Inspiring Young Women Josephinum Academy Becomes the Twenty-Second Full Member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools “On behalf of the whole Provincial Team of the Society of the Sacred Heart, we are delighted and honored to affirm Josephinum Academy as a Sacred Heart school.” -Sr. Paula Toner, RSCJ, Provincial, Society of the Sacred Heart, “We are thrilled by US Province in her letter to the Josephinum Community. Josephinum's recognition as a full member of the Sacred Heart On April 11, 2011, the membership of the Network of Sacred Heart Network of Schools. We are Schools voted unanimously to promote Josephinum Academy proud to join a community that to full membership within the network. Over the past three years is respected for its academic the Josephinum community has engaged in a rigorous process of excellence and shared preparation and reflection, culminating in a five day visit from the commitment to the mission of Sacred Heart education. We are Sacred Heart Commission on Goals in November. especially grateful for the Sisters of Christian Charity, the Society In 1990, the Religious of the Sacred Heart answered the call of the of the Sacred Heart, and all the Sisters of Christian Charity to assume the educational direction members of the Josephinum for Josephinum Academy, a struggling inner city school with a rich community, past and present, history of serving young women of Chicago. Since then, the school who have made this exciting has been revitalized under the leadership of three RSCJ principals opportunity possible.” and the strong support of the Sacred Heart community in Chicago. Michael Dougherty, President The results of Sacred Heart education at Josephinum are inspiring. Josephinum Academy Since 2007, 100 percent of Josephinum’s graduates have been accepted into college, most of them being the first generation in their families to attend. This year’s senior class of thirty students has already been awarded more than $1.6 million dollars in college scholarships. More inspiring, the values of Sacred Heart education are finding a home in the hearts of the students. When asked what Sacred Heart education means to her, senior Corina Perez answered with a word, “Everything,” then explained, “It has meant my life, my friends, my teachers, my values, who I am as woman and who I am called to be.” Josephinum Academy • 1501 North Oakley Boulevard • Chicago, Illinois 60622 • (773) 276-1261 • www.josephinum.org Josephinum’s Journey to Becoming a Sacred Heart School: A Shared History Leads to a Renewed Collaboration Founded by the Sisters of Christian help with the school. However, the German of Christian Charity no longer had one Charity (SCC), Josephinum Academy has government would not allow a French of their own religious who was available educated young women of Chicago for order to take over a German institution. to act as Principal. After a long search, over 120 years. While the collaboration Under the counsel of her local bishop, Bonnie Kearney, RSCJ agreed to take on between the SCC and Society of the Pauline ultimately resolved to form her this responsibility. Those who had recruited Sacred Heart (RSCJ) is relatively recent own religious congregation. What she Sister Bonnie reminded her that she would at Josephinum, there is a rich history of learned from her time with Mother Barat be making good on a promise to help relationship between the two religious and her Society helped guide Pauline in the made by her order’s foundress in 1846. communities, dating back to their founders. formation of the Sisters of Christian Charity in 1849. And so the SCC-RSCJ bond was renewed The founder of the Sisters of Christian when they formally agreed to collaborate Charity, Pauline Von Mallinckrodt opened a In the 1980s in Chicago, many Catholic at Josephinum. The shared history school for blind children in her hometown schools, especially those in the inner between the two religious orders provided Paderborn, Germany when she was then city, were struggling to survive. Sr. Andre for a natural and seamless integration of just a lay volunteer. In 1846, she traveled Blanchard, then the Provincial of the SCC, Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria with the to France to visit and witness the work of was determined that Josephinum would traditions and values of the SCC, who Mother Madeleine Sophie Barat and her thrive and was resolute in her belief that remain vital supporters and an integral part recently founded order, the Society of the the mission of the school would remain of the school. Sister Bonnie Kearney was Sacred Heart. During her time with the strong for future young women. She succeeded by Sister Donna Collins, RSCJ, RSCJ, Pauline was deeply inspired. She was very proactive in creating the first who was essential in the long campaign wrote, “Madame Barat is a most prudently lay board of directors for a high school for the school to be part of the Network saintly woman, and manifold are the virtues in the Archdiocese of Chicago, which – she ensured that Josephinum became of her spiritual daughters. Everything I saw would assume fiscal and governing an associate member of the Network in tended to my instruction and edification.” responsibilities for the school. 