AMASC - World Association of Alumnae and Alumni of the Sacred Heart

AMASC Newsletters

AMASC welcomes ALICIA MOREYRA, of the Cubans in Exile Alumnae Association and a Havana alumnae, to serve as the Newsletter Coordinator for AMASC. Alicia has graciously accepted this role and responsibility.

SEPTEMBER 2012 - This is an e-Newsletter with news from AMASC National Presidents. The newsletters will be available yearly in September and March. They will appear on the AMASC website at http://www.amasc sacrecoeur.org/english/newsletters.html
You will be able to use the Translation Tool to read the newsletter in your own language.We are aware that the translations are not perfect but that they will get better. We ask for your understanding.

We hope that these newsletters will unite all our world associations by learning from each other and collaborating together. Please email your news and photos to Alicia Moreyra at aliciamoreyra@att.net

This newsletter below is also available for easier printing - click here - (English only)

September 2012 reports from:

CASHA (Canada)
AUSTRIA
ENGLAND-WALES
OLYMPIC GAMES USA
UGANDA
AUSTRALIA
CUBA-in-EXILE
COLUMBIA
URUGUAY News and Report
GERMANY
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
12. THE NETHERLANDS
13. EUROPE

Canadian Association of Sacred Heart Alumnae/i (CASHA)

CASHA is supporting the coordination of the AMASC 2014 congress in Montreal under the direction of Beatrice Keleher Raffoul. Planning is underway for the major liturgy for which CASHA has agreed to be responsible.

The Vancouver Chapter is participating in the 100th year celebrations of their former building (now St. Georges School) as well as hosting their spring and fall gatherings. The Ottawa Chapter continues to gather as a national and international group of Alumnae twice a year. The alumnae in Montreal have just completed the celebration of 150 years of The Sacred Heart School of Montreal and the school is hosting the planning meetings for the AMASC conference and rallying alumnae participation for all committees. Halifax celebrated the 90th Anniversary of its Alumnae/i Association. Patricia Donnelly, retiring Head of Sacred Heart School of Halifax, was made an honorary member of the Halifax Association. The chapter continues to support its school and the retirement community at Barat Residence. All chapters fundraise and support local international projects as well as the two Canadian Schools.

The Halifax community is delighted to welcome Shelagh Deegan rscj and Mildred Peterkin rscj following their many years in Montreal, and Donna Dolan rscj who has moved to Halifax from Prince George BC. Halifax is also thrilled to welcome Anne Wachter rscj, the new Head of the Halifax school, who has come from California. All have moved into Barat Residence.

AUSTRIA is on the way to organize a European Sacred Heart Meeting in Vienna for 2013 precisely at the Viennese Sacred Heart School and we hope that a number of alumnae/i from all over Europe will join us. There will be also sisters and Viennese pupils to participate and in November 2012 representatives from all Austrian Associations will meet each other in one of the Austrian SH-Schools to discuss the last details to make the European Meeting one with success and a lasting memory for all participants. Austria will report about this event in one of the 2013 newsletters.
Dr.Ursula Kokalj
Österr. Sacré-Cœur-Vereinigung (ÖSCV)

You all have a home at Sacred Heart !!

Mission Immersion Program (MIP) educators from 8 different network schools in the USA, including two Alums, spent 2 ½ weeks in Uganda with the RSCJ run schools at St. Charles Lwanga Senior Secondary School for Girls and the `new’ Sacred Heart Primary School, near Masaka Town. This was a journey of discovery on many levels. Sr. Irene Cullen, Coordinator of the Uganda/Kenyan Mission Support Office along with Lori Wilson from Greenwich Sacred Heart, had encouraged us to enter into the experience and the culture of this Ugandan experience with an open mind and heart, explaining the intellectual and emotional challenges travelers to third world countries often experience. The genuine hospitality of each school community was overwhelming. Students and faculty alike were so pleased we had come, anxious to show us their schools and share their programs. References to the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education were evident in the classrooms and on the grounds. Liturgies and performances included the girls’ inspirational singing and drumming, unlike anything I had ever heard. I was so struck by their deep love of learning and the value they placed on their education. These girls and their families are so aware of the incredible opportunity they have. The students’ goals of becoming engineers, dentists and attorneys are quite real to them. Our group led in depth reflection sessions with both school faculties, exploring together how to use the strengths of being Sacred Heart Educators to meet the challenges our students and their families face today.

I spoke of our AMASC history and the unique opportunities our worldwide network of schools and former students provide. This sharing strengthened the bonds that unite us as members of our growing Sacred Heart family. We were asked to share some thoughts with the students at the Primary School before we left. Words from came to me as I looked out at the girls and reminded them that each one will always be a child of the Sacred Heart and will always find a home at any of our schools.

