Star of the Sea  celebrate their 140 year anniversary 

The Star of the Sea College community came together on Wednesday 22nd March to celebrate their 140th year with a very special Foundation Day Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral. 

College Principal, Mary O'Connor, reflected on the College's rich and vibrant history, gratefully acknowledging and honouring those who have gone before us. She impressed upon the students the importance of being the caretakers of such an important and powerful legacy.

“Our founding Mothers, John Byrne and Paul Fay showed great courage when they set out to build our College, following in the footsteps of Nano Nagle.

In 1874, Mother John Byrne was appointed as the leader of five Presentation sisters sent to establish a Presentation Convent in Wagga, NSW. The convent she founded at Mount Erin is still operating as a school today.

In 1883, at the invitation of the parish priest from Elsternwick, Mother John Byrne, accompanied by Mother Paul Fay, left Wagga and came to Gardenvale, where they established a school at Turret Lodge. 

These women of faith and vision brought a Presentation education to Catholic children at a time when Australian Catholics relied on missionaries from other countries. In quoting from the archives, a picture emerges of the talent of our founding sisters.

“Mother Paul was a much-loved leader of the Presentation Community at Star. She had a wide reputation for kindness & consideration to both students & sisters.

She was a skilled artist & musician; Oral tradition through two generations suggests that the liberal arts education in our school stems from Mother Paul Fay.  In the Golden Jubilee booklet of 1924 Mother Paul is described as “a gentle & conciliatory nature, a thorough religious & a great favourite”.

Mother John Byrne left Wagga with the aim to do the greatest amount of good at the least possible cost. Being enterprising & with a progressive mind she at once aimed at grasping the latest & best methods in education. The Wagga records describe Mother John as possessing an undaunted spirit, a large heart, & hospitality being one of her greatest virtues. 

Mother John Byrne & Mother Paul Faye were an ideal team, the former was the visionary with broad concepts, and the latter had the rare gift of being able to implement these plans down to the last detail.”

Congratulations to the Star community, the mass was a perfect way to celebrate this momentous time in your history.