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Charism is more than just a policy at Cor Jesu, it is a new culture of acceptance and love towards students and each other that makes this school come alive. Sharing the love of the heart of Christ, those words come automatically to the lips of any person who spends any length of time within these walls. Retreats, Service, and Mass has truly permeated CJ with a Catholic Atmosphere. Weather is was working on a Charism Project as a freshman to learn the tenets of the Sacred Heart, serving others at Service Day Sophomore year,  embarking on the LASTing project junior year,  or participating in Kairos, every activity we've done has echoed the themes found emblazoned in the words of our Charism. The most important thing i will take away from my experience at Cor Jesu is the idea that sharing the love of the heart of Christ isn't an action, or an activity, or an assignment, or a commitment. It's a lifestyle. It's waking up very morning and deciding you will be Christ to others that day. That is what Cor Jesu had taught me.

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I would define the Charism of this school by the actions of the students for each other. We really do "share the love of the heart of Christ".  We love each other and we support each other through the highs and lows of life. I participate in this love and act as a friend to everyone I meet. I develop these friendships and I have learn to do so through the examples of the people around me. Cor Jesu has prepared me to be the best person I can be.

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Charism at Cor Jesu Academy is made possible by the unique individuals that make up this tight-knit community. From the moment I walked into this place, I felt an overwhelming sense of love and support from current students and teachers--some of whom I hadn't met yet. I think Cor Jesu has given me the mindset of growing in love for other people, sharing that love with others as Christ did for us. I have participated in both school focused service and service outside of Cor Jesu that has helped me develop stronger bonds with new people and my faith. This school has also challenged me academically and has given me the tool to succeed at what I want to accomplish in the future. Have so many teachers and friends who have shown love to me, and that has also shaped me into who I am today. In our Alma Mater, I connect most to "Our Love's bright flame". This line reminds me of the passion that is emitted everyday by everyone at school. I will miss this passion and spirit the most. I am very confident that Cor Jesu has given me the abilities to do more than succeed at school in the future. I feel prepared to make new connections and friends to the people I meet as well as the ability to see those in the eyes of Christ. I can't wait to see what the future holds for me, and how Cor Jesu will continue to impact my life after I leave these halls.

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Over my 4 years at Cor Jesu we have done a lot to make sure we, as students, are aware of our charism and what that means to us. The most important opportunity for me that we have to grow in our charism is Kairos. It was an incredible opportunity to delve more into our faith and grow closer as a class and a community to develop stronger bonds of friendship and faith. Our caring community is prevalent in the school. Our alma mater mentions “the warmth of friendships.” I have bonded with so many people at Cor Jesu from classmates, to upperclassmen, to underclassmen, to faculty and staff. Everyone who is a part of Cor Jesu is a part of this caring community and we make sure to strive to continue it. We work to bring that community to life here, as well as outside the wall of Cor Jesu. We leave Cor Jesu to “fill our part” as the alma mater says, whatever that part may be in this world, we are leaving Cor Jesu with the knowledge and ability to take on the role God has for us in our life. I do not know what my role is or how I am fully meant to live out God’s plan for me, but I know I have been prepared to take my role and play my part in helping to transform the world. I take with me the knowledge that I am strong and I am able. Cor Jesu has taught me so much from world history to calculus to biology. But the most important thing I have learned from my years at Cor Jesu is that I have the ability to love and the ability to make a difference. There are teachers who empower me to work my hardest and challenge myself. There are teachers who have taught me how to love others fully. There are teachers who have strengthened my confidence. And it’s not just the teachers that I learn from, the students have taught me so much. I have learned to stand up for what is right and to not be afraid to take a stand and advocate for change. All of these things have taught me something, and together I have learned that so much about myself. This community has allowed me to grow in my faith and as a person. I am a woman of the Heart of Jesus because of what I have learned here. I will take the knowledge with me to “do my part” in this world, whatever that part may be, and I know I will be prepared.

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The Charism of Cor Jesu is best described by the phrase: “Sharing the Love of the Heart of Christ”. Ever since freshman year, we have been hearing those words time and time again. At first, we just learned it to write it down on our Charism test and final exam. We did not see the bigger picture of how those words would change our lives forever. Looking back over the past four years at Cor Jesu, I realize how strongly those words influenced my actions. Because of those words, I have accomplished many things and I have accomplished them with a clear heart and mind. I have volunteered countless times, stayed determined on countless projects, and lived a happier life because of that phrase. I have grown to be a better person with a more intelligent mind, but more importantly, with a more open and loving heart. Cor Jesu’s charism has truly inspired me to be the “best version of myself”. I strive to help others more and more and I find my heart growing bigger and bigger each time I volunteer, or help out a friend in need. I am a woman of the Heart of Jesus because I want to share God’s love with the world. I want to bring hope into people’s lives and give them a reason to smile. The only way I can make an impact on others is if I let the Heart of Jesus have an impact on me. Freshman year, I had no idea the influence those words would have on me. Any time I heard that phrase, I did not think about the actual meaning of the words; I memorized the words with my brain, but did not contemplate them in my heart. The more I think about the last four years, the more I realize how my actions, my accomplishments, and my surroundings helped me begin to move the words from my head to my heart and for that I am exceedingly grateful.

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Though I have only attended Cor Jesu for two years, I have experienced the charism of Sharing the Love of the Heart of Christ in every aspect my life at this school. Cor Jesu’s charism is not just a motto, it is a way of life. Each student lives the charism out in her own way. Whether she is serving others or working hard to achieve academic success, each student who attends Cor Jesu has been taught to devote her efforts to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. During the LASTing project, I learned how to be selfless and loving to those around me. Through encouraging service, Cor Jesu has formed me into a more kind and accepting person who shares Christ’s love with everyone. Cor Jesu has given me the opportunity to truly gain the “warmth of friendships” as well as the desire “for the noblest way” unlike any other school. Until I came to Cor Jesu, I never believed that I could be surrounded by such loving friends and mentors. Everyone who walks within these halls lives out the charism by being encouraging and supportive both in academic and moral matters. Over the past two years, my friends and teachers at Cor Jesu Academy have helped me to transform me into a woman of Christ. I know that for the rest of my life, I will carry the essence of Cor Jesu with me by Sharing the Love of the Heart of Christ with others.

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The charism here at Cor Jesu is unique to our school. I have never come across another school with as much spirit and heart towards sharing our love and mission with the world. The charism here is all about sharing the love of the heart of Christ with all those that we meet and encounter in our lives both present and in the future. Through our education and involvement here at Cor Jesu we learn many ways to follow out this mission. For instance, I live out my place as part of the Heart of Jesus by simply sharing with others what I love about my school. By talking about my school I show my passion for the values and beliefs shared within these walls at Cor Jesu. Also, through service such as the LASTing project and beyond I am able to share the love of Christ by helping others in need and by interacting with those who I would normally not come across. Lastly, the charism can always be seen through our mission week during Penny Queen. I chose to take part and be a Penny Queen senior year and by doing this I got to see just how our work and effort as a school community all comes out to support great charities and help share our love and mission. Our charism has grown to be a part of who I am over these four years. Each year I was challenged and given more opportunities to grow in our charism and help share our love and mission with others. Nearing the end of my time here, I can look back and see how the charism has both taken part in and shaped different aspects of my life. I realize that the charism shared with me here at Cor Jesu will remain with me for the rest of my life.

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I define the Charism at Cor Jesu Academy by the people: the students, teachers, faculty, and parents. Each person apart of the Cor Jesu community truly shares the love of the heart of Christ with others. This is seen through their actions, loving personalities, and compassion for others. Just as in the famous movie High School Musical, I truly feel that “we are all in this together.” I know that even once I leave, I will always have friends I can count on and an institution that believes in my abilities to truly make a difference. We have been given countless opportunities to grow and mature, becoming women of the Heart of Jesus. These past four years have made me the person I am today. I am stronger, more determined, and more compassionate. My understanding of the world and of the Catholic faith has also grown and matured. The Academy has shaped me, preparing me for the real world and giving me the courage to know that I can help make a difference. These values that I have learned will stay with me throughout my life. The lessons I have been taught and the friendships I have made will continue to help me grow stronger as I tackle new challenges. The Charism of Cor Jesu is apart of me; not just during my four years of high school, but throughout my whole life.

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I define the charism of Cor Jesu as sharing the love of the heart of Christ.  This is a phrase every Cor Jesu student has heard since her first day of freshman year.  At Cor Jesu, we try to share the love of the heart of Christ through our words, actions, and thoughts.  We are constantly trying to help one another and we push each other to succeed.  Even before I was officially a charger, I could feel the charism present when I shadowed and came to the open house. Another big part of Cor Jesu’s charism is service.  We dedicated ourselves to those we serve and it is again another way in which we share the love of the heart of Christ.  Through our service we help not only those individuals but the community as a whole as well.  I saw this a lot as I, along with my other classmates, did the LASTing Project.  I got to help underprivileged youth in my community and I truly felt that I made a difference and shared the love of the heart of Christ.  As I leave Cor Jesu, I hope to keep the charism that I have learned about instilled in me as I begin my next journey in life.  I hope to teach others about what it means to share the love of the heart of Christ.

