Students at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH), Elmore, celebrated their Feast Day with a moving re-enactment of the story of the OLSH Sisters who established the school in January 1929.
The performance traced the origins of the Order back to 1896, when Father Rooney, while holidaying in Rome, met Jules Chevalier, the founder of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. During this meeting, Father Rooney was gifted the beautiful image that still hangs above the church's altar today.
The drama continued with the arrival of the Sisters from Kensington, Sydney, in 1929. Four Grade 6 students took on the roles of the founding Sisters — Mother Chanel, Sister Hilary, Sister Fabian and Sister Philomena — bringing this important chapter of the school’s history to life.
Each act highlighted not only the story of the OLSH Sisters, but also the strong connections between past and present school families. A Grade 5 student re-enacted his grandfather assisting the Sisters with jobs around the convent, while a Grade 4 student shared a story of Sister Josepha predicting the future of their grandfather.
The performance also depicted the events of a train accident in the 1940s, when Sister Declan was seriously injured after her vehicle became stuck on the tracks while collecting students from Goornong. The story concluded with a student proclaiming the DOLSH charism – May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved.
The re-enactment was a reminder of the school’s rich history and the enduring legacy of the OLSH Sisters within the Elmore community.
Story provided by OLSH Elmore.