missionary sisters of the assumption aspects of the history & charism (which means our spirit)
TRANSCRIPT
Missionary Sistersof the Assumption
Aspects of the history & 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 & open schools.
I would like to tell you a littleof the early sisters & how we became to be in Maryvale.
27 August 1849 – Antwerp
3 December 1849 – Port Elizabeth
Born:Brussels 21 April 1822
Amelia de HenningsenMother Gertrude
Notre Mere
Died:Grahamstown 1 November 1904
The journey lasted over 3 monthsOn the Oceanie:Sailors mutinied Pirates attackedFire broke outFood went rottenVery little fresh waterMost passengers became seasick
Between 3 & 11 December the Sisters prepared for their journey from Port Elizabeth to Grahamstown. They washed their clothes and packed the wagons.
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 Sistersof the Assumption”
Two novices came from France withMother Gertrude.
They made their vows as sisters on 21 December 1849 only 6 days after arriving in Grahamstown
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 stable
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 1850
At night the Sisters together with the orphans & many from the town slept in the cellar of St Patrick’s Church
The Sisters were involved in many charitable works:
Attended the sick
Cared 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 SA
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 todifferent climate.
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
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
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!
Mother Gertrude was given the name “Notre Mere”
during the 1850 war - & it remained with her.
Some aspects of her life:
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 convents
Notre Mere’s Motto
the way
I am
the truththe life
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)
She committedher life to Christ
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.
“I have come that they may have life and have it to the full”
John 10:10
Notre Mere
“The glory of God is the personFully Alive”
St Ireaneaus
ParisReligious of Assumption
founded in 1839 by Mere Marie Eugenie.
Sr Gertrude leaves for South Africa in August 1849
ParisReligious 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.
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
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.
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.
Over the years Sisters are sent to work in African countries: Egypt, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Our roots in Africa
MSA apostolate in Africa
Currently in:
South Africa
Worked in:
EgyptMalawiNigeriaZambiaZimbabwe
Sisters in formation from:
CongoKenyaNigeria
Our mission is in
Education
Health care
Faith formation
often we not directly involved& our aim is to enable others
MSA Crest
Notre Mere chose the symbol of the
anchor & the motto, Adveniat
Regnum Tuum as the crest of her
sisters
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 Emblem
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 inFaith formation, EducationHealth care
In January 1850, they established two schools: o one fee-paying (to provide for their support) & o the other free
From this small beginning schools were later established in other parts of South Africa, Africa & Ireland.
Among these are:Maryvale College, JohannesburgAssumption Convent Malvern, GermistonAssumption Convent Primary School, PN
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 1939
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.
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 do
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
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.
TheCross
•Christ’s gift of himself & our response in love. •We form all learners in love of Christ.•We follow the RE programme & worship together.
Motto is a phraseadopted as a principle of
behaviour
Honour the Lordthrough learning
In all our work of humble service & in
our prayer
Mary assumed into
heaven is our example &
sign of hope
Thy Kingdom Come