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The charism at Cor Jesu is incomparable to any other community.  The reason I chose to come to Cor Jesu was because of the overwhelming happiness the people are CJ shared together.  I knew that coming to this school would not only help me grow closer to Jesus but also the people around me.  Over my past four years here I have felt the love of the heart of Christ in so many ways; through the friends I have made, the teacher and staff, and the larger community of CJ alums.  This place I have grown to love is filled with love, respect, and spirit.  This love does not just stay in the walls here at CJ though we have learned to spread the love of the heart of Christ to all the people in our community by doing service.  I have done this through countless things during my time here whether it be by serving the people on freshman and sophomore service day or senior year doing my lasting project at Cornerstone, I have shared the love of Christ with many people.  Cor Jesu has shown me the importance of serving others and this is something I hope to carry on when I go to college and for the rest of my life.  The charism of CJ is something I will cherish for years to come.  CJ has become my home and I hope to have my children one day get to experience a place with people filled with so much love and enthusiasm towards helping others.

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I would define the charism at this school truly by “sharing the love of the heart of Christ.” I know this is commonly said, but I believe our school does fit this. Wither it is just smiling at each other in the halls or helping friends out, I believe everyone in our school does share in Christ’s love. I believe we all want the best for each other and mimic Christ to each other. I came from a public school, and a private catholic school is a very different feeling. Here there is a welcoming atmosphere that surrounds the community. I always feel comfortable and safe when I am at school here. I believe this is from what the sisters have instilled in this school. We truly do act as mini Christ’s to others. I am a women of the heart of Jesus because I have learned how to see others in the eyes of God. I have learned that forgiveness while one of the hardest things is one of the best things. I have also learned the importance of helping a friend out, because they will help you out when you need it. I think leaving this school will be a lot harder than I initially thought freshman year. This school has shaped me into who I have become. When I am no longer in the halls of CJ I will still remember the spirit that was ever so present. As the alma mater says “fond memories shall echo in our hearts of fleeting hours spent in your loving care.” I do feel as if Cor Jesu has cared for me the past four years just as I have cared for it. Overall, I feel the charism is something that ultimately is indescribable, but impossible not to feel.

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Charism at Cor Jesu can be defined through the people at Cor Jesu. It is the words and actions of others that they do. Not because they are forced to but because they want to spread God's love. If you are to look at the meaning straight from the Mission Statement it is "sharing the love of the heart of Christ". Before coming to Cor Jesu, this sounded hard and complicated, but after four years I have realized and witnessed that that is not the case. The Charism at this school is alive and I experience it everyday. It is the everyday interactions I have with people here. I am a women of the Heart of Jesus because of how I treat others. When I treat everyone with kindness and respect I am doing exactly what our charism has taught us to do. I am living out the Charism when I live out the core beliefs of Cor Jesu. All of these began as simple trivia freshman year, but by the end they have helped mold me into the person I am today. They are engrained in me and I know I will carry them out the rest of my years.

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Each person at Cor Jesu defines charism as something different, in a way that they truly believe it to be. I define charism at this school as a belief that forms us into who we are by sharing the love and the heart of Jesus wherever we go. I am a woman of the Heart of Jesus because over these last four years I have learned what it means to be a servant of God though our many charism activities that we do not just do in our theology classes. The charism of Cor Jesu is everywhere in this school and stays with the girls that leave Cor Jesu to wherever they go next. I attach myself to our charism by knowing that because of the many things that I have learned about my faith at Cor Jesu, I am confident that I will stay close my faith as I go on to college and beyond, especially since I will be attending a public university. I know that because of Cor Jesu’s urge to make us women of faith, we will be set for whatever comes our way.

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You can see Cor Jesu's charism in all the people here. We genuinely care about each other and "sharing the love of the heart of Christ," and it's made me more caring and patient.  It's something both my parents and I noticed the first time we visited Cor Jesu. We all agreed there was something special about this school, but couldn't say what. One way the charism was expressed was in one of my first Cor Jesu memories: the Sacred Heart project. I’ve always loved to decorate cakes, especially with my dad, so I made a cookie cake with his help. My family has always been one of the most important things to me, and I wanted to express that in my project. Now, because of the charism of this school, it feels like I have two families: my biological one and my Cor Jesu one. Sophomore year TOB taught us to respect ourselves, and the LASTing Project junior year expressed our charism through service. I went on the Appalachia trip, where we hung drywall and painted for a struggling grandmother and grandson. It was an extremely powerful experience, and it made me a more caring person. The people at Cor Jesu and the charism here have helped me so much, and I am extremely grateful for all the support I have received. I’m reluctant to go, but I’m happy to have had something that hurts me to leave, and I know we'll take the charism of Cor Jesu with us wherever we end up.

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Charism is that seven-letter word we CJ students have learned from our first day in theology class. Smiling and nodding our heads we say we understand—but does anyone really know what it is? Charism is not something you memorize for a test and then just forget about. No one really knows what it truly is until she leaves Cor Jesu. Through singing the alma mater song to recalling the mission statement to living out the core values, the foggy idea of charism becomes clearer. When I see my classmates and the faculty, I am reminded that CJ is not just a place of learning; it is a home. I am lucky enough to be a part of something filled with so much love, not only for one another, but also for our one true love Jesus Christ. Charism is Cor Jesu. I had never thought of myself as a woman of the Heart of Christ until now. When I look back at my everyday occurrences, I wondered how they were special. They were not special through the routine activities I did; rather they were defined special by the actions and words I used. It is not always easy to see the charism immediately in a moment, and that is okay. Sharing Christ’s love can be a challenge, but it is never too great to overcome. By engaging in meaningful relationships and simply treating others as you would like to be treated, sharing the love of the Heart of Christ becomes a reality.

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"Sharing the love of the heart of Christ" shapes each and every aspect of the community. We all live by this motto as we love like Jesus would, and share the love of the sacred heart as an ASCJ would. At Cor Jesu, Charism is found through its students, faculty members, and ASCJs. Because of this motivational atmosphere that shares Jesus's love with everyone, CJ has made me become a woman of the sacred heart. I can now proudly say that I have a stronger sense of spiritually, as well as a new found admiration for the school. This school is so different from any other Catholic school. Cor Jesu's unique charism is the reason that everyone feels at home the moment they step in the building. The passion and love that everyone shares for each other and their faith is something that I am going to greatly miss next year. As CJ girls, everyone knows that we are being prepared to take on the world. I think the charism is something that we also need to take with us, wherever our lives leads.

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In my eyes, the charism at Cor Jesu Academy is seen every day through the community. The love of the sacred heart of Christ is shared between all members of our community, from students to faculty to the sisters. The charism is seen through the support and care of each individual, the love, the words, and the actions of everyone. At Cor Jesu, every person has someone to rely on no matter what. The community goes out of its way to help others in needs, not just through service, but through helping a fellow CJ sister. Cor Jesu has taught me how to be a living example of Christ, and I will continue living out the charism by spreading the love of Christ to people outside of this immediate community.
Because I want to continue living out the charism, it is apparent that I am a woman of the Sacred Heart. I want to continue serving others, because it makes me happy seeing how my actions positively impact others in outside of my community. I like to serve the poor, but I also find service in saving the Earth. God gave us the world, and it is a shame to see how we are abusing it today. Jesus loved all creation, not just humans, so taking care of God's creation is another way to spread the love of the heart of Christ. Without Cor Jesu, I would have never have found the Sacred Heart. I always knew what it was, but I never cared to learn its significance and importance. Without it, I wouldn't be who I am today. I wouldn't understand the meaning of suffering, the importance of service, or the impact one person can leave on a broad community. The Sacred Heart has encouraged me to do things outside of my comfort zone and to do things selflessly and whole heartedly. The charism at Cor Jesu has strengthened my faith and taught me what being a true follower of Christ really means.

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The charism at Cor Jesu is defined by "sharing the love of the heart of Christ". This statement encompasses many actions and values at CJ. You see this charism in the students, staff, and faculty. You pass by a friend in the hall and are greeted with a smile and a wave, the teachers are interested and invested in your academic career - they go out of their way to help students. Teachers are also interested in you as a person and ask how your weekend was or how a dance went. The staff at CJ are always smiling and willing to lend a helping hand. You see the charism in the CJ community. The CJ community is one of the most loving communities in the world. They will not hesitate to pray for you if you or your family is in a rough patch and the CJ community celebrates your achievements with you every step of the way. The CJ community is a family because of the charism.

