This past month, a group of our students, faculty, and staff headed to Chicago for the inaugural Sacred Heart Summit. With over 500 members of the Sacred Heart Network present, they explored global issues of inequality and sustainable features under the guiding theme of the year, Hearts Rooted in Change: How Reflection, Analysis, and Transformative Action are Critical to Our Future.

At the end of the week, Forest Ridges students came up with an action project. Each school created a project to bring what they learned at the Summit back to their community. Forest Ridge students plan on expanding the apiary program to promote the wellness of bees on the Ridge. 

Lulu W. '26 attended the Summit and shared that it "was an eye opening experience. I met students from across the country, Canada and Mexico. There were great speakers, but my favorite was Betty Ogiel, from Uganda, who spoke about turning her pain into purpose. I found her talk emotional and inspirational. I am so grateful I was able to attend the summit!"

Maddy D. '25 was another student who had the opportunity to attend the Summit. Maddy noted that she "had such an amazing time" and that the Summit "was a great way to connect with my peers across the network and learn from educators around the world about the relevant issues. I felt so connected to the Sacred Heart network, I was able to make friends with students from different parts of the world and reconnect with my exchange sister while I was there! I loved being able to workshop ideas with students and dive deep into new topics that isn’t often taught at many schools. Overall, I had an amazing time and I can't wait for more students to attend in future years!"

Head of School, Mary Rose Guerin, reflects on her time at the Sacred Heart Summit 

As the Head of School at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, I was deeply moved by my experience at the inaugural Sacred Heart Summit in Chicago. Being part of a gathering of over 500 members of the Sacred Heart Network—students, faculty, rscj, and mission partners alike—offered a powerful reminder of the collective strength of our global community and the enduring mission we share. 

The Summit called each of us to reflect on our responsibility as agents of change, particularly in a world where challenges often seem overwhelming. Early in the gathering, a keynote speaker said something that struck me deeply: “None of us have the right to wallow in despair.” Instead, we must harness the privilege of our Sacred Heart education to actively work toward positive change. This message resonates with me as I think about the future of Forest Ridge and the students we are educating today. Our role is to prepare them to meet the world’s most pressing issues with both intellect and heart, rooted in the values of justice and compassion. 

The overarching theme of the Summit Hearts Rooted in Change: How Reflection, Analysis, & Transformative Action are Critical to our Future provided an avenue for our Sacred Heart community to explore global issues of inequality and sustainability and reminded us that together, we can form a path towards building a world characterized by compassion, hope, justice, and solidarity.  

The variety of sessions during the Summit—from Charting a Sustainable Future: Building Environmental Stewardship in Community to the Criminal Justice System in the United States—underscored the breadth of global issues we must address. For me, one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience was watching our students engage so thoughtfully with these topics. I saw in them a deep desire to take what they had learned and translate it into action. 

At the close of the Summit, our students, alongside others in the Sacred Heart Network, began designing action projects to bring back to their schools. It was inspiring to witness their creativity and determination, embodying the balance of contemplation and action that defines Sacred Heart education. These young leaders are not only thinking critically about the issues that matter—they are ready to jump in with compassion and conviction. 

As I reflect on this experience, I am reminded of the sacred responsibility we carry at Forest Ridge to prepare our students not just for success in academics, but for lives of purpose. The Summit reaffirmed for me the importance of ensuring that every student who passes through our doors leaves equipped with the competence to understand the complexities of our world, the courage to challenge injustice, and the heart to create a world where dignity is honored for all. 

This experience has reignited my passion for the mission of Forest Ridge, filling me with renewed hope and determination. I am excited to walk alongside our students as they bring their ideas and projects from the Summit to life. Together, we will continue to build a thriving environment where global citizenship, compassion, and justice aren’t just values we teach—they are the driving forces of everything we do. I am filled with optimism for the future we will create, knowing our students are ready to lead with courage and heart. 

- Mary Rose Guerin, Head of School