Wonder - Brigidine College Indooroopilly

Brigidine College began the year by exploring Kildare Ministries value of Wonder, celebrating all with joy and gratitude. We unpacked the Biblical value of wonder and the many understandings associated with it from Julia Baird’s Phosphorescence: On Awe, Wonder And Things That Sustain You When The World Goes Dark, and, An Astonishing Secret (The Love Story of Creation and the Wonder of You) by Irish theologian, Daniel O’Leary.

Professor Br David Hall fms, Dean, La Salle Academy, ACU; explored the meaning of Wonder and the importance and relevance of Catholic perspectives today. Dr Ann Patel broke open poignant concepts around culture and spirituality of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and how we might integrate that into our curriculum and the College environment. This was echoed in our Sorry Day commemoration with Aunty Dawn Daylight and our NAIDOC celebrations later in the year.

Mr Brendan Cahill developed some reflections around what it means to teach in a Catholic school and how we embed Catholic Social Teachings in our work and lives. Ground-breaking meditation expert, Nicola Bone invited the staff through a series of steps to explore the wonder of the world around us and the wonder of God in the reflective and contemplative parts of our lives with the SoundOffForSchools Program. One of the highlights of our Spirituality Day was Grammy-nominated artist, Tibetan Buddhist, Tenzin Choegyal who sang songs that his mother had taught him as a child. They were soulful melodies with deeply felt overtones.

Kildare Ministries developed the Living Justice Living Peace charter which we launched and fleshed out on this day as part of our ongoing journey towards building the Kildare Ministries narrative, responsive to our world's injustices.  

The Year 12 retreat on the Feast of St Brigid, highlighted the journey ahead and the importance of welcoming all, particularly the most vulnerable. Later that week, we celebrated our Opening Mass and although we were in strict COVID restrictions, it was a powerful exploration of the concept of wonder where we broke open the value of wonder for the whole community, including Board members and parents who viewed the Mass online.

Other important liturgical celebrations included Patron Masses for each House, our Easter celebration, Brigidine Day (our Founders’ Day) and Mission Day.

As the year progressed, Brigidine College continued to celebrate the wonder of its diversity with International Women's Day, Cultural Diversity Day and Mission Day. Mission Day has become an important opportunity for students and staff to examine important social justice issues, in Homerooms, Houses and as part of the greater Brigidine community, where we are reminded by Kildare Ministries that to live justice, we must seek peace and to live peace, we must seek justice. House prefects reflected on topics including mental health awareness, period poverty, sustainable fashion, and positive body image.