ABOUT

Joyful and inspirational The Spirit of RSHM focuses on the aging Sisters of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, an international Catholic congregation of women religious called to share in the life-giving mission of Jesus Christ. Sisters share their personal stories related to the Institute’s dedication to education across the globe. 

The Institute of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) was founded on February 24, 1849, in Béziers, France by Father Jean Gailhac and Appollonie Pelissier-Cure, (Mother St. Jean). A group of six women gathered to form a community that took over the direction of an orphanage and a shelter for women. By the time the original group made their first profession in May 1851 their number had grown to ten. During Mother St. Jean's time as superior, a boarding school for girls was begun.

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The rule of life of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, the RSHM Constitutions, was approved on the diocesan level in 1850, the canonical level in 1880 and revised in 1983.

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Ut Vitam Habeant, “so that all may have life.” 

Lives of the sisters of the RSHM are built around the common understanding that everyone deserves a life of dignity; cultivated care for the most vulnerable and care for creation.

By the time the original group made their first profession in May 1851 their number had grown to ten. During Mother St. Jean's time as superior, a boarding school for girls was begun. In subsequent years, the Sisters’ expanded their ministry beyond France, and presently, the community serves in 14 countries. The educational ministry of the RSHM includes a global network of Marymount schools in the US, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Portugal, and England, France, Italy.

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“The aims of a Marymount education are manifold: to educate the heart and mind, and to provide for each student’s total growth, intellectually, spiritually, socially, and physically.”

— MOTHER MARIE JOSEPH BUTLER, RSHM

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Filmmaker Rebecca Lake attended Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia from 2016-2020. The Spirit of RSHM is her honors thesis project.