Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM)
To understand the story of all Australian Loreto schools, it is necessary to return to the beginnings of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM) founded by Mary Ward in 1609 at St Omer in Belgium. Mary Ward, born in 1585 in Yorkshire, grew up in times of religious persecution in England. Her deep faith in God inspired her to pioneer a new type of religious life for women, one that would allow them the freedom to respond to any apostolic need, rather than operate within the confines of enclosure, as was the norm for women religious of the time. Her chief concern was the ‘care of the faith’ through the education of girls, and her schools were modelled on those of the Jesuits.Mary Ward International Australia (MWIA) is a registered charity established by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM) to address the needs of the most disadvantaged in Australia and developing countries around the world.
For more details, please visit the Mary Ward International website.
Grounded in Ignatian spirituality
Mary Ward believed in the capacity of women as well as men to find God in the ordinary experience of human life. In her own time, it seemed that she fought a losing battle, culminating in the suppression of the Institute, her own imprisonment and the closing of the schools.
From early and difficult beginnings in Flanders, Bavaria and England, Mary Ward’s Institute spread, during the next four centuries, over five continents. Nearly 400 years later, the spirit of Mary Ward continues to inspire us and Loreto schools are part of an international network of friendship, education and shared values, imbued with the Mary Ward tradition and determination of women ‘to do much’ with their lives.
An international family of schools
Present Loreto schools belong to an international family of Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM) schools throughout the world.
Loreto in Australia is part of the Irish Generalate founded in Dublin in 1821 by Frances Ball, who received her religious formation as an IBVM sister at the Bar Convent in York. The first house in Ireland, located at Rathfarnham, was called Loreto, a name subsequently given to foundations from Ireland and hence the sisters of the Irish Branch are commonly known as Loreto sisters.
The IBVM was introduced into Australia in 1875 in response to a request from Bishop O’Connor of Ballarat who had known the sisters in Ireland. Mother Gonzaga Barry, IBVM led the small group to Australia and set up the first convent and school Loreto Abbey, Mary’s Mount at Ballarat.
Mother Gonzaga Barry’s influence on primary, secondary and tertiary education in Australia was both lively and profound. She established schools across the country which provided a wide range of students with a balanced, happy yet challenging education that prepared them to exert a lasting influence on the emerging nation. Moreover, her initiatives to improve the quality of teacher training and in-service went far beyond Loreto.
Now the Loreto Sisters are active across Australia and in every continent, collaborating with others to bring the Gospels to life in the church and in society. Education is seen as a vital part of this endeavour, a way of promoting full human growth and freedom. Find out more about the work of the Loreto Sisters at the Loreto Australia website.
Friends of Loreto should pay particular attention to the latest news provided for the extended Loreto community and schools, on the News Updates section of the Loreto Australia site.
Spiritual and Religious Development
A vigorous belief in the capacity and responsibility of women to contribute significantly to society and the church underlies the emphasis on our tradition of the education of girls.
Loreto College is a Catholic school, and it is important for us as educators to join parents in guiding the spiritual and religious development of students - both as individuals and as part of the community in which they live, learn and pray.
In Religious Education classes, Loreto College students explore the teachings of our faith through the Awakenings religious education program, as well as participation in Liturgy, Prayer, Retreats and Action for Justice and Peace.
Loreto College strives to be a place where the extraordinary reality of being ‘made in the image and likeness of God' and being able to ‘find God in all things' underpins and brings vitality to all that students undertake. It is within this context that the Loreto College community attempts to nurture students so they may see God in all that they do and experience.
We do, however, recognize that in today's open and pluralistic society, there may be frequent questions and challenges raised by our students which we seek to deal with seriously as we attempt to support our students' search for a faith to which they can honestly assent and commit.
It is our faith in God and the spiritual traditions left to us by Mary Ward and Mother Gonzaga Barry and their faith filled companions which allow us to encourage students to explore the contemporary world as part of their individual spiritual journey.