Mission and Identity
From the Mission and Identity Team
Becoming One – Courage in the Spirit of Mary Ward
Have confidence God will work in the confusion
Mary Ward, 1616
Tuesday November 4th marked a historic and hope-filled moment for the global Mary Ward family. The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM), known to us as the Loreto Sisters, and the Congregation of Jesus (CJ) have officially become one. After centuries of walking parallel paths, these two congregations, both inspired by the vision of Mary Ward, have united as a single body, continuing her mission of faith, justice, and education in the spirit of freedom.
This union is more than a structural change; it is a courageous act of faith. It takes deep trust to step beyond what is known and familiar, and to reimagine a new shared future. The Loreto and CJ Sisters have shown us what true courage looks like, courage that is grounded in prayer, discernment, and the belief that God’s Spirit is always leading us forward.
Mary Ward was herself a woman ahead of her time. She believed that “women, in time to come, will do much,” and her life’s mission was guided by the conviction that God’s love calls us to respond boldly to the needs of our world.
Although her vision faced opposition in her lifetime, she never lost hope. That same spirit now lives on through the unity of the IBVM and CJ Sisters, reminding us that courage often means letting go, listening deeply, and trusting in what is yet to unfold.
For us as a school community, this moment invites reflection. What does it mean to live courageously today? How can we, like Mary Ward, remain open to change, to encounter, and to unity? The coming together of these two congregations is a powerful reminder that we are always stronger when we walk together in faith and friendship.
As the Loreto and CJ Sisters begin this new chapter as one, may we too be inspired to act with the courage to reimagine, to include, and to lead with love.
Martina O’Connell
Assistant Principal: Mission & Identity
Year 10 Reflection Day – Living in Verity
On Thursday, November 6, the Year 10 students gathered at The Monastery, for their final Reflection Day of the year. The peaceful setting provided a sacred space to pause, reflect, and celebrate the spiritual growth that has unfolded throughout their Loreto journey.
Guided by their mentor teachers, students explored the theme of Verity – Mary Ward’s call to live with integrity, authenticity, and truth. Their day centred on the prayer:
God of all goodness, help us to live with compassion, courage, and hope; to care for the earth, to serve the poor, and to walk humbly in truth; create a world where peace and justice grow like seeds of light.
Through learning, discussion, and creative reflection, the students wrote personal affirmations and prayers that expressed how they can embody Verity in everyday life. Many created friendship bands, symbolising unity, kindness, and the strength found in genuine relationships.
The day invited students to recognise God’s presence within themselves and others, inspiring gratitude for the friendships and faith they have nurtured across this year together. As this final reflection day of the year concluded, there was a sense of quiet joy and accomplishment—an awareness that spiritual growth continues beyond the classroom through acts of service, honesty, and compassion.
The Year 10 Reflection Day was a wonderful culmination of the students’ spiritual formation in 2025—a time to look back with gratitude and forward with courage, walking in Verity and carrying the Loreto spirit into the next chapter of their journey.
Nancy Rodi
Learning Leader of Religious Education 7-12