AUSTRALIAN SACRE COEUR ASSOCIATION - ASCA -

There are three Sacré Coeur Schools and two University Residential Colleges in Australia. The Australian Presidency moves through three different states every four years. In October 2011, New South Wales (NSW) took on the presidency until October 2015.This year ASCA celebrates its 50 years anniversary. In July 2012, ASCA put on a National Conference in Sydney with the theme “Bloom where you are planted” and it was held at Sancta Sophia College within the University of Sydney. The Religious of the Sacred Heart founded the College in 1925. Our AMASC World President, Pam Snyder, attended the Conference and was also one of the speakers. The speakers shared how, in various ways, they have bloomed where they were planted. Three very important points were discussed by the speakers such as Social Justice, Disabilities and Literacy. As Sister Anne McGrath said in her wrap-up of the day that St Madeleine Sophie believed strongly in the power of women to act and exert influence. She wrote, “Salvation will come about through women”.

Participants came from many areas of Australia as well as New Zealand. It was great to feel that friendship, understanding and wanting to achieve some of the goals put forward through the messages of the speakers.
For more details, check
http://www.asca-sacrecoeur.org/

The Conference ended with a very special organ recital in the KRB Chapel on the Sunday evening. In the late 1800, the Puget organ was shipped to Sydney, Australia at the time when the French Government closed convents. Mother General, Mabel Digby who had foreseen that, send the organ as well as stalls, pulpit to the new Convent of the Sacred Heart in Sydney in 1904. The last repair was carried out in France a few years ago and it was used again to end the Conference.
If you want to know more about it check:
http://www.puget-organ-restoration.org.au

Through and with the Schools and Colleges, ASCA will work with them to achieve in a practical way, some results deriving from the Conference. ASCA will also undertake to promote and work on the study plan for the AMASC Congress in 2014.

ASCA Committee (L to R) Secretary: Thérèse Burnett; President: Anne de Broglio; Treasurer: Therese Robinson
ASCA Banner with names of all schools, Residential University Colleges and the New Zealand School.

Pam Snyder, AMASC World President reflected in her presentation that we need to nurture ourselves (spirituality, community) if we are to thrive and bloom.

REPORT FROM CUBA-in-EXILE

The Association of the Sacred Heart of Cuba in Exile started the 2011 year with a Mass to honor our patroness, Mater Admirabilis, at the beautiful grounds of Carrollton School in Miami ending with a luncheon highlighted by the warm camaraderie between the Cubans-in-Exile and the younger Carrollton Alumnae.

March was marked by a Day of Reflection where around seventy alumnae from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia and other states within the United States who were visiting Miami gathered to prepare for Lent under the guidance of Father Fernandez-Travieso.

In May, the Feast of Magdalene Sophie was a day of remembrance where not only our founder was honored, but also two of our Mothers, Sister Carmen Comella Anglada, rscj who passed away in Madrid in May as well as Mother Graziella Martinez de la Cruz, rscj. Some of their relatives and former alumnae joined in prayer at the Mass and luncheon on this day.

Some members of our Association have been meditating on the readings, Tengo Carta de Sofia, based on letters from our founder, Mother Barat in preparation for the oncoming ELASC meeting to be celebrated in October in Mexico.

The Hojita de Mater has been sent in March and June to our dispersed community around the world with inspiring spiritual readings and news as well as letters from our alumnae. Our president, Josefina Franca, published in the last edition the different donations that the Association disbursed this year in the community. Preparations are taking place for our yearly fund

ENGLAND - WALES

“Our annual AGM was at Farm Street Jesuit Church and for a change we held it in the afternoon. At the end of the business side, Hilary Thompson (the Sacred Heart Schools’ coordinator for England and Wales ), gave a power point presentation of the visit of the Newcastle Sacred Heart students to Uganda last August. It looked as though both parties gained from the experience and they did a lot of hard work helping to refurbish various rooms.

In June we had our informal lunch at the Hurlingham club in London to which we were delighted that Paola del Prete was able to join us.
The sun shone and there was a lot of chatter.
(Photo above)

In September we will be holding our second reflection day on Listening with One Heart. This follows a very successful day last autumn and Sister Mary Hinde will again lead us and it will be held at Barat House, Digby Stuart College. The year will end with another lunch at the Hurlingham in October.”

