Heads of Holy Child Schools in the United States, Africa, and Europe met in New Orleans Wednesday, April 9 through Tuesday, April 15, 2003. Under the leadership of Sister Eileen McDevitt, SHCJ, Director of the Holy Child Network of Schools, we addressed the aim of "Creating an International Holy Child Connection."
Sister Marcia Sichol, SHCJ, leader of the American Province, welcomed the participants Wednesday evening at St. Mary's Dominican Center, site of this gathering. After dinner the group had a "Welcome to New Orleans" presentation.
On Thursday, April 10, Sister Helen McDonald,SHCJ, a member of the Society Leadership Team, spoke to us on the, History of Cornelia Connelly in the South. That afternoon Sister Judith Lancaster, SHCJ, of the European Province made the first of two presentations and discussions on Cornelia's Spiritual Legacy.
Friday, April 11 Sister Helen McDonald's topic was Cornelia's Educational Philosophy. A tour of the Garden District provided a pleasant interlude. Next a panel of participants probed Leadership Qualities Needed for Holy Child Administrators Today and in the Future. Panelists included Mr. Brian McNamara, Sallynoggin, Ireland; Mrs. Ann Sullivan, Rye, New York; Sister Sophia (Chizo) Onuora, SHCJ, Lagos, Nigeria; Madame Pascale Lagrange, Créteil, France; and Sister Francine Gunther, SHCJ, Anaheim, California. Friday night was free to roam the French Quarter.
Saturday, April 11, was a free day and all attended the Vigil Mass of Palm Sunday in St. Louis Cathedral where Cornelia Connelly received her First Communion in the Catholic Church. Saturday evening we ate together in the French Quarter at Stella! On Sunday, Doctor Susan Perlis led a discussion regarding Educating our Students to be Global Citizens in the 21st Century. Later, we toured the old Ursuline Convent, where there is a statue of Cornelia along with five other religious who have a connection with New Orleans.
Monday, April 14, in Grand Coteau, we visited the Academy of the Sacred Heart where Cornelia taught with the Religious of the Sacred Heart and shared in their retreats. We walked down the oak path connecting the property to the Jesuits School (now a retreat house) where Pierce told Cornelia his plan to become a priest. At the gravesite of John Henry Connelly and Mary Magdalen Connelly, who both died while the family was living at Grand Coteau, we cleaned the headstones, planted flowers, and prayed for all the Holy Child students and families in our Schools today. We visited what was a small cottage on the grounds of the Sacred Heart where Cornelia lived with her two small children, Adeline and Frank, when their father, Pierce Connelly took the eldest son, Mercer, abroad with him to England, seeking to discern his calling. The Religious of the Sacred Heart, the Head of School, the faculty and staff were all very welcoming to us.
Tuesday, April 15, after prayer and reflection, we collaborated on Creating an International Holy Child Connection. We then returned to our respective schools reinvigorated by the shared experiences with our comrades in Holy Child education.
Each session began with prayer and a reflection by one of the Heads of Schools on a quote from Cornelia. Bookmarks containing the quotes used for these reflections were at our place so that we could take these words with us both in our memory and in our hearts and share them with our school communities.
Participants included:
African Province Alberta Bonle, SHCJ Joana Duker, SHCJ Florence Owuamanam, SHCJ Sophia Onuora, SHCJ Margaret Akpan, SHCJ Mary Akinwale, SHCJ
American Province Maureen Appel Anita Coll Jeanne Marie Guerin, SHCJ Francine Gunther, SHCJ Mary Claire Ryan Stephanie Griffin Tina Hummerstone Eileen McDevitt, SHCJ Rita McBride Michael O'Donoghue Patricia Phillips, SHCJ Marcia Sichol, SHCJ Ann Sullivan Helen McDonald, SHCJ, speaker Dr. Susan Perlis, speaker
European Province Linda Hayes Julia Dalton Sarah Adams Brian McNamara Vera Collins Pascale Lagrange Judith Lancaster, SHCJ, speaker Madeleine Mulrennan, SHCJ
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