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
A Special Day at Sacré Coeur
Friday, May 23rd 2008, was a very special day at Sacré Coeur when we combined two significant occasions. Our beautiful chapel has just been repainted and the first time it was used after the refurbishment was to celebrate the Feast Day of St Madeleine Sophie Barat.
As archivist it was most interesting to be involved in the research about the chapel's original colour so that it cold be replicated. the chapel had not been repainted since the 1960's when blue had been chosen but now it is resplendent in a pale creamy golden colour which actually has the commercial name of Divinity Cream, so there is a certain confidence that the right choice was made. The colour looks wonderful with the details still picked out in white. The new beauty of the chapel made a splendid backdrop for the celebration of St Madeleine Sophie's Feast Day. This occasion is always a highlight of the year as it brings together so many of the community. The Sacré Coeur Alumnae Association Committee join with the school to prepare this celebration. Helen McCormack (President of the Association), Helen Barry (Alumnae Coordinator), together with Mark Oski (Director of Mission at Sacré Coeur) and Maree Hamilton (Province Director of Mission), all played an important part in this successful occasion.
"What can Madelei
ne
Sophie teach us, her 21st century daughters
?"
was the theme explored in the paraliturgy. We were welcomed to the morning by
the Principal, John Fox and the ceremony was conducted by members of the Year 12
group in the presence of their whole class with teachers there also. Many
Alumnae, together with members of the Barat Community joined the students and
teachers in the chapel. After the beautiful liturgy everyone went to the Kirby
Centre where there were refreshments for the Year 12's and a luncheon for the
forty or so Alumnae. It is mainly the older Alumnae who attend and there are
always many happy reminiscences about other such days and the traditions that
have been enjoyed in times past.
To commemorate the day the school had organised a prayer card and a special medallion that was given to the visitors. It can be seen why May 23rd 2008, was so important at Sacré Coeur and it is always a pleasure to think that ceremonies of this sort are being enacted around this time in our schools across the world to celebrate the Feast of St Madeleine Sophie Barat.
Virginia Kennedy
Sacré Coeur Archivist.