Each year, the global Sacred Heart Network honors Blue Hyacinth Day May 6. On this date in 1882, English educator Janet Erskine Stuart realized her vocation to join the Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ) amidst a garden of blue hyacinths. During yesterday’s Blue Hyacinth chapel at Sacred Heart Greenwich, the school community welcomed Sister Margaret Alusa Mwarili to campus. Sr. Mwarili, who currently represents the RSCJ at the United Nations (UN), embodies a lifelong dedication to humanitarian service.
Sr. Mwarili ventured to King Street yesterday morning from her current residence in New York City. She spoke to students and faculty about her call to service and faith journey through a presentation at chapel. Three members of the Model UN Club, juniors Starr Ramsey Boursiquot and Emma Cannon and sophomore Clare Junius, conducted a live interview with Sr. Mwarili. Their conversation focused on the religious sister’s vocation and advice for community members as they discern their own paths and purposes in life.
Sr. Mwarili grew up in Kakamega County in Western Kenya. She first began to explore a vocation to join the Society of the Sacred Heart in Chekalini Village. During her formation as a religious sister, Sr. Mwarili served as a teacher in Kenya and Uganda.
Starr has been a member of Model UN since her freshman year. She recently represented Sacred Heart at a high school Model UN conference at the University of Pennsylvania. Starr spoke to the impact of meeting Sr. Mwarili during the Blue Hyacinth chapel.
“Listening to Sr Mwarili’s journey to achieve her position in the UN and how she discerned her call to service was very profound,” Starr said. “From her upbringing and childhood in Africa to her current life in America, Sr Mwarili’s story is a motivation for me as I journey outside of Sacred Heart and seek my own vocation.”
Once Sr. Mwarili became involved with the Society of the Sacred Heart, her international exposure spread. She earned her master’s degree in School Administration and Supervision in the United States (US) at the College of New Rochelle, studied language in Spain, and made her final vows in Italy. After her ultimate commitment to the RSCJ, Sr. Mwarili returned to her home nation of Kenya to live out her vocation in the sub-Saharan region of Kibera, Nairobi.
There, Sr. Mwarili served as an educator and school administrator. While in Nairobi, Sr. Mwarili continually dedicated herself to the service of others. She endeavored to educate those who resided within the Kakuma Refugee Camp through the Jesuit Refugee Program, and she later devoted six years to a health facility specializing in HIV patients.
In January 2023, Sr. Mwarili became a representative for the Society of the Sacred Heart at the UN, where she advocates for education and social justice. Prior to her assumption of this role, she offered insight into her goals and aspirations.
“I hope that, as women seeking to promote Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation, we shall stand together to transmit hope in our world,” Sr. Mwarili said, according to rscjinternational.org. “I count on the support and collaboration of each one, and look forward to continue fostering cooperation among us, and furthering networking with other partners in this mission. I pray that the Spirit dwelling within each one of us will empower us to transform our wounded and broken world, and to disseminate hope wherever we are.”
Sr. Mwarili possesses a unique connection to the Sacred Heart schools in the US, as she formerly collaborated with Sister Irene Cullen to coordinate US efforts in providing scholarships to Ugandan Network peers. In 2021, Sr. Mwarili led fundraising efforts to initiate construction of the first Network school in her home country of Kenya.
Her work as a religious sister of the Sacred Heart aptly reflects St. Madeleine Sophie Barat’s vision as articulated in the Goals and Criteria. Sr. Mwarili embodies a respect for intellect, a drive to serve others, and an ability to forge community relationships, all resting on the foundation of her faith in God. Starr expressed appreciation and admiration for Sr. Mwarili’s life and work.
“To be able to see a member of the Sacred Heart community pursuing a career in the UN was an interesting complement to the work we do within the Model UN club,” Starr said. “It was truly inspiring to get to talk with her personally and hear about her experiences.”
Featured Image by Avery Kim ’24
