What Sophia Does

Sophia has stewardship of the three Schools of the Sacred Heart in Australia, Kincoppal-Rose Bay, Sydney and Sacré Cœur, Melbourne, and Stuartholme, Brisbane (the Schools). Sophia also has responsibility for the mission and charism and special character of Baradene College in Auckland.

Sophia must ensure that all four Schools continue to embody the vision, mission, spirituality, and charism of the educational tradition begun by St Madeleine Sophie Barat, as that tradition is expressed in the five Goals of Sacred Heart Education, namely

  1. A personal and active faith in God
  2. A deep respect for intellectual values
  3. A social awareness that impels to action
  4. Building community as a Christian value
  5. Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.

In relation to all four Schools Sophia:

  • takes responsibility for the vision, mission, and values in the Schools.
  • fosters the philosophy of education as envisioned by Saint Madeleine Sophia Barat.
  • facilitates the Annual Goals Review meeting where the Schools report on how the Mission and Goals are being implemented in each School.
  • appoints a Director of Formation and Mission to guide and grow the Mission.
  • monitors compliance with all Canonical, Civil and Charitable obligations of the Schools.

In addition to the above, Sophia also has the following responsibilities for the three Australian Schools:

  • appoints the Chairs and Directors.
  • monitors their governance and finances
  • fosters and maintains relationships with the Chairs, Directors and School Communities;

Sophia is always guided and nourished by the Constitutions of the Society and its General Chapters;

As a PPJP, under Canon Law, Sophia’s key purposes are to:

  • continue the mission of Jesus Christ and assume the responsibility for the Educational Services of the Institute of the Religious of the Sacred Heart in Australia.
  • ensure that each of the works for which it is responsible operates in conformity with the teaching, discipline, and law of the Roman Catholic Church.
  • stay faithful to the Charism within the educational traditions of the Society of the Sacred Heart.
  • foster the growth and development of Sophia by ongoing Formation to Mission.