Fall 2017: Heartbeat and Annual Report Fall17 Heartbeat | Page 4

Bicentennial Celebrates
Crossing Frontiers
Imagine if you will a pioneer woman with a courageous Philippine was born in France in 1769. Despite her family's
spirit ready to journey into the unknown; a woman willing to objections, she entered Grenoble’s Visitation convent at age
face hardship for the sake of her mission. Know that she is 18. The onslaught of the French Revolution resulted in the
a devoted friend and has a faith in God that permeates her closing or suppression of all religious houses. For 11 years,
being, revealing authentic holiness. Add to the portrait that Philippine maintained faithfully the rule of her order, serving
she is a leader, serving always with humility, care and com- those ravaged by the upheaval. She hoped to eventually
mitment. And make sure to note that she prays ceaselessly. re-open the convent, but that was not to be.
She spends hours in communion with the One who loves
beyond all measure and who guides her every footstep.
In 1804, she met Madeleine Sophie Barat, founder of the
Society of the Sacred Heart. A true friendship sparked, one
The woman is St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, the RSCJ that would last a lifetime. Rose Philippine Duchesne entered
missionary who founded the first free school west of the the Society of the Sacred Heart, with Madeleine Sophie as
Mississippi in September 1818. Beginning in 2017 and culmi- her superior.
nating in 2018, the Society of the Sacred Heart-United States
and Canada is celebrating the bicentennial anniversary of
Philippine’s arrival on this continent. To delve into her story
is to be inspired by the frontiers she crossed—geographic,
societal and spiritual—and to be touched by her hard work,
gritty determination and endless faith.
Philippine longed to serve in the New World, but it would be
13 years before she received Madeleine Sophie’s permission.
At last she consented, and after a harrowing, storm-filled
passage, Philippine and her four RSCJ companions landed
near New Orleans on May 29, 1818—incredibly—the date of
the feast of the Sacred Heart.
A group of Sheridan Road faculty and staff joined Network colleagues at the RSCJ Spirituality Forum held in St. Louis, Mo., July 12-15, which
celebrated the life and legacy of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne. The 400 participants were from 39 of the 41 countries with a Sacred Heart
presence. Members from Sheridan Road visited the Potawatomi settlements and missions where the RSCJ taught in the first Native American
schools west of the Mississippi. The photo features the pilgrims at the St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Memorial Park, site of the Sugar Creek
Mission from 1841-1848.