Pictured at the annual gathering of Head and Deputy Headteachers at Mount Anville on October 22nd and 23rd, 2025, is Sr Margaret Wilson, Provincial of CEI Province of the Society of the Sacred Heart.

Joining her are teachers from the Ireland, Scotland, Malta Network. Sr Margaret delivered a presentation titled “Standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before us”. She spoke of vocation and of finding one’s voice in the story of Sacred Heart education. 

Over the two days our teachers shared their experiences of challenge and success. Future steps will involve finding opportunities to collaborate, to foster interior lives and significantly, to support staff formation. Vicky Lorenzato of the English Network was a welcome guest at our gathering, along with our Network Board chairperson, Averil Morrow.

A highlight of the visit was a tour of Mount Anville House, presented by Ms Bronach McCormack. Visitors learned the story of the Dargan family, the arrival of the Sisters and selected life stories of some of the students. They admired the Harry Clarke windows at the chapel and joined Mount Anville pupils for a prayer service.

Forming bonds strengthened by our shared experience as Sacred Heart educators, this conference was an important and enlightening experience. There will be opportunities for our teachers to gather with colleagues in the English Network in March of 2026, while further gatherings will include the schools in Austria and Germany.

Underlying all this educational endeavour is the Philosophy of Sacred Heart education as contained in the recently published “Sophie’s Gift, Our Call to the Future”.