One of the nominations written about this year’s St. Rose Philippine Duchesne award winner, used a Mother Duchesne quote to describe that particular nominee’s essence. The quote is this:
“We cultivate a very small field for Christ, but we love it, knowing that God does not require great achievements but a heart that holds back nothing for self.”
And, yes, we all recognize our beloved Mother Duchesne in the quoted description, for, everything we know about our saint is that she herself did indeed have a heart which held back nothing for herself. Well, when the ACC Members cast their votes for this year’s St. Rose Philippine Duchesne award, they certainly recognized Mother Duchesne’s description in one particular nominee as well. With that clear recognition, that nominee – Diane Boerding -‐ was voted to become this year’s Academy of the Sacred Heart Alumni Association St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Award Winner.
Why: It is not because of the ‘greatness’ of Diane’s achievement; it is because Diane, like Mother Duchesne, has a heart which also holds back nothing from self.
Everything we can (and will) say about Diane confirms that truth.
As a parent of two alums she, when a parent, volunteered in ways we often have parents volunteer:
Room mother, Girl Scout leader, PCC member, coach.
She also volunteered in ways our leader parents volunteer:
For example, for 11 years she was in-‐charge of planning, designing, decorating and managing the whole set-‐up of Country Fair.
Beyond that, Diane volunteered in ways few parents volunteer:
Which brings us to Chemin! Diane Boerding’s imagination and vision was equaled only by her selfless, generous gift of time and work (along with her dedicated and loving family and friends) to execute that vision into reality. Thanks to that amazing combination, we as a community, were transported to places like New
York, New York, the Roaring 20’s, Tuscany and the Orient Express (just to name a few) without ever leaving St. Charles. I am one of those who had a window into the number of volunteer hours which went into this effort. (and believe me, it was a lot) But, what I admired most (and what I think is most Philippine-‐like) about Diane’s Chemin work was less about the vision or even the end product, it was the SELFLESS HEART with which she engaged in in all. ‘The manner with which’ is always the key. And, ‘The manner (i.e. generously, selflessly and joyfully) with which’ Diane engaged in Chemin certainly reminds us of Philippine.
To drive the point home, Diane has not been a parent at the school for years now. Her youngest is in college. Yet, she has continued to forgo relaxing in front of the tv or a good book during the months of February, March and April as she continued to choose to be here working, evening after evening and weekend after weekend.
Why does Diane continue to give of herself to this Academy so generously: I like to think she does so because she believes that the lessons she learned here as a child about God’s Heart and how our hearts are meant to be reflective of God’s Heart are lessons that she believes continue to need to be taught in today’s world. Supporting this Academy named after God’s Heart is one way to help make that happen for that, of course, is one of this school’s biggest aspirational goals.
As an alumna, Diane’s gift of self is just as palpable.
Like many alums she is an active participant on the ACC (and has been so for 16 years).
As an alumna, she, yet again, stepped up to the plate as a leader. Her leadership, creativity and generosity, for example, was the force behind what has become an annual alum service day. Through her efforts our alums have had an opportunity to live their name as children of the SH by serving together in food pantries, soup kitchens and women’s shelters.
In her role as parent of two alums and as an alumna herself, Diane has generously given of herself with anything that is asked of her:
Decorating for Jane Cannon’s retirement party. (DAYS of selfless labor)
Participating on the Building and Ground’s Committee of the Academy Board of Trustees.
Participating on the Academy’s Facility Master Plan Committee and
Participating on the Academy’s Bicentennial Planning Committee for the past three years . . .
. . . are other examples.
Diane has not been a missionary far afield – her ‘field for Christ’ was among us, it was in her family, and in her Sacred Heart family. In cultivating that ‘small field’ the achievements we are talking about are not GREAT (from a particular perspective), but as Philippine said,
“We cultivate a very small field for Christ, but we love it, knowing that God does not require great achievements but a heart that holds back nothing for self.”
Given that this quote so aptly and deeply describes the essence of Diane,
The Academy of the Sacred Heart and the ACC, proudly confer upon Diane Boerding this year’s Alumni St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Award.
Sadly, Diane is unable to accept her award in person due to an illness.
Diane sent an email saying how sad she was not to be here, but, she is protecting us from illness by not being here to infect us.
Diane’s daughter, Gretta, will be receiving this award on Diane’s behalf.
