Q: When is the next Loreto Federation? A: The next Federation is in Perth WA from 4th - 6th May 2012.
More information can be found on our Loreto Community page:
http://www.loreto.org.au/Home/Loreto-Community/Past-Students.aspx

Q: What is the Loreto Sisters' postal address in Australia? A: Loreto Sisters postal address is:
PO Box 4082
Auburn South Vic 3122

Q: Are there any Loreto Convents in the Kansas City area. I have not been able to locate any. It would be nice to see a school and maybe A: An answer from Sr Claire, US province:

We do not have any more schools and we are not in the Kansas City area.

The Loreto sisters are mainly in Illinois, Arizona and California.

Q: are u a christian religious order in australia? A: The Loreto Sisters came to Australia in 1875. They founded schools in five states, of which seven are still thriving: Mary’s Mount in Ballarat (1875), Normanhurst (1897) and Kirribilli (1907) in Sydney, Marryatville in Adelaide (1905), Mandeville Hall, Melbourne (1924), Nedlands in Perth (1931) and Coorparoo in Brisbane (1927).
http://www.loreto.org.au/Home/Our-Story/Loreto-In-Australia.aspx

Timeline of Loreto in Australia: http://www.loreto.org.au/Home/Our-Story/Loreto-In-Australia/Timeline-of-Loreto-in-Australia.aspx#&slider1=1

Q: Why do you dedicate your life to the Loreto sisters. A: In an earlier era, young Catholic women saw ‘becoming a sister’ as a possible choice in life: they knew others who had made it. Today it is a rarer consideration. However, in every religion and every age, women and men have been drawn to make their relationship with God the focus of their lives.

Ask any of us why we became a sister and the answers would differ, but one common thread would be a deep conviction that, “this was a way that I was being drawn to serve God and make a difference in the world”. Some may ask, why not do this as a single professional person, or as a married woman? Well, for some unknown reason, each of us in some way felt loved by God and drawn specially to make God the focus of our lives.

Find out more here:
http://www.loreto.org.au/Home/Our-Story/Our-Sister/Being-a-religious-sister.aspx

Q: I'd like to know what is your lifestyle and what are your rituals. Thanks. A: Information about Loreto Sisters can be found here: http://www.loreto.org.au/Home/What-we-do.aspx

Information about our spirituality: http://www.loreto.org.au/Home/Our-Spirituality/Our-Spiritual-Identity.aspx
"Finding God in all things and all things in God was the keynote of their way of life. For St Ignatius and for Mary Ward, daily life, the ordinary way of doing things, was experienced as the place to encounter God; in contrast to a monastic sense of God being found only in flight from the world. For us, followers of Mary Ward's Ignatian way, this pattern is central to our identity"

Nurturing our spirituality (reflection, discernment, centering and stillness): http://www.loreto.org.au/Home/Our-Spirituality/Nurturing-Your-Spirituality.aspx

Q: Where are the Loreto Sisters currently working? And What work are they doing in Zambia? A: You can find information about where Loreto Sisters are currently working by going to our 'global mission' page: http://www.loreto.org.au/Home/Our-Story/Our-Global-Misison.aspx
Information about the Australian Loreto Sisters' work around the world including Zambia here: http://www.loreto.org.au/Home/Mary-Ward-International/Our-Projects.aspx

Q: What is the traditional clothing of the Loreto Sisters? I am doing a school assignment and would be very happy if this information was given thankyou A: It was in 1967 that a modified habit was brought in for the Sisters who wished to wear it and there was discussion about the wearing of secular clothes. The first modified habit was a grey dress, made of what was called "pongee" silk with a smaller veil. The change in dress was in response to the 2nd Vatican Council requirement for religious orders to return to the spirit and aims of their founders. Mary Ward's women in the 17th Century had worn modest clothes of the current fashion. This was partly because of the Penal Laws outlawing Catholics and partly in response to the type of work they were doing.

Even from the founding of Loreto in Australia, changes to the style of the habit had taken place. The original habit in 1875 had very full serge dress with box pleats front and back and a long train and a white starched guimpe worn over the top. After about 1914 the guimpe was worn only for professions and the habits were cut to walking length.

It was in 1975 that the first sisters began to wear secular clothes on an experimental basis.
The religious habit had been abandoned in the mid 1980s by most but not all the sisters; some retained a modified habit.

The photo at top right shows a Loreto community in the early 1970s where the traditional and the modified habits are apparent.

The second photo shows a community in 1977 when all were wearing modified habits.

Question answered by Loreto Archives

Find out more about our sisters today.

Q: Hi, We are from loreto normanhurst in year 8. We are doing a report on Mary Ward and her spirituality. Could you please tell us about Mary spirituality and how st Ignatious influenced her as a person. Thankyou A: Thank you for your question.

There is information about Ignatian spirituality and Mary Ward on this page:

http://www.loreto.org.au/Home/Our-Spirituality.aspx

There are also other links to help you with further research.

Best of luck with your report.

Q: How can I get involved with the Loreto Sisters? A: There are many ways to get involved with the Loreto Sisters. You can find out more about us and our spirituality and deepen your own relationship with God. You can support our Mary Ward International projects by volunteering, making a donation or by organising an awareness/fundraising event in your own school or workplace. You can share your skills and help on one our many committees or projects, or you can enquire about joining the Loreto Sisters, get to know us and take a closer look at our way of life.

Q: Why aren't there any Loreto Sisters teaching in schools? A: Historically, the Loreto Sisters were known for their work in education and this continues today but in different ways. Today there are many people with special gifts and skills well placed to help guide our young people into the future and pass on our traditions and values. Our lay teachers and principals do an outstanding job in our schools. They are committed, passionate and dedicated to their work and to the progress of their students. With the changes in Vatican II and by expressing Mary Ward’s charism in new ways, our work has taken sisters to where the needs are greatest and to places where we can put our gifts to greatest use. Our commitment to justice, freedom and sincerity continues and flourishes in many varied ways through our work in education, community development, social justice, law, international leadership, spiritual guidance and social and welfare services.

Q: How can I contact a Loreto Sister? A: We get many enquiries from individuals wanting to reconnect with a past teacher, mentor or friend. We welcome your enquiries and often these enquiries are a great source of joy to our retired sisters. We do not give out our sisters’ personal details, however we are happy to pass on your details to the relevant sister, in order for them to get in touch with you. Enquiries can be sent through our contact us page. If you are looking for something of historical significance you might also like to search through our online archives.

Q: Why do people choose a religious life? A: Ask any of us why we became a sister and the answers would differ, but one common thread would be a deep conviction that, “this was a way that I was being drawn to serve God and make a difference in the world”. Some may ask, why not do this as a single professional person, or as a married woman? Well, for some unknown reason, each of us in some way felt loved by God and drawn specially to make God the focus of our lives. Many describe it as a feeling that stays with you and keeps bringing you back to the same question. It is not a “sudden revelation” or a “bolt of lightning” but a feeling that stays and grows within you. It feels right and the opportunity to make enquiries and “go for it” beckons. If it is not right for you, you or someone around you will know.

Q: How can I get more in touch with myself and God? A: For Mary Ward and Ignatius 'finding God in all things and all things in God' was central. In Ignatian spirituality, everyday life is the place where God speaks. It is through the practice of being attentive to the ordinary things around us we come to know God and ourselves in a more profound way, and open up to new possibilities. One of the ways you can try this is through an “Examen”. This is a practical way that we take 'time out', usually at the end of the day, to get in touch with our feelings and the movement of the Spirit of God within us. You might also like to enquire about a course or seminar offered at one of many spirituality centres around Australia.