Home
News
October 2007
The Charism of Sion
The Family of Sion
Our History
News
Links
15th October 2007
A dream had come true: the library of the senior section of Our Lady of Sion School in Worthing had been completely renovated. A special service of dedication was arranged which would mark the importance of handing on the tradition of Sion, built up since 1862, a tradition of the importance of education, and the fostering of a climate of dialogue and respect for the other. Mr Mike Scullion, the Headmaster, was delighted that so many Sisters from around the Province were able to be present, together with school governors, members of staff and representatives of all the classes.
Mr Scullion's words of welcome mentioned the long history of the
school in Worthing. The service began with the well-known reading from 1 Corinthians 13 about the importance of love, so familiar to every Sister of Sion, as in earlier years they would have been expected to learn it by heart.
Anne Bickford, the last Sister to teach in the school, read from a short account of the history of the Congregation, which had been written by Brenda St Lawrence, the last Sister to be head of the school.
In
it Sr Brenda spoke of the insistence of Fr Theodore, on the importance of young
people being educated to appreciate difference: The philosophy of Our Lady of Sion Schools has always embraced pupils of all faiths. All over the world, girls, and now boys too, have been educated at Sion with the special end in view of learning to appreciate differences and to be respectful and tolerant of each other's beliefs and culture. From the very beginning Father Theodore was most insistent upon this attitude.
Later in the service, Edward Clarke, one of the students from Year 10, would read other words of Fr Theodore, this time written to the Sisters in Worthing:
Reconciliation takes place according to the measure in which people draw closer together, get to know each other and appreciate each other.
The
school librarian, Judie Chambers, read another extract from Brenda's book,
which spoke of the history of Sion's presence in Worthing, which dated back to
1862, when a property had been purchased for a convent, school and church. This
was at a time when there were very few Catholics in the town. Margaret had been asked to unveil a plaque on the wall of the Resource Centre. This acknowledged a financial gift from the Province which had enabled the renovation to take place and carried words from the documents of the Sisters of Sion:
Each of us is called to value and cherish the other and to struggle together, so that our conflicts and differences are transformed and we can attain renewed strength, harmony and appreciation. Thus, we draw forth from our charism the healing and power that is need in our divided world.
It is this tradition which Mr Scullion encourages the students in the school to continue to live out.
The service was concluded by a prayer, led by the Head Girl, Stephanike Quinn and the Head Boy, Lewis Raiman:
Lord, we ask you to bless our school,
and all those who work and study here.
We especially ask you today to bless this Resource Centre,
that it may become a place of knowledge and learning
at the heart of our school.
We ask you to help us all to live our lives in the true spirit of Sion,
working to promote respect,
understanding and consideration for others,
both within the school and in the wider world.
It had been a very happy and significant occasion.
