Alumni News
An important message from the College & the Volunteer Alumni Committee
13th July 2011
Dear Sancta Alumni
This letter provides you with an update about the positive developments for alumni of Sancta Sophia College (the “College”) and seeks your valued feedback on the future direction of the Sancta Sophia Ex Students Association (the “Association”).
Many of us enjoyed the time we spent at Sancta, creating lifelong friendships. The College is seeking to revitalise the Association and hopes to encourage greater alumni involvement in the College and the wider University community.
To simplify and modernise the way in which the Association operates the College and volunteer Committee are sending all member of the Sancta Alumni community:
(to which all Alumni are invited to attend at the College, followed by drinks );
- notice of nominations received for office bearers; and
- proposed amendments to the constitution of the Association.
If the proposed amendments are passed, the Association will continue to be managed by a volunteer Sancta Alumni Committee, operating in a simplified form. The focus will be on engaging alumni through events and activities organised in conjunction with the College (on a ticketed basis where appropriate), and there will be no future annual subscriptions.
We want to give all Alumni the opportunity to comment on and contribute to the changes to the Association. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who was a financial member of the Association in the past, and who may have a view about the proposed use of existing funds. All Alumni are welcome to attend the Biennial General Meeting.
Finally, we hope that you will be encouraged by Sancta’s renewed focus on Alumni and will reconnect with the College and old friends. Alumni are invited to participate in many of the College’s wonderful initiatives, including the opportunity to:
- attend Faculty Dinner;
- mentor a current student;
- support a scholarship;
- be an Alumni year representative; and
- join the Alumni volunteer committee.
The College is happy to assist Alumni wanting assistance in organising a formal or informal reunion.
All future Alumni correspondence will be via email, except for those Alumni who have previously requested postal contact. Please update your contact details with the college by:
phone (02) 9577 2326;
email: Shayne Brown – Alumni Relations Manager
or online at http://www.sanctasophiacollege.edu.au/alumni/keep-in-touch/
Any questions or comments on this letter can be directed to alumnipresident@sancta.usyd.edu.au or to Caroline Stewart on (02) 9324 3141.
We look forward to your support!
Kind regards
Dr Marie Leech, Principal
Caroline Stewart, On behalf of the Sancta Sophia volunteer Alumni committee
Sancta Alumni are awarded University of Sydney Alumni Awards.
Sancta Alumna Clover Moore and Baroness Trixie Gardner are among the esteemed 2010 award winners. Read the details here.
Networking Opportunities
The following networking opportunities are available to Sancta Alumni and Alumnae:
- Sacré Coeur Association, the Australian Sacré Coeur Association, Sacré-Coeur Association of New South Wales Inc and the Association Mondiale des Anciennes du Sacré Coeur
- The Madeleine Sophie Programme
Sacré Coeur Association, Australian Sacré Coeur Association
The members of the Association are the Associations of Alumni and Associations of Ex-students of Sacred Heart Schools and Colleges in Australia admitted to membership by resolution of the National Committee. Australian Sacré Coeur Association (ASCA) is a non-profit organisation. Its purpose is to assist its members:
- To place themselves at the service of humanity in order to create a more just and cohesive society, with an accumulated awareness of their social responsibilities lived in both the personal and communal dimensions.
- To create and maintain friendship and solidarity between the Australian Alumni and all National Federations and Associations of Alumniof the Sacred Heart with the aim of achieving true national and international collaboration.
- To cooperate actively and effectively with the Society of the Sacred Heart in all its various tasks and options;
- To be present in State, National and International Associations with a constant concern for discernment and openness.
Visit the Australian Sacre Coeur Association website.
Sacré-Coeur Association of New South Wales Inc
The Sacré-Coeur Association of New South Wales Inc offers support to you and your family, encourages ongoing contact with school friends and provides opportunities to enrich our lives spiritually and to reach out to the wider community.
Object of the Association
- To provide a common meeting ground for Alumni, religious and teachers of Kincoppal, Rose Bay, and Kincoppal-Rose Bay and for such other Alumni of Sacred Heart schools and colleges who may become eligible for membership.
- To co-operate with other associations of Sacré-Coeur Alumni and with the Parents and Friends Associations of Sacred Heart Schools and Colleges and to participate as a body in the Australian Sacré-Coeur Associate (ASCA) and the Association Mondiale des Association du Sacré Coeur (AMASC).
- To provide opportunities for the spiritual development of members.
- To maintain amongst Alumni a spirit of loyalty to their school, the religious and other.
- To assist and sponsor the formation of regional groups of Alumni within NSW and the ACT.
- To participate as a body in matters of interest concerning the education of Catholic youth including the provision of scholarships, bursaries, and other facilities for their education at Sacred Heart schools and colleges.
- To engage in social and charitable activities for the benefit of the community.
- To provide a means of communication between Alumni by the publication of an annual newsletter to be made available to each member of the Association
Amendments to the Constitution of the Sacré-Coeur Association of New South Wales.
Visit the Sacré-Coeur Association of New South Wales website.
Association Mondiale des Anciennes du Sacré Coeur
The Association is a member of AMASC (Association Mondiale des Anciennes du Sacré Coeur). AMASC was formed in 1960 in Brussels at the request of the then Reverend Mother General, Reverend Mother de Valon, who saw an important and vital role the Alumni could play in fostering the work and spirit of the Society of the Sacred Heart (the Catholic Order of Nuns founded by St Madeleine Sophie Barat in the early 1800′s).
Every four years the Alumni of the world meet for a Congress.
The XII World Congress was held in Sydney, Australia, 14–19 April 2002. The theme of the Congress was Reconciliation: Matters of the Heart & Reconciling ourselves with our world.
More information can be found at the AMASC website.
Madeleine Sophie Programme – Developing women in faith, leadership and service
This programme was inaugurated in 2001 to mark the Bicentenary of the Society of the Sacred Heart, this ministry caters for young women who are struggling to find God and a purpose in their busy lives.
It is aimed at promoting leaders in our society; leaders who bring feminine values to the fore and who are passionate about justice and peace in our world. Whilst Madeleine Sophie answered to a crying need in her time, that is, the education of young women, so too is this programme answering a need within Australia.
The programme has been gratefully accepted as a positive initiative, by the groups of young professional women from a wide variety of careers who have completed the programme over the past eight years.
For further info and/or application form:
Sr Susan Ross, RSCJ
Programme Co-ordinator
4 Ranelagh Road, Burradoo, NSW 2576
P: 02 4861 1744
E: suerkiwi@gmail.com
Looking for like-minded women who have:
- An interest in developing their sense of personal spirituality.
- An enquiring mind.
- A vision of their future.
- Energy and vitality
- Potential for leadership.
- Demonstrated commitment to the community
This programme offers a rich and diverse opportunity enabling participants “to become aware of their reality, recognise their dignity, discover their potential and to be formed as leaders” with the capacity for interdependence, solidarity and responsibility. (General Chapter 2000)
Cost of Programme (including residential weekends and six Thursday evenings), $750 which can be paid by instalments. If finance is a problem, please do not hesitate to speak to the Programme Co-ordinator
Past participants remember:
“The overriding aspect for me was being part of the caring, nurturing, loving energy that was created by all present at the weekends.”
“Many of the connections made through the programme are and will be ongoing.”
“Whilst attending this programme I have developed a consciousness of my status in my workplace environment.”
“I am conscious of reflecting on a simple phrase like : “never give up”. Madeleine Sophie Barat never gave up. She ‘chipped away’ in what she believed. This in itself has given me confidence to believe that I too, can ‘chip away’ at what I believe in.”
