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Margaret Williams, rscj, summarizes this period as one of expansion:
The
life of the Society of the Sacred Heart from 1915 to 1946 is marked by
an expansion of its mission in the face of disturbing ideologies. . . .
The
period began and ended with a shock to complacency, a world war, while
the League of Nations moved towards the United Nations in the teeth of
revolutions and declarations of independence. Communism and Fascism,
already in the atmosphere, took corporate form in conflicting
governments while science speeded their action; the atom was split in
1918 -- with no noise. . . .There was no longer an Old World and a New
World, only a globe on which international affairs were becoming
inter-racial.
A
teaching order already circling the globe was called upon to penetrate
these shifting, clashing and ambiguous forces. The Society of the
Sacred Heart reached into all the continents, took on new enterprises
and entered new fields of education. It expanded while remaining on the
defensive, determined to "hold onto what is good" in the face of values
still uncertain. It met new demands with "necessary concession," and
the resulting tensions have led to the traumas of today.
Statistics
show an imbalance which increased the tension and the overwork. The
number of schools rose considerably; the enrollments rose enormously
while the number of workers rose hardly at all. . . . A lessening in
vocations was accompanied by a rise in the age level of the total
membership which thus remained almost constant. It was not easy to keep
stability while being pulled towards a renewal that could not then be
foreseen.2
In the United States the
Society expanded its educational work by opening institutions of higher
education for women in Cincinnati, Grand Coteau LA, Lake Forest IL, New
York, Omaha, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, Newton MA (1949), and
San Diego (1952).
2. Williams, M. (1978). The Society of the Sacred Heart: History of a Spirit--1800-1975. London, Darton, Longman & Todd, pp. 185-186
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Mission Statement of the Society of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus,
United States Province
The
Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an international community of
women in the Catholic Church, founded in 1800 by St. Madeleine Sophie
Barat. Sharing her vision and mission, we are convinced of the
centrality of prayer and contemplation in our lives. We are committed
to discover, live and announce God’s love through the service of
education for transformation, in diverse ministries, particularly
addressing the needs of children, young people, women and those in
society who are marginalized.
What the Mission Entails
The love of Christ impels us:
- to work for justice and reconciliation, especially in the face of racism, sexism and violence of every kind;
- to join the struggle of the poor for the resources and conditions essential for human well-being;
- to build community;
- to be challenged and broadened by other cultures;
- to live in interdependence with others and with all of creation.
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