Gillie Collyer
President

Two United States Sacred Heart girls
win medals at London Olympics

You might have noticed over the weekend that two girls who won medals in swimming at the London Olympics are from Sacred Heart Schools You might have noticed over the weekend that two girls who won medals in swimming at the London Olympics are from Sacred Heart Schools in the United States. Fifteen year old Katie Ledecky from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, MD won the gold medal in the 800 Women’s Freestyle. Her roommate for the London Olympics was seventeen year old Lia Neal from Convent of the Sacred Heart at the corner of 5th Avenue and 91St Street in NYC. Lia was a member of the US Women’s 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay team that won the bronze medal and set a new American record. When the United States Olympic trials for American swimmers took place in Omaha, NE, our Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Omaha welcomed and cheered for Katie and Lia. When the girls arrived at the Olympic Village in London, a letter of welcome was waiting for them from the students at Roehampton Primary School of the Sacred Heart in Roehampton, London.

This reminds us of the worldwide network of Sacred Heart schools and the relationships all Sacred Heart schools share. We at the Rosary join with Sacred Heart schools throughout the world in being proud of Katie and Lia, our two Sacred Heart girls from the United States. They represented our country and the Sacred Heart tradition with such dignity. The support, encouragement, and pride we all share in the achievement of our Sacred Heart girls throughout the world is an example of the motto of the Religious of the Sacred Heart: “Cor unum et anima una in Corde Jesu”—One heart and one mind in the heart of Jesus.

REPORT FROM COLUMBIA
Being consistent with the goals in 2011, we tried to cover all the aspects designed but giving special emphasis to some topics as follows:
Working with schools: We visited several times the College of Trinidad del Monte in Bogota trying to motivate students to become members of the local Association and the UNASC as well as giving them information about AMASC. In Cali, we had the chance to visit the school, learn their policies and realize the enormous work undertaken by the former students of that city to give continuity to the education of youth and values ??that characterize us.
Working with the Religious: We met in several occasions with the Religious of the Sacred Heart by accompanying them in times of mourning, and especially inviting them to help us in the Study Committee and our National Board. We believe that their support has been vital to increase the spirituality that should be our base of our Association as they explained the document emerged from Chapter 2008 reinforcing our communication, understanding and the charismatic spirit that today governs the actions of the Society of the Sacred Heart.
Working with the Board: I have a very special Board of Directors whose members attend the meetings providing unconditional support to the goals of UNASC as we are determined to maintain the work undertaken many years ago as we redirect our goals to be more in line with the present moment of our country and the world.
Working with the Study Committee: We believe that our task is to be enriched with the contributions of many alumni. This is where we work for the values ??received by doing research, thinking and answering wisely to the work suggested by AMASC and other Associations worldwide.
Working with the Associations: We had the opportunity to visit Bogotá's Corner Mater and realize the enormous efforts made each day by a small group of former students who have been working for the children of the community of Suba. I also visited Cali and Manizales where we met with their Board of Directors to discuss theirs activities and problems.
Working with the AMASC: We maintain constant contact with the directives of AMASC responding promptly to emails sent to us and visiting the website world.
Work for ELASC 2012: We are working diligently with the next ELASC 2012 Congress Mexico Guadalajara: "Listen with one heart" Our contribution have been sent and we are looking forward to attend.
In conclusion I wish to inform our daily concern for making possible the continuity in time of UNASC. We believe that it is time to invite all generations to form a research and lobbying group to support policies that are consistent with our values ??in key areas such as Family, Children and Women. We are devising a plan of action in this regard and we are inviting all our alumni to join us with their ideas and experiences to make our dream a reality.

UNASC President, Rosa Cristina Jaramillo

1) Report on the Association of Mater Admirabilis Uruguay - Click here....

2) ACTIVIDADES de la ASOCIACIÓN MATER ADMIRÁBILIS EX ALUMNAS de URUGUAY - 2012
(See below)

