Winter 2010 A Journal of the Society of the Sacred Heart, U.S. Province …to Heart To have “the heart of an educator” is our call as RSCJ living in our struggling world. Dear An educator draws forth what is within the other by seeing, and hoping in, the goodness at the heart of who that person is. An educator facilitates people’s growth, often beyond Friends, their wildest imaginings, because the educator believes in them and creates room for them to grow. The gifts and potential reside within the other, so the task of the educator is not to “do” anything. But the educator must first come to know the other – to observe, to listen to, to interact with, to care about – because otherwise, the other could say “You don’t know me. How can you believe in me?” Being deeply believed in by someone who knows us gives any of us the energy, courage, incentive, and will to grow and to learn and to put forth the effort that such growing and learning require. The heart of the educator discerns and draws out what is in the heart of the other with all of its potential, and the result is St. Madeleine Sophie’s vision of “the education of the whole person.” As you will read in this issue of Heart , ministering with “the heart of an educator” takes place in many different settings: in actual classrooms, in countries where needs are enormous, and in places where healing is called for. All who are part of the Society’s mission follow in the footsteps of St. Madeleine Sophie; she who knew and valued each person from the greatest to the least, modeled for us “the heart of an educator” and passes on to us and our colleagues a share in her charism. It is this gift that is contagious because those who have experienced it, in turn, go to the real source – the Heart of Jesus – to serve others as He did. As we contemplate the coming of Jesus, let us commit ourselves to regard the people in our lives as He did the people in his, as God does. Let us open ourselves to know people better and to believe in them, despite our fears and their imperfections. Let us as a Sacred Heart family bring more love, more growth, and greater reverence for persons and for all of life, into our beautiful, still struggling world. Devotedly, in the Heart of Jesus, Paula Toner, RSCJ Provincial 2 Heart WINTER 2010 CONTENTS WINTER 2010 • V ol . 8, N o. 2 Heart Lines Heart is published two times a year to highlight the mission and ministries of the Society of the 04 Sacred Heart spirituality in a globalized world Sacred Heart, U.S. Province, for a wide circle 0 of friends. The covers, photographs of hearts in 06 To Haiti with love nature, symbolic of Christ’s presence at the heart 0 of the universe, bear witness to the contemplative 08 In Mission for Life: A grace-filled journey dimension of the Society’s “wholly contemplative, By Shirley Miller, RSCJ wholly apostolic” mission: To discover and reveal 0 God’s love through the service of education. 09 In Memoriam 0 10 RSCJ at Los Angeles Religious Education Congress 0 10 AMO, AMAS, AMASC! m o c . k c o Features t s r e t t 11 Into the light: The story of a special stained glass window u h S : o t 0 o h 12 Other stained glass around the province P 0 The Society of the Sacred Heart was founded 13 Connecting with each other: A ministry of teamwork, by Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat in post- healthcare, and education revolutionary France and brought to the 0 United States by Saint Philippine Duchesne 16 Coming full circle: Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, in 181 8. For more information about the Bryn Mawr mission and ministries of the U.S. Province, please visit www.rscj.org. U.S. Provincial Team: Paula Toner, RSCJ, Provincial Anne Byrne, RSCJ Departments Margaret (Meg) Causey, RSCJ 19 Essay: A fourth vow Mary Charlotte Chandler, RSCJ By Mary Blish, RSCJ Melanie Guste, RSCJ 0 Mary Kay Hunyady, RSCJ Susan Maxwell, RSCJ 20 Spirituality : God, golf, nature By Virginia Dennehy, RSCJ Editor: Susan Switzer 0 Designer: Peggy Nehmen 22 The Book Page Copy Editor: Frances Gimber, RSCJ Please send address changes for Heart to [email protected] or to Heart editor at the address below. Article proposals, manuscripts and letters for publication are welcome. Society of the Sacred Heart, U.S. Province 4120 Forest Park Avenue St. Louis, MO 63108 314-652-1500 Fax: 314-534-6800 WINTER 2010 Heart 3 Heart Lines Sacred Heart spirituality in a globalized world ow nice to see you” and “I had no the days were filled with experiential learning, relationship “H idea that …” were probably the building, and conversations about practical ways to two most often repeated phrases at Sacred alleviate present suffering and bring about a more Heart Spirituality in a Globalized World , humane and sustainable future. held at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Using a selection of quotations from the Heart from July 7 to11, 