THE SACRED HEART SCHOOLS

There are more than 150 Sacred Heart schools around the world. That figure that would be even higher if it included the free schools in emerging countries and schools that do not belong to the RSCJ but explicitly follow the Society’s spirituality and pedagogy, such as Trinità dei Monti.

Schools of the Sacred Heart share in the educational mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart as articulated in the Goals and Criteria. The structure supporting Sacred Heart education in Canada and the United States includes the Conference of Sacred Heart Education and the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. Together they provide services and programs to ensure vitality of mission for the member schools sponsored by the Society of the Sacred Heart. Distributed across dozens of countries, each school its own face and traditions.

Sacred Heart education is framed by the assumption that education is a developmental process that lays the foundation for students to become integral persons, people who live lives of integrity. Considering the realities of the world and the profound challenges young people face in light of the emerging future, Sacred we aim to form our students on a path towards transformation and hope by providing an effective education that includes the formation of character.

Sacred Heart Education is deigned to instill the skills and attitudes that enhance critical consciousness and compassionate action. The charism of the Society of the Sacred Heart, Sophie’s vision of education, and the values articulated in the Goals and Criteria guide educators as they cultivate the virtues essential for students to embark on a path of discernment and realize their full potential as socially aware, empathetic thinkers committed to compassion and justice.

The Goals and Criteria outlines the essential principles and values of Sacred Heart education. From the very beginning, it has served as a covenant among Sacred Heart educators and the Society of the Sacred Heart on behalf of young people for the sake of building a world reflective of the attitudes of Christ’s Heart. It remains the pivotal document for students, families and educators of the Sacred Heart. This articulation of mission continues to play a fundamental role in supporting mission integrity by expressing the timeless principles at the heart of Sacred Heart education. Schools of the Sacred Heart educate to:

• I. A personal and active faith in God
• II. A deep respect for intellectual values
• III. A social conscience that drives action
• IV. The construction of the community as a Christian value
• V. Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom