Trish Burns delivering her Acceptance Address
It is with joy in my heart and great enthusiasm that I address you today. I deeply believe we are all citizens of the one world and am excited at the role that we in AMASC can play in fostering local, national and international relations and friendship. It would be an honour and a privilege to serve as President -- and I would give it all my heart.
And with my knowledge of the calibre of my Advisors and my Australian Secretariat, I speak to you with confidence -- and hope and pray that we can serve you well over the next four years. I have as our main goals
AMASC to me is an incredible and unique network or even sisterhood of women coming from all corners of the globe who are spiritually united by common values and goals. They are family bonds enabling an instant rapport at quite a deep level. And although based on a Catholic Christian philosophy, not all our alumnae are Christian -- yet the values and goals of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat have touched us all. We have heard her message with different ears and live her values through our own cultures -- maybe with different emphases but always the essential essence. This gives us our uniqueness, our common bond.
My formal association with AMASC began in 1974 when Trish Horsley returned to Australia as World President of AMASC and I volunteered to be Editor of the AMASC newsletter. I had been touched by the internationality of our Sacre Coeur heritage initially as a small child at school when listening to the nuns tell of other Sacred Heart chilren in far flung corners of the world, and then later as a 20 year old travelling in Spain in the early 1960's when I received a wonderful welcome by Madre Gallo at Chaumartin in Madrid. We were received as if family.
In 1974 when in my early thirties as full time wife and mother, Trish Horsley gave me the opportunity to play a part in this wonderful international organisation. As Editor of the AMASC newsletter and with the support of Sabine van der Plancke in Brussels and Maria Victoria Beurete de Lescure in Madrid, we produced at least two newsletters each year in English, French and Spanish between 1974 and 1978.
In 1980, on the death of Australian Advisor, Pat Lewin, I was nominated by the Australian alumnae to take her place for the remainder of her term. This was during Miriam Gray's mandate, and I asked if I could develop international contact between alumnae. Given the authority, I set up the International Hospitality Network, now so ably and admirably run by Advisor Sue Lane in the United States.
I later served as Advisor in Reiko Kobori's mandate and again throughout the mandate of Beatriz Salazar de Meija -- constantly responsible for developing Hospitality interchange. In those days we organised several groups of Japanese and Spanish young alumnae or children of alumnae in Australia.
Our family had such fun hosting many young Sacre Coeur guests to Australia -- over 50 to stay in the last twenty years -- and we have enjoyed keeping in touch and watching the paths they have taken in their lives.
It is this human contact across the Continents that is such a rich element of AMASC. The sharing of our similarities and our differences; the understanding of the thinking through another culture and perspective. The opportunities for personal growth and understanding are unlimited. This is why we want to focus on and develop communication.
We must keep this network before our alumnae. It is an important element of AMASC -- it is our means to experience internationality. Just as we are all here together in San Luis Potosi. Whilst here, do introduce yourselves to each other, even if you don't speak each other's language. It is amazing how one finds a way to communicate.
Last year I was travelling in France with Australian friends, only one of whom had Sacre Coeur links. I hosted a lunch for fifteen in our house on the Loire as my French friends seem to think it is at least twice the distance from France to Australia as it is to Australia from France ... and I could not see an opportunity to extend hospitality to them in Sydney. We had a wonderful day and one we will always remember. My Australian friends who were also at the luncheon, could not believe the depth of friendship and rapport we had with each other. They are leaders in their professions in Sydney and they often recall the occasion and say if only world leaders had such a network as we have through Sacre Coeur, how much better the world would communicate.
May I say to you ... The network is there and alive. It is up to you to contribute and link into it. I would like us to even develop our international opportunities further during my mandate.
We live in a time of change, contant change, rapid change, great technological advances especially in communications, changes to families, to work expectations, to traditional life values, to and within the Church.
To cope with the pace of these changes, we need to earth ourselves ... to make sure our foundations are firm and solid; to make sure our relationships are built on love, integrity and respect; to make sure our spiritual journey is alive, meaningful and true to ourselves.
