From the Principal

In last week’s Newsletter, I wrote of my intention this week to reference one of our Founders, Mary Ward, given it was Mary Ward’s Feast Day on 30 January. For the benefit of those new to our community, John XXIII College is blessed to have three Founders, St Pope John XXIII, St Ignatius of Loyola and Mary Ward.

When considering this reflection, I am particularly conscious of the ‘storyline’ that has saturated our students’ news feeds over the Christmas holidays. A storyline including a massacre in their own country in Bondi; ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the suffering in Gaza, the military removal of the Venezuelan President, threats to Greenland and Mexico, uprisings in Iran and people being shot by ICE agents in the US. Capturing just some of what has happened over the break is hard enough for most adults to fathom, let alone children with growing minds.

I am also conscious of Pope Leo XIV’s strong appeal over the holiday break for humility, dialogue, and a renewed commitment to multilateralism, given peace is increasingly being sought through force rather than justice. This is, of course, particularly pertinent to a College whose motto is Seek Justice.

I wonder what Mary Ward would say?

Given Mary Ward lived in the heart of England during a time when the Catholic faith was undergoing tremendous persecution, and she was also imprisoned twice by the Church for her progressive vision, she was well familiar with a tumultuous world. Her legacy, a true testimony to the power of perseverance, was also not bound by the limitations of her time.

But how did she choose to approach such a tumultuous world?

In a letter written to her spiritual advisor, Fr Roger Lee SJ in 1615, Mary Ward writes about The felicity of this estate. ‘Estate’ in this context refers to ‘a way of life’, which is often associated with good humour, hope, courage, inner peace and optimism. All important and endearing qualities, of course.

As Sr Sandra Perrett CJ wrote in 2021,

‘the difference for one living from a spirit of felicity is that her trust and faith in God’s presence and loving mercy ensures she can end each day and begin the next, popping upright with an open mind and generous heart.

Mary Ward, like St Ignatius, followed two simple techniques to assist in this living with challenges and yet remaining felicitous, open and generous: the practice of discernment in choosing well by being attentive to what’s best and what’s not, and the 5 minute exercise of the daily Examen, looking back over the day to be grateful for the blessings, to note the bumps and our responses to them and then to seek the grace of a new day, having learnt from the lessons of the one just gone.’

Robyn Wunder, Spiritual Director of Jesuit and Ignatian Spirituality Australia (JISA) wrote recently, ‘Discernment is not about straining to see that distant signpost but softening enough to notice the pulse of grace already moving through my senses, my body and my relationships.’

Back to my question, then, I wonder what Mary Ward would say? Perhaps our senior student leaders of Loreto schools across Australia have already answered the question in their writing of the Felicity prayer for 2026:

God of Light,

Friend of friends;

You call us to see Felicity in the ordinary of everyday,

and to find peace within.

Inspire us to live with open minds, gracious hearts and joyful spirits,

with gratitude for the blessings in our lives.

May we have the courage to serve others,

grounded in a faith that does justice and brings hope to our world.

Guided by our Loreto tradition,

may we live with cheerful hearts;

seeking to uplift others, always acting out of love

and remembering