Aspects of the history amp charism which means our spirit Presentation to Maryvale College In 1849 Bishop Devereux asked for Assumption sisters to come to Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape amp open schools ID: 751139
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Missionary Sisters of the Assumption" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1Slide2
Missionary Sistersof the Assumption
Aspects of the history & charism (which means our spirit)Slide3
Presentation to Maryvale CollegeSlide4
In 1849 Bishop Devereux asked for
Assumption sisters to come to
Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape
& open schools.
I would like to tell you a little
of the early sisters & how we
became to be in Maryvale. Slide5
27 August 1849 – Antwerp
3 December 1849 – Port ElizabethSlide6
Born:Brussels 21 April 1822
Amelia de Henningsen
Mother Gertrude
Notre Mere
Died:
Grahamstown
1 November 1904Slide7
The journey lasted over 3 months
On the
Oceanie
:
Sailors mutinied
Pirates attacked
Fire broke out
Food went rotten
Very little fresh water
Most passengers became seasickSlide8
Between 3 & 11 December the Sisters prepared for their journey from Port Elizabeth to Grahamstown. They washed their clothes and packed the wagons.Slide9Slide10
The Assumption Sisters were the first religious Sisters in Africa south of the Equator Pioneer Sisters of South Africa Many, even priests, thought they should not be here as the time was not ripe for women religious in SA
Misunderstandings, changes due to circumstances & difficulties in communication obliged Notre Mere to break from the founding congregation & so began:
“The Missionary Sisters
of the Assumption”Slide11Slide12
Two novices came from France withMother Gertrude.
They made their vows as sisters on 21 December 1849 only 6 days after arriving in GrahamstownSlide13
Two Schools were started on 15 January 1850the first convent schools in SA.
Fee paying children in
“Uncle Tom’s Cabin”
A free school in a stableSlide14
The Life of the Sisters in the early years was very different from their experiences of convent life in Europe. They had to cope with many difficulties.Everything was “new”
They did not have a proper/private dwelling
They were short of staff & money
War broke out on Christmas day 1850Slide15
At night the Sisters together with the orphans & many from the town slept in the cellar of St Patrick’s ChurchSlide16
The Sisters were involved in many charitable works:Attended the sickCared for orphans
Buried the dead
Ran a lottery for funds for a hospital
Organised a library for the soldiers
Gave religious instructions
Sang in the Church choir
Sacristans
Helped other religious who came to SASlide17Slide18
To raise much needed cash the skilful
Sisters did needlework for the local community
They grew flowers for Church.
The Sisters started a fruit & vegetable garden to provide for the children & themselves.
There were difficulties due to
different climate. Slide19
During the first 9 years in SA Notre Mere experienced many difficulties & hardships
1854 death of Bishop Devereux who was a friend and supporter
Difficulties with the local priest
A maid, Jane, ‘was out of her mind’
Frontier wars
Shortage of personnel & funds
Stables used for free school washed away Slide20
In August 1858 I was struck down with a severe attack of pleurisy & given up by the doctors. On receiving the sacraments I was restored to health.
It was during this illness that I saw Our Lady ..... I thought I was drowning, felt the rush of waters in my ears & heard the waves dashing over me, when I perceived her on a boat, with the child on one arm & the other stretched out to save me.
From that moment, I felt sure I would get better, though the doctors had given up hope.
Notre Mere’s Memoirs Slide21
As a recovery programme the Doctor recommended the Notre Mere take a rest on a farm &
go horse riding for recreation .
She followed his instructions! Slide22
Mother Gertrude was given the name “Notre Mere” during the 1850 war - & it remained with her.
Some aspects of her life:Slide23
She had a very special devotion to the
Blessed Sacrament
This has remained part of our Assumption Tradition as can be seen in the chapels of our conventsSlide24
Notre Mere’s Motto
the way
I am
the truth
the life
Slide25
Notre Mere’s psalm:
O God, you are my God,
for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry weary land without water.
(Ps 62)Slide26
She committed
her life to
Christ
Slide27
Selected sayings of Notre Mere Show God your love for him by your zeal & by charity
without limit.
Give yourself unreservedly to God;
become a docile instrument in his hands.
Follow the voice of your conscience.
