In 1997 a meeting was held at which ideas were asked for to mark the triple celebration of 2000 years of Christianity, Kilgraston’s 70^th birthday and the Bi-centennial of the founding of the Society of the Sacred Heart by Saint Madeleine Sophie. In October 1998, the first letters went out to all our schools worldwide, inviting representatives to visit Kilgraston in October 2000. They were also asked to send a tile depicting their school or country which would, eventually, be included in a tile map to be placed on a wall at Kilgraston School. An art exhibition was also planned.

After countless letters and e-mails had traversed the world, the big day arrived. First to be welcomed were Sister Noellina, Headmistress of our school in Uganda, with Calistus, a young master from the school, and Olivia, their Head Girl. Within 24 hours, Olivia was a ‘Kilgraston girl’, joining in everything, making friends, and even welcoming the other visitors as they arrived. The Sacred Heart family increased as we were joined by pupils and staff from England, Ireland, Belgium, Malta, Spain, Austria, Mexico, the United States, Chile and Korea. We felt particularly privileged to have so many Sacred Heart nuns with us for the weekend, including four past Headmistresses of Kilgraston. What a very special occasion this was!

On Friday, 20^th October, our visitors processed into the Chapel carrying flags of their own country, which were placed behind the altar, and photographs of Mater Admirabilis in situ in each of their schools were displayed. This was a very moving ceremony. It was followed by the opening of the Art Exhibition by artist Lys Hansen, and after supper everyone went outside on a still, frosty night to enjoy a superb fireworks display. On Saturday all attended various workshops, including poetry, mime, art and Scottish dancing. After lunch two busloads left for Falkland where they were shown round the historic Palace after which they thoroughly enjoyed shopping in this lovely small town. In the evening, 350 entered Perth City Hall to the sound of pipes and drums and were introduced to the joys of Scottish dancing – the Gay Gordons, Strip the Willow, Military Two Step and Dashing White Sergeant (one set was so determined that the Belgian and Austrian contingent would not be left out that they had SIX dancers meeting each ‘three’, causing great confusion and hilarity!). What a delight it was to see Sister Noellina dancing the reel, ‘Duke of Perth’, as if she had been doing it all her life! There was entertainment too. The Juniors sang and danced, we had Highland Dancing, the Kilgraston Scottish Fiddle Group played, we had Northumbrian pipers, the Staff and Pupil Choir sang and very special items were the singing to guitar accompaniment of our three Mexican teachers and the drum tattoo performed by Olivia from Uganda, Crystal Rae of Kilgraston and Sister Aideen Kinlen from Ireland, which was followed by a solo, sung by Olivia. Parents and past pupils joined us for this memorable evening.

On Sunday, a very special Jubilate Mass was celebrated by Bishop Logan, Bishop John Mone, Archibishop Keith O’Brien and Father Ian Wilson. Sister Mary Cavanagh recalled the life of St Madeleine Sophie Barat during this, at times, quite emotional ceremony, a representative from each visiting country spoke in his/her own language and Sister Mary O’Connor, who was a religious at Kilgraston when it opened in 1930, was presented with a gift. The music was wonderful and was recorded for a CD which is now available. Lunch was served to over 400 before it was time for emotional ‘goodbyes’.

As thirty of our visitors were not leaving until Monday, some of the staff joined them in Central Hall on the Sunday evening and held a memorable farewell party at which Sister Kim from Korea sang, Elena and Miguel from Seville demonstrated the flamenco, our Ugandan trio sang, played their drums (which they later presented to the school) and had everyone following them in an African ‘conga’.. The Americans sang songs from ‘Oklahoma’ and our Maltese student showed us what modern dancing is all about! Marika de Pettes, a former pupil of Kilgraston, played her lyre, Louise Docherty sang and, with Joan Blue on piano, we had community singing and more Scottish dancing.

The whole weekend made for lasting friendships with our overseas family of the Sacred Heart and was a wonderful experience, not only for those from abroad, but also for all our own girls at Kilgraston.