Gallery

Bronze
1.8m high
135kg
2024

COMMEMORATING 150 YEARS SINCE THEIR FOUNDATION!

On 30^th August 2024 the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH)  celebrated 150 years since the foundation of their Congregation.  The Congregation was founded in France by Fr Jules Chevalier MSC who also founded the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC).  They wanted to mark the occasion by donating a statue of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart to Ave Maria Pastoral Centre located at Mooketsi outside of Tzaneen, in Limpopo.  This statue is to be a memorial to all their members who have served in the Diocese of Tzaneen since 1950.  The origional statue was made of wood and in a state of disrepair and needed to be replaced.  They searched the internet until they came across the work of sculptor Sarah Richards. What moved the sisters to work with Sarah was a story on her website about Mandisa and the beautiful sculpture she created for St Anne’s Diocesan School to inspire students to reach for their dreams. 

Meaning of the title:   OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART

Fr Jules Chevalier MSC the Founder of the two Congregations, turned to Mary for help in establishing his mission, and in gratitude he honoured her in a special by bestowing on her the title of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.   This title is a call for us to be in a loving relationship with God and to be guided by Mary to Jesus’s Heart.  She points to the heart of her son, Jesus, leading us into the depths of the love of God made real and human in the Heart of Jesus.  Jesus points to his own Heart and to Mary to remind us to journey with Mary to his Heart.  Mary crushes the serpent (in this case an African PuffAdder), a symbol of overcoming evil based on a verse from the Book of Genesis (3:15) in which the downfall of Satan is predicted.

THE LONG JOURNEY TO ITS NEW HOME

After a long journey from the Balgowan area of the Kwazulu Natal Midlands to the semi- arid bushveld of the Mooketsi area of Limpopo, the statue arrived amid much excitement and joy from the Sisters.  The statue was unveiled and blessed at the annual Diocesan Marian pilgrimage on 17/18^th August 2024 at Ave Maria Pastoral Centre.

Ave Maria Pastoral Centre is an animation, renewal and support center for Evangelization in the Diocese of Tzaneen, South Africa.  Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is the Patroness of the Diocese.

(The abouve summary was written by Sister Sally Duigan)

Click below to read more about the OLSH and MSC and the work they do in South Africa and around the world.  “To be on earth the Heart of God”!

www.holyfamilycarecentre.co.za

www.olshgen.com

youtube.com/@FdnscGeneralate-ql9ul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_pXT4yFS2M

www.mscmissions.ie