Sacred Heart School: Hijas de Jesus Celebrates Gold

The year 2006 marks a landmark event for the Sacred Heart School - Hijas de Jesus. It is the golden anniversary of this progressive institution that is formerly known as Sacred Heart School for Girls.

The school's anniversary celebration is taking place all year and features a great project called "Operation Share Rubber Shoes." The SHS-HDJ Alumni Association is soliciting donation of outgrown and used rubber shoes, and sports equipment, which will be turned over to the Special Olympics - Cebu Chapter. The rubber shoes will be distributed to mentally challenged individuals in public SPED schools.

An anniversary is, of course, a day of remembrance. For SHS-HDJ, it is a celebration commemorating such a remarkable date that spells success. Thus, this year's theme avers, "Celebrating 50 years of Growing and Going Beyond." Fifty golden years of delivering the future through quality Christian education that is consistently making a difference.

Sacred Heart School's past can be traced back to 1953 when the Cebu Chinese community requested Fr. Paul O'Brien, S.J. to establish a Chinese Catholic middle school for their children. Fr. O'Brien was at that time the Superior of the Jesuits belonging to the China Province Mission. The following year, the first 400 boys and girls finally started attending classes under Jesuit educators: Fr. Miguel Pardinas, Fr. Francisco Heras and Fr. Eugene Lauzon.

Sacred Heart School had endured several changes that made the school proud of its great achievement. Every endeavor always serves as an inspiration for the school. It likewise unfolds surprising opportunities. Last 2004, SHS started accepting male students in Grade One. Thus, the new name is now Sacred Heart School-Hijas de Jesus.

The next two years for SHS-HDJ will certainly be challenging and exciting as it will live up to its Association's Mission and Vision. The Sacread Heart School - Hijas de Jesus Alumnae Association "envisions to become a World-Class organization whose members carry the noble goals of its Alma Mater: Knowledge, Love, and Mission."

Its aim is "to impress upon its members the idea that there is a home in Alma Mater where every alumna is welcome especially in times of great needs for spiritual, moral, and resources support."