I have become a woman of the Heart of Jesus through the service learning, community outreach, and charism found at CJ. My LASTing project taught me how to be a woman of the Heart of Christ. It taught me to think in different perspective and to put other's needs before my own. The spirit and love of the charism at CJ is also found at the St. Patrick's center every first Tuesday of the month and at Marian Middle School every Thursday. Spreading the charism has taught me how to be a woman of Christ whether I am in Saint Louis, Mississippi, or helping middle school girls make slime. The spirit and love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a universal language. To me the charism is most meaningful in service to others. Service is a simple way to spread the love and message of the Sacred Heart.

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I define the charism at Cor Jesu as loving others and treating them with respect. Cor Jesu has taught me to think about others and not just myself through its sense of community and inclusion of all. I have becomes more patient, kind, and aware of my actions and how I view others through Cor Jesu. I also have begun to live out these values through service projects both in and outside of Cor Jesu. One of the most impactful experiences of my time here was the LASTing project, through it I was finally able to see the charism of Cor Jesu in action. It was such a special experience to go with other Cor Jesu girls on the Appalachia Service Project last summer. Not only did I bond with other Cor Jesu girls but I bonded with the woman I was serving, Jean. Performing service and fixing Jean's house was great but what really humbled me was her gratitude. We were doing so little for her and she had almost nothing but yet she was so grateful for everything in her life. It put my own life in perspective, especially when I am unsatisfied with it. While the teachings of Cor Jesu have been influential in my understanding of its charism it was only by actively participating in it that I truly understood what is charism.

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The easiest way to describe Charism at Cor Jesu is by looking at the people.  Everyone at Cor Jesu has such a joy as they "share the love of the heart of Christ"  which we joke about doing a lot but almost everyone here does daily.  Through words, actions, and even the simplest act we show our charism every day.   I am a woman of the heart of Jesus by living out this Charism and my faith in my daily life.  I have seen myself grow in my faith through my four years through the Gospel project, sacred heart project, Lasting project, and so many more.  Cor Jesu's core beliefs have now shaped my beliefs and who I am as a person.  The most important thing that I will take away from being here at Cor Jesu is all the love and support I have felt from the wonderful people around me.

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The Charism at Cor Jesu is loving one another with spirit and passion and it is exemplified by everyone that attends. All of the students keep the flame of the Sacred Heart alive through their kind words, thoughtful actions, and unwavering faith. I am a woman of the Heart of Jesus because I spread the Word of God everywhere I go and inspire others to let Jesus into their lives. The Charism of Cor Jesu is within me through my upkeep of the Core Values. I have worked diligently to achieve my education, have kept my faith close to heart, have cared for others in desperate situations, have upheld a personality of integrity, and have served those around me in various ways. I will keep the charism of Cor Jesu in my heart and cherish it throughout my life.

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The alma mater says, "Of the Sacred Heart, our love's bright flame-". I think that this part of the song exemplifies our Charism. The sacred heart is what drives our love. I think that I define this by the service I do, and how I approach difficult tasks that are presented to me. I am a woman of the Heart of Jesus by living out the core values, specifically service to others. Because of Cor Jesus, I have discovered the joy in really connecting with people by helping them. For example, participating in service Saturdays and the lasting project. The Appalachian Service Project had a huge impact on me and I think that I learned a lot about love and community on that trip. Without Cor Jesu I probably would not have had that opportunity to grow in that way. I now think that I am connected to the Charism because my experiences taught me what sharing the love of Christ actually looks like.

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I see charism lived out at Cor Jesu through the extraordinary acts of the students each day. I can't count the number of times I've been taken aback by someone's intelligence, acts of service, and general kindness. Those everyday revelations fit my personal definition of charism. I can leave as a woman of the Heart of Jesus by remaining inspired by my classmates. I would like to leave more intelligent, kind, and selfless than I came in freshman year. For me, this means pushing myself to ask difficult questions in college and not allow my frustration with others to get in the way of being kind. It also means dedicating a portion of my time to serving others, from graduation on.

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The most important thing that I will take away from this school is the service to others part of our charism. When I went on ASP for my Lasting Project, I got to experience for a whole week the compassion and unconditional love from others that you serve. It changed my view, the people we helped didn't even want us to leave because we were able to help them so much and I will never forget that. We helped a family with Christmas our junior ear, and the collaborative effort it took to make that Christmas special for this family. Without team work, we couldn't have done it as individuals, but together we accomplished a goal and helped people in the process. That's what I want to do,  help people with my passions by working toward a common goal. I know that I gripe and groan about some of the stuff that bothers me here, but I will miss the opportunities I had to help people on a large scale, and perhaps just with homework.

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Whether it is at cheers on First Fridays, sports games, Masses, or praying before each class, the spirit of Cor Jesu is prevalent in everyone. We were all introduced to the motto, "Sharing the love of the heart of Christ." This can be seen in simple everyday things, service projects, and of course, theology class. Freshman year, we learned all about our charism, sophomore year we wrote our own mission statements for ourselves, junior year we adopted a family, and for senior year, we had our lasting projects. The love and spirit doesn't stop after freshman year; even if we stop learning about it and thinking about it, it can still be seen in people's words and actions. Our core beliefs can be seen woven into our mission statement and vision statements. Each one of them reflects what we value and what we hope Cor Jesu represents. But it is not just a mission statement and vision statement. It is the people that make it come to life with their faith, love, and spirit. That is what drew me to CJ in the first place. I shadowed on a First Friday and got to see the faith and spirit of Cor Jesu in action. I can continue to be a part of Cor Jesu by living out that same charism and literally share the love of the heart of Christ.

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Charism is a central part of life at Cor Jesu. The Charism of Cor Jesu centers around being as loving as possible. I have encountered that in my friends, teachers, and classmates. Everyone is supportive of each other, and everyone wants to help each other get through the four years here. Freshman year, I learned the core beliefs of Cor Jesu. By going to school here, my classmates and I vowed to do our best to understand and incorporate them into every day life at the school. Sophomore year, I wrote my own charism statement. I remember writing something about never closing myself off from new experiences, and I have upheld that promise to myself since then. Junior year, we learned about Catholic virtues. Although at that point I had learned more about myself and the world and come to the conclusion that I was not Catholic myself, I did not close myself off from learning about things that were central to many people's lives. Finally, this year we've been able to learn about the charism of other religions and explore the world around us outside of our school. The main beliefs at Cor Jesu include caring community, which is not only a communal challenge but an individual challenge to embrace that belief. Community does not only exist in the school but worldwide. Cor Jesu has helped me embrace many different worldviews throughout my time here, and I think my main takeaway from high school is that I am constantly learning. The world is constantly changing and growing in understanding of ourselves and the universe, and I should base my actions off of love for other people in the best, most educated way that I can.

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The charism at this school is very different from what would be experienced at other schools. The Charism of Cor Jesu includes devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through several selfless acts such as the Freshman Service Day, Service Saturdays, adopting a family for Christmas, junior year LASTing Project and everything in between.  Charism of this school also means community because I feel like I have grown very close to all of my CJA sisters through going to school here. I am a women of the Sacred Heart of Jesus because of all of the lessons I have learned through attending the past four years at this school. My faith has gone stronger, I have become more confident, and I have gained an immense amount of knowledge. Therefore, I believe I am now ready to go off on my own and experience the real world. I believe that I carry this Charism of Cor Jesu with me after experiencing it so frequently and deeply over the past four years. As I move on to the next chapter in my life, I will always remember the Sacred Heart and try to spread the love it has provided me to other people.

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After being at Cor Jesu for four years, I've learned what it truly means to act out Charism. Cor Jesu offers no other school can: a learning experience of how we can effect others with our Charism. Freshman year we did our gospel projects. I just got mine back in class, and at the very least I can say I'm surprised. My project was a little rough from being written about four years ago, but my intention of it impacted me the most. Although the actual story itself of my project is pretty bad, the underlying meanings still effect today. The Charism I incorporated into the project still lives on, and will live on forever. Sophomore year we learned about Theology of the Body. The Charism of respecting your body and others still is on my mind to this day. I'm glad that we learned about respecting ourselves early on because high school is a place of change. Junior year I did my Lasting Project. This project impacted me the most. Serving those who need my help and becoming equals was a life changing experience for me. The Charism was not only alive in me, but those who I have served. and lastly, my senior year, we did Penny Queen. Senior year for Penny Queen is always the most eventful. this year I tried more than i have before to buy clothes, snacks, and participate in activities. Just because you are doing something fun, does not mean that it isn't service. Penny Queen week brought together all the Charism of the school and used it to impact the charities we were raising money for. Overall, I've experienced Charism through many situations at Cor Jesu. I'm sad to leave this high school, but I know that I will carry on the Charism and the love of the hear of Christ when I go to college.