I believe we have much to share with each other ... whether conservative, liberal or avante garde ... and between our cultures. The human contact and conversations we can develop between ourselves - within our own existing network - gives us huge opportunities to learn how to cope with change. We have so much to share ourselves.
I would like us to open conversations between each other -- through our communications, through our ability to listen to each other. Life is a journey -- let's share our experiences -- the intellectual, the practical and the spiritual -- whether theologian, career woman, Religious, teacher, housewife or mother.
We will be opening an internet world wide website for AMASC, initially in three languages, French, Spanish and English ... more languages if we find volunteer translators able to use e-mail for fast communication. National Associations will be able to access and print our newsletter directly from our website. But not only National Presidents will have access, we need to advertise our website address to to all our alumnae and to our school and college students, so those with computers can access it anytime ... maybe grandmothers can access through their grandchildren's computers. The computer is here to stay -- it's a medium with international capabilities.
We shall be inviting a wide range of contributions from RSCJ theologians and thinkers; inviting others to share their spirituality through their life and journeys; inviting others to speak of their experiences of international hospitality.
We will not necessarily be giving answers -- but be sharing ideas and experiences. Hopefully we will gain inspiration from each other and be inspired to move out from ourselves to become contributors to our society, to our wider communities.
My second goal on which I would like us to focus over the next four years is Reconciliation.
Reconciliation is to me an essential message of Christianity. For all of us -- Christian or non-Christian -- to live life well one must consider others - even live for others - and this should be reflected in our attitudes, our values, our courage and most importantly in our relationships. To me a Christian should reflect a special joy in living and giving.
I would like us as AMASC to focus on and address reconciliation over the next four years. This can mean so many things to each of us:
I would hope over the next four years that we may inspire each other to new ways of reconciliation and openness within AMASC and in our communities ... to recognise the reflection of God in others, to learn to listen without prejudice, to gain a deeper understanding of our similarities and a greater respect of our differences.
To reach meaningful reconciliation, huge amounts of love, trust, openness and generosity of spirit are required. Let us be the ones to show and lead the way.
If elected as World President, I see my role as that of communicator. We will develop our communication network as fully as possible to enable the sharing of ideas and experiences - to open communication and conversations between us all. As a World network, I consider we are unique and we have a responsibility to develop the opportunities this opens to us.
I believe so stongly in the life long values of Sacre Coeur education
St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and her followers had a vision. If we value this, we should be playing a vital part in its promulgation. How can we deeply assist the present RSCJs in their mission? Where and how can we take over some of their roles when asked? I would like to ask RSCJs to become more involved in AMASC by sharing their insights and reflections with us internationally.
I would also like to develop our relationship within WUCWO and OMAAEEC and ensure we play a leading role within these associations with whom we are affiliated. We can learn so much from this wider network and contribute as well.
At the conclusion of my mandate, the alumnae of Australia would look forward to welcoming alumnae of the world to Sydney where we are confident we would offer a stimulating world meeting in our multicultural society. It would not only be an Australian Conference, it would be Australasian, as I have invited the alumnae of New Zealand to join with us as hosts.
Each day of our Australasian Conference would be hosted by a different alumnae association. The overall hosts would be the Australian and New Zealand Alumnae Associations. But
The Conference would be held at Kincoppal-Rose Bay, School of the Sacred Heart, situated on the most spectacular site on the shores of the Sydney Harbour - a week after Easter in the year 2002 - between April 7 - April 12.
We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you all and your friends so we may extend our hospitality to you. I promise you a very warm welcome.
Trish Burns delivering her Acceptance Address
It is with great honour that I accept your vote of confidence in me and my teams - my Presidency and my Secretariat. I hope and pray that I fulfil your trust in me.
Before introducing my team and thanking Maria del Carmen and her Presidency for all they have done over the last four years in leading AMASC, I would like to invite Dominique and Ana Elena to join the Presidency as Advisors.
Thank you Maria del Carmen and all the Mexican alumnae for your wonderful hospitality over the last week. We love your country - the colour, the warmth of welcome, the music, the zest for life. Thank you for giving us such an interesting and thought-provoking conference and giving us the opportunity to share ideas and ideals, concerns and action plans. We look forward to reciprocating in Sydney in 2002.
