What does it mean when a school is a sponsored ministry? (and why that’s so special)

When schools or other organizations (ministries) are sponsored by a religious order, they carry out the mission and good work of that order. Often the order provides the ministry with some level of financial support, staff members, and other operational support, and guides the mission and values of the ministry. As a sponsored ministry of the Felician Sisters, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School carries out the mission of the Felician Sisters of North America. Sisters live on the school’s campus and their Chapel is a shared space. There are many benefits of being a sponsored ministry of the Felician Sisters; howeverr several rise to the top.

The opportunity to interact with some really amazing women.

A staple of the OLSH Open House experience is a greeting from Sr. M. Alexander Klawinski. The petite octogenarian (and honorary OLSH alumna) can be found near the registration table or with the business office staff (she served on the Finance Committee of the OLSH Board until recently) with a warm welcome and infectious smile. She, and her fellow Sisters actively seek ways to engage with OLSH students and families, especially at enrollment events. While fewer Sisters live on campus than ever before, those who do frequently interact with the students. Sr. M. Francine Horos, an alumna of the school and a former principal, teaches math. Frequently described as one of the best math teachers they have ever had, students appreciate Sr. Francine’s high expectations and willingness to work with them individually when needed.

Though she doesn’t live on campus, Sr. Desire Anne-Marie Findlay, has been a regular guest speaker in the classroom and on retreats. One of the newest (and youngest) Felician Sisters in the area, Sr. Desire recently shared her passion for dance, teaching choreographed movements to a song during the overnight GOLD (Girls Overnight Leadership Development) experience at OLSH. 

Each grade level at our school attends Mass with the Sisters in the Chapel once a month and students also visit the convent to have lunch with the Sisters from time to time. Many of the Sisters are alumni of the school and are happy to share stories of the school’s early days

A support group providing endless love and prayers.

Picture this: A group of fans huddled around a computer listening intently. Loud cheers erupt as the announcers give a play by play of the quarterback throwing a long pass for a game-winning touchdown. No, it’s not Steeler Sunday. It’s a Friday night, and the fans are the Felician Sisters, listening to the OLSH Sports Network broadcast of the Chargers football game online. As could be expected, the Sisters are always praying for those who work in and receive services from their ministries. In a school, this means that our students have a built-in set of ultimate fans who attend performances, parent gatherings, and sporting events regularly. And when they can’t attend in person, they anxiously await updates. The love and support of the Sisters can be illustrated by the note they added to a graduation card they signed and gave to be shared with the entire OLSH class of 2019: “We are praying for you and thank you for carrying our core values out into the world. You can/will make a difference.” The students know they have the Sisters looking out for them, and they respect the women who have dedicated their lives to God and serving others.

The Felician Core Values inspire action

Each sponsored ministry of the Felician Sisters has adopted the Core Values for Ministry - five values that align with Catholic Social Teaching to provide a guide for putting faith into action and following the call of Blessed Mary Angela (founder of the Felician Sister) to “Serve where you are needed.” Students at OLSH learn about these values - Respect for Human Dignity, Compassion, Transformation, Solidarity with the Poor, and Justice & Peace - during a mini-course taught in the freshman year. The OLSH experience culminates with the Senior Seminar: Felician Values Fulfilled, in which seniors complete service and other projects to demonstrate their understanding of each value, and then present to a panel of faculty. The day is often emotional as students recognize the value of their OLSH experience, and faculty see the transformation of each student that was inspired (at least in part) by the OLSH experience.

A rich history

Every school has history, but the history of OLSH is complemented by the history of the Felician Sisters. While the school was founded in 1932, OLSH’s history goes beyond that to the founding of the order in 1855. Students experience this history each time they visit the OLSH Chapel and see the spectacular altar, crafted from one solid piece of wood, identical in design to altars in Felician convents and ministries across the world. When OLSH students traveled to World Youth Day Krakow in 2016, they met Polish Felician Sisters and visited the town where Blessed Angela once lived. Beyond those connections, the OLSH administration is inspired by the brave and forward-thinking decisions of the past and the ongoing commitment to quality and excellence that have helped the school thrive.

Connections to fellow ministries = opportunities for service and learning

Our status as a sponsored ministry provides the opportunity to serve others in fellow Felician ministries across the country, and the world. We are fortunate to have two fellow ministries nearby with Mooncrest Neighborhood Programs in Moon and McGuire Memorial in New Brighton. OLSH students serve as tutors for Mooncrest’s After-School program each Monday after school, and have also assisted with field trips and other events for the Program. Groups of OLSH students also regularly serve the residents at McGuire Memorial as part of the annual Senior Service Day and throughout the year. The school’s Christmas Giving Tree project invites families to purchase gifts for children who are served at the Felician Center in Kingstree, SC and students have gone to Kingstree on mission trips. Change collections during Advent and Lent have gone to support the Sisters’ ministry in Haiti, which a group of OLSH students, parents, and faculty plan to visit for the first time this winter. Having these connections with other ministries allows students to live out the core values and the mission of the Sisters in a special way.

Key Takeaway
Every school has its own unique history and tradition. OLSH’s status as a sponsored ministry of the Felician Sisters provides benefits to students as current school leadership builds on the big ideas of the Sisters who founded and led OLSH from a small convent school, to expand and change with the times, opening its doors to day students, then to young men, allowing it to advance to its current status as the largest, most comprehensive, independent co-ed Catholic school in the region. OLSH is a school on the move, keeping an eye to the past and the strong women who founded and grew it, inspiring young men and women to serve where they are needed for nearly 90 years.

About the Author

Jessica Cerchiaro is the Executive Director of Communications at OLSH. She has been at the school for 15 years, first serving as an academic mentor. She is married to a proud OLSH alum (Michael '96) and is the mother of four future OLSH Chargers.