Les Anges and Alumnae Gather in the Spirit of Marymount

Guided by Marymount’s Director of Campus Ministry Micaela Plummer, the afternoon invited guests into an inspiring conversation and interactive journaling experience rooted in the charism of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM). Rather than a simple walk down memory lane, the gathering created space to remember, to reflect, and to reconnect with both Marymount’s heritage and with one another.

Ms. Plummer began by speaking about the gift of encountering people who share a common story. “There is something unspoken that binds those connected to Marymount,” she shared. It may be decades since graduation or years since walking Sunset Boulevard as a student or parent, yet the thread remains. That shared formation is not only academic; it is spiritual, relational, and deeply human.

The conversation revisited the origins of the RSHM, founded in 1849 in Béziers, France, by Father Jean Gailhac and Foundress Mother St. Jean. From the beginning, the mission they established called the Sisters to respond boldly to the needs of their time—a spirit that continues to shape Marymount today. As Ms. Plummer reminded guests, mission is never static: “We are not stagnant, we’re always in motion,” she shared, reflecting the congregation’s enduring responsiveness to the “signs of the times.”

That spirit of adaptability and courage carried the congregation far beyond its beginnings in France. What started as ministries serving women and children grew into a global network of schools—now spanning 20 schools across nine countries—each united by a shared mission.

Marymount Los Angeles, founded in 1923 by Mother Joseph Butler, is part of that living tradition. Inspired by the same conviction that education transforms both individuals and society, Mother Butler established schools wherever she saw need and possibility, believing deeply that “the world never needed women’s intelligence and sympathy more than it does today.” The heritage we celebrate is not nostalgic—it is active, continuing to call each generation to discern how they are being invited to lead and serve now.

A guiding thread throughout the afternoon was Father Gailhac’s invitation: “Above all, study yourselves.” Ms. Plummer framed this not as a solitary task, but as a practice that helps us better understand how we lead, love, and serve. In the RSHM tradition, self-knowledge strengthens the community around us.

As journaling began, the room took on its own rhythm. Some guests leaned into the prompts, writing thoughtfully across pages. Others continued conversations at their tables, sharing stories and memories sparked by the reflection. There was space for both—quiet introspection and warm connection—each a reflection of the Marymount spirit.

With the afternoon coming to a close, Ms. Plummer’s words lingered: it is “a gift…to encounter people who share some sort of history and connection.” That gift was evident in every table—through reflection, conversation, and the easy familiarity of a community shaped by the same mission.

The luncheon was not simply a return to campus, but a reminder that Marymount’s formation endures—rooted in the charism of the RSHM and alive in our current students, in our alumnae across the world, and in the families who remain closely connected to this community.