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Over 500 sisters, friends, families and colleagues joined us in a wonderful celebration of 125 years of Loreto in Australia and 400 years of Mary Ward.

The Eucharist was held at St Francis Church, Melbourne, on Sunday 19 July 2009.

Fr Tom Knowles sss presided with an atmosphere of generous welcome. The welcome to country with didgeridoo accompaniment grounded us and provided a spiritual opening to a wonderful celebration.

Christine Burke ibvm, Provincial Leader, gave the opening reflection, allowing us all the opportunity to reflect on and be moved by the 'Glory' vision theme and to acknowledge that we are all recipients of Mary Ward's gifts.

A 50 voice choir and string quartet under Deirdre Browne ibvm, previous Loreto Australia Provincial and well known composer of liturgical music, beautifully highlighted the significance of Mary Ward's 'Glory Vision'.

A string quartet and organ accompanied an SATB Choir formed specially for the occasion. The Mass setting was the Missa Magis of Christopher Willcock SJ, one of the world's leading Catholic composers of liturgical music, who arranged and composed other new music for the liturgy; Mozart's Laudamus Te and Vivaldi's Gloria 1^st movt highlighted the theme of Glory.

The purpose of this celebration was to delight in and give thanks to God for the story of Mary Ward's graced vision, 400 years ago of setting up a new Institute free of enclosure, dedicated to education of young women, with the flexibility to follow wherever God may lead in other areas of need.

Above: Deirdre Browne and Christopher Willcock

This commitment to education and diversity of ministry was celebrated through the Eucharist on this historic day. We delighted in and gave thanks for the support, friendship and encouragement of the church, friends and family that have brought us to this point in our history.

• A celebration of Mary Ward, a woman of the church whose heart's desire was :  to take the same of the Society in matter and manner those only things excepted  that  gender excludes.
•  A celebration of the mission and ministry that flowed from the realization of her dream ie  care of faith through education and any other means congruous to the times.
• A celebration of the history and spread of the Order, and its particular character in Australia and Victoria through the establishment of schools and involvement in diverse other  ministries. 

The celebration mass had both a 'then and now' resonance: the Mary Ward story and the planting of that in Australia - hence the anniversary date of 19^th July. The Sisters from Ireland sailed in  on SS Somersetshire embarking at Sandridge Pier, Port Melbourne,  on 19 July 1875. And the "who" and "what" Loreto is today was celebrated - our friends, colleagues, networks and schools as well as the Loreto Sisters themselves. 

The photographic exhibition highlighting Mary Ward and the story of Loreto will be on display in St Francis Pastoral Centre, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne until Monday 3 August.

The photographic exhibition will highlight the essence and diversity of our identity today.

Opening Reflection by Christine Burke

Flyer (please note exhibition now runs to 3 August)

Media release

Mary Ward 400 Celebrations around Australia