Society of the Sacred Heart

The Society of the Sacred Heart (Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) is an international Roman Catholic religious congregation for women established in France by St. Madeleine Sophie Barat in 1800. Members use the suffix "RSCJ" which represents Religieuses du Sacré-Cœur de Jésus or Religiosa Sanctissimi Cordis Jesu or Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It has a presence in 41 countries.

They should not be confused with the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM), another teaching order of sisters.

History

Madeleine Sophie Barat founded the Society of the Sacred Heart in the wake of the French Revolution to provide educational opportunities for girls. The manner of life was to be simple without the prescribed austerities of the older orders, which would be incompatible with the work of education. In some houses the religious conducted just one school, but in several places, especially in the larger houses in cities there were at least two schools, a boarding school and a school for poor children.[1] The first convent was opened at Amiens in 1801. Other houses were opened in Grenoble, Poitiers, Niort, and Cuigniers. In 1826 the society obtained the formal approbation of Pope Leo XII and the first cardinal protector was appointed.[2] Barat remained superior general of the Society from 1806 until her death in 1865. The Society of the Sacred Heart quickly expanded within Europe and beyond.[3]

In 1818 Rose Philippine Duchesne first brought the Society to the Americas, establishing the first free school west of the Mississippi in St. Charles Missouri. The Society opened institutions of higher education for women in Cincinnati; Grand Coteau, Louisiana; Lake Forest, Illinois; New York; Torresdale (a suburb of Philadelphia), Pennsylvania; Omaha; St. Louis; San Francisco; Seattle; Newton, Massachusetts; and San Diego.[3]

In 1842 the Society came to England in 1842, founding a girl's boarding school at Elm Grove in Roehampton. The school evolved into the teacher training school Digby Stuart College. The Sisters have been involved in education since and founded schools around the country, most of which are no longer directly run by the order but are under its trusteeship or the diocese. In 2004 Digby Stuart College federated with three other local colleges to become the University of Roehampton. The England and Wales province are largely centered in Roehampton where it maintains two houses. The Barat House community consists of a group of RSCJ sisters and university students who live in the community house in the grounds of Digby Stuart College.[4] The Duchesne House is also a registered care house for elderly sisters and its community play an active role in the pastoral care of pupils at the nearby Sacred Heart Primary School.[5]

The first RSCJ arrived in New Zealand in 1880. In 1909 RSCJ established a Catholic girls school, Baradene College of the Sacred Heart in Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand.[6] Sr. Philomene (Phil) Tiernan, RSCJ of the Australis/New Zealand Province was among the passengers of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 shot down over the Ukraine in 2014.[7]

Between 1906 and 1909, the French government forced the closing of forty-seven houses of the Society in that country, and 2500 religious were dispersed to other countries. The motherhouse was relocated to Ixelles, Belgium. The rule of cloister was removed at the General Chapter of 1964.[3]

The first foundation in Uganda was established by six RSCJ in 1962. In 1984 RSCJ took over management of the St. Charles Lwanga Girls' Training Centre, in Kalungu, founded in 1967 by Fr. Emiliano La Croix of the Missionaries of Africa.[8]

Ministry

As of 2015 about 2,600 religious serve in 41 countries around the world. Members do many works, but focus on education, particularly girls' education. There are about 75 RSCJ in the Province of England and Wales. Since 1979, members of the Llannerchwen Community have operated a retreat centre near Brecon, Wales.[4]

The Society of the Sacred Heart operates Sprout Creek Farm, a non-profit working farm and educational center located in Poughkeepsie, New York. In addition to its production of vegetables, meat, and cheese, the farm also offers educational programs to children throughout the year.

In Uganda and Kenya, sisters are involved in teaching from Primary level to University level, in counseling, pastoral work, development of village women, work in prisons, health care, AIDS education, home-based care of those with AIDS and a home for children with disabilities.[8]

Association Mondiale des Anciennes et Anciens du Sacré-Coeur (AMASC) is a worldwide organization of alumnae and alumni of Sacred Heart schools established in 1960 to cooperate effectively with the Society of the Sacred Heart in its mission and ministries. One of its projects is providing support for the Sacred Heart School at Kyamusansala Hill, Uganda. Support included the construction of a residential school which as of 2015 provides education for 530 girls.[9]

The society holds NGO status at the UN as a special consultant with the Economic and Social Council.

Notable members

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gimber RSCJ, Frances. "Keepers of the Flame", 2011
  2. ↑ Stuart, Janet. "The Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 22 Sept. 2015
  3. 1 2 3 "Our heritage", Society of the Sacred Heart, United States - Canada
  4. 1 2 Society of the Sacred Heart, England & Wales
  5. ↑ "Where we live and what we do: Duchesne House". Society of the Sacred Heart (England and Wales).
  6. ↑ Baradene College of the Sacred Heart, Remuera, Auckland
  7. ↑ "MH17 Tragedy: Prayers for Philomene Tiernan RSCJ", Society of the Sacred Heart, International, July 18, 2014
  8. 1 2 Society of the Sacred Heart, Uganda/Kenya Province
  9. ↑ "Projects", AMASC


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