Our Mission
From its beginnings and during
the first century and a half of its existence the Society exercised its mission
chiefly through the education of youth in schools and colleges. However, the
widespread changes resulting from Vatican II challenged Religious of the
Sacred Heart to question their way of embodying their mission of education.
Madeleine Sophie's own concept of education helped them in their search;
for her the aim of education was to teach girls how to become active women in
the world.
She saw education, therefore, as a means of transforming society, of
improving it, of
renewing the social fabric. That is why today Religious of the Sacred
Heart fulfil their service of education in many areas, including;
- Prayer
- Human development
- Promotion of Justice and Peace
- Formal teaching and training
- Supporting and working alongside the less privileged
- Pastoral work
- Hospitals; Rest Homes
- Retreats
- Spirituality Centre
We need to undertake a deeper
understanding of education, so that everyone may grow in personal and community
responsibility.
We must find specific places and circumstances conducive to
making a really educative response to the questions that matter most: formation
in relationships, formation of women and girls. We want to work in solidarity
with and for women who suffer the injustices of society, almost always alone,
and often amidst contempt and lack of understanding. We want to discover out how
to help women to liberate themselves and work to achieve this.
There is always a
possibility of finding your place in The Society of the Sacred Heart.
Your desire, to reach out to others; to commit yourself to working for
justice and peace in our world; to be open to the voice of the God of Love,
in regular prayer; your need to make a difference...are signs of a deep,
inner call to respond to a sustaining Power much greater than any of us can
imagine...
..