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When I think of Charism my first thought goes to the spirit of CJ as well as Mother Clelia. Charism is a huge part of my experience throughout high school. From projects we did each year to spending our first quarter at CJ learning about our Charism and how we have come to be who we are today. Our mission statement of Charism, Sharing the Love of the Heart of Christ, has shaped me to become a student as well as a person of dignity, faith, integrity and compassion. Not only does our Charism work to develop us as spiritually good beings but also in academics. Our vision statement as well embodies the goal for us to be women who will transform the world through our service and love for others. If there was one thing that I would see as defining our Charism is our core beliefs. These fully embody all aspects of what is important to us and what we strive for. After 4 years here, I can see each of these beliefs throughout our community and within each person I pass in the halls. Our core beliefs are truly brought into our everyday lives at CJ inside and outside the classroom. I can tell that the virtues and characteristics of myself that have developed here, I will carry throughout college and the rest of my life.

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While attending Cor Jesu Academy the past four years, the power of Charism has been fulfilled in each and every one of us. Every morning, class, meal, and end of the day we reflect back and thank God for each and every one of our blessings. Realizing it or not, the charism that we experience here at Cor Jesu changes us forever for the better.

I am a woman of the Heart of Jesus in many ways. Through the ways that we have served others at our time at Cor Jesu is only part of the reason. Through Penny Queen Week, Our Junior Service Projects, Service Saturday, Junior Christmas Families, and more has each shaped us to act as the Heart of Jesus.

I am attached to the charism at Cor Jesu through my gained morals and traits that I have learned here. I have learned to be more generous, accepting, loving, and sacrificial. I had mixed feeling about Cor Jesu Academy my first two years but because of the Charism and morals I have learned attending Cor Jesu has been the best decision I have made. The lifetime lessons, traits, and morals that are all contained in our community is truly the charism that no one can be taught about, it’s an experience you have to accept yourself.

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Over my four years of being a Cor Jesu girl, I have come to learn what it means to be a CJ girl outside the school walls. Many a times whether at a store or eating at a restaurant, I have been recognized either by my ring or by my skirt. "You go to Cor Jesu? Must be smart", is the normal response I usually get. However, this past month I had a different experience. I was shopping in a store and a women stopped me saying, "wow, CJ girl I see. Caring, kind, and going places". I was honestly taken back by this, because it was different than I had ever heard. Sharing the love of the heart of Christ is prevalent in every CJ girls life. Even if we do not know it, those we meet day in and day out do. I am proud to tell people I go to CJ and will continue to be in college and beyond. I also experienced our Charism during the lasting project where I served in Appalachia. We helped single mother rebuild her home, and we got to play with her kids every day. It was amazing to be there for her family, not only to work but to be her friend. Cor Jesu has given me the courage to share my beliefs and spread the heart of Jesus to everyone I meet.

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Thinking back on my past four years at CJ, I do not know if I can adequately sum up the entirety of my experiences here. I have had good times and not-so-good times, times that were stressful and insane and times that were full of friendship and genuine kindness. While some times were rough, I can truly say that I’ve learned so much and become who I am today through all that I have gone through here. A recurring main theme at CJ is the mysterious “charism.” Freshmen year, after going through the whole Charism unit in class, I thought I knew what it meant. I thought knowing the kindness of Sister Kathleen Mary and the openness of my new classmates showed me the Charism of Cor Jesu – living with an open mind and heart. Then throughout high school, as friend groups changed and evolved, I learned that things change sometimes in life and that is okay, and I realized that Charism can mean more – being willing to change but to always stay true to your beliefs. This last year, I have learned probably more than any other year of my life. The Lasting Project showed me how the Nicaraguan people are truly faith-filled and joyful, and sharing that joy is so important. My trip abroad on a medical mission trip to El Salvador in the fall showed me how giving your time and energy can be difficult, even draining, sometimes, but it can be so, so meaningful to someone else. And finally, looking forward to my next adventure in life has taught me so much already. I have to be ready to say goodbye in 2 days, and I know that I am ready but not ready. I don’t know the words to say or what to feel. Truthfully, I am very excited and have never felt more ready for college, but I will miss my amazing friends that I have gotten to know so well, and I will always look back at Cor Jesu as a second home. Through this nervousness, I have realized that while I may be anxious, I am prepared through all of these things that I have learned over these years. I know that I am strong, and I believe in myself and my convictions. So, to answer how I define the Charism at Cor Jesu after these 4 incredible, roller-coaster years, I would not have a single definition to give. But trying my hardest to put all I feel into words, I believe that the Charism is learning to love through life, even through difficult times. It is giving of yourself when you feel there is nothing left to give because someone else could use even just a smile. It is taking the time to say hello in the halls to make someone feel warm and loved, or getting coffee with a friend just to talk for hours. I know I will take Cor Jesu with me when I leave. And I know, when I go to “reach the shores of my new dawn,” I will be ready to learn to love through life.

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The first thing that comes to mind when I think about Charism at Cor Jesu is the people. The teachers, students, and alumnae share the love of the heart of Christ everyday through small and large actions. A simple smile in the hall from one of my classmates or a pat on the back from a teacher are the littlest things that make Cor Jesu home. Along with the people, the opportunities that Cor Jesu has presented me with has also shaped my Charism. The opportunity that left the biggest imprint on my heart was the Appalachian Service Trip that I took summer 2017. This gave me a chance to spread the love of the heart of Christ to the people that needed it the most. I met people who were struggling not only heavily financially and mentally, but also in their faith life. It was the first time I spread Cor Jesu's Charism further than just holding the door open for someone or paying for someone's coffee behind me. I felt like I had a made an impact on this family's life. The biggest lesson that Cor Jesu Charism has taught me is not only about helping other people, but about the forever lasting impact spreading the love of the heart of Christ with other people has on me.

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Throughout my four years at Cor Jesu, I have experienced the Charism of the Sacred Heart in many ways. From the sacred heart project to sophomore service day to the LASTing project, we have been encouraged to grow as women of faith through discovery and service. Cor Jesu as an institution desires to create a well rounded individual passionate about education, community, integrity, and service. When I came to Cor Jesu as an impressionable freshman, this school provided me with a place where I could further my education and grow into a strong, well rounded person. When I think of the Charism of the Sacred Heart, I think about the people in my life that have brought me closer to Christ. Many times, it is not the lectures, the classes, and the projects that show me Christ's love, but the people that present this information with the love of Christ. Leaving Cor Jesu, I will bring with me a sense of purpose and a heart geared towards service. I hope to use the love of the Sacred Heart to impact the people of the world.

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Over my 4 years at Cor Jesu charism has been extremely prevalent in the day-to-day CJ lifestyle. As a freshman we interpreted charism and the sacred heart through art. As a sophomore I attended St. Patrick's center volunteering with Sr. Susan Marie consistently all year. As a Junior we sponsored our family at Christmas time. As a senior I traveled to Appalachia for my LASTing project.
The LASTing project was the most memorable charism activity that Cor Jesu has every given me. To me, Charism is love, everything we learned here in our 4 years. Being able to go to a school in a community and surrounded by love and support, that's what charism is. This is evident in events like Kairos and when we can join together for things like Penny Queen and funderwear. We are constantly given opportunities to band together as a community and create happiness from it. Cor Jesu has given us the foundation to create charism in our lives after we leave Cor Jesu and if we continue that charism after, then that defines whether we are a woman of the Heart of Jesus.

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Charism at Cor Jesu is the heart of what the school is about. It is hard not to see charism in the people around the school. Each year we find a different way to share with other people the sacred heart. Being able to serve the kids and teachers at Litzsinger for my LASTing Project helped me to share my charism. I was able to open up my heart and the sacred heart to those who are not just as CJ. Charism at this school is seen in the kindness of all of the teachers and students. Participating in the all school service saturdays is one the biggest show of all. People take time out of their saturday to give back to their community. The past four years at CJ has helped me to see how to share the heart of christ with others

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The charism of Cor Jesu is challenging to define with a concise sentence. I believe that the charism is one of Cor Jesu's best attributes. The charism teaches us, the woman of Cor Jesu, how to lead lives of personal dignity, faith, integrity, and compassion. The teachers, faculty, and students are constant reminders of Cor Jesus's charism. The people that make up Cor Jesu have lived out our charism to the fullest extent through helping me do my best, giving a friendly smile, or just saying 'hello.' Cor Jesus' charism has also given me a deeper belief in my Catholic faith. Through learning about Cor Jesu, theology of the body, and service I have come to understand the Catholic faith and give me ways that I can live out our faith in my daily life. I am a woman of the Heart of Jesus because Cor Jesu has taught me ways that I can truly fulfill our motto of "sharing the love of the Heart of Jesus." I have been provided ways to share this love through Campus Ministry, Charism Connection, the LASTing project, and adopting a family. These ways might have already come to a close or are coming to close as I am getting ready to leave Cor Jesu, however they have given me lasting ways for me to continue to live out Cor Jesu's charism as I go out into the real world.

