Leading up to our 175th Anniversary celebration, many who follow us on social media may have seen our countdown posts on Facebook or Instagram. “A new image for a new time.” “A new image, the same heart.” “A new image, the same cross.” “A new image, the same mission.” Our mission, “to know and love God and to make God known and loved,” has been our constant, while how we respond to the needs of our times continuously changes. For example, in the early years of the Eastern American Area, many sisters served as educators and administrators of RSHM schools throughout the United States. Post-Vatican II, sisters began to take on varied roles throughout the community. Whether helping the impoverished in Appalachia, being missioned to Africa, providing legal services and other assistance to new immigrants and their families, serving the sick and infirmed, or continuing to serve as educators and administrators, the RSHM remained true to their charism and mission.
So, as the Institute marked its 175th anniversary with prayer and celebration on February 24th, it also unveiled a new logo. It combines the heart, the cross, and a circular shape which recalls the idea of openness and connection with the world, and the importance of love and care. The cross inside the heart signifies the importance of a listening heart and is linked to the circular line representing the RSHM/RSCM community. The use of this single logo throughout the Institute reaffirms our unity.
As we continue to celebrate our anniversary and mission throughout the year, look for our new social media campaign, “175 Years, 175 Faces.” Sisters, SHM Extended Family, alumni, collaborators in ministry, members of our Global Network of Schools, supporters, and friends from around the globe share their wishes and dreams for the Institute, as well as reflect on significant moments in the Institute’s history in social media posts that will appear every other day, having started on February 24, 2024, and ending on February 24, 2025.