Mission and Identity

From the Mission and Identity Team

Pope Francis 

In the spirit of our Catholic tradition, we continue to be inspired by the life and words of Pope Francis, who reminded us through both his leadership and personal witness that faith is never passive, rather our faith is a living, breathing call to action, especially in service to others. 

Pope Francis often spoke of a world where healing, presence, and compassion are more urgent than judgment. He urged us not to remain comfortable in our faith, but to “go out to the peripheries,” where people are suffering, forgotten, or unheard. This resonates deeply with our charism and the many ways our community engages in meaningful acts of service.

Recently, our Year 7 - 12 students participated in visiting Aged Care. Others have volunteered at local morning teas and have cooked meals for those less fortunate. This term we will be collecting beanies, blankets and socks for the homeless, and supporting initiatives addressing period poverty. These actions are not only compassionate responses to real need, but they also are ways in which our students are living out the Gospel message. Through these actions, we echo the heart of Pope Francis’ vision of a Church that rolls up its sleeves and walks beside those in need.

In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis wrote, “An evangelising community gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives; it bridges distances, it is willing to abase itself if necessary, and it embraces human life” (Francis, #24). What a beautiful blueprint for Catholic education, one that forms students who lead with love, who serve with humility, and who encounter others with open hearts.

Let us continue to be a school where service is not an event, but a way of being, where we model for our students that faith without action is incomplete, and where we teach, by example, that the greatest leaders are those who serve.

Reconciliation Action Plan 

We are delighted to announce that our Reconciliation Action Plan has been recognised and published. The RAP shows the commitment of our college to embrace reconciliation in our context. The RAP has been developed over several years and is the culmination of the college’s commitment to advance reconciliation. Our RAP is reflective of one of the five Loreto sisters Justice priorities; the Rights of First Nations Peoples.  The RAP is a living document that is reviewed regularly. 

You can learn more about the Justice priority through this link. 

Year 11 Reflection Day

As a Catholic School in the Mary Ward Tradition, reflection days and retreats are an important part of the holistic education of our students.  

In the spirit of Mary Ward, who believed the importance of personal encounter with God, these days provide a space for students to discern our values, explore their faith, and encounter their sense of purpose. Last week Year 11 spent the day at the Monastery connecting with each other and exploring their space. 

Student Reflections from Albina and Sophia:   

Last week we participated in our annual Reflection Day, an experience dedicated to personal growth and deeper connection. This year's theme was Verity, and we reflected on what is real, genuine, and being truthful within ourselves and our lives.

Throughout the day, we engaged in a series of sessions that encouraged us to explore what we are truly grateful for, moments when we have felt most like our authentic selves, and the meaning of truth in our everyday lives. To help us settle into the reflective mindset, we did a peaceful meditation session and mindfulness, allowing us to clear our thoughts and be present. Throughout the day we also completed some icebreaker games bringing laughter to many of us!

Towards the end of the day, we gathered in house groups to create friendship bracelets. This activity symbolised the verity of friendship and that faithful friends are like life-saving medicine. We finished with a liturgy to wrap up the day which renewed us with a sense of gratitude, authenticity, and appreciation for the people and truths that shape who we are. 

Martina O’Connell 

Assistant Principal Mission & Identity