Celebration at Kincoppal-Rose Bay School

When we celebrated our 100 years of the Society in Australia in 1982, there was much pomp and great excitement among the thousands who gathered in St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney.  Now 25 years later, the Mass on May 9th celebrating the actual arrival date of our foundresses from England had a special atmosphere of quiet remembrance, of intimacy as we gathered in the chapel at Rose Bay. The whole evening was like sharing something precious with your family and close friends. 

On arrival the religious, both the Good Samaritan sisters and ourselves, were offered a flower and then they sat on one side of the chapel and ourselves on the other surrounded by those who have loved and supported us particularly during these latter years through various boards, committees, etc. For me, the presence of the Good Sams, as they are generally called, was a concrete reminder of our beginnings in Sydney with them in Pitt Street - the building later cleared for Central Station and surroundings to be built.

Then the liturgy began with the Te Deum.  It led me to think of the occasions when it was sung.  At the same time I was drawn back to think of all our vows ceremonies held here as a result of these valiant women bringing the Society to Australia.  Also the Mass booklet told us of another context in which the Te Deum was sung. The following snippet is from the early journal:  

“It was impossible to say how happy we were nor how beautiful the O Salutaris sounded (at the Benediction delayed until the sisters arrived) and the good nuns helped us to express our feeling by the Te Deum they sang for us…”

Somehow, the “Te Deum” sung in such a gentle form on 9th May, expressed many feelings of gratitude for these 125 years.

Various phrases in the opening hymn “Be not afraid”, after Anne McGrath’s ( the provincial of Australia – New Zealand ) heartfelt words of welcome, took on a new meaning for me, one of journey: “You shall speak you words in foreign lands…I go before you always…”. Joan Pender rscj, who was responsible for the liturgy, obviously gave a lot of time and reflection to forming the liturgy as it feed our emotions, our spirit, on this special occasion while continually evoking memories. At the same time we were led on to be conscious of the fact that we have moved into another phase of our history. For example, it seemed appropriate that Hilary Johnston-Croke, principal of Kincoppal-Rose Bay prayed in the Prayers of the Faithful:

We pray for the Society of the Sacred Heart. We give thanks for the courage and confidence that our foundresses brought to these shores. May we continue to be inspired with the courage and confidence needed in these days of searching for different ways to communicate the love of the heart of Jesus.

“Courage and confidence” were the words of St Madeleine Sophie used as a sub-title for the liturgy.

I was really pleased to see that we were going to sing Kay Haesler’s (rscj, R.I.P) hymn “Song of the Heart” during Communion. More memories arose of those RSCJ in our province who “have gone before us”, who have inspired me/us, accompanied me/us on the way. The last verse I particularly love, a beckoning to the future:

Come, live this dream we share together:
God’s love is with us, we are sent to share it
Come, Madeleine Sophie,
teach us all true wisdom of heart.

The evening was pleasantly ended with a gathering in the old assembly hall/front parlour/library and now Performing Arts Centre. The whole occasion flowed with such ease that it was obvious that many RSCJ and collaborators had put a lot of thought, time and effort into making it a special celebration expressed in meaningful simplicity.  

An Annus Mirabilis

The celebration of 125 years of the arrival of the Religious of the Sacred Heart in Australia and the founding of the school at Rose Bay is based on the Cor Unum and will explore the union of hearts and minds. In keeping with the call to justice which is at the centre of Sacred Heart education, six forums have been planned throughout 2007 based on the theme, “Where the Heart is…”

The topics were:

• The Heart in Action- The Refugee Story
• The Heart of the Matter- Faith in a Media-Saturated World
• Shared Language of the Heart- Inter Faith Dialogue
• The Heart in the Body- Finding Peace Within Ourselves and Our World
• The Heart of Our Land - Ecology & Spirituality – Contemporary, traditional and indigenous perspective    
• That the Heart Rules the Mind- The Great Debate with 6 speakers with a range of interest.

These forums, together with the religious and social events planned for the year, give expression to the goals of Sacred Heart education. Fittingly the year began with a Eucharist for the whole school and it will end with a liturgical celebration in the school grounds. The Mass in the Cathedral will bring together religious of the Sacred Heart, the school community with representatives of our other schools in Australia and New Zealand and our collaborators and friends.  

The whole year is one of thanksgiving for all the blessings and graces received during these 125 years of the presence of the Society in Australia.