Feast of the Sacred Heart: Prayer by St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

Sacred Heart of Jesus 
originally in front of Old Main - Barat College Campus
Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart - Lake Forest, IL

Prayer to the Sacred Heart

By St. Madeleine Sophie

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I come to Thee because Thou art my only refuge, my only but certain hope.  Thou art the comfort for all my sufferings, the remedy for all my miseries, the reparation for all my losses, the expiation for all my faults, the supplement for all that is wanting to me, the certainty for all my demands, the infallible source, for me and for all, of light, strength, benediction, constancy and peace.  I am sure that Thou wilt not weary of me, that Thou wilt not cease to love me, to aid and protect me, because Thou lovest me with an infinite love.  Have mercy on me, then, according to Thy great mercy, and do with me, and in me, whatsoever Thou wilt.  I abandon myself to Thee, with full confidence that Thou wilt never abandon me.  Amen

Taken from Special Devotions Compiled for the Children of the Sacred Heart

Feast of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat Celebrated by Sacred Heart Alums Worldwide

Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat
Sacred Heart Schools - Atherton, Calf

"The nature of Love is to change the lover into the Beloved. What a wonderful one-ing of God and creation, which makes us able to say, "I live, now not I, but Christ lives in me."

~ St. Madeleine Sophie Barat (1779-1865)

Founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart 

The above quote was taken from The Wisdom of Madeleine Sophie Barat - Day by Day Calendar.  To order a copy of the calendar (Cost: $10.00 + postage) - click here. 

RSCJ and Alums Celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart

Photo taken in England at the July 22-26, 2013 Opening Conference
Celebrating the Centenary of Janet Erskine Stuart 

One heart and one mind in the heart of Jesus!

The Society of the Sacred Heart and Sacred Heart alums all over the world (AMASC)  celebrate the Feast Day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus today.  Some of our young students still in school, as well as, many alums from all over the world will gather today with members of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (RSCJ) to celebrate mass and participate as the RSCJ renew their vows with the following prayer:  

CELEBRANT:  I now invite the Religious of the Sacred Heart to renew their vows.

RELIGIOUS: Trusting in the fidelity of God and the love of my sisters, I renew with all my heart the vows that I have made to follow Jesus Christ until death by obedience, poverty and chastity in the Society of the Sacred Heart, and I commit anew to its mission of manifesting the love of Christ by the service of education, according to our Constitutions.

RESPONSE OF THE CONGREGATION: May God who is the source of all good intentions enlighten your minds and strengthen your hearts.  May God help you to fulfill with steadfast faith all you have promised.  Amen.

I will celebrate with RSCJ, Alums and Sacred Heart Educators in England, and many others who like myself have come from all over the world this week to participate in the Janet Erskine Stuart Centenary Celebrations.  I look forward to seeing many familiar faces such as: Superior General Kathleen Conan, RSCJ, as well as members of her General Council; Provincial Jane Maltby, RSCJ for England Wales Province; and Pam Snyder, President of AMASC.  The Feast of the Sacred Heart mass will be hosted in the Digby Stuart Chapel here in Roehampton, England.

Our group will stay here on the beautiful campus until Sunday when we depart for High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire.  

So stay tuned as the #JES celebrations unfold and watch for postings to my Sacred Heart photo album which can be accessed on the right of this blog post.

Mother and Child...Christmas Greetings 2013

I received the following beautiful card via email from Hermine van Asten-Wennekers.  Hermine served as AMASC President from 2010-2014.   

Mother and child, painting in Father Picavet’s Enkabi Centre, Catholic Church in Jinja, Uganda April 2013

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year 2014.

Je vous souhaite un Joyeux Noël et une très bonne année 2014.

Ich wünsche Ihnen ein frohes Weihnachtsfest und ein glückliches neues Jahr 2014.

Les deseo una Feliz Navidad y un próspero Año Nuevo 2014.

Mbagaliza Krismasi ey'essanyu, n'omwaka omugya 2014 ogw'emirembe.

Nixtieqilkom Milied Merry u Sena Ġdida kuntenti 2014.

私はあなたにメリークリスマスとハッピーニューイヤー2014をお祈りしております。

당신에게 메리 크리스마스와 행복한 새해를 2,014을 기원합니다.

