Deep in the Heart - AASH Southern Regional Meeting

Alums from the Southern Region met in Houston, Texas and appropriately the conference theme was Deep in the Heart.  A special Fiesta Celebration was planned at Regis School on Friday evening and we all received a warm welcome by Dr. Nancy Taylor, Head of School.   On Saturday morning as we gathered at Duchesne Academy we were greeted by the following ten RSCJ: Srs. Jan Dunn, Lynn Lieux, Adele Caire, Anne Caire, Sharon Karam, Melanie Guste, Bonnie Kearney, Diane Roche, Sheila Hammond, and Georgeann Parizek

Beth Speck, AASH Past President and Director of Admissions at Duchesne Academy greeted all with much enthusiasm and then proudly introduced Patricia Swenson, the New Head of School, who gave us an overview of her background and a beautiful reflection about Philippine.

Keynote speaker, Melanie Guste, RSCJ gave a thought provoking talk followed by a slide presentation entitled "Philippine Duchesne: A Spirituality of Mission in Today's World"and afterwards four RSCJ (Bonnie Kearney, Diane Roche, Georgeann Parizek and Sheila Hammond) participated in a panel entitled "Living the Mission of Philippine Duchesne".  They shared with the group their background, how they came to know they had a vocation as well as their current ministries.

After lunch we heard from alums representing both Duchesne Houston and Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart. Jane Jachimczyk Hayman, who moderated the discussion and response to the mission of Philippine Duchesne asked thought provoking questions which presented an array of viewpoints.

A beautiful Mass of Everlasting Life was held in the Sacred Heart Chapel followed by a most delicious buffet dinner hosted in the White House by the Duchesne Academy Alumnae Association.

AASH Announces New National Office Director

This week I am here in St. Louis working in the National Office
with Maggie Kaspura.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  

AASH ANNOUNCES NEW NATIONAL OFFICE DIRECTOR

     St. Louis, MO (Nov. 3, 2011) – The Associated Alumnae and Alumni of the Sacred Heart 2011-2013 Board of Directors has retained Maggie Sieger Kaspura as Interim National Office Director to replace Susan King. Susan King served as Director since June 2011.

     AASH Board President Maureen Elizabeth Ryan expressed the association’s appreciation for King's service, stating, “This was a difficult personal decision for Susan, and I speak for the entire board when I say that it has been a pleasure to have a woman of her professional caliber working with us during these past months.”

     The AASH Board voted to employ an Interim National Office Director to insure that the National Office continues to run smoothly. The interim designation will allow the Board the necessary time to fully assess its long-term needs and to form a strategic plan for the future. Maggie Kaspura will assume responsibilities immediately in the St. Louis office on a part-time basis.

     Maggie Sieger Kaspura is an award-winning journalist and author of the book Deep in the Heart: Celebrating the First Fifty Years, Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart. Her work has appeared in TIME Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Reuters, Associated Press, CNN, Realtor Magazine, Readers Digest, LOGO Network and Entertainment Weekly, among others.

     She was valedictorian of the 1985 graduating class at the Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, Houston, Texas, and earned a BA from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. The family recently moved to St. Louis, and their daughter is a student at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Charles.

    
      “As both an alum and parent, I know the value of all the intangibles that create our Sacred Heart culture,” Kaspura said. “I am excited by this opportunity to help foster that community nationally and I am deeply honored by the Board's decision to include me in its work."

     Ryan said the board is looking forward to working with Kaspura. She has previously volunteered her services to AASH and is currently writing biographies of its 37 past presidents. The biographies will be included in a book that will be published in time for distribution at the 39th Biennial AASH Conference to be hosted in Omaha, April 11-14, 2013. ##