Thank you also to the young alumnae for their enlightening and awareness raising television news presentation. There are many wonderful young alumnae all around the world wishing to make a significant contribution to AMASC.
I would also like to pay tribute to the precious Advisors, five of whom are finishing their terms on the Presidency. To Elsa Gempeler, Mercedes Allorda. Sue Lane, Camille Farrell, Maria Olga Pittatore, and Kumiko Oshima. Thank you Elsa for your contribution to Latin America, Mercedes to the Young, Kumiko to Asia, Sue to Hospitality, to Camille for representing AMASC on the board of WUCWO, and to Maria Olga for representing AMASC so ably on OMAAEEC.
I would now like to introduce my Presidency and my Australian Secretariat.
Your Vice-President will be Vickie Grieg. Unfortunately Vickie was unable to make it here to San Luis Potosi as her husband, John, is unwell. I know she will have been with us in spirit every moment of our week. Vickie is a very special person. She is warm, fun loving, hard working and creative: a woman of relationships. She has given me the greatest support in all my alumnae projects and sees my deficiencies and gives me fine advice. She is extremely capable in everything she undertakes - as wife, mother, a director of marketing and as an organiser. Vickie gives everything of herself to whatever she does. You will all love Vickie and enjoy working with her.
Representing the Society of the Sacred Heart as Advisor is Sister Mary Brennan RSCJ. Mary has been a great educator, actually she taught me when I was about eleven years old when she was a young Religious. Mary more recently has been Principal of Sancta Sophia University College in Sydney and lecturer at the Australian Catholic University prior to becoming Provincial for Australia and New Zealand. In her retirement she moved to Esk in south-east rural Queensland where she undertook a further degree (by distance education) in social work. She is now out of retirement and is establishing a social services agency in the area.
We shall be looking to Mary for stimulating contributions to our international communications and conversations. I also have asked Mary to seek the input from Sacre Coeur Religious throughout the world, especially theologians. Welcome Mary.
My other Advisors need no introduction. You heard their introductions earlier in the week I welcome and congratulate them as they take up their positions as part of the Presidency for this new mandate:
Welcome Dominique Archambaud from France who will represent AMASC on OMAAEEC in Europe and be responsible for all French translation on our Website. I met Dominique at the Tokyo Conference and a really wonderful friendship began between us immediately. We have even exchanged our children! Welcome Dominique.
Charlotte Bardenhewer from Germany will be responsible for young alumnae. I look forward to working with you Charlotte. Welcome.
Maria Casabonne de Machiavello is from Peru and will represent us on OMAAEEC in the Americas. Welcome Maria.
Ana Elena Ogarrio de Reyes Retana from Mexico - from Vice-President to Advisor who will be the link from Maria del Carmen’s mandate to ours. Thank you for your hospitality here in Mexico, Ana Elena. I so look forward to working with you. Welcome.
Kumiko Oshima from Japan who will be responsible for developing the Associations of Asia. Sydney is Kumiko’s other home as she has a daughter who lives there, so we also have a long and wonderful association. Welcome Kumiko.
Welcome to Olga Rome from the United States who I want to be responsible for the Human Rights portfolio within AMASC and to represent Hospitality on the Presidency. Welcome Olga.
Also serving my mandate will be ny good friend and colleague, Camille Farrell who has served the maximum two terms as Advisor. Camille represented AMASC on WUCWO (the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations) so ably that she was elected to the Board of WUCWO and so will continue to represent us at least until th end of her term in two years’ time.
Sue Lane although not part of the Presidency, has offered to continue her wonderful work maintaining and developing the International Hospitality Network. Thank you Sue.
Now to my Secretariat in Sydney:
I have to say that we in Sydney have the most wonderfully vibrant group of alumnae. From Margaret Hetherton, the current President of the Sydney Sacre Coeur Association; Barbara Auswild, the in-coming President...and the thirty members of the Committee. It is from this talent that I have selected the AMASC Secretariat.