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Sharing the love of the Heart of Christ is the one phrase I would use to sum up my years at Cor Jesu. The charism is an essential part of the Cor Jesu experience, and I have experienced it in every way possible. By creating my own image of the Sacred Heart, learning about the life of Mother Clelia, sponsoring a family during Christmas time, and carrying out my LASTing Project in Biloxi, Mississippi, I have learned how to be a young woman living for Christ. I am proud of the woman that Cor Jesu has shaped me into, and I credit a lot of that to our charism. I have learned to challenge myself intellectually, to push myself deeper into my faith, and to make connections with those around me. The charism of Cor Jesu is hard to put words to, but I think everyone who walks the halls can feel it. I feel it every day, and I hope to carry it with me as I go off to “reach the shores of my new dawn.”

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The Charism at Cor Jesu can be analyzed word by word. The word that sticks out to me is sharing. It is one thing to have Christ's love in ourselves. We all have that without a doubt. However, Christ did not give us his love to keep it bottled up or hidden away in a drawer. God meant for us to expand on this gift of his and express it in communion with others. That is what we do at Cor Jesu. We come together and bring out the love in others. For example, on Kairos we can reach a deeper relationship with God than ever before, but only when we break down our barriers and spend our time with our classmates and teachers.
I am a woman of the Heart of Jesus in the way that I chose to live. After attending Cor Jesu, I realize that no issue that deals with people is simple. During our junior year of theology, we focused much time on Catholic Social Teachings. We learned the concept of solidarity and how it applies to all aspects of life. The LASTing Project expanded my horizons to the need in our community. It also showed me that I am capable, even as a high school student, of making a difference. I also realized that I can receive great love when I am the one aiming to serve others. Now I better approach the world with an outlook of love towards those I interact with. I try to understand the difficult situations that I have never had to deal with and look for the best way to show Christ's love to those in need. I know that we all are in need of Christ's love. I share in the love of Christ every day whether I consciously realize it or not. I have received much more love than I have the capacity to give, but I am constantly reminded by my peers and superiors about the importance of love in our everyday world.

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Charism at Cor Jesu is unique for every Cor Jesu student. From the Sacred Heart Project Freshman year to the Lasting Project Junior year, Cor Jesu makes it a point to share the love of the heart of Christ with one another and with the community. We each have our own personal relationship with Christ that grows at Cor Jesu in theology class and during service. For me, charism can be shown through song. Just by hearing someone sing, or by singing with someone, a new connection between people is made. That’s why I’m so glad to have been a part of Chamber Choir for 4 years. Every year, we sing and speak with people at soup kitchens and homes for the elderly, and I loved being able to be a part of that. Charism at Cor Jesu strengthens our school community and the St. Louis community. As our mission statement says, “graduates serve as responsible members of the global community”, and I’m ready to take that with me to college next year.

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The Charism of Cor Jesu Academy is central in what we learn, what we do, and who we are. Throughout my four years, I have experienced our Charism daily, but also in big ways, such as learning about what it means in Freshman Theology, writing my own mission statement in Sophomore Theology, doing the LASTing Project the summer after Junior year, and going on Kairos Senior year. Within these experiences I have felt the strength of the CJ community, the love of my classmates, the beauty of service, and the integrity we, as the CJ family, embody. I have also experienced the Charism strongly through the Core Values. At a nationally recognized, college-preparatory school, I have been taught more than I knew was possible, gaining "desired knowledge" and "wisdom to guide" me. At a Catholic school run by the ASCJ, I have experienced "the Sacred Heart, our love's bright flame". At a school that is committed to the students and their wellbeing, I have experienced "the warmth of friendships, pearls of hopes and dreams". At a school that embraces personal dignity and integrity, I have been encouraged to "reach the shores of my new dawn" with constant support and attention. At a school that encourages me to serve as a member of the global community and be passionate for service, I have been inspired to "fill my part in life" just like I have been prepared to do. These ideas, in particular the themes of reparation, compassion, and service are highlighted in the call to develop fully as a person of dignity, faith, and integrity, in the call to serve others throughout the world, in the formation of a loving and caring community, and in the focus of the Sacred Heart. With all of this in mind, the most important thing that I will take away from my CJ experience, is that with a community, faith, and my own ability, I truly am capable of great things. This is how I have been able to apply the Charism to my own life, interpreting it as a guideline for a happy, successful, and full life. Through living it, I have become a woman of the Heart of Jesus, embracing what I have learned about love, community, and faith, and applying it to friendships, service, how I live, and how I will go on in the future. This is how I have adopted the Charism, using it to help me become the person I am today, and establishing the values and ideals that will lead me to living a full, happy, and successful life in the future.

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Charism is holding your core beliefs, values, and desires for the world as the guiding principle for our lives. At Cor Jesu, that means holding our love from Christ for each other as the guiding principle for everything we do at this school. We may not always get it right or do it perfectly. But the point of a charism  is that no matter how far you stray, if you keep coming back to it, eventually it will lead you on the right path. I am a woman of the Heart of Christ because when I see myself being less than I could be (less loving, less joyful, less kind, etc.) I ask God to bring me back to him and make me the best version of myself again. It's not easy. I fail all the time. But every time I ask Jesus to make my heart more like his, I know he brings me a little closer to making that a reality.

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I see the Charism at our school through the connection we have with each other as well as outside of our school community. Our Charism is the loving bond that we all have and I can see it in everyone at this school. We all live for the well-being of each other and I can practically feel it among the CJ community. We always relate every activity in the school to spreading the love of the heart of Christ outward, by turning it into some form of service or care for others. Even if this care is not always the students' choices, you can tell how sincere everyone feels about it. I take part in this through my own sincerity and longing to share the love to others. I believe that just feeling and returning this sincerity among the school and elsewhere, I am already living the Charism.

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Cor Jesu has provided many ways for me to personally experience and share the charism: especially through the people I have encountered during my time here. The people at Cor Jesu have brought the charism of the Sacred Heart alive for me. Freshman year, I was introduced to some of my best friends, one of which would help me grow in my faith more than I ever thought possible. She invited me to her youth group, which I am still involved in today. Sophomore year, I had the opportunity of serving at SPENSA and getting to interact with special needs kids. This opportunity opened my eyes to what it means to "do small things with great love." Just showing up for someone else and being present with them is what Jesus calls us to do. Junior year, I went to St. Patrick's Center with St. Susan Marie to serve dinner to the homeless women. She is an incredible woman of faith who so willingly lives out the charism everyday of her life. Month after month she dedicates time to making the women of St. Patrick's Center feel special and cherished. It was an honor to serve along side her. Finally, this senior year, Cor Jesu prepared me to transform new horizons in college. With my decision to go to Saint Louis University, I cannnot wait to share the love of the Heart of Christ on campus. I am expectant of the ways God will use me to serve the people he's placed in my life. I think that is what charism is all about: unconditionally loving the people in my little world as a result of His overflowing love for me.

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Charism: a share-ism, something you cannot just keep to yourself no matter how hard you try. I genuinely believe that the Charism at Cor Jesu is life changing and becomes a part of every girl who wears a mother of pearl ring on her finger. Through so many different activities these past four years, such as my lasting project or participation in various clubs and service Saturdays, I have embraced the mission statement, alma mater, and core beliefs almost subconsciously, because they are just such an integral part of each and everything we do on 10230 Gravois Road. The mission statement says our Charism is sharing the love of the heart of Christ. To me, this means that you hold yourself to a higher standard because you are a Cor Jesu girl, you give 110% in all aspects of your life because you know that the shirt you wear is bigger than you. And our charism pushes us to be the best version of ourselves. The most important thing I will take away from Cor Jesu isn't the calculus, not even the knowlegde of how to write a lab report, but it is how to be a woman of integrity, and understanding that I have been given all the tools to transform the world through my faith, compassion, integrity and impassioned service.

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The moment I walked into Cor Jesu, I experienced a feeling that I had never felt at the other high schools that I toured. I believe this is the school's unique charism that fills the hallways and the people inside. Some things are impossible to put into words, and I don't think that I could ever explain the charism completely to someone who hasn't experienced it. If i had to define it, our charism "Sharing the love of the heart of Christ," would probably cover it. I think it is best understood through our actions. My understanding has been deepened through different activities such as our Sacred Heart projects, class retreats, and just being surrounded by the CJ community. I feel that after my four years here, I can successfully say that I carry the spirit and charism of Cor Jesu inside myself, whether I'm at Cor Jesu or out in the world.

