Page 12 - Carrollton 2012

Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne was born in Grenoble, France, in 1769. She was very
young when she first heard the call to show forth the love o f the Heart o f Jesus in
distant lands. After long years o f hoping, her wish was at last granted: to go to America
and begin the first community o f the Sacred Heart on the American Continent.

The difficulties o f those times (hunger, cold, extreme poverty, epidemics) were no
obstacle to the joy and generosity she brought to all her tasks. Other women felt drawn
by her witness, and so the Congregation was able to minister to new needs.

Rose Philippine remained in America for 3 3 years, until her death. She devoted herself
energetically to the mission there, and shortly before she died, was able to see her
dream come true: Rose Philippine went to live with the Potawatomi. Although she was
too old for the work, the Indians would remember her as "the woman who always prays."

Today, both laypeople and Religious o f the Sacred Heart throughout the world live the
spirituality and mission o f the Society o f the Sacred Heart, wholly contemplative and
wholly apostolic.

The Society o f the Sacred Heart is a group o f more than 2,600 women who live in
more than 5 0 0 communities worldwide. They work in universities, secondary and
elementary schools; with handicapped children and adults; in popular education centers
in rural and urban areas; with migrants, indigenous people, and refugees; in parishes,
retreat centers, ashrams; in prisons; in advocacy work, especially with women and
children; as teachers, administrators, lawyers, nurses, doctors, artists, writers, therapists,
pastoral counselors, spiritual directors, and social workers. Most live ip communities
o f three to seven people near those they serve. Almost 5 0 0 RSCJ (Religious o f the
Sacred Heart o f Jesus) live outside the country o f their birth. The central administration
in Rome fosters international communion and gives leadership and direction to the
Society's mission.

Today, there are 144 Sacred Heart schools in 3 0 countries with 2 2 full member schools
in the Network o f Sacred Heart Schools in the United States.

The Society o f the Sacred Heart is blessed, most o f all, in the special bond o f unity
which joins all the members together; so strongly that those who see it have declared
that no human power could have welded so many diverse spirits and nationalities in one
whole, and that without doubt, the finger o f G od is here.

-Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ

The Taylor Hall mural depicts S t Philippine Duchesne's
journey to the Americas and the foundaton of the Society
in the New World. It was commissioned for the 20th
anniversary of her cannonlzation as a gift to Suzanne
Cooke, RSCJ. The far right section of the mural has
several symbolic elements. The heart with the world
inside it represents the Society of the Sacred Heart; the
Lily represents the purity of the Virgin Mary; the Holy
Spirit is represented by an adaptation of the Melissa
Rodriguez Assembly Hall rose window, the oak tree
and acorn represent Rose Philippine whose surname,
"Duchesne,' means "heart of oak;' and the five petaled
hibiscus (lower represents the Five Goals o f a Sacred
Heart Education,
F