The Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the United States and Canada hosted the inaugural global learning and action conference to reinforce the mission of all Sacred Heart schools.  518 Network members traveled from the United States, Canada, Spain, Mexico, Uganda, England, Italy, France, and Poland.  Students, educators, alum, mission partners, and Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ) gathered at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois September 29 to October 2.  The Summit aimed to deepen attendees’ understanding of the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria and call them to be agents of change in the Society of the Sacred Heart and the world.

Four Sacred Heart Greenwich Upper School students, Mia Ritossa ’26, Caroline Gammon ’26, Olivia Franco ’27, and Isabella (Izzy) Nedder ’27 participated in the Summit.  Middle School students Claire Ryan ’29, Elizabeth Ryan ’29, Eliana Antenucci ’29, Olivia Broughton ’29, and Xoe Henry ’29 also attended.  Sacred Heart Greenwich faculty, Mrs. Sarah Martin, Upper School English and Journalism Teacher and English Department Chair, Ms. Kim Sapone, Director of Student Support, Ms. Ada Vega, Kindergarten Assistant Teacher, and Sr. Gwen Malisani accompanied the students.  Faculty presenters from Sacred Heart Greenwich included Sra. Montserrat García, Upper School Spanish Teacher and Network Exchange Program Coordinator, Mr. Michael Maida, Upper School Math Teacher, Ms. Alyson Tockstein, Upper School Science Teacher, Mr. Wilford Smyers, Director of Grounds, Mr. Kevin Williamson, Upper School Photography and Design Teacher, Ms. Ellyn Stewart, Director of Media Studies, Dr. William Mottolese, Upper School English Teacher, and Ms. Margaret Vondermeden, Mustard Seed Program Teacher.

The Sacred Heart Summit 2024 was the first intergenerational and international Summit that the Network hosted, and allowed participants to engage in purposeful learning, analysis, and contemplation over the four day period, according to web.cvent.com.  Featured speakers, breakout sessions, community building activities, and times for espacio, prayer, and reflection gave attendees opportunities to connect with Network members from across the globe as well as build on their understanding of the mission of Sacred Heart schools.  Mia felt inclined to join the group of students traveling to gain new perspectives on the Society as a whole.  Prior to the Summit, she commented on her hopes and goals for attending.

“I hope this Summit will provide a platform for meaningful dialogue on critical issues like sustainability and diversity,” Mia said.  “I was inspired by the opportunity to engage with students from across the Sacred Heart Network and learn from the initiatives they’ve implemented at their schools.”

The Network has hosted similar conferences for the schools in North America in the past.  Olivia traveled to Florissant, Missouri last November where she collaborated with other students and gained knowledge from the RSCJ on how to live out the Sacred Heart mission.  She shared how that experience influenced her to attend this conference as well as the lessons she learned throughout the Summit.

“I wanted to further my knowledge on the Sacred Heart mission and thought that this conference was a great way to do that,” Olivia said.  “Through this experience, I learned about how to better exemplify and put into action the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria.  I learned about empathy, acceptance, and listening and how it can help you to be a kind friend and leader.”

To launch the Summit, Sr. Suzanne Cooke, the RSCJ and the Head of the Conference of Sacred Heart Education, welcomed visitors with an opening ceremony Sunday afternoon.  She enthusiastically shared the mission for the Summit and her eagerness for the coming days.

“We will engage in dynamic discussion, share innovative practices, and challenge ourselves to think deeply about how we can integrate the Goals and Criteria more intentionally into our communities and our wounded world,” Sr. Cooke said.  “We will learn from each other, we will build new connections, and affirm that our hearts are indeed rooted in change as we commit to transformative action.”

The Summit’s theme of “hearts rooted in change” inspired a diverse collection of 45 minute presentations from Sacred Heart educators, students, alum, and mission partners.  The presentations focused on Goal III, “a social awareness which impels to action.”  Topics of sessions included sustainability, health equity, filmmaking, environmental awareness, immigration, faith, and justice.  The goal of each session was to bring school-specific initiatives to the wider Network and allow presenters to share their passions and advocate for global change.  The Summit encompassed four main tracks which aligned with the Goals and Criteria: call to family, community, and participation, integrity of creation, our common humanity, and solidarity and action.  Each day included presentations from one to two keynote speakers and three to four breakout presentations, each focusing on a certain track.  Attendees chose from 13 different options for each breakout session.

Ms. Stewart, Mia, Olivia, and Izzy held a breakout session teaching about how Sacred Heart Greenwich lives out Goal III through student-produced Public Service Announcement (PSA) videos and documentaries in the Real World Filmmaking class.  Their presentation included past student films.  The presenters also introduced the upcoming Digital Wellness Network Challenge.  In this contest, Sacred Heart Greenwich will invite students from across the Network to submit one minute PSA videos related to the theme of digital wellness aligning with the Goals and Criteria.  Olivia commented on the knowledge she hoped to share through her presentation.

“I enjoyed getting to share student made films and how they can make a difference in the world,” Olivia said.  “I hope that people not only enjoyed our session, but took something from our presentation that they can bring back to their own schools.”

The Summit concluded with a ceremony for all attendees, encouraging them to be advocates for equality, change, and God’s love beyond their schools’ halls.  Closing out the event, keynote speaker Sr. Imma De Stefanis, RSCJ inspired members to make a positive impact on the world and lead exemplary lives united with the global Sacred Heart family.

“Each one of you bears the name of Sacred Heart […] and we all have a home in the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” Sr. De Stefanis said.  “This same Sacred Heart asks you to lead lives of humility and nobility.  In the last few days, you lived the invitations of Jesus, […] and now it is time to go forth.  To go forth, each one [of you], to the respective corners of the country or the world, and yet from each place, remain united as one body to transform the world by the example of our lives.”

Featured Image by Caroline Gammon ’26