150 Years of Loreto in Australia Mass and Opening and Blessing of Grace

Member for Greenslopes, Mr Joe Kelly MP; Councillor for Holland Park Ward, Councillor Krista Adams; Councillor for Coorparoo Ward, Brisbane City Council, Councillor Fiona Cunningham; Archbishop of Brisbane, His Grace The Most Reverend Mark Coleridge; Loreto College Coorparoo Board Chair, Mrs Donna Orazio and Board Members past and present; Principal, Mrs Kim Wickham; Chief Executive Officer, Loreto Ministries Australia and Southeast Asia, Ms Maureen Ryan; Leader, Loreto Province of Australia and South-East Asia, Sister Wendy Hildebrand ibvm; Loreto College staff and students; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I, too, wish to acknowledge the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here today. I also thank Mr Anthony Kemp and Aunty Kayleen Bowden for their Smoking Ceremony earlier.

And I acknowledge this morning’s moving Mass and pay my deep respects to Archbishop Mark Coleridge who later this month completes his role as the Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane.

Your Grace, on behalf of everyone here today, thank you for your calming and inspiring spiritual guidance over the past five decades here in Queensland and across Australia. You have made a real difference to the lives of so many, and we wish you well in your future endeavours.

As Governor of Queensland, it is wonderful to be here among the Loreto College community once again, having had the pleasure of attending your Ceremony of Excellence at the Chandler Theatre in 2022.

This year has shaped up to be a big year for Loreto, which is celebrating 150 years of the enduring contributions of the Loreto Sisters to Catholic education across Australia and South-East Asia.

Here in Coorparoo, the College welcomed Year Five students for the first time this year and plans to open its doors to Year Six students next year. Given its bourgeoning student population, the opening of this new building, with its additional contemporary learning spaces, is indeed a timely and welcome milestone.

Grace is the culmination of six years of planning and hard work, and I congratulate all those involved, including the Board for its strategic vision, along with the leadership team, staff and volunteers, and a range of expert consultants and builders. I extend special thanks to the Director of Finance and Business Operations, Mrs Gail Winks, for her project oversight and commitment.

Today we gather to celebrate not only these expanded learning facilities but also to honour Loreto’s steadfast commitment to providing holistic educational and spiritual experiences that nourish, enrich and sustain so many young women.

The name Grace is beautifully chosen. It speaks to the quiet strength, dignity and compassion that underpins Loreto’s mission. It embodies Mother Gonzaga Barry’s statement that her acceptance of her mission in Australia was being “faithful to grace”.  And it is wonderful to know that the five students who won the competition to name the building are here today!

Once again, I offer my congratulations to the Loreto community in Australia for your 150^th anniversary and thank everyone involved in the shaping and delivery of this wonderful new building.

May Grace be a place where ideas flourish, where futures are moulded, and where friendships are forged.

It is now my great pleasure to declare Grace officially open.