House Saints

After a long and collaborative process, we are excited to introduce our four new house saints. Our four houses will be named in honour of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, St Carlo Acutis, St Francis of Assisi and St Josephine Bakhita.

Each saint has been carefully chosen because their life reflects an important value that we want to shape who we are as a learning community: Belonging, Compassion, Dignity and Service.

At the heart of these four values is the example of St Teresa of Calcutta, our school patron. Mother Teresa taught through both her words and actions that every person is created in the image of God and deserves to be loved, welcomed, and treated with dignity. She noticed those who were overlooked, stepped towards those in need and shows that extraordinary love can be expressed through ordinary actions.

Our new House Saints continue this same Gospel call in their own distinctive ways:

🟡 MacKillop House — Service

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop responded to the needs she saw around her through practical and courageous action, particularly through educating children and supporting vulnerable ocmmunities. Like Mother Teresa, Mary shows us that service begins by noticing a need and choosing to do something about it.

🔴 Acutis House — Belonging

St Carlo Acutis was a young person who used his interests, gifts and love of technology to connect people with their faith. Like Mother Teresa, Carlo reminds us to notice others and create a community where every person is welcomed, valued and knows they belong.

🟢 Assisi House — Compassion

St Francis of Assisi showed radical compassion for people experiencing poverty and illness, while also having a profound love and reverence for all of God's creation. He recognised that people, animals and the natural world are interconnected parts of God's creation and worthy of our care. Like Mother Teresa, he chose to move towards those who were suffering rather than turn way. His example also reminds us that compassion extends to caring for our common home by protecting and nurturing the world around us for future generations.

🟣 Bakhita House — Dignity

After experiencing slavery, violence and captivity, St Josephine Bakhita came to live a remarkable life of freedom, faith and forgiveness. Her story reminds us of the inherent, God-given dignity of every human person. Like Mother Teresa, Bakhita calls us to recognise each person as sacred, particularly those who may be overlooked or marginalised.

Together, our four House Saints give us four powerful ways of living out the Gospel:

Belonging: Everyone has a place

Compassion: We respond with love

Dignity: Every person is sacred

Service: We put our faith into action

As our students learn more about their House Saint, these values will become much more than House names or colours. They will provide a shared language for the kind of people we hope to become and the kind of community we continue to build.

Four Saints. Four Values. One community - inspired by Mother Teresa and called to live the Gospel through our words and actions.

Regards,

Sophie McKinnon

Faith & Community Leader