With a spirit of great joy and prayerfulness, many friends, alumnae, students and faculty from Marymount schools throughout the world gathered in St. Ignatius Church on 84th Street in Manhattan to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Marymount by Mother Marie Joseph Butler. Students from Marymount School of New York acted as ministers of hospitality for all who assembled and distributed the liturgy program, the cover of which was designed by Sister Bianca Haglich to demonstrate a thread of years woven through moments in the last hundred years of RSHM educational history.
Prelude and Processional
The introductory rites included a selection of carols by the choir of Marymount School of New York and concluded with a rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus played by the Marymount School Bell Choir. The entrance processional march, Auf Wachter by J.S. Bach, played by Bill Randolph was a joyous expression of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary in thanksgiving for the gift of global educational outreach.
The banners depicted above are the insignia from the traditional RSHM crest originally hand sewn in Colombia and given a new background by Sister Thomas Golden; the Jubilee Hope and Joy banner created by a group of RSHM from community inspiration; and the Magnificat Banner created for Marymount School of New York's 75th anniversary.
The candle bearers, acolytes and thurifer bearer were students from Marymount School of New York. The main acolyte was Sister Mary Alice Young who, with Sister Gabrielle Corbally had helped in the publishing of the programs.
When all had assembled in the church and in the sacristy, Sister Rosamond Blanchet, provincial superior of the RSHM Eastern American Province called all to worship as she expressed her joy for the presence of all who joined in this event celebrating the educational ministry of the RSHM over these past hundred years and all the women and children who have been empowered by this ministry.
The banner behind Sister Rosamond is entitled That All May Have Life, and was designed by Sister Bianca Haglich. These are the words which each RSHM wears on her cross, the symbol of her profession.
Gathering Hymn
Following her remarks, all joined in singing the gathering hymn, Sing a New Church, led by Arielle Mauge and the Marymount School of New York singers.
Liturgy of the Word
Following the penetential rite and the singing of the Gloria, the celebrant Father Gerald Blaszcak, SJ, pastor of St. Ignatius Loyola, recited the opening prayer for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
The lectors for the liturgy were Mary Ellen Gozdecki from Marymount School of Los Angeles and Celine Allen, a graduate of Marymount College in Tarrytown ('66). The responsorial psalm was sung by the Marymount singers and led by Sister Ines Gizzarelli.
The Gospel was proclaimed by Father Blaszscak and followed by a prayerful and challenging homily on the call and response of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Following the prayerful and lifegiving homily given by Father Blaszscak, the assembly stood and applauded the ministry of the RSHM in Marymount education for the past 100 years and prayed for further guidance of the Spirit in the years ahead.
Father Blaszscak invited Sister Catherine Patten to give her reflections on the past history of Marymount and the RSHM network of schools. Sister Catherine Patten has recently been elected as a General Councillor and had moved to Rome two weeks ago. Sister Catherine remarked on the recent historical research done by Sister Kathleen Connell on the history of Mother Butler who believed that all classes of people, and particularly women, needed the availability of a Catholic education. Mother Butler had been in France, Portugal, and, when she came to the United States, was originally in Brooklyn and Long Island City. After she and 6 other RSHM came to Tarrytown, her vision for the educational needs of women extended to Los Angeles and to other parts of the world. It is partly because of her vision, and the educational ministry of the RSHM that women are served in the RSHM network of schools throughout the world.
General Intercessions
Following Sister Catherine's description of the RSHM mission in education, which was celebrated on this Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the General Intercessions, prepared using the writings of Mother Joseph Butler, were read in the languages of the Institute: English, French, Gaelic, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
"Tua Luce Dirige"
"Love is so noble that it is the desire and the longing of a God:
"Let us multiply our holy desires and we shall see the realization of them some day"
"It is our vocation to teach the world again how to love that all may have life"
"There is in the human soul a profound desire for intimacy with God"
"Good will and desire are linked in harmony and it is their union that inspires action for justice and peace"
Our loving Father stamped us with the seal of his love to show that we are his creation."
Presentation of the Gifts
The gifts presented:
- a vision of a world without boundaries in the globe
- the Goals and Criteria of the RSHM Network of Schools
- the RSHM Mission Statement
- cloth from Zimbabwe reflecting the commitment to the RSHM African ministry
- a family picture of Mother Butler
- the statue of Mary placed by Mother Butler on the mantlepiece at Marymount, December 8, 1907
- a photograph of James Butler
- wine and bread
During the presentation of the gifts, the Marymount Singers, directed by Mario Dell'Olio and accompanied by the organist Bill Randolph, and guitarists, Sister Ines Gizzarelli and Jessica Kleinbart sang Glorify the Lord, a rendition of the Magnificat by Liam Lawton.
Following the presentation of the gifts, and the prayer over the gifts, the congregation and celebrant were blessed with incense.
Communion Rite
During the Communion rite, the Marymount singers and congregation sang O Sanctissima which, after all had received communion, was followed by a very lively rendition of Singabahambayo, a Swahili hymn.
As the Eucharistic liturgy was coming to a close, Concepcion Alvar, headmistress of Marymount School of New York, thanked all who had attended and announced that Jane Haher, MD, a board member of Marymount School of New York, was presenting Sister Rosamond Blanchet and the RSHM with a painting she did of Beziers.
Foilowing the final blessing and the sending hymn Light of the World, all those assembled were invited to a gathering in Wallace Hall to continue the celebration.
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© 2007 Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary