RSCJ




Wishing all a very Happy Mother's Day!  

Sacred Heart: Mothers, Daughters, Sisters and RSCJ is a collection of photos featuring the many RSCJ known in the 20th century as Mother and now as Sister, as well as, Sacred Heart alums with their Mothers, Godmothers, Daughters, Sisters, Brothers and Sons. On this special day we celebrate and honor the Mother that gave us life. There is no stronger bond than that of a Mother and her Child and the relationship we hold with our Sisters is very special too.  The compilation of photos recognizes the many RSCJ "Mothers" who taught us and most especially St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, Foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart.  Once a Child of the Sacred Heart always a Child of the Sacred Heart... I hope you will enjoy seeing the many smiles on these Sacred Heart faces as much as I do! To all my Sacred Heart Sisters, I wish you a very Happy Mother's Day!





Photo credits:  MER; Mary Schumacher, RSCJ; Ada Stevens with SnapHappy Photos and Archives

Friday, May 10, 2013

Sacred Heart Alumna President Park of South Korea Addresses Joint Meeting of Congress

Sacred Heart Alumna Park Geun-hye
South Korea's First Woman President

Sacred Heart alumna and recently elected President Park Geun-Hye of South Korea was in Washington, D.C. this week and addressed a Joint Meeting of Congress on May 7, 2013 after a summit meeting with President Obama.

Park Geun-Hye was elected president of the Republic of Korea on Dec. 19 2012. She is the first woman president in the history of Korea. Park attended middle school from 1965 to 1967 and continued on to high school graduating in 1970. She is remembered by fellow classmates as academically outstanding, frugal and compassionate. President of KASH (South Korea Alumni of the Sacred Heart), Young-Soon Change sent the following news to AMASC.  "Throughout the presidential campaign, the alumni created a strong bond. Everyday groups were formed to travel to different cities campaigning from morning till midnight. Although our graduates are small in numbers compared to other schools, we realized the influence of one graduate was enormous. We became confident our Sacred Heart education will bring about change in our society.  KASH organized a lecture twice a year to increase participation in various activities among college and high school graduates. The subject of the lecture was opera. This became very popular last year and many requested it again. This year we will invite a famous expert on the lecture subject. The alumni living abroad have formed an organization in various countries. They send news of their activities to Korea. Through this, we are planning to make an effort to find and contact more alumnae. As always, we are seeking ways to make our younger alumni participate."



The AMASC XV World Congress will be hosted in Scottsdale, Arizona from November 6-9, 2014, the theme for the Congress: 'Listening with One Heart'.  For further info on the AMASC XV Congress click here.