From the Principal

I recently participated in the biennial Kildare Ministries Conference, which brings together members of Kildare Ministries from across the schools and community works. The conference focussed on our commitment to be enablers of justice and peace in our world. The Living Justice Living Peace Charter was officially launched by the Trustees of Kildare Ministries. The Charter is a key foundational document which provides a road map for the overarching mission of Kildare Ministries. The Charter identifies key aspects of Jesus’ ministry, which we are challenged to espouse, as depicted in the four quadrants:        

Walking in solidarity

Jesus chose to take the side of the poor and seek the relief of their suffering. By his actions he challenged the structures and assumptions that were oppressing people.

Seeking change

Jesus was radical in his challenge of injustice. He changed hearts, giving hope for a more just, equitable and peaceful society.

Inviting and welcoming all

Jesus was consumed by an urgency to break down the barriers that separated people. He embraced the marginalised, recognised their dignity and accepted their right place in society.

Healing creation

Jesus lived his life in peace and honoured the dignity of every human being. We have a mission to create a life of peace and dignity for all human beings while protecting our planet and its diversities and wonders.

Bishop Vincent Long, in his keynote address, called on each of us to be ‘a prophetic and transformative presence in the world’, striving to bring about positive change as we are all enablers of justice and peace. He spoke of the climate emergency we face and the imbalance that exists in nature, reminding us of the mutual dependency with nature that exists and the need for humans to change the way they are living in order to address the crisis. To conclude, Bishop Long drew upon the words of wisdom and hope that Amanda Gorman shared in her poem “The Hill We Climb” and called upon all of us to forge a future of hope and ‘to be the light’:           

“The new dawn blooms as we free it.

For there is always light,

if only we’re brave enough to see it.

If only we’re brave enough to be it.”

Sr Anne Boyd csb reinforced this message in her presentation on ‘Peace and Justice in relation to spirituality, ecology, and the earth’, reminding us that we all have the power to bring about positive change for our environment through our own individual actions, including energy conservation, waste reduction, composting and our choices as consumers.

Another very powerful aspect of the conference was hearing from a panel of first nations students who shared with us their perspectives on the often unintentional racism and stereotyping that still exists in relation to first nations people. The students also reminded us of the significance of story and culture, and having the opportunity to connect with the elders of their own community.

The three-day conference concluded with a shared dialogue about what we had heard and what we will commit ourselves to across the ministries as we strive to educate for and contribute to a more just and peaceful world. This feedback and sharing of ideas will be used by the Trustees of Kildare Ministries to inform their strategic directions for the years ahead.

Kilbreda College has a long-standing commitment to matters of social justice, a core aspect of the Brigidine Sisters’ ministry which has been instilled at the College since opening its doors in 1904. Today, this commitment to act for a more just and peaceful world is just as strong with growing emphasis on matters of ecological justice alongside social justice.   We encourage all members of the Kilbreda College community ‘to be the light’ as Bishop Long encourages, and recognise that we are all enablers of justice and peace in our world.

The month of May is one in which Catholics have honoured Mary, the mother of Jesus, in a special way since the end of the 13th century.  Common practices in Catholic communities around the world to honour Mary include: praying the Rosary, praying the litany to Mary, singing Marian hymns and participating in processions. It is also the time when we acknowledge and commemorate the importance of Motherhood with the celebration of Mother’s Day. Our annual Mother’s Day Breakfast held last Friday, was a wonderful celebration of mothers and mother figures in our lives.  We were delighted that the Mary Dalton Hall was filled to capacity and honoured to have past pupil Dr Amy Swanson (Class of 1997) as our guest speaker. Amy spoke with great passion and compassion about her role as an obstetrician.

A great deal of time and effort went towards making this such a special occasion for all present. On behalf of all present I extend my thanks to the numerous staff and students who helped to prepare and host this very special event!  Below is the candle lighting ritual that preceded the prayer at our breakfast:

Today, we remember our mothers and all those women who have played a mother’s role in our lives…

We light our three candles, as we remember the head, heart and hands of those we call ‘mother’.

Our first candle honours the innate wisdom with which mothers guide their children…

Our second candle honours their loving hearts, which never cease to believe and hope…

Our third candle honours our mothers’ capable hands, which nurture and comfort…

Nicole Mangelsdorf

Principal