The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (known in the United States as the RSHM and in other parts of the world as RSCM) are a global Roman Catholic community of about 900 apostolic religious women. The institute was founded in 1849 in Béziers, France by Father Jean Gailhac and Appollonie Pelissier-Cure. Today the diversity of ministries include educational, pastoral and social services.

The community is not to be confused with the Religious of the Sacred Heart, another name for the Society of the Sacred Heart, who use the abbreviation RSCJ.

History

The Institute of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) was founded on February 24, 1849 in Béziers, France by Fr. Jean Gailhac and Appollonie Pelissier-Cure, (Mother St. Jean)."History", Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (California and Mexico) A group of women gathered together to form a community which took over the direction of a shelter for women and an orphanage. The Institute grew rapidly and by the time the original group made their first profession in May 1851 their number had grown to ten."Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary", Loyola Marymount University During her time as superior, a boarding school for girls was begun. In a short time, the sisters expanded their ministry beyond France.

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.

Government The major authority of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary is the General Superior, who, with the General Council have residence in Rome, Italy.RSHM Generalate Smaller units of the institute, known as Provinces, have their own government in relationship to the general government. The general chapter sets goals and establishes priorities for the Institute, and elects the Institute leadership team."What is a General Chapter?", RSHM, March 4, 2019 The smallest unit of government is the local community, who, with a local coordinator, work in relationship with the provincial.

Provinces Provincial government is divided into Provinces and Regions. The RSHM provinces are as follows:

Eastern American Province. Includes Northern and Southern United States, Missouri and international schools in England, France and Italy. Western American Province. Includes California and Mexico. Northern European Province. Includes England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and France Brazilian Province. Includes Brazil Portuguese Province. Includes Portugal and Mali Region of Mozambique. Includes Mozambique Zambezi Region. Includes Zambia and Zimbabwe

Apostolate As of 2023, the community serves in 14 countries.Eastern American Province RSHM work in colleges and universities, secondary and elementary schools. RSHM serve in parishes and prisons, in hospitals and nursing homes, in studios and social centers, in retreat houses and retirement homes. Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary are administrators, teachers, social workers, artists, lawyers, health care personnel, musicians, librarians, spiritual directors, and others."Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary: Current Mission Applications", Marymount University

Schools

Europe Marymount International School, London, United Kingdom Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School, London, United Kingdom Seafield Convent Grammar School, Crosby, United Kingdom (merged to become Sacred Heart Catholic College) Marymount International School, Paris, France Istituto Marymount, Rome, Italy Marymount International School of Rome, Italy Colégio do Sagrado Coração de Maria - Fátima, Fátima, Portugal Colégio do Sagrado Coração de Maria, Lisbon, Portugal Colégio de Nossa Senhora do Rosário, Porto, Portugal Rathmore Grammar School Belfast, Northern Ireland

North America Colegio Marymount, Cuernavaca, Mexico Corvallis High School, Studio City, United States (closed) Marymount High School, Los Angeles, United States Marymount School of New York, New York City, United States Sacred Heart of Mary High School, Montebello, United States (merged to become Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary High School) Mother Butler Memorial High School, San Jose, United States (closed)

South America Marymount School Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia Marymount School Medellín, Medellín, Colombia Marymount International School, Barranquilla, Colombia Colégio Sagrado Coração de Maria, Belo Horizonte, Brazil Colégio Sagrado Coração de Maria, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Colégio Sagrado Coração de Maria, Brasília, Brazil Colégio Sagrado Coração de Maria, Ubá, Brazil Colégio Sagrado Coração de Maria, Vitória, Brazil

Colleges and tertiary institutions

United States Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California (co-sponsored with the Society of Jesus) Marymount California University, Rancho Palos Verdes, California (closed) Marymount Manhattan College, New York City (Decided to become non-sectarian in 1961) Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia Marymount College, Tarrytown, New York (absorbed by Fordham, later closed)

RSHM and justice As a religious institute and a non-governmental organization (NGO), RSHM place its resources at the service of those who are most in need of justice, enabling the powerless, the deprived, the marginalized, the voiceless to work effectively for their own development and liberation.

References

Bibliography Connell, Kathleen, RSHM. A Journey in Faith and Time: History of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary. Vol. 2: The Growth of the Institute: The Foundations during Mother St. Croix Vidal's Leadership 1869–1878. Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, 1995. Gailhac, Venerável P. Jean. Cartas, Vol. I and II. Gailhac, R. P. The Religious Life. New York, 1934. English translation of R. P. Gailhac, La Vie Religieuse. 2 vols. Lille, 1892. Leray, Abbé F. Un Apôtre: Le Père Gailhac (1802–1890), Fondateur des Religieuses du Sacre Coeur de Marie. Paris: Éditions Spes, 1939. Maymard, V. Beatification and canonization of the servant of God, John Gailhac, priest and founder of the Institute of the Sacred Heart of Mary: inquiry into the historical value of Father V. Maymard's biography. Sacred Congregation of Rites, Historical Section. Westminster, MD: Christian Classics, 1977. Milligan, Mary, RSHM. "That They May Have Life": A Study of the Spirit-Charism of Father Jean Gailhac, Founder. Dissertatione Ad Doctoratum, Pontificiae Universitatis Gregorianae, 1975. Sampaio, Rosa do Carmo, RSHM. A Journey in Faith and Time: History of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary. Vol. 1: The Birth of the Institute: Its Development during Mother Saint Jean's Lifetime 1802–1869. Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, 1995.

External links Brazilian Province Portuguese Province Northern European Province (English) Northern European Province (French) Western American Area RSHM Generalate RSHM Network of Schools Noddfa Penmaenwaer