A solicitud de muchas ex alumnas y esperando de este modo lograr mayor convocatoria, a
ccedimos a cambiar el día y el lugar de nuestras reuniones a los primeros martes de cada mes. Gracias a la generosidad de los RR.PP. JESUÍTAS que nos cedieron un salón, nos mudamos al EX Colegio de 8 de Octubre, hoy UCUDAL. Universidad Católica del Uruguay Dámaso Antonio Larrañaga.
Nuestra primer reunión se realizó el martes 8 de mayo, ese día iniciamos las actividades con una Misa en la Capilla de MATER de UCUDAL, la celebró el R.P. Juan Antonio Medina Ylla sj. hijo y hermano de ex alumnas.
La intención de la Misa fue pedir al SAGRADO CORAZÓN y a MATER nos guíen e iluminen el camino a recorrer y por ex alumnas y familires que habían partido recientemente a CASA DEL PADRE.
Viernes 25 de Mayo, Sta. MAGDALENA SOFÍA BARAT, celebró la Misa en Capilla de MATER el Vice-Rector de la Universidad UCUDAL R.P. Marcelo Coppetti sj. a las 11.00 hs.
En el mes de Junio no hubo reunión el primer martes 5 porque el miércoles 6 y todos los miércoles de Junio a las 15 y 30 tuvimos las enriquecedoras charlas-meditaciones de la Teóloga Lic. María Emilia Conde. Este año le pedimos desarrollara el tema: “Escuchemos con un solo corazón.”
El viernes 15 de Junio, día del SAGRADO CORAZÓN, el R.P. Álvaro Pacheco sj. hijo de Sara Carve, ex. al. de 8 de Octubre, celebró la Misa en Capilla MATER a las 11.00 hs.
Martes 3 de Julio, en nuestra reunión mensual tuvimos una charla-meditación muy profunda con el R.P. Álvaro Pacheco Carve sj.
Martes 7 de Agosto, preparamos el proximo Té-beneficio para solventar nuestras obras, que se realizará el 23 de agosto.
El jueves 16 de agosto, respondiendo a una invitación de EL TALAR, un grupo de ex.al. vamos a festejar con ellos el DÍA DEL NIÑO, compartiremos su merienda llevándoles golosinas, ropa y material didáctico.
El 23 de agosto, Té-desfile a beneficio de las obras de la Asociación en la confitería CAKE´S.
El martes 4 de setiembre logramos tener un Bingo en el Shopping PUNTA CARRETAS al que es muy difícil acceder por la cantidad de obras a las que ellos prestan su colaboración.
En Octubre asistiremos al VIII ELASC en Guadalajara, México.
El 20 de octubre día de MATER lo celebraremos, como de costumbre con una Misa en la Capilla de MATER de UCUDAL.
Después de la misa tendrá lugar la ASAMBLEA ANUAL.
El 8 de diciembre, como todos los años celebraremos la Misa de la INMACULADA CONCEPCIÓN en la Capilla de MATER del EX SACRED HEART de Carrasco, hoy SCUOLA ITALIANA.

QUÉ PRETENDEMOS CON NUESTRA ASOCIACIÓN?
1.Continuar enriqueciéndonos espiritualmente alimentando nuestra FE con Misas y Meditaciones, viviendo la EUCARISTÍA confiadas en MATER y mediante el testimonio de nuestras vidas irradiar FE, ESPERANZA Y CARIDAD a todos los que nos rodean.
2.Entregarnos al PRÓJIMO a ejemplo de SANTA MAGDALENA SOFÍA BARAT que enraizada en el CORAZÓN DE JESÚS, buscó siempre hacer la voluntad de DIOS, superando todas las dificultades con HUMILDAD y confianza y con el deseo de descubrir y manifestar a los demás EL AMOR DEL SAGRADO CORAZÓN que con tanta fuerza ella experimentaba.

Nuestro principal OBJETIVO es estar siempre atentas a las necesidades de los que están pasando un mal momento y MUY especialmente de las EXALUMNAS. Asistimos a EL TALAR, en Pando Depto Canelones, donde se brinda apoyo escolar aportando útiles, ropa y alimentos a más de 50 niños de familias muy carenciadas. Allí van de 12 y 30 a 17.30 hs después de la escuela, se asean, toman su merienda y maestras jubiladas los ayudan a realizar las tareas escolares.

De este modo no están solos, evitando así que estén en la calle, pues sus padres trabajan.Otra obra a la que asistimos es el Colegio de PASO CARRASCO con BECAS anuales para niños de familias en dificultades económicas.

Maria Elba Gari de Marques

German „Deutsche Sacré Coeur-Vereinigung“ is very aware of the fact, that for the last 30 years, the sisters no longer run the schools in Pützchen near Bonn. And all the sisters no longer teach in the school in Pützchen. Only in Hamburg, Sr. Podlesch rscj is left as head of the “Sophie Barat School (SBS)” – all alone, no other sister is with her in that school. So there are no longer born “Alumnae” of the Sacred Heart. And all our efforts to integrate those who were educated especially at the “St. Adelheid-Gymnasium” in Pützchen near Bonn did not have the result that we got new members. These younger alumnae have no chance for identification with our association.

In our board we finally discussed openly these facts and decided first to change our name. We want to be “Alumnae of the St. Adelheid-Gymnasium & Deutsche Sacré Coeur-Vereinigung”. We want to give a sign to those who nowadays go to our school, open the door and see. Our General Assembly will decide about that in December in Cologne. In the same assembly we propose to make our board smaller – as our association also becomes smaller. In Hamburg there is already an association of alumni and alumnae of the SBS and this association is already part of our association.

