At a certain
point you say
to the woods, to the sea,
to the mountains,
the world,
Now I am ready.
Now I will stop and be wholly attentive.
You empty yourself and wait,
listening...
Annie Dillard
SACRE COEUR - ERSKINE COLLEGE CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
Anyone looking in at the
‘Boatshed’ on the evening of Friday 13 May, would have been struck by the
atmosphere of joy and energy that flowed in ever widening circles as Alumnae of
many generations greeted one another in rapturous recognition. Of all ages and
from all parts of New Zealand and even from Australia, they were obviously
delighted to meet again. This ambience of joy, energy and, yes, love and
laughter, too, was to characterise the whole weekend. It deepened and became
more focused the next morning when, after a stirring ‘Alumnae-produced’ Powhiri,
the theme “Women Making A Difference” was introduced.
The first three speakers, RSCJ, shared the topic “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow,
the Society of the Sacred Heart’, setting the scene for the Alumnae speakers who
gave inspiring (yet not without humour) addresses or rather testimonies of Women
Making A Difference. We could indeed see how such women make a difference and
this was ‘multiplied’ during informal conversations where it was clear that even
small differences made by many individuals become building blocks in the process
of significant change.
The theme was further developed in the afternoon, by a series of workshops on
topics such as : Life as a Spiritual Journey; Developing Confidence in Personal
Capabilities; Building a Just and Caring Society etc. It concluded with a
session on “Where to from Today?” and a final reporting back/ Conference
Resolution Meeting which brought the day’s very worthwhile work to an end.
A beautiful Pentecost Vigil Mass was celebrated in the Island Bay parish church
by Archbishop John Dew. Led by a small Alumnae choir, traditional Sacre Coeur
hymns rang out vibrantly. The participants then left for the Centenary Dinner,
scheduled “8pm – Until Late!”
On Sunday Morning the celebrations were drawn to a reluctant close by a truly
magnificent concert by the Wellington Sinfonia in the Erskine Chapel – a
hallowed space, the centre of school worship and of devotion to the Sacred
Heart. Impossible to comment in detail on the wonderful programme but one item
was of special significance : “Te Tangi A Te Matui” (The Call of the Matui)
composed by alumna Helen Fisher (nee McKee) and brilliantly performed by Karen
Batten whose voice and flute playing rendered so exquisitely the unforgettable
melodies based on a traditional Maori karakia. Finally, Class luncheons gave the
opportunity for once again enjoying one another’s company, reflecting on the
Centenary celebration and, I’m sure, for marvelling at the superb Organising
Committee who had made it a reality.
As an RSCJ who spent thirteen years on the Erskine staff, it was a proud yet
humbling experience to see the love and energy which pervaded the gathering, so
that it became not only a celebration of the past but a beacon for the future.
Saint Madeleine Sophie herself must have rejoiced to see her ‘children’ living
the ideals and values which underlie Sacred Heart education. In this case ‘the
sowers of the seed’ indeed saw the flowers in full bloom! Would that every
flower had been able to come.
June Kirk-Smith, RSCJ