From the Principal

This Sunday, 8 August, marks 117 years since the first classes took place at St Brigid’s Convent school, which would later be renamed Kilbreda College. In the early 1900’s, local priest Father Gough, asked the Brigidine Sisters to establish a school in Mentone to cater for the many Catholic children attending state schools. The ever-courageous Sisters took up this call and set about finding a site on which to establish the school. While attending Mass at St Patrick’s Church, which at that time was located on what are our current grounds, they discovered the Mentone Coffee Palace. Being located in the heart of Mentone, next to St Patrick’s Church and close by the station, they had found the perfect site for their school! And so, with the assistance of local man James McGuffie, the Brigidine Sisters purchased the property in 1904 for just £2050.

While much has changed over these 117 years, what is at the absolute core of our school community remains unchanged.  Since its opening in 1904, our school has been a Catholic faith community, guided and inspired by the teachings of Jesus and the Brigidine Sisters carrying out his mission.  Our Vision statement today captures what the heart of the school established by the Sisters in 1904 has been now for 117 years!

Kilbreda College is a Catholic faith community committed to the teachings of Jesus and to inspiring a passion for learning, justice and stewardship, acting in a spirit of strength and kindliness.

One of my favourite quotes attributed to Daniel Delany, the Founder of the Sisters of St Brigid, is ‘What you are others who come after you will be’. Those extraordinary women who dedicated their life in service to others and courageously established a new school in Mentone have inspired and shaped generations of women who came after them.  As a community of staff, students and families, we are now charged with the privilege and responsibility to continue to live out the Vision, Mission and Values that have been instilled since 1904 and inspire and shape future generations.

To celebrate and acknowledge the patroness of the Sisters of St Brigid as we celebrate our 117th birthday, I share with you a traditional prayer to St Brigid:

Saint Brigid,

You were a woman of peace

You brought harmony where there was conflict

You brought light to the darkness

You brought hope to the downcast

May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious, and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world

Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made

Brigid you were a voice for the wounded and the weary

Strengthen what is weak within us

Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens

May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body and spirit

Amen

Nicole Mangelsdorf

Principal