Faith and Mission

Reflections on Freedom - Loreto Schools Mary Ward Value for 2022

Across these Covid days we might feel that our freedoms are being restricted. As a new Loreto staff member, I have marvelled at the adaptability and generosity of students and staff as they have embraced the beginning of another uncertain school year. My heart goes out to many: students unable to play team sports, community members unable to enjoy the simple pleasure of a mask-free conversation, those isolating to recover or keep others safe … the list goes on. During Mary Ward’s time, religious women were restricted by many control measures; some societal and others enforced by the church of the time.  And yet, in the midst of restrictions around how to dress, how to pray, how to govern, how to be a woman, and how to be a woman of faith, Mary developed a deep interiority that enabled her ‘to refer all to God.’ Across any given day, Mary would stop and place before her God all manner of things of her heart: the troublesome and joyous, her worries and concerns, her gratitude and attentiveness to all things good and life-giving. This is what we mean when we refer to FREEDOM; a disposition of trust in God and a deep belief that God is interested in ALL aspects of our lives: the good, the not-so-good and everything in between. We hope to share insights around our unfurling understanding of the quality of FREEDOM; a gift tasked to all members of our wide Mary Ward Circle of Friends in 2022. 

Anne Muirhead 

REC R ‑ 6 & College Liturgist

What does the value of Freedom mean to Loreto Girls?

The 2022 Loreto Focus Value is Freedom. The beautiful thing about the Loreto focus value is that it is the same value across every Loreto school in Australia. This means that there are thousands of Loreto Students who explore the same value each year, and this allows us to build a special connection with one another. 

As a Loreto Girl, finding our inner freedom comes first from accepting ourselves. We must grow and strengthen our inner being, our character, who we most deeply are, so that we know who we are and what we stand for. Once we accept ourselves, we have the opportunity to advocate for others. Freedom, is not about simply doing whatever we like. Instead, what sets us apart is that we understand that freedom is the gift of being able to choose the good wherever we are, in all areas of life. This includes becoming resilient so that we can identify and make good choices, have the courage to say no to things that go against our values, be secure enough to resist influences, and respond well to the situations we find ourselves in. This is true freedom. Supported by Mary Ward, no matter how the year 2022 unfolds, as Loreto Girls we will stick by our values, each other, and our true selves.

Georgina Tenny 

Head Girl 2022

Bakhita Day

On Tuesday 8 February, our daily prayer celebrated the Feast of St Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese slave who found freedom in Italy and went on to care for the poor and marginalised in her community. Bakhita is now recognised as the patron saint of victims of human trafficking. In the words of Pope Francis, "She is charged with showing to all the path to conversion, which enables us to change the way we see our neighbours, to recognise in every other person a brother or sister in our human family, and to acknowledge his or her intrinsic dignity in truth and freedom ". The Loreto Sisters have an international global stance against human trafficking and invite all those connected with Loreto to consider making slave-free purchases.

To learn more about Loreto Sisters’ concern for victims of trafficking, you may like to access resources on their website (loreto.org.au/justice/human-trafficking-2/) and/or view a video highlighting the diverse ways in which Mary Ward Sisters and co-workers are working in this justice arena: Mary Ward Family Anti-Human Trafficking Network Actions - YouTube

Anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations

On 13 February 2008, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered an Apology to Australia’s Indigenous People on behalf of the Australian Government. The National Apology acknowledged the trauma and grief suffered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a result of past government policies, particularly the forced removal of children from the families. Loreto Marryatville prides itself on a long commitment to the national reconciliation process, including the current development of a community-wide Reconciliation Action Plan.  On Friday the 11th of February we anticipated Sunday’s anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations with prayer. 

The Covid-safe ceremony was attended by some SRC executive members and staff leaders.  As well as offering prayers, we reflected on part of Kevin Rudd’s ‘Apology’ text and placed a Piti from Bungala country that containing plants from the school’s indigenous garden on the prayer focus. Senior students joined in prayer and reflection as their Daily Morning Prayer in Mentor Groups.  

You may be interested in resources related to the Loreto Sisters’ commitment to National Reconciliation:  loreto.org.au/justice/indigenous.  Support for members of the Stolen Generations can be accessed at Elm Place (Relationships Australia SA) - elmplace@rasa.org.au.

The Global Vision of Mother Teresa Ball IBVM - Webinar Invite

To register, click here: Webinar Registration - Zoom