Hope from the ashes
Courtesy of the Society of the Sacred Heart
Tragedy struck Lycée du Sacré-Coeur de Mbanza-Mboma, a school of the Sacred Heart in Mbanza-Mboma, Congo Sunday February 9. A fire broke out in the Upper School and quickly spread to a dormitory, which housed over 200 students
Courtesy of the Society of the Sacred Heart
The fire started at 6:00 pm and continued to wreak havoc throughout the next day. Extinguishing the fire proved very difficult because there are no fire stations in this area. No one was injured, but students were sent home for a week while a primary school building was prepared to host the displaced students. The students will reside in the building for the rest of the school year, while the Religious of the Sacred Heart works to restore the residence hall.
Looters stole school computers, chairs, books and desks from the rubble, strewing the desks’ contents and school files across the lawn. Everything from the kitchen and dining room was also taken. Students lost all of their personal belongings kept inside the dorms, leaving them with only the uniforms they were wearing.
Sacré-Coeur de Mbanza-Mboma was founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1946. The school is a second home to many girls for 10 months of the year.
Compelled to action to help the global Sacred Heart community, Convent of the Sacred Heart students sympathize with the students and took initiative to make a difference. Tuesday February 25, Convent of the Sacred Heart Greenwich hosted a civvies day to raise money for the Congolese Sacred Heart. The money will be used to help rebuild the dorm and academic classrooms that were destroyed by the fire
Courtesy of the Society of the Sacred Heart
In addition to donating money, Sacred Heart students continue to pray for their Congolese sisters.
“What happened in the Congo is awful. The Congolese students are in my thoughts and prayers,” sophomore Caleigh Kupersmith said.
Additional donations can be made to rscj.org by selecting the designation “Sacred Heart School, Congo, Fire Rebuilding.” The Office of Mission Advancement is also accepting gifts sent to 4120 Forest Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63108.
-Holly Roth, Staff Writer
