Choosing joy – celebrating the Year of Felicity across Loreto 

Sr Trish Franklin CJ has a way of expressing things that I have always admired: direct and to the point. I was reminded of this in a conversation about the value of Felicity at the beginning of this year, when she told me, “There is nothing wrong with being happy.” 

There certainly isn’t. Loreto is unique in valuing joy and happiness. What we are mindful of, however, is that joy is not a singular pursuit.  

As Trish reminded me, there is nothing wrong with pursuing happiness. As a Loreto community, we are called to live with joy and share it generously with those around us.  

Loreto College Ballarat

In 2026, Loreto College Ballarat proudly entered its 151st year with joy as it celebrates the Year of Felicity. Felicity calls us to approach our learning, leadership, and relationships with optimism, courage, and a deep trust in God’s presence. It reminds us that joy is not fleeting, but a way of living and engaging with one another each day.  

This joyful spirit is beautifully reflected in artwork created by Loreto College Ballarat Year 12 student, Lily. The artwork has been used to create the College’s 2026 value badge and also appears on the front cover of the latest edition of the alumni magazine, Verity. The artwork captures the happiness and hopes that will guide the College in 2026.

Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak

Loreto Toorak School Captains, Zara & Amelia, prepared the following reflection on felicity: 

“Mary Ward taught us that felicity is more than the pursuit of happiness; it is a way of life calling on us to choose, look for, and embrace joy, optimism, and humour. Felicity can be even more deeply understood as the state of peace, freedom and happiness that comes through living a virtuous and faith filled life.” 

Sr Trish Franklin CJ says there are over 5,000 moments in every day to which we can choose to respond. Regardless of whether these moments are of happiness and exhilaration or adversity and sadness, this insight shows us there are countless opportunities each day for us to choose to be grateful for what we have and to look for the light in every situation. 

In our Felicity Prayer we included the words of Mother Mary Gonzaga Barry who said: “There is no surer way of being happy than trying earnestly to make others so.”  Mother Gonzaga is calling us to be grateful for the gifts of others and to celebrate their abilities as we aim to bring joy and justice into the lives of those around us. 

Our Councillor theme for the Year of Felicity is “choose to be the light that unites.”  These words remind us that seeking and sharing Felicity is not passive; instead, we can make the conscious effort to be more positive, accepting, and inclusive. It says that as a school community, we can spread this positivity onto the lives of others, bring us closer together. To be the light that unites is to be a friend to all, it is to recognise your friends’ talents, to smile at your peers in the hallway and to understand that our School is bigger than any one person. It calls us to be people of hope and in our families, community and world, always working together with others to bring joy.” 

Looking ahead

We will be sharing how other Loreto school communities are exploring felicity this year in the next edition of Eucalyptus Blossoms. Subscribe to receive future stories: https://www.loreto.org.au/news/subscribe/

Credit: Felicity Knobel, Assistant Principal – Faith & Identity, Loreto College Ballarat

Published 28 July 2026