The Network was established to foster and develop the work of education initiated by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, an international institute of women religious.
The Network unites all its schools in a common purpose to foster the gift of internationality and to promote and deepen the commitment to the transformation of the world through the RSHM educational vision.
The Network provides the means whereby all RSHM schools can support and inspire each other, organise and share resources and opportunities for international experiences, and deepen the commitment to their common mission.
Regional networks already established will continue to work independently of the Global Network and continue to collaborate as they currently do.
The Network is composed of two main geographical areas:
THE AMERICAS:
A. Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Vitoria, Uba.
B. Barranquilla, Bogota, Medellin.
C. New York, Los Angeles, Montebello, Cuernavaca.
EUROPE :
A. London, Rome, Paris
B. NEP.
C. Fatima, Lisbon, Porto.
AREAS:
Will meet when needed or as planned according to the pattern established between them.
The Co-ordinating Committee
The Co-ordinating Committee will normally meet twice a year:At the annual Heads’ Meeting.At one other meeting.
Heads of School
They will meet annually on a rotation of areasThe annual meeting of school heads will be organised by the Co-ordinating Committee.In a non-conference year, the focus of the meeting will be spiritual and mission formation of the heads. General Council members, Provincials, and Regional Superiors are welcome to attend.
Full Conference:
There will be a full Conference every two years organised by area groups on a rotational basis. The preparation of the Conference will be done in collaboration with the Co-ordinating Committee.The host school or area should minimize costs to facilitate maximum attendance from each member school. Based on local circumstances, a maximum attendance will be determined by the host school or area. The number of participants from each school attending the full conference is determined either by the member school or its organisational structure. With the exception of the host school, and in order to enrich participation in the Network and prepare future RSHM school leaders, each school is encouraged to send as many participants as possible up to a maximum of seven.
After consultation with the area groups, new members of the Co-ordinating Committee are nominated by the outgoing member and approved by the current Co-ordinating Committee.
The current Co-ordinating Committee has the option to appoint an additional member.Upon approval by the heads at the Heads’ meeting, new members serve for TWO years with the possible extension of ONE additional year to allow for continuity on the Committee.
A missioning ceremony will take place for the new Co-ordinating Committee at the full conference.
The Network Website is open to all members and managed by a webmaster.
The administration and management of the website will be the responsibility of the host school/area for either the full Conference or the heads’ meeting.
Each school will contribute 200 Euros for the administration and management of the website and this will be added to the cost of the Conference and the heads’ meetings as appropriate.
The overall responsibility of managing the website belongs to the Co-ordinating Committee, and in particular to the member of the area hosting either the Conference or the heads’ meeting.
The Co-ordinating Committee will ensure that responsibility for the website oversight will be rotated among the areas.
All materials on the website will be presented in two languages: Portuguese and English. It is the responsibility of those uploading materials to ensure they are presented in both languages.
Members may share resources, in-service training opportunities, festivals, and visits as well as encourage sharing of information across the Network.
Approved May 2017
