The international Roman Catholic community of apostolic religious women known as the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary was founded by Father Jean Gailhac and Appolonie Pelissier-Cure in Béziers, France in 1849 when a group of women gathered together to form a community for the purpose of operating a shelter for women and an orphanage. The group grew quickly, expanding its ministries beyond France. Currently, the community is active in fourteen countries, connecting with one another through personal contact, scheduled meetings at various levels, telephone, email, and web sites. Members of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary are engaged in colleges, universities, secondary schools, and elementary schools, as well as in parishes, prisons, hospitals, nursing and retirement homes, retreat centers, and social centers, where they work as administrators, teachers, librarians, social workers, health care professionals, lawyers, artists, musicians, and spiritual directors. The RSHM Constitutions for the community were approved at the diocesan level in 1850, and at the canonical level in 1880, its mission defined as "to know and love God, to make God known and loved, to proclaim that Jesus Christ has come in order that all may live." The organizational structure of the community is such that the major authority of the RSHM is the General Superior in Rome. Smaller units within the institute are known as Provinces, which have their own government, the smallest unit of which is the local community, who work in relationship with the provincial and general governments. Its province are the Eastern American, Western American, Northern European, Brazilian, and Portuguese, with regions in Mozambique and Zambezi. The RSHM operates schools in Europe, North America, and South America. In recent years, the institue has become involved in social justice issues, as well. The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary is not the same community as the Society of the Sacred Heart.
Recommended Resources
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary
Reflecting the Eastern American and Western American provinces, the site offers a history and an overview of the Catholic institute’s work in North America, as well as a profile of the international organization, its founders, beginnings, and international expansion. An overview of its ministries, schools and colleges, social and legal work, pastoral work, and social justice issues.
http://www.rshm.org/
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM)
Presented in English, Spanish and Portuguese, the site features the international congregation of Catholic women religious, including its history and mission, an introduction to some of the sisters of the Brazilian, Northern European and Portuguese provinces, as well as the Zambezi region. Its work in the United Nations, social justice issues, and its extended family and volunteers are included.
https://www.rscm-rshm.org/
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Ireland
The founding of the international congregation, and a biography of its founders is told, along with a mission statement, its locations in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, and other parts of the world, and a newsletter. An overview of the lifestyles of members of the congregation, its formation process, and extended family are featured, including its programs and social justice issues.
http://www.rshm-nep.org/
Society of the Sacred Heart, United States/Canada
The US-Canada province is part of an international congregation of Catholic women founded in 1800 by Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, who had two chief goals: to reveal to the world a God who loves us, and to educate children to be a transformation in their world. Its history, mission, provincial leadership, and spirituality are discussed, and an online shopping area offers apparel and other items.
https://rscj.org/
