Winter 2006 - Sacred Heart Schools

Why Financial Aid
Ever wondered
what St. Madeleine
Sophie meant when
she said, “For the
sake of one child I
would have founded
the Society”
Most of us have heard the famous
words of St. Madeleine Sophie,
foundress of the Sacred Heart Society:
“For the sake of one child, I would
have founded the Society.” But what
did she mean and what exactly was her
vision Elaine Berra Barry (SHPʻ87
and SHP Staff Member), provides her
opinion: “I truly believe that this school
was founded for the sake of one child.
If we are to make this our center, then
we need to guarantee that our doors are
always open— wide open.”
St. Madeleine believed in the power
of education to transform society.
“Present-day society will be saved by
education,” she said. “Other means
are almost useless. Education must be
concerned not only with studies but also
with whatever may be required for the
right ordering of life and requirements
of cultivated society.”
My Opinion:
Lindsay Aydelott (SHP‘99)
20 Winter 2006
Clearly, part of her vision for
changing society was changing who
had access to this transformative
education. In a time when girls had
very limited access to education, St.
Madeleine Sophie, as RSCJ Superior
General Patricia García de Quevedo
puts it, “believed in the transforming
power of women.”
Not only did she seek to educate
women, but also the urban poor.
Superior General de Quevedo explains,
“Whereas most congregations of
Madeleine Sophieʼs time worked in
rural areas, Madeleine Sophie was
uring my time at Sacred Heart Prep, I valued the
“Dsocio-economic diversity at the school as it provided
me with many opportunities to develop unique and rewarding
friendships. I know that the financial aid program
made it possible for me to have such a great experience
at Sacred Heart. Not only did I benefit from the financial
aid program, but I know many other people who would
not have had the experience if it were not for financial
aid.”
“I think it’s so important for the school to provide an educational community
that more closely reflects the world in which we live. Students who have a limited
social experience are at a real disadvantage when they leave for college.
The financial aid program actually benefits all students.”
After SHS, Lindsay went on to study at UC San Diego. Now she works as As-
sistant to the Director of the Southern California Institute of Architecture.
THE
STUDENT
ASSISTANCE
FUND: SJSH
Parent Association
Board
Members
present SJSH
administrators
with a
check for
$16,830.75 to
support the
SHS Assistance
Fund.
Left to right: Amy Hsieh, Melissa Gordon, Montye Rodgers, Charlene Golding,
Diane Flynn, Maryan Ackley, Diana Hewitt, SJSH Preschool Principal
Cee Salberg, Dee Armstrong, and SJSH Principal Karen Eshoo.
different. She founded schools in cities;
she insisted on a high level of studies
and offered a holistic education. From
the beginning she wanted to offer
education to the poor.”
On the topic of educating women, St.
Madeleine Sophie Barat said, “Women
and children must have some knowledge
of current errors and form their
own judgments in light of Christianity,
in order to conform intelligently to the
enlightened teaching of the Church.
The hour has come when we must give
reason for our faith.”
How is St. Madeleine Sophieʼs vision
present today in Sacred Heart schools
across the world In the 1800s, St.
Madeleine attached a “poor school” to
each privileged Sacred Heart school.
But in our time, campuses across the
world integrate students from diverse
socio-economic backgrounds. “This
is why financial aid is absolutely vital
at SHS,” said James Everitt, Director
of the Office of Equity, Justice, and
Multicultural Education, “With the
rising cost of private education,
thereʼs no way we could realize St.
Madeleineʼs vision of education for all
if we didnʼt give financial assistance.”
SHS Atherton has come a long way
in building up financial aid funds in the
past five years. We have 51 endowed
scholarships. This year the three
schools provided $379,394 in tuition