The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM), an international congregation of women religious founded in 1849, recently unveiled new brand identities for their sponsored ministries, including the RSHM LIFE Center in Sleepy Hollow, NY. This rebranding effort represents the congregation’s commitment to meeting the needs of the times and serving the most vulnerable, particularly women and children, through their ministries.

“This new logo symbolizes the deep connection between the RSHM and the LIFE Center, reflecting the shared values that guide our work and our enduring partnership in mission,” said Andrea Carson, Director of the RSHM LIFE Center.

The new logo features the combination of the heart, the cross and circular shape which recalls the idea of openness and connection with the world, underlining at the same time the importance of love and care. The cross inside the heart gives importance to the heart listening and is linked to the circular line which represents the community. This redesign is part of a larger effort to ensure that both the congregation’s and ministries’ visual identity aligns with the RSHM mission to “that all may have life.”

The RSHM LIFE Center was founded in 1995 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary. With the belief that Learning Is For Everyone (LIFE), the Center takes a whole family approach in our programs. We focus on the learning needs of the entire family, from toddlers to adults. Getting to know the families and involving them in the LIFE Center programs helps build stronger community relationships. We believe that community, the witness of unity among people of diverse ages, backgrounds, cultures, and racial origins, is at the heart of our mission in a fragmented and divided world. Together we can make the world a better place.

The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary is an international congregation of women religious whose mission is: “to know and love God, to make God known and loved; to proclaim that Jesus Christ has come in order that all may have life” (RSHM Constitutions #7). Each sister wears a cross that reads Ut Vitam Habeant, “so that all may have life.” Their lives are built around the common understanding that everyone deserves a life of dignity. Through various ministries, the sisters cultivate a care for the most vulnerable and a care for creation.

We give thanks for all that has been and look forward to many more years of service to the people of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown.

From the Director 

When we opened the LIFE Center it was with the hope we could be of service to the women and children of the community who were living in the shadows. The people with limited resources but a dream that their lives and especially the lives of their children could be better.   

Twenty years have gone by since the doors of the LIFE Center first opened. It’s hard to believe but whenever one of our first ‘students’ stops in to say hello the reality hits. As we begin each new day we have so much to be grateful for. We continue to build upon the things that have worked well and we look for new ways to be of service.

The holiday season is so busy here. We have many special projects but all regular programming continues. It’s become quite a balancing act but our wonderful staff and faithful volunteers make it all seem easy.

We started by providing the makings of a festive dinner for 100 families, 90 of them thanks to a group called ‘Giving Thanksgiving’. Local high school students collect funds and put together packages for 90 families and deliver them right to our doorstep. This was the 9^th year of the program which has been passed down from year to year. It’s a great help to us. The rest of the families were taken care of through donations of supermarket gift certificates.

Christmas is right behind and that means organizing our Holiday Boutique. The Boutique gives parents the opportunity and dignity of choosing and ‘buying’ gifts for their children. Nothing cost more than $5, most things are $1, and proceeds go directly to our children’s programs. For those who have had an especially hard year they are added to the ‘Adopt-a-Family’ list. We ask them to come up with a ‘Christmas Wish List’ and as best as we can those wishes are granted. Twenty families were ‘adopted’ this year.  

Santa and his Elf came to visit all of the children’s programs. Since I know him personally he is able to take time out from his busy schedule to drop by and hear the children’s requests. He also reminds them that they must be good throughout the year.