Overview for the 2015-2016 Sacred Heart Spirituality & Education Series at Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School

First Friday, November 6, 2015 ~ Donna Collins, RSCJ Sacred Heart Spirituality Giving Rise to a Philosophy of Education: Responding to a Changing World Sister Donna Collins is currently the Principal of Villa Duchesne and serves on the board of trustees at Sheridan Road in .

Sister Collins grew up in Australia and taught at Sacred Heart schools in both Australia and New Zealand. For three years she served as the Coordinator of the Association of Sacred Heart Schools in that province. In the she has taught and held various administrative positions in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. For seven years she served as the principal of Josephinum Academy, Chicago, , and it was under her leadership that Josephinum became an Associate Member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. More recently she returned as a member of the board of trustees at Josephinum.

In 2003, she was appointed to the Sophia Commission, an international group of three RSCJ based in Rome. The members of the commission were charged with helping to integrate the Society’s educational mission and its Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation initiatives. In 2007, she was appointed Secretary General of the Society of the Sacred Heart and served in that position for six years. While in Rome, she also served as the vice president of Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network and was the interim web weaver for www.RSCJinternational for two years. Sister Collins gained her teaching credentials in Australia. She holds both a bachelor of arts in psychology and a master’s in educational administration from Boston College.

First Friday, February 5, 2016 ~ Susan Maxwell, RSCJ The Early Days of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools Sister Susan Maxwell is currently researching the history of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools with plans to write a book on the subject. In 2012, she completed a three-year term on the provincial leadership team of the former United States Province of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Prior to that, she served for twelve years as director of Sacred Heart Schools, Sheridan Road, Chicago.

Sister Maxwell began her education ministry in the mid-1960s teaching children and adults in Harlem, New York. She later served as headmistress at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, from 1974 to 1984, and was a member of the editorial board of Independent Schools Magazine, a publication of the National Association of Independent Schools, Boston. She was the director of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools from 1984 to 1995.

Sister Maxwell has served on the board of trustees at Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City; Manhattanville College, Purchase, New York; Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, Connecticut; Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, Bellevue, Washington; and Josephinum Academy, Chicago, Illinois. She has consulted with the Society of the Sacred Heart provinces in Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Uganda, Ireland, Scotland, Malta, Canada and Japan. She served as a member of the New York provincial team from 1970 to 1974.

Sister Maxwell holds a bachelor of arts in history from Manhattanville College, a master’s degree in teaching from Northwestern University, and a master’s degree in religion from Manhattanville. She also holds permanent certification in counseling and secondary school teaching in the state of Michigan.

Second Friday, March 11, 2016 ~ Donna Collins, RSCJ Madeleine Sophie Barat: Educating through Relationships Old and New

Sister Donna Collins returns for the final presentation in this year’s series to explore Saint Madeleine Sophie’s foundational vision for Sacred Heart spirituality and education. * * * * * * * All presentations in the speakers’ series are held in the Parlor Dining Room at Villa Duchesne 9:30 a.m. Coffee and Goûter 9:45 a.m. Prayer and Presentation 11:00 - 11:15 a.m. Closing Prayer The Sacred Heart Spirituality Speakers Series is sponsored by the Mums of Alums at Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School for the benefit of the entire Sacred Heart family. This series represents the Mums’ effort to participate in the stewardship of the vision of Saint Madeleine Sophie - a second sowing of the Sacred Heart mission by parents who gave to their children the gift of Sacred Heart education and who continue to cherish Life at the Sacred Heart. All are most cordially invited. For information, please contact Cathie Ott at 314.727.3342 or at [email protected].