Our Catholic Identity

Our Catholic Identity2022-09-13T08:45:35+10:00

Brigidine College aims to foster the development of Catholic values and spirituality as well as to empower our young women to create a more just society, within the school and beyond it.


To this end:

  • Prayer and worship are a priority within the College timetable. Students actively participate in liturgical experiences.
  • Religious Education Programs are linked to the life experiences of the students.
  • Retreats, Conference Days, Workshops and Camps are arranged for each year level.
  • Beliefs are actioned through practical service such as community building activities within the College, community service within our wider community and voluntary membership of service groups such as Justice and Democracy, St Vincent de Paul, Karibu, Environment Club and Ministry of Music, Light and Sound to name a few.
  • Opportunities are available for students to celebrate the Sacraments including Religion classes, House liturgies and whole School Masses.
  • Parents are encouraged to join the College in celebrating community occasions like the Opening Mass, Awards and Acknowledgement Evening, Brigidine Day Mass, House Masses or Liturgies and other special Assemblies.
  • All teachers uphold the ethics and values of Brigidine Education with a particular focus on guiding each student to consider and reflect the Brigidine Core Values.

We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing they hold future promise.

Archbishop Oscar Romero
Social Justice

It is rare for a school to incorporate into its schedule, the time for students to pursue social justice activities that help adolescents discover a stirring sense of purpose beyond their self-interest.

Our students get to be one with Jesus’ kindness and compassion, through social justice initiatives that enable them to live their faith, be kind and compassionate, and serve others.

These include:

  • Justice and Democracy. At weekly forums students get to explore what a just and free world means, reflect on scriptures and experiences and make plans for things that they can do together or as an individual. Beyond high school, past pupils can continue their connection through the group, Brigid’s Women, which helps homeless people in Brisbane and refugees. They can also attend the Brigidine Justice and Democracy Forum in Melbourne annually.
  • Brigidine College’s St Vincent de Paul Committee meets fortnightly and raises funds to primarily support the Inala St Vincent de Paul Family Day Centre.
  • Indigenous Education Program. Year 12 students are involved in mentoring and tutoring Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Brigidine students at Homework Club.
  • Community Service: Year 10 students engage in community service. Some of the placements for this include Milpera, Holy Rosary, Greening Australia and The Romero Centre.
  • Homeless Connect: Senior students can participate in Homeless Connect, auspiced by the Brisbane City Council on two dates during the year.
  • Other justice-related initiatives include Domestic Violence Awareness Day, Spirit Squad, Sorry Day and a number of other awareness driving campaigns.

Through all these activities, students find a cause that has meaning to them and they understand the spiritual rewards/engagement that come from volunteering and helping others.

It is one of the aspects of Brigidine that enlivens our spirit and makes our College so special.

Importantly, the students embrace social justice and service activities while still managing to achieve amazing academic results and contribute to school life in other ways.

One of the greatest benefits of this is that our young women learn to live well-balanced lives while at school, paving the way for them to live a full and meaningful life beyond school, that is high-performing and giving.

Faith and Faith Formation
  • Our curriculum is developed within a framework of values and practices that are consistent with the gospel teachings of Jesus.
  • Prayer and worship are a priority within the College timetable. Students actively participate in liturgical experiences and sacraments.
  • Religious Education programs are linked to student’s life experiences.
  • Indigenous, Hindu, Islamic and Buddhist traditions are also studied, as well as excursions and guest speakers for Study of Religion, so our girls have a broad view of religion and the tenant: ‘Do Unto Others’.
Living the Gospel
  • The Cycle of the Liturgical Year is embedded in the College calendar; the natural rhythm of the school is synchronized with “celebrating the Good News” and reflects gospel practices and processes.
  • Our Opening Mass begins the year with an outward focus on welcome and hospitality just before Ash Wednesday re-focuses our community on others through Project Compassion – a call for us to live out the Gospel values.
  • At the end of Term 1, we conduct our Easter Liturgy – it is a solemn, dignified liturgy which seeks to relate Christ’s passion to the issues facing our world today.
  • Advent sees the community preparing similarly and incorporating the Good News of the Jesus story into our community in a way that will make it an ever-new and ever-relevant story for our students.
Spiritual Formation and Diversity

