Faith, Mission & Identity

An update on our World Youth Day Pilgrims

At the end of Week One, it was with great excitement that our eight (8) pilgrims, accompanied by Mr Matt Tichelaar, jetted off to Rome for the start of their World Youth Day Pilgrimage.

They arrived in the eternal city and wasted no time exploring its ancient wonders!

The first stop was the iconic Roman Forum, where our pilgrims immersed themselves in ancient Rome's rich history and grandeur. Next up, a visit to the world-famous Colosseum, a sacred place for early Christian Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for their faith.

Our group made their way to the legendary Circus Maximus, feeling the excitement that once filled the great chariot races held there, paid homage to one of the Church's greatest evangelists at the magnificent Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Wall, and toured the Catacomb of San Sebastian, an underground burial site for Christians and Hebrews.

Our pilgrims visited Vatican City, beginning with an unforgettable private mass at St Peter's Basilica and finishing with a tour of the museum and the famous Sistine Chapel.

Travelling by bus to Assisi, our pilgrims stopped at the village of Cascia, the home to the shrine of St Rita. Our own Molly Menzel (Year 11) represented the College beautifully, reading during a mass held at the Basilica of St Rita.

Arriving in Assisi, our pilgrims attended a mass and tour of the Basilicas of St Francis and St Clare. They spent time exploring the streets of Assisi before heading off to Florence.  Their tour of Florence included the Academy of Fine Arts, containing many treasures, including Michelangelo’s statue of David.

Our pilgrims have now landed in Portugal and are eagerly awaiting the welcome ceremony with Pope Francis. Please see our page, 'Photos from our WYD Pilgrims', for a small snapshot of their time abroad so far.

The Brigidine Bursary

Annually, the community fundraises for our Brigidine Bursary, which supports the education of students in our sister school in Kenya, The Bishop Delany Memorial Secondary School. The Brigidine Bursary was founded in 2020 in partnership between the College, the Brigidine Sisters and the Patrician Brothers. 

Kenya has two kinds of Post-Primary schools; Secondary Schools and High Schools. High Schools are large and well-resourced, scout for the brightest students and charge high fees. Secondary Schools, on the other hand, are small, have only basic resources, charge modest fees and cater for those rejected by High Schools.

In the 1960s, when Bishop Delany Memorial Secondary School was established, the custom was, and still is, that national exams rank all students on a scale of 1 to 500. Top Government and Non-Government High Schools then select the highest achieving students for enrolment at their elite schools; the rest can only apply for entry to Secondary Schools. The system ensures that many students below 250 on the scale miss out on a place, even in a Secondary School, leaving them without access to secondary education. In many instances, these young people have disadvantaged family backgrounds. The Bishop Delany Memorial Secondary School works to support students who are unable to access education in Kenya.

I am pleased to inform you that our fundraising efforts across 2022-2023 have contributed to the scholarship of five young females at Bishop Delany Memorial Secondary School. Below are the images sent to us from Brother Peter Ryan, Congregational Leader of the Patrician Brothers, and a personal message of gratitude from one of our sponsored students. 

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Brigidine community for their continued support of the Bursary. Like St Brigid of Kildare and our own Brigidine Sisters, our community continues their legacy of looking 'outwards', supporting our vulnerable brothers and sisters worldwide.

Morning Mass at the College - St Anne's

Each fortnight, our community joins together to celebrate Morning Mass in St Anne's.

All Brigidine staff, parents, guardians and students are welcome to attend. The upcoming dates for these masses are:

• Friday 18 August: St Anne's (Led by the Year 10 cohort)
• Friday 1 September: Father's Day Celebration - Cullen Hall
• Friday 15 September: St Anne's (Led by the Year 9 cohort)

St Anne's is located on-site at Brigidine, near the stairs to Cullen Hall.  Please be seated by 7:55am for an 8:00am start. Mass concludes at approximately 8:30am. 

I look forward to sharing these eucharistic celebrations with you.

Jamie Lee Wood

Director of Religion Education & Mission