Crafting For a Cause

Welcome to Duchesne’s day of service! Duchesne celebrates the Feast of Mater Admirabilis, honoring the virgin Mary and her connection to St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, a French religious sister who founded the Sacred Heart Network. As the story goes, St. Madeleine Sophie resonated with a fresco of Mary called Mater Admirabilis, meaning “Mother Most Admirable”, and placed a copy in every school belonging to the Sacred Heart Network, drawn to its symbolism and reminder of a young woman’s journey in faith, character, and growth. On October 20th, we recognize Mary and St. Madeline Sophies’ values of faith, service, and education, along with their desire to spread these values to a younger generation of women.

In true Sacred Heart tradition, the feast day begins with an all-school Mass, followed by a morning of service to the Houston community. Students flood the halls in their Mass uniforms with special accents of pink accessories, an extra pop of color to honor Mater. Halls brighten with pink scrunchies, socks, bracelets, and earrings as they take their seats. At Duchesne, no girl attends mass without a friend sitting beside her: each student joins her chapel family, a group made up of one lower, middle, and upper school student.

Lower schooler Serena Sattani and upper schooler Anna Schafer make door hangers for residents in assisted living facilities (Photo courtesy of Duchesne social media team)

After Mass, chapel families branch out to complete various service projects across campus for the Houston and Duchesne communities. Students write heartfelt letters to faculty and staff in appreciation of their work, prepare meals for families in need, or craft decorations for people in assisted living communities. Older students guide the younger ones, explaining the deeper meaning of service and how it can shape our everyday lives.

When the projects conclude, students gather on the school lawn to reflect on the feast day and share their favorite moments as lower schoolers play tag and socialize with friends in the moments before classes resume. At lunch, cupcakes with bright pink frosting and vanilla cake are passed out to share with friends. The day ends not only with a sense of accomplishment, but a renewed understanding of service and the goal of unity. Sacred Heart students feel a reinforced desire to do good that lives in each school created in the image of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and Mary.

So… grab a chapel buddy, a pink headband, your passion for service, and join in the Sacred Heart tradition of service!