2010. What began writings of Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ, over two years ago as two separate gatherings – Suzanne Cooke, RSCJ, reminded an RSCJ/Associates Spirituality Forum and a everyone of the prophetic nature of Global Education Conference sponsored by the charism of the Society of the the Network of Sacred Heart Schools – had Sacred Heart. And Carolyn Osiek, merged into one synergistically-alive RSCJ, put the journeys of meeting of minds and hearts. St. Philippine in a contemporary Over 250 Network of Sacred Heart perspective using the saint’s own Schools members, Associates, alumnae words. and alumni, and RSCJ met in Bethesda After Cecile Meijer, RSCJ, to connect, to discover, to collaborate. eloquently awakened the In the words of Catherine Kinabrew and audience to the imminent action fellow Associates, Marianne Basila, Jane required to preserve the planet Steinfels and Frances Dickey: “…the energy and eradicate poverty, keynote for our shared mission was tangible; so many speaker, Dr. Paul Farmer, founder of us felt as if our hearts were broken of Partners in Health, galvanized the wide open!” group with his comments about current The planning committee was as conditions in Haiti. diverse as the participant list and Prayers and liturgies were harmoniously consisted of Virginia Dennehy, arranged by Lisa Buscher, RSCJ, and Sister McGrath. RSCJ; Maureen Glavin, RSCJ; Associate Billy Philadelphia directed the musicians Carol Haggarty, RSCJ; Kitty along with Sister Buscher; and Associate Marilyn Mattesky, global education Lorenz created a quiet space of reflection and coordinator at The Rosary; movement before each day’s opening presentation. Kathleen McGrath, RSCJ; Following are just a few representative highlights Stephanie Moore, director of from an agenda that comprised over thirty instructional technology at Villa presentations, five periods of prayer, three formal Duchesne/Oak Hill; Patty Myler, liturgies, and innumerable opportunities to communicate: director of facility at Stone Ridge; Vicki Noonan, business manager of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, and Madeleine Ortman, executive Top: Spirituality conference logo director of the Network. Middle: An enactment of the Society of the Sacred Heart global From an enactment of the RSCJ global journey to establish journey produced by Maureen Glavin, RSCJ. schools and foundations of service, presented by Sister Glavin, Bottom: Associates gave a presentation on “The Life Lived.” to comments from former superior general Clare Pratt, RSCJ, Members of the Associates National Committee, from left; Marianne who has visited the RSCJ in most, if not all, of those locations, Basila, Anne Byrne, RSCJ, Catherine Kinabrew, and Frances Dickey. 4 Heart WINTER 2010 Global Education in Action: Educators of the Sacred Heart (ESCJ) Faculty and staff from Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton examined ways in which global 1 education is at the heart of the entire school program and presented several “snapshots” of global education in action. Social Analysis and the Goals and Criteria Meg Causey, RSCJ, gave an overview of the social analysis process for service experiences and explained the importance of developing awareness of the underlying structures that create poverty. Sharing Students’ Work Around the World Lisa Carswell, art teacher at Villa Duchesne/Oak Hill, discussed development of an International Children’s Art Exchange to nurture understanding and promote peace. 2 Social Justice: The World – The Church – The Society Ray O’Connor, Stuart Hall, Carol Haggarty, RSCJ, and Kate Lindquist, Carrollton, focused on the importance of community for both students and adults and guided conversations about service projects. Young Missionaries Answer the Challenge Kara Stacks, principal at THE SEED public charter school in Washington, D.C., spoke about the challenges of being the only public urban boarding school in the country. She was joined by Greenwich alumna Claire Lorentzen, who described in pictures her journey to Sacred Heart schools in Kenya; Judy Vollbrecht, RSCJ, who shared what she 3 and other RSCJ have learned in Haiti; and Carrollton student Molly Nuell, who is part of a group working to create a school in Lacolline, Haiti. The Friday morning reading, from the Buddhist Metta Sutta, captures the spirit that was evident throughout the proceedings: This is the work of those who are skilled and peaceful, who seek the good: May all beings be happy. May they live in safety and joy. All beings, whether weak or strong, tall, stout, Average or short, seen or unseen, Near or distant, born or to be born, 4 May they all be happy… As a mother watches over her child, Willing to risk her own life to protect her only child, So with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings, Suffusing the whole world with unobstructed loving kindness.