Nevertheless we are happy to meet several times during the year – naturally not all of us. And for those who are too weak to come to any meeting we continue to have a printed newspaper. Until the end of 2010 this was a “Chronik”, once a year. Then we decided to stop the edition of any newspaper. But we were not happy without any newspaper. And so, from 2011 on we edit a short “Extrablatt” twice a year, just as information for everybody about what happened and what will be coming soon. Please have a look on our website www.sacre-coeur-ehemalige.de, you will find there the first 3 editions, the newest one edited in August 2012.

We are happy to stay part of the worldwide network of alumnae and alumni of the sacred heart. Please don’t hesitate to give us a sign whenever you visit our country, we are happy to welcome you; maybe we can come together or give you some support for the planning of your journey.

Silvia Wollersheim
Präsidentin
RAin.Wollersheim@t-online.de

	This photo shows the house, where the nuns live today. Before it was used for the boarding school, but this does not longer exist, so it was rebuilt as a wonderful home for elderly Religious.


AASH - ASSOCIATED ALUMNAE & ALUMNI OF THE SACRED HEART The United States of America This past summer I have returned to Missouri on many occasions. In June the AASH Board met face to face for the second time since we took office in 2011. We stay in touch via conference calls through out the year but returning to and staying in St. Charles is always a treat. If affords us the opportunity to go to the Shrine of St. Philippine Duchesne which is of course a highlight. In July, I met with our Sacred Heart collaborators on two separate occasions. The first was a small intimate luncheon hosted by the outgoing and incoming Provincial’s Sr. Paul Toner, RSCJ and Sr. Barbara Dawson, RSCJ, along with staff and colleagues from the Provincial Team, Network and AASH. We updated each other and discussed ways we can further collaborate and strengthen our commitment to the Society’s mission. I returned ten days later to participate in the Provincial Assembly. The theme “Open Hearts transformed by the Spirit”. It was a most moving and inspirational experience to be a part of the beautiful installation mass for our new Provincial Sr. Barbara Dawson, RSCJ and her team. I am pleased to announce that the AASH website has gone thru a major transformation and the first phase has been completed! Visit us at: www.aashnet.org. If you are an alumna of one of our schools in the United States whether or not it is closed you should be in our database. Be sure to login and register to access the directory and optimize the new search engines. We strongly encourage you to add your current email address too! You will notice that the *Esprit de Coeur* magazine is available online too. Additionally, you can find AASH news and more photos on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and my (AASH PRESIDENT MER) blog. I hope many of you will consider joining us next April in Omaha at our 39th Biennial Conference where we will celebrate our 80th Anniversary! Details and registration info will be available www.aashomaha.org Warm regards in the heart, AASH President

The Netherlands This year our Association who is founded in 1922, exists 90 years !! Therefore we are preparing a reunion. We hope to welcome many Alumnae and all the Religious, who are still able to come. We will promote that the motto of 1922 : “Sit Caritas Vinculum” (May charity be the bond) is still a reality. Also this year we celebrated that two sisters rscj have their 100 birthday ! For them personal contact with the Alumnae is still important. We are so grateful that it is still possible to hold the meetings of the national board in the convent, where they are, in Weert, two times a year. So we stay in contact with them. Also we want to give this year a more national elaboration of the AMASC theme Listening with one Heart. We organise a new reflection day on the subject of this theme of AMASC: and we will do as again a meditation-day, listening to the silence of our hearts. We are so lucky and grateful that an alumna who is now an abbess of a Trappist monastery convent, is each year our religious counsellor during this reflection day. She gives us always so good information for such a rich discussion. It is always a very inspiring day, full of cordiality, with a special open mind as sacred heart sisters. For the sportive alumnae we have our yearly very enthusiastic Sacred Heart Golf match. We are organising in October a lunch/reunion for the alumnae in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, more in the south of the Netherlands. At Sophianum-school they are yearly organising a social day to make money for our project in Padna. In January two of the teachers were going to Padna to bring the money there! Much love Sacre Cordial from the Netherlands! Niny Op de Coul-Wösten presidente
EURONEWS no.1 April 2012 - Please click here for the document in .pdf of the first EURONEWS created by the Presidents of Europe under the co-ordination of Paola del Prete del Vaglio. Submissions by: Italy, France, Spain, Austria, The Netherlands, England and Wales.

AUSTRALIAN SACRE COEUR ASSOCIATION - ASCA -

ENGLAND - WALES

Two United States Sacred Heart girls win medals at London Olympics

Two United States Sacred Heart girls
win medals at London Olympics