Advent 2014: Watch. Wait. Wonder. Welcome!

ADVENT 2014: Watch. Wait. Wonder. Welcome!

"The Shepards are asking, 'What have you seen?' and three times the answer is given, 'We saw a Child and the choirs of Angels praising God.' They were the first to give testimony to Him; so the nearest and first to come to our God are the poor and the simple."

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.

ADVENT 2014: Watch. Wait. Wonder. Welcome!

By Ruth Cunnings and Stephanie Hamilton, Formation to Mission Co-Chairs

This year at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan the school-wide theme for Advent is "Watch. Wait. Wonder. Welcome!"  This theme will be the basis for our reflection and service during the Advent season. We will begin Advent with an all-school prayer service in the chapel on Monday, December 1 at 9:30 a.m. Please feel welcome to join us as we enter into the new liturgical year. 

Additional opportunities for prayer will be offered in each learning community throughout the season as we prepare to welcome Jesus at Christmas. As a whole school, we will also share daily moments of silence during Advent. Please consider joining in these moments of silence as your schedule permits:

• Week 1 of Advent, 9–9:05 a.m.
• Week 2 of Advent, 10:45-10:50 a.m.
• Week 3 of Advent, 1-1:05 p.m.
• Week 4 of Advent, 2–2:05 p.m. (at home)

In this season of giving, students, faculty and staff will be invited to bring in items to benefit the residents of Grace Centers of Hope in Pontiac. Please see your learning communities eNews for additional details. 

Advent Message: Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ

"Preparation is spoilt by impatience and want of resignation. If the vision make any delay, wait for it, for it will surely come and shall not tarry. Few things are so restless, unsatisfactory and useless as impatient waiting - especially following on hurried preparation, and one of the hardest and gravest lessons is to learn to wait with patience and resignation. If Advent adds any of these qualities to our spirit of preparation, it will have been well spent."

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.

Quote by Janet Erskine Stuart and "Mickie" sings, "Ask Anyone Who Knows"

"Sing, even if there are tears in your heart."

Janet Erskine Stuart RSCJ (1857-1914)

6th Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart

"We all go through tough times, and if there's one thing I know I can always turn to, it's music. I was reminded that singing is like praying twice, and I know that I'm praying, and God is listening."                  

                   ~ Mackenzie M., Convent of the Sacred Heart Elementary School, San Francisco, California

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 above photo of my mother, Mary "Mickie" Ryan was taken in 1953 at my grandparents' 50th Wedding Anniversary. The song she sings while playing the Organ is "Ask Anyone Who Knows" (Lyrics below) and was recorded at a later date at home.  Her beloved husband Phil died on September 21, 1970 and she happily and finally joined him on August 29, 2014.   

"Ask Anyone Who Knows"

There is no shore without an ocean

Ask anyone who knows

There is no love without devotion

Ask anyone who knows

A dream will stray, lose its way

If it can't come true

Night and day all my dreams

Are so dependent on you

A sigh can mean a sweet beginning

Ask anyone who knows

It's love that keeps the whole world spinning

And heaven only knows

I have no heart when we're apart

It leaves me when you go

And darling if you don't believe me

Ask anyone who knows

Quote from Janet Erskine Stuart: "It takes twelve falls to make a horsewoman."

Horsewoman painting by Rudolf Frentz

June 26th


"It takes twelve falls to make a horsewoman."

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).  

This quote reminds me of the wonderful talk given last year at the Society's Spirituality Forum by Lyn Osiek, RSCJ.  Sr. Osiek's topic was "Discovering Janet Erskine Stuart and her Equine Legacy".   

"Mother Janet Stuart was so multi-faceted that it is difficult to know where to begin in order to understand her. One approach is through an aspect of life that she knew and loved deeply: her life-long love of horses. As a young woman, she was an expert hunter and handler of horses, and these skills were not forgotten when she traveled around the world during both her time as companion to her predecessor Mother Mabel Digby and her own tenure as Superior General of the Society."

Quote from Janet Erskine Stuart: "So we must remember..."

June 24th

"So we must remember that it is better to begin a great work than a small one..."

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.