Le Chéile

The Le chéile Schools trust is a collaborative trust set up initially by twelve congregations which has since grown to fourteen congregations. The trust is there to carry out the rather complex legal and inspirational role of the Patron previously exercised by the congregations.   The purpose of the trust was so the congregations could

• affirm their commitment to the future Catholic Education
• Provide for the needs of the students and communities in their schools
• honour their partnership with the government in the education system

The trust is formed under company law as a legal entity  The trust resorts back to its charter which outlines the Mission and Vision of the new venture. The schools particular hopes are translated into different circumstances depending on each particular school.

The St Louis link with Le Chéile is to create a learning environment in which the Catholic/St Louis identity is balanced with openness to the new and the yet unknown. The Le Chéile Trust hopes to promote awareness of different perspectives and to experience interconnection of groups in the international St Louis educational network.

The Le Chéile presence exists in St Louis High School but in subtle aspects. For example the principal would remind students of the Le Chéile prayer,

In the power of the spirit

and in keeping with the traditions of our

founding Congregations we pray that, for students, parents and teachers alike;

our schools

may be places of learning and discovery

places of hope and joy

places of courage and confidence

places of gratitude and generosity

places of faith rooted in love.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

From spending time in the school, there is no doubt the atmosphere and day to day living reflects this prayer.

Over the years

Over the years the school has experienced many challenges which has shaped the atmosphere of the school today. The school has has many influential characters in its presence, Mary Black sang in the school, Mary Finan couldn’t sing but managed a speaking part in a musical. Angela Bourke sat through several years of Latin with Ms Ingram. Ita Daly, editor of the schools centenary book, whilst being a teacher joined a Marxist-Leninist party (a prime example of the challenges faced by the school, all taken in there stride). The schools musical interest can be seen from the outset which is still extremely prevalent today, many contributors write of choirs, orchestras and musicals. Gráinne Gormley of her feeling of ‘rightness’ when she organised and conducted a class choir. In the schools celebration of 100 years of education during the year 2013-2014, music was featured prominently. A Centenary Concert was held on December 12th 2013. For this special occasion, a Past Pupil and Friends of St Louis Choir and Orchestra was established to perform Vivaldi’s Gloria. The concert also saw the junior and senior choir perform a range of beautiful variety of Christmas carols.  Every second year a musical is staged in the school in association with St Mary’s College, Rathmines. This musical is held at an extremely high standard. Previous productions include: Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, The Wiz, The Hot Mikado, Oklahoma, Little Mary Sunshine, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys ‘n Dolls, Calamity Jane, Annie Get Your Gun, Oliver and High School Musical. I look forward to attending the musical this year.  The school is known for its musical talents for example when the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins visited the school, the traditional Irish Music group and the 5th & 6th Year choirs entertained the Presidential entourage. As i play the fiddle, i have become involved with the traditional group since my involvement with the school and thoroughly enjoy it.

Reaction to the school in 1913

The establishment by the sisters of a secondary school in 1913 was feared by many. The local clergy in Rathmines regarded them as dangerously ‘progressive’ but realistically  they were catering for the daughters of the aspiring Catholic middle classes. The formation of the school offered a range of academic subjects, music and art, with an emphasis on ‘deportment’ and accomplishment in ‘all the duties of woman’s sphere’. St Louis High School is now a lively and varied educational community that has deep roots in Rathmines while reflecting the diversity of Irish society in the 21st century. Completing this project allowed me to look at contributions from some of those who spent their youth in its classrooms and corridors, further strengthening my love of the school.

Ethos and Tradition

St. Louis High School, Rathmines was set up for girls and founded by the sisters of St Louis whose aim was to provide Christian education in a changing world. The school opened on the 1^st of September 1913. A new extension was then added in 1982 and in 1987 a board of management was formed.  The establishment of the board brought about a new partnership between Trustees, staff members, parents and students.

The St Louis Congregation became a member of the Le Cheile Schools Trust in 2009. The Le Cheile trust was formed by 12 religious congregations to carry out the legal and inspirational role of trusteeship that had previously been done by the individual groups. This ensures renewing and reformulating their responsibilities for schools.

