Australia/New Zealand : From Maree Hamilton, Director of Mission for the Province
The Senior Leaders Conference 2009
(held at Stuartholme in Brisbane). Maree Hamilton is at the left of the front row. |
The heart charism of Madeleine Sophie Barat was unknown to me, and I have to confess, at first was something of a challenge. I was approaching my sixth decade and had been guided to that point in my spirit life, by half of the motto of the congregation which originally educated me, “Fortiter et Suaviter” – Strength and Gentleness.
I was big on the strength. I needed Madeleine Sophie’s tuition in gentleness, patience and contemplation. In the two years of my ministry with the RSCJ I have learnt so much and would like to think have grown a good deal. The cognitive learning has been most interesting and instructive, but it is the heart learning that has been so important to my growth in faith and my capacity to support and nurture other educators of the Sacred Heart.
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I work across the four schools of the Province, Baradene in Auckland NZ, Kincoppal-Rose Bay in Sydney, Sacré-Coeur in Melbourne and Stuartholme in Brisbane and other Society entities from time to time, essentially to resource and support staff in the mission of “discovering and revealing the love of God.”
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In the schools this is achieved through a strong focus on the 5 GOALS of Sacred Heart education which are being lived out richly, energetically and creatively by staff and students:
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The preparatory school of Sacré-Coeur, Melbourne, is called "Joigny".
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At a personal level, three days of restful reflection at Joigny and meeting Madeleine Sophie in her new resting place in St Francis Xavier’s greatly deepened my engagement with this enticing charism, as did precious time spent in the company of Barbara Bowe when she visited the province last winter.
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Baradene Centennial Mass
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I am learning from Sophie to stop willfully driving projects, but instead to wait patiently on the Spirit and to pray more trustfully. I find many of her sayings like “Courage daughters especially on bad days”, “God does not reward success which we cannot control. He looks to our intention.” and “So you say you are weak, but have you measured the strength of God” affect the pulse of my days. |
I am grateful to have tripped across the richness of the heritage of Sophie and to meet contemporary RSCJs who are alive with her spirit and share it with hospitable generosity and warmth.
Mrs Maree Hamilton
Director of Mission for the Province of Australia/New Zealand
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Castellano: Me ha encantado el testimonio de la señora Maree. Siento que vive plenamente el espíritu de Sofía y me alegra compartir esta espiritualidad tan rica con personas como ella. También me abre horizontes sobre nuestra tarea educativa y la necesidad de articular espacios con estudiantes y profesores para ir creando comunión a nivel global. Gracias por compartir.
Français: Je suis enchantée par le témoignage de Maree. Je sens qu’elle vit pleinement l’esprit de Sophie, et je me réjouis de partager cette spiritualité si riche avec des personnes comme elle. Elle m’ouvre aussi des horizons sur notre tâche éducative, aussi sur la nécessité d’articuler des espaces avec des étudiants et des professeurs pour faire grandi la communion à un niveau plus large. Merci pour votre partage.
English: I loved the account sent in by Mrs. Maree. I sense that she is really living out the spirit of Sophie and I am delighted to share this rich spirituality with people like her. This also helps to open new horizons for me on our educative mission and the necessity of organising spaces with students and teachers in order to create communion at a global level. Thank you for sharing.