Faith and Mission
From the Mission and Identity Team
Year of Sincerity
‘We should be such as we appear and appear such as we are’
Sincerity, our Loreto Value for this year encapsulates the essence of authenticity and honesty in one's interactions with self, others, and God. At its core, sincerity denotes a genuine alignment between a person’s inner beliefs and outward expressions, a ‘what you see is what you get’. Mary Ward's timeless quote, "We should be such as we appear and appear such as we are," captures this understanding, emphasising the importance of consistency between inner self and outward expression.
This year Loreto people worldwide are called to present themselves to the world with integrity, encouraged to remove their ‘masks ‘and in doing so to understand this is this the true authentic self, the self that God wants for each one of us.
Sincerity also fosters trust and deepens connections within communities. When individuals engage sincerely, they invite others to do the same, fostering an ‘open circle’ built on openness, mutual respect, and love.
In essence, sincerity in thought, word, and deed is not merely a value but a way of life. It calls upon individuals to live authentically, cultivating meaningful relationships and contributing positively to the world around them. As Mary Ward envisioned, embracing sincerity allows individuals to navigate life with clarity, purpose, and unwavering integrity.
Project Compassion 2024
With Lent beginning next week Catholic Schools across Australia will be launching Project Compassion in support of the vital work of Caritas Australia in recognising the Human Dignity of all people. This year the theme for Project Compassion is For All Future Generations which shows the impact that projects established today can have generationally.
Our girls will be supporting Project Compassion through the Season of Lent and will finish with the annual Purple Day on Monday 8th of April. Look out for many chances to support the work of Caritas in the Senior and Junior School, beginning with Shrove Tuesday Pancakes next week.
Our Liturgical Life
Senior school leaders led a beautiful whole school liturgy on the first day of school during which they revealed the 2024 school banners designed and created by them.
The banners reflect this year’s Loreto value of Sincerity held by all Loreto schools globally. Formally welcomed by the students, New Loreto Principal, Ms Kylie McCullah was presented with school symbols such as the school sports, hat, ribbon and a usb containing our school’s hymns “Queen of Loreto” and “The Holiday Hymn”. Finally, Ms McCullah addressed the student body introducing herself and thanking the leaders for their thoughtful gifts.
The first Junior school liturgy for 2024 was held on Monday week 2. During this time, Mrs Lisa Sexton, Assistant Principal-Head of Junior school, was welcomed and blessed. A time of prayer and song, junior school liturgies are a wonderful way to begin the week. Parents are always welcome.