We Celebrate Diamond Anniversary - St Ursula's College Kingsgrove

Jubilee Mass 17th February 2017 

 

Reflection given by Mrs Karen Horder, Current Teacher of St Ursula's College Kingsgrove and Ex-Student

The St Ursula's College Kingsgrove 60 Year anniversary mass was a fitting celebration of the great success of our vibrant learning community.  St Mary's Cathedral was filled to capacity and all were uplifted by the music and prayers which invited us to be thankful for the roles many have played in our shared story.

Bishop Umbers acknowledged the way the Ursuline sisters and their staff have always based their love, care and development of students past and present on the example of Jesus and Angela Merici.  He also praised the worldwide Ursuline school motto Serviam and exhorted all present to continue to live by it. Ursuline Provincial, Sister Ruth Durick used the image of a diamond to encourage us to embrace the many shiny facets of the dynamic St Ursula's Kingsgrove community in our jubilee year. 

All the staff and students fortunate enough to be part of the St Ursula's Kingsgrove story thus far, have every reason to celebrate the Ursuline tradition in the education of girls.  In the favourite words of Angela Merici quoted by current principal Mary Leask, we should all be prepared to 'be amazed' by the wonders of our faith in action.

 

 

Reflection of 60 Year Anniversary Mass from Ms Elizabeth Alderton, Religious Education Coordinator and Ex-Student

There was great excitement on 17 February 2017 as the alsmost 1100 students and 100 staff from St Ursula's College Kingsgrove made the trek to St Mary's Cathedral by hired train dubbed the "Ursies Express".  This 1200 strong community was joined by over 200 ex students, former staff, parents and a large group of Ursuline sisters filling the cathedral.  A 50 voice student choir with soloists led the music that reflected themes of Angela Merici's writings on justice, love, respect and action.  The empowerment of Ursuline students was clear in the many student ministers: altar servers, readers and ministers of Holy Communion.

Bishop Umbers in his homily touched on the work of the Ursuline sisters and the history of the college. These themes were carried forward in the inspirational addresses by Sr Ruth Durick, Province Leader and her diamond motif and Mrs Mary Leask, College Principal, who took the 2017 theme of Growing Our Story.

The Spirit was certainly moving and the voices raised in song and prayer were testimony to the enthusiasm of the students.  The delight of the ex students was most contagious.  Having had the major responsibility for the organisation of the Mass I was reflecting on how special it was as a 40 year student having the privilege of being there to celebrate with the community.  It is my prayer that when our current students have been left school for 40 years that their faith and their alma mater will mean enough to them that they will want to return.  It may be to the Cathedral, to celebrate the College Centenary at the Lord's Table.  In the meantime this Mass was a key event in Growing Our Story and calls to mind Angela Merici's injunction to her company: never cease to cultivate the vine!

May it continue to grow.

 

from left: Sr Mary O'Neill, Sr Kath Dwyer, Mrs Mary Leask and Sr Leone Pallisier

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Sr Kathleen Dwyer and Molly Maher WRITE...

Before the liturgy began, I had a lovely conversation with a student from Year 9 ,Molly Maher, who was to present a Prayer of the Faithful. As she spoke, I was reminded of one of the core strengths of this great school over 60 years, that the students were always recognised as its heart and soul. I welcome Molly as a special contributor to our reflections on our 60 Years Celebration at St. Mary's Cathedral. I thank her for her reflection.

Sr Kath Dwyer osu

 

"Hello Sister Kath,
This is my reflection for the 60 year Jubilee Mass!

It was a beautiful, bright sunny morning on Friday February 17, when Mum and I made our way to St. Mary's Cathedral to celebrate the 60 year Jubilee Mass of St Ursula's Catholic College Kingsgrove. As I entered the Cathedral, I noticed how large and ornate the space was. The readers did some sound checks and I listened to the choir rehearsing. I gradually became aware of the arrival of the entire school community, who had travelled on a chartered train from Kingsgrove. The buzz of voices became louder as staff, students, parents and invited guests gradually filled the Cathedral to capacity. As the Liturgy progressed, it was great to see how many girls took up the honour of participating.

The Mass made me think about all of the women who are a part of the Ursuline story so far, and what the next 60 years might hold. Sister Ruth, Provincial of the Ursuline Sisters, challenged us to be "good community people", and to truly live out our school motto, 'Serviam', She reminded us to look for the many different ways we can help each other, no matter how big or small. The feeling of celebration continued as all the students and staff gathered on the front steps of the Cathedral for a commemorative photo. On the trip back to school on the train, I thought about how wonderful the Mass was, and how I could rise to the challenge to serve others."

From,
Molly

 

 

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Please follow the links below to read the addresses given by Sr Ruth Durick and Mrs Mary Leask;

 

 Sr Ruth Durick's address:

 

       

 

   " In 1535 St. Angela founded a company of women, not specifically for education or to build schools, but to be women of the gospel living in a special way in their own society..."

 

 

 " If St. Angela was about anything she was about respect for each person with the gifts that each brings to the community. She was about moving out in service of the gospel – Angela was a woman of action – and you have that invitation in your school motto Serviam." 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

  Mrs Mary Leask's address:

 

 

 

 "So gathered today in the joyful Eucharistic celebration we come to share and to grow our story."

 

 

 

"The sisters created and nurtured a school where inclusivity and respect were its hallmarks, a school where there was and is deep and gentle prayer. Today we are walking on the shoulders of those women - women who struggled and rose above the battle to secure equitable educational funding, women who envisioned our first buildings , women who wanted and I believe succeeded in building a special company of women at St Ursula’s."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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