Loreto schools celebrate milestones

Loreto schools marked historical milestones last week with celebrations in Ireland. Loreto Secondary School Bray commemorated 175 years with Mass and a tea gathering on October 2. On the same day, Loreto High School Beaufort, Rathfarnham celebrated its first centenary with current and past pupils.

This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the first Australian Loreto school, established by Mother Mary Gonzaga Barry in 1875. To mark that milestone, the principals from the Australian schools travelled on pilgrimage to Ireland and the UK. Sr Sandra Perrett, a retired principal who led the Australian pilgrimage to Ireland said it was “quite emotional” for them to see “the vision of the founder coming alive”.

Loreto Schools’ legacy started in 1822 when Teresa Ball founded the first Loreto House in Rathfarnham. Sr Perrett said both M. Ball and M. Barry were “concerned that women wouldn’t be trapped into what men designed for them,” and that the Religious wanted women to be educated and have careers.

The Rathfarnham school said it was “a joy” to gather and celebrate their first centenary with current and past pupils. For the occasion, 5th Year Student Aoife O’Kelly wrote and composed ‘The Beaufort Song’, which she performed for the first time at the centenary event.

Dee Ryan, principal of the school in Bray told The Irish Catholic preparation for the anniversary celebration started around eight months ago, when they decided to have it together with the Opening of School Year Mass, celebrated by Bishop Donal Roche.

Speaking to the students at Mass, Ms Ryan said that when Loreto Bray opened, it had a mission “to broaden the horizons of its students, and to assist them to fulfil their potential in a world that was not always comfortable with that notion.”

Ms Ryan said, the “inspirational vision” of M. Ball guides Loreto schools today, “in Bray and all around the world”. She said that the founder’s vision “anchors” them in sharing signs of hope and faith with Loreto students.