2002, and passed on her mission to Martha Roughan, RSCJ, who succeeded her at Madeleine Sophie welcomed Pauline and In 1987, after almost 100 years of Josephinum in 2003. agreed to send some of her religious to stewardship at Josephinum, the Sisters 1884 Blessed Pauline 1846 The SCC arrive in von Mallinckrodt 1886 Chicago to serve at Pauline von Mallinckrodt travels from (1817-1881) Mother Philomena Schittdiel, St. Aloysius Parish. Germany to stay with a friend at the Sacred American Superior of the SCC, Heart convent in France. She is inspired by 1873 buries a small statue of St. Joseph Mother Barat’s work there, writing, “Madame across from St. Aloysius Church Barat is a most prudently saintly woman... The SCC leave signifying their intention to build Everything I saw tended to my instruction Germany due to Josephinum Academy. and edification. All this was a special favor new laws restricting from God; I learned things which were to 1849 religious education. 1890 be of great use to me later on.” She asks After her visit with Madeleine They arrive in Josephinum’s doors open to Mother Barat for assistance with her work Sophie Barat and through the the United States educate 76 young women. with the blind, but due to laws at the time, encouragement of her local to continue their Josephinum serves as the the RSCJ are not permitted to work at the bishop, Pauline starts her own mission to serve and Midwest headquarters for German school. Nevertheless, Mother order in Germany: educate the poor and the SCC until 1915 when Barat and the RSCJ serve as a guide and The Sisters of Christian disadvantaged. they move to Wilmette. inspiration for Pauline to start her own order. Charity (SCC). SCC RSCJ Rose Phillippine Sacred Heart Schools Duschesne brings (Sheridan Road) founded the Society of the by RSCJ in Chicago. Sacred Heart to the 1876 United States. 1818 The first RSCJ arrive in Chicago. Mother Margaret One of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne’s Galwey founds what is now goals was to open free schools for the Native Woodlands Academy. The Religious of the Sacred Americans alongside the “Academies” for the Heart (RSCJ) is founded by 1858 children of European settlers. Josephinum is Madeleine Sophie Barat in a fulfillment of her wish to provide a quality Paris, France. education to all. 1801 Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat (1779-1865) “At this joyful juncture I feel an “I believe Josephinum overwhelming sense of gratitude “We are grateful for the is a rounding out and to see all of those many completion of the mission of collaboration of the board, “My years here were some of the individuals past and present who the RSCJ and the SCC to the Sacred Heart Network. cared deeply, worked so very best of my teaching life. I was continue the mission of the I saw coming to work at hard, and gave so generously – amazed by students who had no Josephinum. The Goals Josephinum as being true all led by dear Sister Andre in a idea they were really gifted, who and Criteria, which binds to our roots and educational rousing ‘Alleluia Chorus.’” found themselves and learned to principles, with the belief the schools together, are believe in themselves here.” wonderful Catholic values that everyone has a right to a good education, Helen Bruns Ryan is an to educate the whole regardless of ability to pay.” alumna of the Sacred Heart person. The opportunities Sr. Pam Hickey, RSCJ was the Network (Woodlands Academy.) for the staff and students first RSCJ to arrive at Josephinum She became a member of the to build and to belong to along with Bonnie Kearney in 1990 original board of directors at a community of schools is and retired just a few years ago. Sr. Martha Roughan, RSCJ was principal of Josephinum Josephinum at the request of enriching to all.” She spent most of her time at the then SCC Provincial Sr. Andre school as a student counselor but from 2003-2008. She helped Blanchard. Her unceasing was also a teacher and a personal introduce many of the Sacred dedication to Josephinum Heart traditions Josephinum Sr. Janice Boyer, SCC was tutor. An alumna of Sacred Heart continues to inspire all of those on the Josephinum Board of Schools in Chicago, she is also students know and love today. involved with the school. Directors and is the Provincial the 2011 recipient of the Sr.