Our Secretary-General will be Maryanne Pidcock, another delightful person. Maryanne is Director of Development at Kincoppal-Rose Bay, School of the Sacred Heart in Sydney. She has a degree in Economics and represented her professional organisation as Australian delegate at the Conference in Acapulco before coming on here to Sans Luis Potosi. Maryanne brings a lovely sense of humour, an enthusiastic willingness to assist in any project, a wide range of skills and an ability to think laterally and complete tasks with competency. She will be a super Secretary General.
I would also like to introduce Claudia Curran who I have asked to assist Maryanne. Claudia is an events co-ordinator and has given us great support at the annual concerts we will be having over the last four years to raise funds to underwrite our World Conference in 2002.
Our Treasurer-General will be Mairi Payten who unfortunately could not make this trip to Mexico. Mairi has been an excellent Treasurer of the Sydney Sacre Coeur Association, both in keeping the accounts and in investing resources. She will find the simplest and least expensive method for transferring international subscription funds and provide clear, accurate reporting of funds spent. I am delighted Mairi has accepted the position.
Josephine Barcelon, also unable to be with us, will be Editor of our web site. Josephine is a professional writer and editor. She is Editor of the Kincoppal-Rose Bay newsletter "Open Gate" and the Sydney alumnae newsletter "Cor Unum". Josephine currently has a daughter, Antonia, at Kincoppal-Rose Bay who is extraordinary computer literate and is going to help us develop our AMASC web site. To enable our web site to be multi-lingual, Dominique has accepted my request to be responsible for French translation of our site, and Christina Elias de Tejara, a young Spanish alumnae now working in the United States, has accepted to do the Spanish translation.
Josephine Heesh and Sue Puckeridge are two bright young lawyers who I shall appoint as Paliamentarians to determine the procedures for the business meetings of our Conference.
Our Provincial in Australia, Sister Philomene Tiernan RSCJ, will be an additional assistant in linking us at any time to the Central Team of the Society. Phil is a warm, deeply spiritual person with a lovely sense of humour and great insight. She has already shown her support of my mandate by sending Sister Mary Brennan and Sister Margaret McKay to our Conference. Margaret McKay is responsible for alumnae in Sydney.
Now as we prepare to leave Sans Luis Potosi, I offer a prayer for us all:
This prayer was composed by the 1997 Matriculation lass of Kincoppla-Rose Bay in Sydney. It is relevant to us as a World Association of Sacre Coeur alumnae as we leave for our return to our homes, our countries and our careers ... as it was to these 18 year old girl as they left the security of their school days and take on their new paths of life.
It is relevant to each of us, whatever our age, whatever our origin, whatever our race, wherever we are from. We have shared a week of our lives together. We came from a common heritage - but we have had different life experiences; we come from different cultures. But we shared something of ourselves which we will take home and ponder over as we go about our daily lives in the next months and years.
This prayer was created by young women with a deep Sacre Coeur culture at a very significant time in their lives ... on the threshold of their independant lives. Their education had been mainly influenced by layteachers as there are no Religious teaching in their School. But the Sacre Coeur philosophy is as alive and strong as ever. Their goals are our goals; our goals are their goals. I am sure their prayer relates as much to us as it did to them as we leave these days together.
Through faith, friendship, unity, respect and our hopes for the future ... we have been given each other.
In trust our relationships are formed, tempered by the honest and sincere belief in one another. Sharing our strength, and supporting our falls, we come to accept and forgive. WE ARE BOUND BY FRIENDSHIP.
As a group our energy creates unique spirit. We laugh as a family, where stability is found. As a group, we defy our fears and meet all challenges. WE ARE BOUND IN UNITY.
A dependence in common, strengthens our ties; bringing us closer together. Our acceptance of the individual, leads to a greater understanding. WE ARE BOUND BY RESPECT.
From personal experience, we shape our devotion. Sharing beliefs, brings relevance to our lives. WE ARE BOUND IN FAITH.
We have proven dedication and determination. Our commitment to success provides hope for the future, as we go our separate ways. WE ARE BOUND IN LOVE.
In closing, let us pray for a safe journey home to our families and friends. I hope over the next four years to be able to open communication between each other as well as to possibly visit your countries and meet as many of you and your fellow alumnae and as many students as possible...and then to welcome you all to our wonderful country AUSTRALIA and in particular to SYDNEY in 2002.