Mary Ward International Australia
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Values

The five core values of Felicity, Freedom, Justice, Sincerity and Verity underpin Mary Ward’s spirituality and define our approach to education and social ministry around the world. Grounded in the gospels and Mary Ward’s own lived experience of faith, community and mission, these values have informed our shared vocation for over 400 years. Today they are a core aspect of the educational approach of Loreto schools in Australia, where a focus is drawn each year on one value and its contemporary expression.

Felicity, Freedom, Justice, Sincerity and Verity weave their way inter-connectedly through our texts, traditions and teaching. They call us to live fully as companions of Jesus, to walk in the footsteps of Mary Ward and to work in friendship with our global family.

Verity, in Mary Ward’s words, embodies integrity, particularly the profound truth of who we are and what gives meaning to our lives. This is centred fundamentally on the mystery of God. It challenges us to invest our everyday living with value and wholeheartedness, searching for what we know is right and important as people of God. Verity asks us to share our light with others and to provide leadership on the journey of life, as seekers of truth.

This is verity – to do what we have to do well.

Mary Ward’s understanding of  freedom was grounded in her sense of a personal relationship with God. She believed that each person has free and open access to God and can find God in the ordinary experiences of each day. This is an inner freedom, accepting of self, open to others and the world, and trusting of life. It acknowledges that personal liberation is essential to human flourishing.

Act not out of fear but solely from love.

Mary Ward’s sense of Justice is integrally grounded in a harmonious and open relationship with God, with other people and with the whole of creation. From a ‘just soul’ she believed, good works would flow. Justice is evident in right relationships, in the search for equality, the protection of human rights and our valuing of human dignity. Informed by Catholic Social Teaching and the gospels, Justice exists in the DNA of our Loreto identity. This commitment is expressed in  works of justice and in our active participation in the struggle to bring God’s kingdom to being in our world.

Be seekers of truth and doers of justice.

Sincerity is concerned with our personal honesty and the way in which we hold ourselves in our communications and relationships. Mary Ward’s ideal was that we examine our interior life and know ourselves as God knows us. Sincerity calls us to live authentically, giving expression to our individual creation. True Sincerity requires us to match word and deed and to reflect our inner selves in our outer actions.

We should be such as we appear and appear such as we are.

Felicity is an attitude of mind and a disposition of the heart which manifests itself in a sense of joy and hope, so evident amongst the early Christians. To live with Felicity calls us to embrace optimism and positivity, whilst knowing that true happiness comes from recognising and understanding the complex richness of our inner life and our response to it. A lightness of spirit, good humour and a love of friendship marks Felicity as a unique virtue in our way of being.

Show yourself at all times glad and joyful, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Feature Image: Artwork by Sr Susan Daily ibvm

Body Images: Artwork by students of Loreto Normanhurst

Spirituality

In this section

  • Gospel Foundations
  • Ignatian Spirituality
  • Mary Ward Spirituality
  • Values
  • Challenges & Calls
  • Prayer
    • Prayer Resources
    • Examen
    • Retreats & Spiritual Formation
Mary Ward International Australia

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LORETO CENTRE
PO Box 4082
Auburn South VIC 3122
Tel: 03 9813 4023
Fax: 03 9813 4091
Email: admin@loreto.org.au

    

Loreto Australia & South East Asia respectfully acknowledges all Traditional Custodians of the land and waters of Australia. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, and young leaders of today and the future. Loreto Australia & South East Asia commits itself to the ongoing work of reconciliation with our First Nations families and communities.

Consent for all imagery of children and young people used on this site has been received.

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