Education

Marie Madeleine d'Houët, inspired by Ignatian Spirituality and in response to Jesus' call: "I thirst", established schools - amongst her many spiritual and social works - to share the gift of faithful companionship with and in Jesus. She felt called by God to provide education to help people give direction and fullness to their own lives. The FCJ story tells of the foundation of schools in many countries as the Sisters accepted the challenge and the privilege of educating students. This was done, for the most part, in formal school settings.

There are today two secondary schools in Victoria owned and governed by the FCJ Sisters - FCJ College, Benalla and Genazzano FCJ College, Kew. These schools strive to remain faithful to the vision of Marie Madeleine. In responding with courage and confidence to this challenge, they aim to:

Nurture companionship with Jesus and each other
Find God in all things
Be signs of hope and joyful witnesses
Engage in formation of the whole person
Engender a life long desire for learning
Challenge all to develop their full potential
Serve the wider community
Promote human dignity and worth
Reach out to those deprived in any way.

FCJ College, Benalla, founded in 1900 provides co-education for 330 students from Years 7 to VCE. More information is provided on their website.

Genazzano FCJ College in Kew began in1889 and offers education for 1000 girls from Prep to Year 12. They, too, have a separate website.

In addition, there are FCJ Sisters who also work in other Catholic schools as teachers and counsellors.

In recent times, the question: "Is education only for youth and does it take place only in schools?" has been widely canvassed. An awareness that education is lifelong has meant that, in addition to those still working within schools, many FCJ Sisters are now working in education in a variety of settings and with people of all ages. They frequently work with lay collaborators in their commitment to accompanying the poor and marginalised. Through their companionship, they aim to reflect God's love for all people and to both educate and be educated by those with whom they walk.

Some of the works in the wider field of education in which the Sisters are engaged today are:

• the provision of financial support for the education of aboriginal women,
• assistance for the families of AIDS sufferers,
• provision of chaplaincy in hospitals,
• assisting new migrants to settle into their adopted country and helping with language skills
• assisting those in need with their shopping and housekeeping
• working with the visually impaired.
• teaching in a parish primary school.

An Australian FCJ Sisters is currently missioned to working with and teaching literacy skills to the poorest women in Bolivia.