Concept

Our Lady of Sion School

Summary
Our Lady of Sion School is an inter-denominational, independent school for male and female students, founded in 1862 and located in Worthing, West Sussex, on the south coast of England. Based on the teachings of Theodor Ratisbonne and Alphonse Ratisbonne, the school is part of a worldwide network of schools founded by the Sisters of Sion. Other Sion Schools can be found in Australia, Canada, Brazil, Costa Rica, France, Turkey, and the United States. The Senior School is situated partially upon the site of the original convent, whilst the Junior School, a conversion of a large Victorian home, is located three roads away. The school's current Headteacher is Mr Steven Jeffery. The school motto is Consideration Always. Marie Theodor Ratisbonne, born in 1802, was a French Jewish convert to the Catholic Church, born into a wealthy Jewish banking family in Strasbourg. His younger brother Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne was born in 1814. Two of thirteen children, their father, Auguste Ratisbonne served as President of the Provincial Council of Alsace. Hailing from a background of great wealth and prosperity, the Ratisbonne family were notable members of society. The Ratisbonne family were assimilated into the secular society of France, but played an active role in the "regeneration" of the Jewish people, through education of the poor. Nonetheless, resultant of their assimilation to French society, religious practice did not play a significant part of the family's life. Despite his education at the Royal College of Strasbourg fostering a more academic rather than religious upbringing, Theodor was drawn to religion. Religion was "repugnant" to him, both his own religion "and all other religions" too. At the age of 22, following the conversion of many friends, including Emile Dreyfus, Alfred Mayer and Samson Liebermann to Christianity, Theodor spent two years under the guidance of a local Catholic catechist named Louise Humann, studying both Hebrew scriptures and the New Testament.
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