Ik wens jullie een zalig Kerstfeest en een gelukkig Nieuwjaar 2014.

from

Hermine van Asten-Wennekers

AMASC President (2006-2010)

AASH visits the Solanus Center and Grosse Pointe Academy

The Venerable Solanus Casey Center

We began the feast of Mater Admirabilis with a tour of The Venerable Solanus Casey Center, a Capuchin Ministry located at the St. Bonaventure Monastery in Detroit, Michigan.  The sculpture garden, grounds and center were inspiring!   We then headed to Grosse Pointe Academy, formerly the Convent of the Sacred Heart for a tour of the school led by Carole Jatkoe Peabody, GP'51 followed by a very tasty box lunch. Afterwards we gathered in the Academy Parlor and each association shared ideas and reported on happenings in their respective associations.  Bloomfield Hills alumna and AMASC Vice President, Barbara Lopiccolo reported on her recent trip to Uganda as well as the 2014 Congress. 

Grosse Pointe Academy

Our day concluded with 4 pm mass at St. Philomena Church. Monsignor Peter S. Lentine who recently celebrated his 93rd birthday was so warm and welcoming, he acknowledged our group sitting in a special reserved section of the church.  At the end of mass the organist played Coeur de Jesus and all the Sacred Heart alums sang for the parishioners.  We then headed to the home of Tom and Patricia Kolojeski for cocktails before we dined at The Hill Seafood and Chop House. Indeed it was a special two days celebrating the Feast of Mater and Giving thanks from the heart of the Midwest! 

Dinner was hosted at The Hill Seafood and Chop House in Grosse Pointe, MI 

Special thanks to Barbara Cliff Price, AASH Central Regional Director and Patricia Kolojeski who co-chaired and organized our meeting.

Photo highlights from CASHA 2011 (Canadian Association of Sacred Heart Alumnae) CONFERENCE

Making a Difference in the 21st Century.... Listening with One Heart

Second CASHA Conference on Social Justice

Sacred Heart School of Montreal

Photo Highlights taken on Friday, October 28, 2011

A group photo taken before we broke for lunch

To view the many photos click on the Sacred Heart Photo Album
 on the right hand column of my blog

Barbara Martell, Communications & Advancement Manager of Sacred Heart School of Halifax has a nice recap and more photos.  Click here to read details of the speakers at CASHA 2011.

Announcement from the Canadian Provincial Team

I received the following letter (see below) from the Canadian Provincial Team via email on Friday and a copy of it will be sent to all alums today via an Email blast.  As the discussions and collaboration process unfolds, I will continue to keep all of the AASH community updated.  Your prayers as this process begins are most appreciated. 

I have also been in communication today with Pam Snyder, AMASC President and she writes that she and many members of the AMASC board plan to attend the upcoming CASHA Conference on October 28th in Montreal. I plan to attend and encourage all alumnae/i to consider joining us in beautiful Montreal!  

FROM THE SOCIETY OF THE SACRED HEART CANADA - PROVINCIAL OFFICE

                                                                                                                                    September 9, 2011

Dear U.S. Sacred Heart Alumnae/i,

At Assembly 2009 the Canadian Province began to look at the future of the mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart in Canada.  This was based on the reality of diminishing numbers of Canadian RSCJ and on financial realism, along with a strong commitment to the future of the mission of the Society in Canada.  In autumn 2009 the Provincial Council named a Futuring Committee to lead the Province in a futuring process. Their goal was to:

…lead a discernment process for the strategic planning of new ways of organizing ourselves in the areas of governance and leadership, finances, communities (with a focus on long-term health care needs and assisted living), and all of this for the mission of the Society in our service in the Church.

The Province entered wholeheartedly into this discernment that culminated at Assembly 2011 in two unanimous leanings pointing to clear directions for the future.  On August 20, 2011, with this part of the provincial discernment complete, and in the name of the Canadian Province, the Provincial Council made two decisions:

1.     To close the infirmary at Barat Residence.

2.     To discontinue the Canadian Provincial structure.

These decisions call the Canadian Province to further discernment and planning. A process has begun to ensure the best care possible in public nursing homes for our infirmed sisters. Barat Residence will continue as an assisted living retirement home for Canadian RSCJ who do not need nursing care.  The Canadian Province has asked the USA Province to begin a formal dialogue and discernment about possibilities for collaboration between RSCJ in Canada and the United States with regard to leadership and governance, in the light of life and mission.

We count on your love, prayer and support as we continue the futuring process, trusting in the Spirit who inspired St. Madeleine Sophie to say, “Times change and we must change with them and modify our views.”

With love,

The Canadian Provincial Council

Mary Finlayson rscj                      Shelley Lawrence rscj                       Sheila Smith rscj

O Canada … and thinking of AMASC 2014 Congress in Montreal

This morning the news is focused on the arrival of Prince William and his new bride Kate Middleton in Canada as they begin their tour of North America.  There are a few very special Sacred Heart alums that I have met and known over the years from Canada.  To these Sacred Heart alums, I wish you a very special day today as you celebrate Canada Day!  I also am reminded to check the AMASC site to read Pam Snyder, AMASC World President 2010-2014 message on this special feast day.