Students Retreat Days include:

  • Year 8: Social Justice
  • Year 9: Eco-spirituality
  • Year 10: Personal Development
  • Year 11: Feminine Spirituality
  • Year 12: My Spiritual Journey

Other formation opportunities for students may include:

  • ACU Social Justice Days
  • Caritas Just Leadership Days
  • Powerhouse of Leaders Archdiocesan Event
  • Brigidine Justice and Democracy Forum in Melbourne annually
Spiritual Diversity

Our students are encouraged to extend their knowledge and understanding of other religious traditions and practices through:

  • Exposure to the Indigenous, Hindu, Islamic and Buddhist traditions – RE excursions and guest speakers for Study of Religion
  • Dance/drama/music/art always form a part of our liturgical celebrations
  • Symbols are widely used as ways of expressing relationship with the Divine as well as encouraging a hands-on approach
Prayer and Worship

The following comments are from some of our Year 11 Brigidine students:

“Prayer asks an unchanging God to change us to change the world.”

“Taking part in the Brigidine Masses and Liturgies makes me feel like I am an important part of the Brigidine community. I also feel closer to God and I enjoy listening to the Gospel and the hymns.”

“As a Catholic, I feel that the Masses and Liturgies at Brigidine College takes me back to my own Church in South Africa because there is the same connection with God, the Bible and the Gospel. It makes me feel like I am connected to other people around the world.”

The Brigidine Community gathers each year for these major events where we pray together:

  • Opening Mass
  • Commissioning of the School Leaders
  • Ash Wednesday Liturgy/Mass
  • Easter Liturgy of the Word
  • Bishop Daniel Delany Day Mass
  • Religious Education Class Masses
  • Awards and Acknowledgement Liturgy Celebration
  • Graduation Mass
  • House Liturgies/Masses
  • Christmas Liturgy of the Word
Nurturing Prayer Life
  • Daily prayer in Home Room – smaller ‘family’ groups with indoor sacred spaces
  • Culture and climate of school created by outdoor ‘sacred places’ – Holy Lawn, grotto in Soubirous Place; water features, quiet places for reflection
Drawing on the Tradition
  • College Student Planner contains the words to traditional prayers and hymns
  • Sacred spaces in each Home Room for daily student prayer and reflection
  • Class roster for Assembly prayer and preparation
  • Roster for staff prayer and reflection
  • Prayer in school newsletter
Developing and Promoting Skills in Liturgy
  • Liturgy Captain as part of the Student Leadership Team
  • Active participation of students in Liturgy Committee
  • Skills developed at all retreats but especially in Year 8 as a foundation year at high school
  • All students are encouraged to participate in celebration with the Power point presentations
  • The physical environment of Kildare Hall means the entire school can celebrate together – constantly changing use of space to maximise participation
Celebrating Sacraments
  • Many opportunities for Eucharistic celebrations
  • The College Chaplain supports students (and staff) in preparation for the sacraments
Other Social Action and Justice Activities
Praying for Peace

How we treat each other and the earth are tightly interwoven into the fabric of the Brigidine charism. Each year the College has a theme around which to focus our actions or campaigns. The most recent theme was created by Year 9 student, Morgan: “It doesn’t matter if you are black or white, it only matters if you have a multi-coloured heart.”

“We hear about world conflicts every day” Mr Andrew Beiers, Deputy Principal Mission said. “There is a groundswell among young people to create awareness to bring change to our world; to bring PEACE. The International Day of Prayer for Peace is held annually on 21 September but we can all be the change we want to see in the world every day by our actions. Brigidine students are keen to become peacemakers in our own community in the hope of bringing peace in the world.”

Brigid’s Women

Brigidine College continues to grow strong resilient women beyond high school. A group was formed in 2012 by ten graduate students. The group has grown since then and it meets regularly to continue ‘the work of St Brigid’ in their adult lives. Particular initiatives include guest speakers, working with the homeless and raising awareness about refugees.

Contact: Mr Beiers, Deputy Principal Mission
Phone: (07) 3002 0619

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