Since the opening of the school in 1913, it has maintained its tradition of imposing a balanced and well-rounded education to its students. The schools is aware of the importance to cater for the needs of its students physical, emotional, moral and intellectual needs in a respectful way. The school community strives to live by Christian values. The school promotes each student to be accepted as they are, to affirm their individuality, their present gifts and future promise and to encourage them as they grow. This achieved through a community in which staff, students and parents contribute towards developing a sense of responsibility and confidence which enables its members to choose with good-will and good faith at this complex world. Although majority of the girls are catholic, the school welcomes and supports girls of other religious traditions.

The sisters

The origins of the Sisters of St Louis can be traced back to 1797 to Turkenstein near Strasbourg, Abbé Louis Joseph Colmar, Marie Madeline Louise Humann, and Thérèse Brek signed a spiritual act of union. The act was a promise to stay united together in the heart of Christ until their death in order to fulfil Christ’s prayer. A few decades later, in 1842, the union had a profound influence on Louis Marie Eugène Bautain, a priest. The influence inspired him and he officially founded the Institute of St Louis in Juilly, outside Paris. Louis Marie Eugène Bautain was guided by the phrase “Sint Unum – May they be one”. This is the main slogan each of the St. Louis establishments encourage today. The phrase is taken taken from Our Lord’s prayer at the last supper (John 17:22). His passion of one world, healed, unified, and transformed. This passion continues to inspire all the sisters do today.

 The Institute of men and women was approved by Rome in July, 1844, but by 1850, the priests disbanded, leaving the sisters remaining in the order. In 1859, as I have spoken about in the mission statement post the first Irish foundation was established in Monaghan, and two years later, they separated from France on the orders of their Bishop, who did not wish for them to be governed from there. For the next few decades, the Irish and French continued to expand institutes across France and Ireland.  The first St Louis missions outside of Europe began in the middle of the 20th century, to Ghana in 1947, Nigeria in 1948, and California in 1949. In 1978, a mission from California was established in Brazil. The most recent mission was established in Benin in 2001 by the Sisters of St Louis in Nigeria.

Today, the sisters live across the regions, four hundred and fifty sisters engage in a variety of ministered. This work includes community development, education, healthcare and pastoral care. Even though declining numbers in some areas and ageing prove to be an issue, new members still join every year in Ghana and Nigeria. Most sisters in the Irish region have reached official retirement age. However, apart from sisters who are ill or very frail, most sisters continue in part time or full time ministry. Many are involved in pastoral and prayer ministries, retreat work, chaplaincy and spirituality.  Many others are active in a broad range of community and educational commitments. In St Louis High School, Rathmines, a sister works part time completing photocopying.

Mission Statement – parent and student input

St Louis is a dynamic centre of learning,
They aim to foster a happy and secure environment:
They pride themselves on nurturing creativity and embracing diversity,
While also strengthening their rich traditions.

“In an atmosphere of generosity:
We share in the journey
Towards deeper understanding
In this complex world.”

As a school the students of St. Louis ask for a supportive environment in which they can learn and mature. Students ask for the right to feel comfortable in themselves and to express their individuality. They expect an approachable and enthusiastic attitude from their teachers. An end goal for each student is to be confident, understanding, respectful adults, prepared for the outside world. St. Louis is a place in which students will form lasting friendships and a place in which students can look back upon their years as a time of happiness, learning and growth.
St. Louis assures parents that the hope for students is to work hard and respect their fellow classmates. The school gives parents a vision of their child being well adjusted, tolerant young women who is prepared for the challenges of the world outside. The students should have high moral standards and be proud to have attended St. Louis High School.
One hundred and fifty years ago, the St. Louis Sisters came to Monaghan from France. Sr. Genevieve Beale, Sr.Clemence and Sr. Clare set up their first school on Mill Street, they later moved to the North Road, then to Latlurcan and finally with the help of the people of Monaghan building their convent on the grounds of the Old Brewery.
The Infant School was set up in the 1900’s which was located on the Broad Road, the school was catered for boys and girls up to First Class. In 1963 they located to the present site on Park Road when a new six classroom Infant school was built. The school now has twelve mainstream classrooms, eight resource rooms and a P.E hall which is shared with St. Louis G.N.S
The words on the St. Louis Crest are the mottos: “Ut Sint Unum” -That all may be one -and “Dieu le Veult”- God wills it. The motto challenges us to live out the Gospel message of love and unity. This represents the transition from Religious School to Lay School
The rich traditions that each t Louis establishment prides itself on began by the Sisters of the St Louis Order who looked after the educational needs of the children of Monaghan town from 1859 – 1999, with great care, skill and enthusiasm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School Crest