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Over the past four years, Cor Jesu has taught me what it means to be a woman of character and integrity within the heart of Jesus. Some people assume women are honest and morally upright just based on societal standards. However, becoming a woman of integrity is practiced through the charism taught at Cor Jesu. Freshman year, I learned about what charism was through Christ in the Sacred Heart Project. I took part in a Service Saturday and was able to open my heart to eighth graders as we all created projects to send to men and women in the military. Sophomore year, I wrote my own mission statement to resemble Cor Jesu’s own statement and based my beliefs off of CJ’s strong charism. I learned about Theology of the Body and experienced charism through future life events and how to be able to keep my body sacred through Christ. Junior year, I spent a week in Appalachia, Tennessee fixing a family’s trailer home. We became close throughout the week and before we left, Grandma Dianna told my group she loved us and appreciated us more than anything in the world. After she shed a couple of tears, our group held hands with her family and said a prayer. I have never seen charism brighter and more beautifully then in that moment. If it wasn’t for the sincere charism I learned those last three years, I wouldn’t have recognized the beauty in that moment. I was able to understand how important it is to have God in each of our lives. Senior year, I learned about opening my heart so I am able to be ready to enter the world with a heart still filled with the charism I have been taught and experienced over the past four years. Charism to me has become stronger and more active in my daily life in and out of school and it’s important to me that I keep my charism alive throughout my time in college and beyond. As stated beautifully in our Alma Mater, “Reluctantly we leave to fill our part, in life you have helped us to prepare, fond memories shall echo in our hearts, of fleeting hours spent in your loving care.”

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Throughout my time at Cor Jesu, I have done many charism activities such as the charism scavenger hunt (freshman), penny queen (sophomore), adopting a family (Junior), and applying our charism through college related tasks (senior). Our core beliefs fit into our statements and the alma mater because all state that we are intelligent young women that have the power to make an impact professionally and socially through our careers and service. We do not know where our lives will lead but Cor Jesu prepared us for it. I see themes of compassion in both statements and the alma mater because it calls us to be caring and loving people who are inspired by God to love one another. The most important thing that I will take away from Cor Jesu is the since of friendship and unity. We must go into the world to find open-mindedness and compassion for those with differences. My experiences here have allowed me to think past my “Catholic Bubble” and allow me to branch out into a world of realistic diversity that our world represents. I define charism as a spirit alive in the environment. I define it at this school as the caring and motivated sense of spirit alive in the students and sisters of this high school. I am a woman of the heart of Jesus because I try to live out the life of service and compassion that God calls us to. I relate to our Charism because I also feel called to accept everyone and understand the call to be an educated woman who is ready to serve others when called to do so.

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Charism was first introduced to us in our freshmen theology class. We were all new and confused about what the school would truly become to us. Learning about charism helped us learn about our school and what it stands for. We learned this lesson throughout our four years through a plethora of activities such as our Gospel projects, charism projects, Lasting projects, our personal mission statements, and so on. I believe our charism can be defined as community. It lives in us all and helps us to overcome difficulties in our everyday lives. I am a woman of the Sacred Heart of Jesus simply because i am a member of this community and have been blessed with the opportunities to grow in faith and love while here.

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"Sharing the love of the hear of Christ," a phrase that every CJ girl knows. From the gospel project, to creating our own mission statements, to each Penny Queen week, and finally our LASTing project, the charism has always been present in a CJ girl's life. Cor Jesu’s Core Beliefs are a Catholic-Faith-based community, Excellence in Education, Personal Integrity, Caring Community, and Service to Others. These have all been built into the alma mater, mission statement and our daily lives. They shape us to be who we are. They inspire us to be our best selves and to help the world around us. Cor Jesu has shaped me to be the woman I am today. Through the LASTing project I learned that service is not a chore, it is something to look forward to. Service may help the people you are helping but it also helps you too. CJ has taught me to spread love everywhere I go. From smiling at someone who looks like they are having a bad day to doing service on my own time, the charism will forever live in my heart.

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Charism is the greatest value that Cor Jesu Academy upholds. Over the years, my classmates and I have participated in charism activities including Gospel Projects, mission statements, Lasting Projects, and Kairos. For our charism activities, we got to learn a lot about the importance in participating in charism activities and learning about our love for Christ, and his love for us. In the Alma Mater, we say the words “beneath the shelter of the sacred heart,” which relates to our Core Beliefs because we have a strong belief in the important of the Sacred Heart. Reparation, compassion, and service are also within both statements and the alma mater. In our statements, we say “sharing the love of Christ” which means that we are offering one another compassion and love. The most important thing that I will take away from Cor Jesu is the endless joy and charism spread throughout the school. Our activity in service, compassion, and kindness makes me proud to have gone to Cor Jesu for 4 years. Our charism is visible, and we are dedicated to spreading that love everywhere. I am a woman of the Heart of Jesus because I carry his love and charism in my own heart. As a woman in the Heart of Jesus, I am able to share my charism that Cor Jesu has given me and spread it to everyone.

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I would like to think I know what a Charism is. If I am being honest, I am not sure that I do, but from what I have experienced at Cor Jesu, I think I can explain it. My freshman year of high school consisted of a lot of uncertainty. My relationship with God was always on a surface level.  The first time I was able to understand God in a different way was looking at him through the lens of the Sacred Heart. Being able to do my own interpretation of the Sacred Heart allowed me to decide what God’s love meant to me. My sophomore year, I was able to look at myself through the lens of a perfect creation of God. Once we accept that we are made in in the image of God, we are able to love our selves. I was taught what it means to stand firmly in faith and fight for what is right my junior year. And for my last year at Cor Jesu, I was able to affirm my belief in God with the scientific backing. A charism is the embodiment of passion and determination of a community. Here at Cor Jesu, the passion for sharing the Love of the Heart of Christ is apparent in every aspect of education young women. The faulty and staff are passionate about inspiring minds and being examples of good faith. The students treat each other with respect and promote the well-being of every one. If I have learned anything in my four years, it is that the love of Christ impels us. It impels us to be better every single day. Better individuals that learn actively and fight with passion. The Heart of Christ impels us to love one another and change the world.

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Over the last four years, I have gotten to experience the Charism of Cor Jesu in many different ways. Freshman year it began with the Sacred Heart and Gospel projects, sophomore year I  created my own mission statement and junior and senior year I got to actually go out and do by participating in the LASTing project. Cor Jesu’s Core Beliefs are a Catholic-Faith-based community, Excellence in Education, Personal Integrity, Caring Community, and Service to Others. The vision statement, alma mater, and mission statement are inspired by the core beliefs, and what Cor Jesu strives for. The theme of reparation is present in these statements because it tells of caring students who will always look out for the interest of others. Compassion and Service are way more present compared to reparation because those are some core beliefs of the school. One important thing I will take away from Cor Jesu is the service I have experienced. I would love to continue to do service after I graduate and even get to experience different mission trips in different parts of the world. The Charism of the school to me is simple. I honestly believe it is just to love others as you would want to be loved. I am a woman of the heart of Jesus because I always try to give to others and see the good in everyone.

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Over the last four years, I have participated in multiple Charism activities. During freshman year, we made our own gospel. We created a modern take on the story of Jesus Christ that we could personally relate to. Sophomore year we learned about theology of the body. Junior year and senior year I did my lasting project in Biloxi, Mississippi which kind of tied all the values of the charism I have learned together and put them into action. Our core beliefs fit into the vision and the mission statement because they focus on getting an excellent education and growing as a person so that we can go out into the world and make it a better place. Both of the mission statements involve using our faith-based community in order to grow in faith so that we can go out into the world and share the love of the heart of Christ. The themes of reparation, compassion, and service are seen within both statements and the alma mater by talking about what we learn hear at Cor Jesu and taking out into the world. The most important thing that I will take away from my experience at Cor Jesu is that each person has something important to offer the world, and each person has their own gifts and talents that make them special. I have most enjoyed getting to know people that I never would have talked to without Cor Jesu. The charism at Cor Jesu is defined by the people. The community at Cor Jesu is what makes the charism prominent. It is the way we interact with each other and the way we interact with all people. I am a women of the Heart of Jesus because I have learned many things from Cor Jesu over the years, but the most important thing is how to appreciate everyone and be a part of a community that is so much bigger than myself.

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Charism is the words we plaster on all the walls to remind us that we are good people. But the thing about that is we don't need a wall to remind us. the charism is already in the curriculum more than the anti-plagiarism slogans and it's drilled into our heads freshmen year. The charism is everywhere, and not in a bad way. the LASTing project junior year was the first time i truly understood it, though, because it wasn't just in the halls of school. without a kilt, i look like any other lazy teenager. but at the service site, i was a lifeline.