Integrity, justice & honesty are stronger than sentiment
even though they can cost much pain.
Be large minded as well as large hearted.
Don’t strain at gnats;
practise true charity & common sense
not like people who are pigeon hearted. Slide28
“I have come that they may have life and have it to the full”
John
10:10
Fully Alive!
Notre Mere
“The glory of God is the person
Fully Alive”
St Ireaneaus Slide29
Paris
Religious of Assumption founded in 1839 by
Mere Marie Eugenie.
Sr Gertrude leaves for South Africa in August 1849
First Sisters arrive in Port Elizabeth South Africa on 3 December 1849. Arrive in Grahamstown 15 December 1849. Became a separate congregation.
1932: Sisters sent to Ballynahinch in Northern Ireland.
Many Irish women joined MSA
1958: 4 sisters sent to USA to start a school; withdrawn in 1964.
Over the years Sisters are sent to work in African countries: Egypt, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Slide30
Our roots in Africa Slide31
MSA apostolate in Africa
Currently in:
South Africa
Worked in:
Egypt
Malawi
Nigeria
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Sisters in formation from:
Congo
Kenya
NigeriaSlide32
Our mission is in
Education
Health care
F
aith formation
often we not directly involved
&
our aim is to enable othersSlide33
MSA Crest
Notre Mere chose the symbol of the anchor & the motto,
Adveniat
Regnum
Tuum
as the crest of her sistersSlide34
Shaped as the seal used by our early sisters
.
Southern Cross is a reminder of our origins in the southern hemisphere.
The Cross
The anchor is our oldest sign.
It originates from our beginnings
in the Cape of Good Hope.
It is a sign of hope & of being “anchored” in the steadfast love of God.
MSA EmblemSlide35
Charism & Heritage Statement
The
Missionary Sisters of the Assumption
grew from the
seven sisters
, sent to
South Africa
by the Religious of the Assumption in
1849
.
The first religious women in South Africa,
came at the request of Bishop Devereux
of Grahamstown
.
His
vision was that they would assist in
Faith
formation,
Education
Health careSlide36
In January 1850, they established two schools:
one fee-paying
(to provide for their support) &
the other free
From this small beginning schools were later
established in other parts of
South Africa,
Africa & Ireland.
Among these are:
Maryvale College, Johannesburg
Assumption Convent Malvern, Germiston
Assumption Convent Primary School, PNSlide37Slide38
Fr Philip
Erasme
founded
St Paul’s Parochial Primary School for
boys in 1943.
In 1990 the two schools merged to become Maryvale College:
A vibrant, co-educational, Catholic School which offers quality education in the South African context.
Maryvale College grew out of the first Assumption
School to be established in Johannesburg.
The parish priest,
Fr Philip
Erasme
OMI
, who
had been educated by the Jesuits in Graham-
stown
, drove personally to Grahamstown to ask
the
Assumption Sisters to start a girls school.
They did so in
1939Slide39
Maryvale College is a small
dynamic school
that
offers quality Catholic
education to learners
from a range of backgrounds.
We aim to educate so that our learners are not
content to be consumers but
to make a
meaningful contribution to their world.
The crest of the College combines
elements of the two schools and speaks clearly of its spirit.Slide40
We integrate
Academic excellence
Gr 12 100% passes
Service
(Interact, peer counselling, community service group)
A healthy all-round human development
(sport, drama, choir, debating) &
the services of a school counsellor
Prayer at the heart of all we doSlide41
Maryvale College is a
happy, caring, spiritual environment
where young people can
grow into responsible members & leaders of society
who make a difference in their communities Slide42
The
Sword
The
two-edged sword of the
Word of God
guides staff & learners
.
Prayer
at
the heart of
the school community. St Paul was put to death by the sword
The Anchor
God’s
faithfulness
& steadfastness
in our
lives & our
striving to be true to
God
, to ourselves
& to
one another.
The
Cross
Christ’s
gift
of himself
&
our
response
in
love
.
We form
all learners
in love
of Christ
.
We follow the
RE programme
&
worship
together. Slide43
Motto is a phraseadopted as a principle of behaviourSlide44
Honour the Lord
through learningSlide45
In all our work of humble service & in our prayerMary assumed into heaven is our example & sign of hope Slide46
Thy Kingdom Come