 

 

 

The blue field represents the Kings of France. St. Louis was King Louis IX of France 1214 – 1270. He was eleven years of age when he became king. In the first years of the king’s personal government, the Crown had to combat a fresh rebellion against feudalism, led by the Count de la Marche, in league with Henry III. St. Louis’s victory over this coalition at Taillebourg, 1242, was followed by the Peace of Bordeaux which annexed to the French realm a part of Saintonge.

St. Louis is the Patron Saint of the Congregation of St. Louis. St. Louis, King of France, patron of Tertiaries, was the ninth of his name. He was born at Poissy, France, in 1214. His father was Louis VIII, and his mother was Blanche, daughter of Alfonso VIII of Castille, surnamed the Conqueror. From his tenderest infancy his mother  had inspired him with a love for holy things.

In 1234, he married Margaret, the virtuous daughter of Raymond Berenger, Count of Provence, and two years later he took the reigns of government into his own hands. In 1238, he headed a crusade, in which he fell a prisoner among the Mohammedans, but a truce was concluded and he was set free and he returned to France. In 1267, he again set out for the East at the head of a crusade but he never again beheld his native land. In 1270, he was stricken by the pestilence at the siege of Tunis, and after receiving the Last Sacraments, he died. His feast day is August 25th. The school celebrates this day every year.

It was one of St. Louis’s main traits to carry out his administration as national sovereign and the performance of his duties towards Christendom; this turned his attention towards a crusade. Introducing the next element of the crest in which I want to look at. Dieu Le Veult (old French) was the rallying cry of the Crusaders – ‘God Wills it’. St. Louis went on two Crusades to the Holy Land in 1242 in thanksgiving for his recovery from a serious illness. In 1270 he went to Tunis, where he hoped to make Christ known to the Moslems. He became ill and died there. His body was brought back to France and his heart was buried in the Benedictine Monastery at Palermo.

The ‘Fleur De Lys’ symbolises the kings of France. It represents the country of origin of the Sisters of St. Louis. A clear link can be found between the sisters of St Louis and the school aiming to create that attitude for the pupils today stemming directly from the crest.

Digging deeper:

The tower with a red hand is part of the Monaghan Coat of Arms. Monaghan was the town in Ireland to which the first Sisters came from France on 6th January 1859.
The crown of the thorns and the sword represent how St Louis brought Christ’s Crown and Thorns to France for safety. It had been saved during the First Crusade. The gold chain symbolises the bond of Christian Charity which unites all the members of the congregation together and which also links them to those with whom they carry out their ministries in schools, colleges, hospitals and parishes. It is echoed in the second motto ‘Ut sint unum’ (that they may be one) while the Primary motto ‘Dieu le Veult’ inspires acceptance of the ups and downs of life that we meet with every day in carrying out our work for God.

St Louis first thoughts

Arrived for an interview in St Louis last April, I came in was greeted amicably by the staff. The atmosphere was happy, I could hear laughing from students that was the moment I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Preparing for the interview I realised the school had a particular interest in music and religion. From the first morning the staff met we were welcomed with an opening prayer.

I created this page after spending time in the school. The purpose of this page is to truly understand the values of St Louis. The school has a certain emphases on history and religion. The page will examine the schools ethos, historic importance and the role of religion within the school. I will also be examining the school crest.