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It is very easy for me to say that I can find the charism in the activities at Cor Jesu. The charism is significantly shown through our Lasting Projects, Gospel Projects, mission statements, Sacred Heart projects, or activist for justice letter. I was able to experience the love of the sacred heart most through my lasting project. I had done service before but the reflections I had to do for the lasting project has rounded my view of service. The charism taught me that service was not about changing myself, but helping and changing others. The charism is seen in every person and action at Cor Jesu. Each woman, including myself, has been shaped by the love of the sacred heart. I can walk down the halls of Cor Jesu and see the smiling faces and know that these girls will care for me no matter what. When I walk into the class room, I know the teachers want me to learn and understand the concepts so that I can use them to better the world around me. Cor Jesu has not only provided me with string education but they have given me a loving and caring nature. I know that I will leave Cor Jesu and carry the charism and love of the Heart of Jesus with me and share it with all those I meet. Cor Jesu has truly paved a path of greatness for me. The have set me up with many opportunities so that I may become successful in my career and faith.

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Cor Jesu expresses its Charism in everything it does. Beginning freshman year with the Sacred Heart project, service days in sophomore year, letters affirming Mother Clelia’s virtue during junior year, and finally in the LASTing project senior year we have practiced and learned about our charism in class. This is characteristic of Cor Jesu’s mission and vision statement. The Core Beliefs are reflected in these statements as well as they stress academic excellence by challenging students and helping them to grow. They also mention compassion and service, which is central to Cor Jesu’s charism. Reparation, compassion, and service are common themes in both the mission and vision statements. They say that students will “grow in their faith” and continue “sharing the love of Christ.” One important take away from my experience at Cor Jesu is the importance of giving yourself to others. It is often easy to get caught up in everything that is going on around me. I tend to be so consumed by my schoolwork, friends, family, and work that I forget how lucky I am. I have been so blessed in my life to have the opportunity to go to Cor Jesu and have the opportunities and experiences it has provided me. Even further, it has encouraged me to reach out and share my blessings with others whether it was through physical service or writing letters to people in positions of power to push for social justice. Although there have been times when I was frustrated with my day or even with Cor Jesu, I know that I have been extremely lucky to be here and share in Cor Jesu’s charism. I know that I will strive to continue sharing the love of Heart of Christ.

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Charism means something different to each girl at CJ, i believe. We all contribute to our charism being religious or not just by making the society that is Cor Jesu. I remember my sacred heart project from freshman year, my gospel project sophomore year, and the USM letter we wrote to the leaders of our modern society. The sacred heart of jesus is stressed in our prayers as well as in the Alma Mater saying "beneath the shelter of the sacred heart". Reparation, compassion, and service are shown through the Lasting Project in giving back to our society, compassion through the caring way we all treat each other, and reparation to our service of giving back to the society we live in. I'll take away this charism into my life outside CJ by loving everyone i come into contact with and truly trying to be a light of love in the world through my actions rather than my words.

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Our core beliefs are excellence in Education, Catholic faith-based community, caring community, personal integrity, and service together. In our alma mater, these are reflected in certain lines. For excellence in education we say, “Desired knowledge through paths of light and truth.” And we see caring community in the line of “The warmth of friendships, pearls of hopes and dreams.” Both the statements and the alma mater highlight the importance of service, “CJ student transforms the world through the impassioned service.” One thing I will take away from Cor Jesu is how to handle lots of work and time management.

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I transferred to Cor Jesu my senior year, so although I may not have participated in all of the Charism activities, I have definitely felt the Charism throughout these past few months. I see charism within my fellow classmates everyday. The warmth of friendship is something I have witnessed repeatedly. I have only been here at Cor Jesu for a few months but the kindness that everyone has shown me makes me feel like the Sacred Heart is home. The caring community is compassionate towards others and willing to help when others are in need. I may not have been here all four years, but as I leave I will remember the kindness i was shown this past year and take it with me.

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Over the last four years, the Charism of Cor Jesu has always been alive and well. Freshman year, the very first thing we learned about in theology was the Charism. Learning about our history helped welcome everyone into the community. We ended the unit with our sacred heart projects, which was a cool way for everyone to express what the sacred heart means to us and what we learned. Sophomore year, we made our own mission statement. We reflected on our school’s vision and mission first. This was another great activity where we were able to express what we learned in a way that was meaningful to us. Junior year, we had many different Charism activities. My favorite was working on the 100 Neediest Cases. We were able to help make someone else’s Christmas better by sharing the love of the heart of Christ. It was one of the many ways we built on our Charism.  As our four years have come to an end, one of our last major Charism activities was the LASTing Project. This was an opportunity to take everything we’ve learned  and share it with others. Serving others in the community with the Charism in our heart was a great learning experience and service opportunity. While the activities vary, each year we have found a way to express our Charism and continue learning. Furthermore, our Core Beliefs are held in the hearts of the faculty, staff, and students. Our mission, alma mater, and and core beliefs are all interconnected. After being here for four years, the biggest message I will take away is sharing the love of the heart of Christ. The community here has shaped me into a better person through the service, compassion, and love of this school.

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Throughout my four years at CJ I have experienced the Sacred Heart through so many different things. Freshman year I painted a picture of my hands and Jesus’ hands as a sacred heart, junior year I went out of town to do service for my LASTing project, and many other projects in my theology classes. At CJ our core beliefs are focused through our statements and the alma mater and all of these focus on helping women share god’s love and excel in whatever they do. Cor Jesu has helped shaped my into a strong woman who has compassion for others, shared God’s love, and has integrity for myself. The most important thing I will take away from CJ is that I will always have a caring community that will push me to excel in life, my education, and surround myself with people that will do the same.

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Over the past four years at Cor Jesu Academy we have indulged in numerous charism activities such as the Sacred Heart project freshman year, creating our own mission statement sophomore year, and the lasting project junior and senior year. Our Core Beliefs, Vision Statement, Mission Statement, and Alma Mater all share one overarching message of students serving and thriving in a caring and faith based community with dignity and integrity. From my time here at Cor Jesu, I will take the valuable lessons and knowledge I have gained and use it to my best abilities in the world outside of Cor Jesu. I will never forget the friendships and academic support I have received and hope to carry that on in college. The Charism at Cor Jesu Academy is unlike anything else. It helped and prepared me to be the best version of myself while building on my faith in and outside the classroom. Cor Jesu Charism is building a community strong in faith and integrity while building on those values within yourself.

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The charism I have experienced in my four years at Cor Jesu has been evident in many activities we participated in. We started off doing our sacred heart project, and I learned about the significance of each part of the image.  Sophomore year, we created our own mission statements, which helped me reflect on my core values as a child of God. Junior year into senior year was my most memorable charism activity, which was the LASTing project. I was given the opportunity to go out of my comfort zone and serve the elderly. Our beliefs and values are represented in the alma mater and the mission statement because we believe in living out our faith and treating everyone with the love of Jesus. Another big part of this is service and compassion, which we express in the activities and classes we attend every day. I know that from my experience from Cor Jesu, I will take away all the memories of how we were taught to love and respect one another. I learned the importance of service not just in the years I am at Cor Jesu, but for the rest of my life. This is the most important thing I will take away from Cor Jesu, and the friendships that will last a lifetime. I am a woman of the heart of Jesus because I try to live a life of service and love based on the values I am taught here.

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The Charism at Cor Jesu is defined by the alma mater and clearly showing by the Catholic faith-based community at Cor Jesu. "Reluctantly, we leave to fill our part in life - you have helped us to prepare." This quote from the alma mater reminds me of the powerful community of people we have at Cor Jesu. We prepare and encourage each other (student to student and teacher to student) to leave Cor Jesu with the mindset of making a difference in the world. The concept of making a difference is most encouraged through the LASTing project junior/senior year. We each left to "fill our part" by taking part in community service in order to make a difference in the life of others. The most important thing I will take away from Cor Jesu is all of the great memories it has given me. I have had the most amazing times with my Cor Jesu classmates, and I will never forget the friendships I have made here.

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The first Charism activity I took part in was the Sacred Heart Project freshman year. I really enjoyed it, and was able to really reflect on the influence of Jesus in my life. After this introduction to the charism, I continued to see Jesus in my life throughout my four years here. You can also see our Core Beliefs in action in the halls everyday. Our Vision Statement and Mission Statement reflect these beliefs by saying that we offer challenging academics and dedicate ourselves to the Sacred Heart. I would define the charism of this school as showing Christ's love through our actions and kindness towards others as well as through our passion for learning and community. It has been hard for me to be a true woman of the Heart of Jesus because I don't identify as a woman. However, I have been a nonbinary person of the Heart of Jesus through my work towards promoting diversity and inclusion in this school. I would say that I attach myself to the charism by encouraging others to "share the love of the heart of Christ" with everyone regardless of race, gender, sex, sexual orientation, age, etc.

