Discover & Make Known the Love of God
Learn about key women in the story of the Society of the Sacred Heart.
St Madeleine Sophie Barat founded the Society of the Sacred Heart in France in 1800. Following her family’s custom, we call her Sophie. Sophie dreamed of restoring religious values to post revolutionary France. She wanted young people to know the love of the Heart of Jesus and to make reparation for the sacrileges committed during the Revolution. She saw Christian education as a way of renewing the social order. Years later, she recounted her original vision in this way: “My original idea of our little Society of the Sacred Heart was to gather young girls together and establish a little community which night and day would adore the Heart of
St Rose Philippine Duchesne established the first house of the Society of the Sacred Heart outside of France, and she is the second saint of the Society. Philippine, as she was known, had joined the Visitation order before the Revolution of 1791. In 1801, she tried to re-establish the convent at St Marie d’en Haut which had been dispersed by the Revolution. When she came into contact with the Society of the Sacred Heart through Fr Joseph Varin, she readily joined the fledgling foundation. From their first meeting, Philippine and St Madeleine Sophie Barat were firm friends. Philippine had a strong desire to go as a missionary to share the love of
Janet Erskine Stuart was the Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart from 1911 to 1914. She was the first Superior General to travel extensively, visiting the Society in many parts of the world. She is remembered as an outstanding educator and spiritual guide. Janet Erskine Stuart was born in 1857 at the Cottesmore Anglican Rectory in Rutland, England. Her father was an Anglican minister, and her conversion to Catholicism at the age of 21 was difficult for him. In 1881 she entered the Society and spent almost her whole life as an RSCJ as a member of the Roehampton community. Janet is credited with raising the standard of
The 2024 Season of Creation begins today. The theme: To Hope and Act with Creation. The site below leads us to a treasure chest of information and ideas for participating in this season.
We have reached the end of 30 days of Chapter. Long tiring days of sharing, reflection and discernment.We thank all capitulants for their hard work and intense participation. We wish them safe travel backto their provinces. Welcome home to ANZ, our sisters, LynetteToohey and Diana Hayes. Our journey continues.The future is in our hands. general chapter 2024.rscjinternational.org
The 2024 Chapter has elected our next Superior General for the next 8 years. CONGRATULATIONS Sr Claire Castaing, RSCJ. We look forward to our next eight years together. A big thank you to Barb Dawson for the past eight years of dedicated service. Blessings on all Chapter delegates who have worked tirelessly to bring us to this moment. Below: Our two previous Superior Generals join newly elected Sr Claire CastaingKathleen Conan (2008-2016), Barbara Dawson (2016-2024), Claire Castaing (2024 – 2032)
The Province Silent Retreat was held on the weekend of 9th, 10th 11th August at St Joseph’s Baulkham Hills. The theme of this contemplative retreat was ‘In the wilderness responding to the call of the Pierced Heart of Jesus’. The facilitator was Sr Yasuko Taguchi RSCJ from the Province of Japan. Thirty-six retreatants from ANZ Province RSCJ, schools, boards and university colleges gathered on the Friday evening to enjoy a welcome drink and dinner, before entering into the first session on Going out into the Wilderness and then the silence that followed. There were five sessions across the weekend with time in between for personal prayer and reflection. Sr Yasuko,