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 & moneyWar 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 sickCared for orphansBuried the deadRan a lottery for funds for a hospitalOrganised a library for the soldiersGave religious instructionsSang in the Church choirSacristansHelped 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

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.

Our roots in Africa

MSA apostolate in Africa

Currently in:South Africa

Worked in:EgyptMalawiNigeriaZambiaZimbabwe

Sisters in formation from:

CongoKenyaNigeria

Our mission is in

EducationHealth care

Faith formation

often we not directly involved& our aim is to enable others

MSA CrestNotre 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