Tea at Duchesne House - Roehampton, England

 My visit with RSCJ in England (L-R): Dorothy Bell and Mary Grant; Joan Faber and MER;
Mon Barudi, Anne Attard, Amy Micallef Eynaud, MER and Mimi Goddard;
MER and Eileen Foster

"To be a joy-bearer and a joy-giver says everything; it means that one is faithfully living for God and that nothing else counts, and if one gives joy to others we are doing God's work. With joy without and within, all is well.  I can conceive no higher way.  Joy is the most heavenly atmosphere found on earth - we ought to cultivate it as a duty always."

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.

What a joy it was for me to have the opportunity to be in England earlier this month to celebrate the Eucharist of Thanksgiving for Janet Erskine Stuart on October 11th with fellow Sacred Heart alums and RSCJ.

One of the many highlights of my trip was a visit with the retired RSCJ living at Duchesne House and New House and having afternoon tea and delicious homemade cake. It was so good to see many of the same familiar faces that our Sacred Heart embraces - specifically on Sunday the following RSCJ: Mon Barudi, Frances Lynch, Norah Lester, Lucia Park, Joan Faber, Amy Micallef Eynaud, Mimi Goddard, Mary Grant and Anne Attard.

Many thanks to Sr. Dorothy Bell, rscj who graciously hosted me during my stay in Hammersmith at Bute Gardens and arranged for Sr. Eileen Foster, rscj to meet me and discuss the history of the Society of the Sacred Heart in England.  Before retiring Sr. Foster worked in the Provincial Archives in Roehampton so we enjoyed a nice visit on Sunday afternoon.