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There was a lot of Charism activities throughout our years, like the Sacred Heart project, our LASTing project, and a bunch of smaller projects in theology class. Our core beliefs, excellence in education, faith-based and caring community, personal integrity, and service, are obvious in the mission statement, the vision statement, and the alma mater. Cor Jesu is preparing us to be compassionate and forgiving women who serve those around us. From Cor Jesu, I have learned to challenge and support my beliefs. In the halls, in class, and throughout every CJ activity, I feel at home with these girls I've spent my last 4 years with. The charism at CJ is indescribable; it has encouraged me to see the Heart of Jesus in every person I encounter. Without Cor Jesu, I would not have the relationships I have now, and all my future relationships would not be a strong. I will carry the Heart of Christ with me for the rest of my life.

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The past four we have done many different activities that has showed our charism. Freshmen year we made our sacred heart projects, Sophomore year we wrote our own personal mission statement, Junior year we wrapped presents for the 100 neediest cases, and Senior year we did our Lasting Projects. Charism at Cor Jesu is sharing the love of the heart of Christ. It is one of the first things we heard at Cor Jesu and it continues to be relevant even in our final days as chargers. The charism is what makes Cor Jesu what it is today. I am a woman of the Heart of Jesus because I have learned how to share His love with others and how to be a better person. I have learned when and how to lend a hand to someone in need. I think I have been shaped into the woman I am today because of the charism here. As we reach the shores of our new dawn, I am able to look back and see how the charism has shaped my life and will continue to shape my life for many years to come.

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The Charism at Cor Jesu is evident from the time you walk through the doors here. You can clearly see the love of the heart of Christ shining through each of the students, faculty, and embedded within the ciriculum at CJ. For example, Freshamn year we completed the Sacred Heart Project where I had the opportunity to draw a picture expressing all the elements contained within the Sacred Heart of Christ, and I found bible verses that showed how to live out the love of Christ. Sophomore year, I was able to create my very own mission statement based on the one here at Cor Jesu. It provided a unique chance for me to really reflect on what the mission here at CJ means to me and how I can personally live it out within my own life. Junior and Senior year, we completed the LASTing Project which allowed me to travel to Nicaragua to not only help bring clean water to a community, but more importantly to learn how to love unconditonally just like Jesus did. I will never forget the importance of accepting all people for who they are which is what the people in Nicaragua showed me.  Our core beliefs clearly fit into both the mission and vision statement, but make up our Alma Mater where it says we gain knowledge by discovering the truth through our education which is all guided under the protection of the Sacred Heart. The themes of service , compassion, and reparation are also shown in the Alma Mater especially when it says we are surrender our souls meaning we focus on God's will for us which is to serve others, and when it says we leave to fill our part where we are putting our faith into action by showing endless compassion to those around us. In my past four years at Cor Jesu, I have been challenged in more ways than I can count, but I will never forget everything that I've learned at Cor Jesu. I especially won't forget what it means to be a part of a community centered on the love of Christ, a community that encourages each other and that really desires the best for each individual. Cor Jesu has prepared me in all aspects of life to go out and make a positive difference in the world.

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During freshman year, one of the most memorable charism activities was the Sacred Heart Project. For that, I was able to create a video that exemplified people all over the world sharing the love of the heart of Christ. This was a great way to be introduced into Cor Jesu because we learned about the core values and the beliefs of the school and how it all ties in. Sophomore year we made our own mission statement. This was a great way to reflect on my specific beliefs and contain that all in a few lines. We looked at the Cor Jesu mission statement as an example for our mission statements, which allowed us to learn more about the CJ mission statement. For junior and senior year, our charism activity was the LASTing project. This was my FAVORITE way to share the love of the heart of Christ. Our core beliefs fit in both statements and the alma mater. The excellence in education is lived out everyday in our daily lives, and it reflects in the alma mater when we talked about desired knowledge and wisdom to guide us. The mission statement is also just a longer version of the core values, so that is how it fits in. Reparation, compassion, and service fit within both statements and the alma mater because we talk about sharing the love of the heart of Christ, embracing personal dignity, faith, integrity, and compassion. The mission statement also says that, "Empowered intellectually, spiritually, and morally, graduates serve as responsible members of the global community." That is a good summation of the values of the students and teachers at CJ. One important thing that I will take away from Cor Jesu is my study habits as well as the sisterhood bond that we created.

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Charism is this abstract idea that most of us know what it feels like at Cor Jesu through the spirit, love, and warmth of this community, but don’t really know how to define. You can see it in your teachers, faculty members, friends, and alumni, but what does this actually mean? I thought I had a good grasp on what this was my freshman year when doing my Sacred Heart project, but could only say it was this warm, fuzzy “feeling” I got when I first stepped foot on campus. Sophomore year, I was made more aware of how the mission of this community has influenced my personal values and individual growth as I created my own “mission statement” in the likes of the one our school holds so dearly. Most importantly, I have been fortunate enough to dive more deeply into the charism of Mother Clelia during the past 2 ½ years (junior and senior year) on Charism Connection team. On this 5 day trip to our sister school SHA and ASCJ provincialate in Connecticut with 6 students from both CJ and SHA, my mindset of charism went from it just being the “spirit” of CJ to a more mature, thoughtful idea. Now, I know that the charism is much more than just energy and warmth, but is comprised of the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to Mother Clelia and the Apostles of the Sacred Heart to serve the community and build up the Kingdom of God by educating and shaping us to be women of God into our lives beyond Cor Jesu. Over my four years at Cor Jesu, I have become the best version of myself- someone that is more compassionate, spirited, and welcoming in my community. Furthermore, the charism of Cor Jesu has instilled in me a heart like the Most Sacred one of Jesus, one that is on fire with love for others. This is evident in the way I serve others, express my thoughts, carry myself with dignity, and love others without fail.

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Although I can barely remember any of the activities we did these past four years, I do remember the Sacred Heart Project. I did it with partner and we made a movie. Looking back on it, the movie is really awful and not cute or funny. But I remember enjoying it when I was a freshman and thinking it was hilarious. We also did a thing sophomore year where we made a song about modesty, and I still remember some of it today. That was really fun and it really got the whole chastity message across. Junior year we lasting project. I waited until the last week of school to turn in all my forms for that, and all I remember was being really stressed because I couldn’t find a place to serve. But I liked serving over the summer. Senior year, we just took a lot of quizzes and that’s all I remember doing. I don’t think I retained any of that information though. Still, the class was filled with funny people, do at least class wasn’t boring. Both statements emphasize the idea that Cor Jesu Academy is a school focused on preparing students for college and sharing the love of the heart of Christ. Furthermore, the statements also speaks about the dignity, faith, integrity, and compassion students who attend this school are supposed to have. Overall, the statements are trying to instill intellectual, spiritual, and moral ideas into the school and anyone who hears the statement. All of these messages are also included in the core values. The whole point of these statements is to instill the idea of service and compassion towards others. That’s pretty much what the entire thing is about. Throughout all four years of me being at this school, there have been service opportunities after service opportunities being talked about around school that you could take part in. The most important thing I will take away from Cor Jesu is the ability to juggle so many assignments and still somehow succeeding.

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Within my four years at Cor Jesu, I have learned a lot about my faith life and truly understand the charism of the Sacred Heart. When we started, I worked with my grandpa to create my representation of the image of the Sacred Heart. He helped me cut out and stain a wooden cross which I now have hanging in my room and reminds me of him every time I see it and how we bonded over making it even though he isn’t with us anymore. Sophomore year we created a mission statement for ourselves. We really dug deeper into the true meaning of the mission and vision statement of Cor Jesu and learned what the sisters and the school valued. As we reflected on this, we made our own mission statements that helped us discover what was important to us. We learned the importance of justice and doing what is right and treating others with respect and remembering the dignity of all people through the Activist for Justice letter. We reminded different organizations of the importance of respecting all people and considering the dignity of all and how they can improve their organization to be more inclusive or help others. Finally the LASTing project helped us to go out and truly serve and make a difference and be God to others in the community. The one thing that I will take away from my experience at CJ is seeing the heart of Christ to others and sharing the love of the heart of Christ. I learned how to better share the love of the heart of Christ through the Charism of CJ. I recently received the “Heart of the Lyons Award” from the St. Louis Women’s Ultimate Coalition. This shows how CJ has helped me grow in integrity and being compassionate to others because it is given to the player who is most hardworking, respects and shows integrity to her opponents, exemplifies the spirit of the game, and supports her teammates on and off the field. My time at Cor Jesu has helped me to grow more confident and stronger and the Charism has truly prepared me to go out, set big goals for myself, and reach for the shores of my new dawn.