The Spirit of the Sacred Heart Award 2022

Presented to Gillian Dempsey rscj

by the Mount Anville Past Pupils’ Association

The Mount Anville Past Pupils’ Association (MAPPA) Committee chaired by Christina Torsney wanted to introduce an award to shine a light and recognise people from the Mount Anville Community who they felt truly represented the spirit and ethos of the Sacred Heart. On Friday 16th September MAPPA held their fundraising charity lunch in the Shelbourne Hotel. About 330 former pupils attended, mainly women, but there was also a table of ten men, all past pupils of Mt Anville Montessori School. There was a great spirit of welcome and friendliness, with people meeting each other for the first time since the Covid Pandemic.

MAPPA chose this event to present the integral Spirit of the Sacred Heart Award to Sr Gillian Dempsey. When presenting the Award Christine thanked Sr Gillian for her years of dedication in the Mount Anville Schools – Primary, Secondary and Junior, as well as having taught also in Monkstown and Leeson Street. Christina also referred to Gillian’s role as religious representative on the Benevolent Fund Committee for 12 years. She thanked her for embodying the Spirit of the Sacred Heart, and she was honoured to present the award to her. Christina also said that she was also very happy “that the first recipient should be a Sister from the order because after all we are a religious school and that history is something to be celebrated and should continue to be present even in modern day Mount Anville!”

Sr Gillian received a standing ovation and is a truly deserving recipient of this Award. We are honoured to have her in our community. Sr Gillian, not only dedicated her life - having recently celebrated her 63rd anniversary to the sacred heart order but also to Mount Anville. When accepting the award Sr Gillian thanked Christina and her committee for the award. She also said that she was very pleased that the funds being raised at the lunch would go to the Benevolent Fund to help many Past Pupils in need.

Sr Dempsey started her career in Mount Anville teaching in the junior school then moving to the secondary school. She then continued her teaching role at Mount Anville Primary school for 10 years and then was principal for a further 10 years. She then returned to the Junior School and taught for 7 years. Having semi-retired from full time teaching Sr Dempsey moved to the Junior Montessori where she assisted in a voluntary capacity.

As if this wasn't enough Sr Dempsey has in recent years only retired from her role as religious representative on the Benevolent Fund after serving on its committee for 12 years. Everyone in the room agreed that she is what embodies the Spirit of the Sacred Heart.

Christina shared that from a personal point of view when the committee came up with the idea for the award Sr Gillian automatically came into her head and Christina felt that it was very important that she was recognised for the incredible work she has done quietly in the back ground for so many years and also that the first recipient should be a Sister from the order because after all we are a religious school and that history is something to be celebrated and should continue to be present even in modern day Mount Anville!

The lunch raised over €35,000 which will enable the Benevolent Fund Committee to assist Sacred Heart Past Pupils in need in the future.