From the Principal

Welcome to Term 2 at Brigidine College

Prayer

Lord the Giver of Life, Welcome to Term 2 at Brigidine College

Help us to value each person, created in love by you.

In your mercy, guide and assist our efforts, to promote the dignity and value of all human life.

Bless us the courage to defend all life.

Bless us with the strength to respect all people, so that we may truly follow the call of Jesus to be neighbour to others.

May we answer your call to treat al as we wish to be treated and to promote the healing of all, especially those most vulnerable.

We ask this in the name of Jesus. Welcome to Term 2 at Brigidine College

Amen

Term Two begins…

I would like to express a warm welcome to Brigidine for Term 2, to all of our staff, students and their families. As we begin a new term, there is always a strong sense of enthusiasm for what the future weeks might hold. Whether it be new sports, new opportunities in the Arts or perhaps how students and teachers are fully engaged in learning. One of the key aspects of making a success of all endeavours is to remain open to dialogue and sharing ideas. Welcome to Term 2 at Brigidine College

It might be the changing bus routes, the time to prepare for the Year 11 Social evening, the new sports that begin this term or perhaps how each student might improve their results in Humanities. The key here at Brigidine College is for parents and families to remain connected and engaged with teachers and staff. I encourage all parents to contact the College to ask questions, check organisational details and speak with staff to assist with how your family might work with us.

I look forward to the full range of college events and pray that students, staff and families continue to embrace these opportunities. While I have reminded students of taking care with the wearing of their uniforms and their engagement in healthy relationships, I am impressed with the many, many ways in which students represent the College with pride.

I look forward to sharing in the Sporting matches, the Arts events and Mission opportunities for the students.

Thank you to the Parents and Friends Association for their wonderful organisation for the upcoming Mother Daughter High Tea later in May. It is wonderful to witness the care and engagement in a range of events.

ANZAC Day 2024

The Brigidine College is due to commemorate the Spirit of ANZAC in our community next week. Understanding the importance of Anzac Day within the national calendar is for many people a critical time to reflect and give thanks for the many opportunities we have as nation.

Our community is reminded of the difficulties placed on all of us through war and how through prayer and dialogue we are a ‘hopeful’ people searching and working for peace. As the risen Christ said to the apostles ‘peace be with you’ to them as they tried to understand what their lives would hold following the events over Easter. Our community works for peace in our relationships, in our learning and how we continue to be an inclusive school for all.

Anzac Day for many of us, provides a glimpse into what might be described as the ‘Spirit of Australia.’ Let us continue to share our story with everyone we encounter on our journey.

Welcome to Term 2 at Brigidine College

The college will again participate in the local community commemorations held at the Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branch Dawn Service at Corinda and the ceremony at Keating Park, Indooroopilly at 7.30am. With representatives from the College’s Cantare Choir and our senior Student leadership group, I invite as many students as possible to join us in a poignant moment for all of us to share.

 

They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

 

Lest we forget.

 

With Fortiter et Sauviter,

Brendan Cahill

Principal

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An Update from our Dean of Faith and Formation 

Welcome to Term 2!

Lessons of Leadership

ANZAC Day Commemoration

Every year on April 26, Australians become engaged in a sacred ritual, bound strongly within the national psyche – where both religious and non-religious join in a collective spiritual experience. Anzac Day has all the elements of the sacred, pausing, reflecting, music as well as prayer. The sacredness of Anzac Day is a time when we stop and honour the leadership of those who have served in the fields of Gallipoli – the ANZAC’s who experienced a gruelling baptism of fire, losing their lives so that others may again enjoy peace and freedom. The Australian nation has learnt many lessons from the ANZACS, but the importance of mateship remains strong. Whist in a girl’s school we don’t use the term mateship – we do ‘look out for each other’, our mateship happens in our House Groups, Homerooms, our year groups as well as our cultural and service groups.

In the Christian calendar we frequently remember the sacrifice of Christ and his instruction to ‘do this in memory of me’ during the Eucharist. For Christians we stop honour and remember together as a community. Jesus gave a new commandment for Christians to ‘love one another’ (John 13:34). The ANZAC’s ‘loved one another’ by looking out for their mates, serving alongside the allied forces and through the ultimate sacrifice of laying down their lives. We stop as a nation because we remember and honour the sacrifice and leadership of the ANZACs.

Year 11 Retreat

It’s in Christ’s leadership sacrifice that we learn of the importance peace and justice. A leader who was authentic embracing all of humanity, especially the outcasts such as tax collectors and the unclean. This week during the Year 11 Leadership Retreat, students reflected upon the qualities that would be required to be a strong leader. The class of 2025 identified the qualities of a leader as an approachable person who is authentic, selfless acting with courage with dedication to serve others, certainly traits we see in the stories of Christ as well as stories of the ANZAC nurses, Simpson and his Donkey. From these stories we understand leadership often requires sacrifice and a dedication to serve others.

With Mother’s Day on the horizon, we are again reminded of the dedication and service of mothers to families through the dedication and love they provide. Mary the mother of Christ showed love and selfless dedication responding to God’s call. Mary risked dishonour and ostracism or even death by stoning. In Pursuit of Peace: Praying the Rosary through the Psalms by Joan Chittister, we are reminded of the selfless willingness of Mary to follow God’s call to follow and accept with courage the unexpected. Richard Rohr puts it well I think when he says,

It’s a paradox that God’s gifts are totally free and unearned, and yet God does not give them except to people who really want them, choose them, and say “yes” to them.

The ANZACs said ‘yes’ to the call to serve and had to accept with courage the unexpected horror of war with selfless bravery.

The Pope has called us to say yes to prayer this April – to pray that the dignity and worth of women be recognised in every culture to end discrimination. Once again, we are all called to leadership to say yes to lead in building a world of peace and justice.

Di McGowan

Dean of Faith and Formation

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Let’s Hear from Our Mission Captains…

Vinnies gets going in Term 2

Hope is …

During the holidays some Vinnies members helped at one of the Kildare Ministries Conference workshops. Mrs Jeffcoat was showing participants how to embroider small felt broaches with either the word Hope on them or a Celtic cross. We’ve helped Mrs Jeffcoat make badges before for house days so we knew what to do.

For the first two Vinnies meetings this year we have shown our group how to make these broaches. Hope is the Kildare Ministries word for 2024 and it really fits with the work of St Vincent de Paul. When families come to Vinnies for help, they may be running short on hope, they need a hand up be that with groceries, a bill paid, a visit and some kind words. Young girls like us are just starting life and it is important to be hopeful about the future and to have an expectation of fulfillment or success. Of course, this needs to be accompanied by endeavour, application and doing one’s homework but we think it starts with hope.

Those broaches where harder to make than it looked! The needles were hard to thread, stitches looked messy, and the safety pin catch fell in my lunch. I hope my second attempt looks better.

While we were sewing Mrs Jeffcoat set us a challenge, pretend that we had been appointed to the Kildare Ministries board and at the first meeting the Board is looking at their six inspirational words.

Courage, Compassion, Hope, Hospitality, Justice and Wonder.

The exercise is to replace the last word, Wonder, it doesn’t seem to fit with the others, what would we suggest? This was an activity that all, from Year 7 to 12, could participate in equally. These were our suggestions:

Melody (Arts Captain Laura suggested this, but she really wanted to put Dance)

Aflame (School Captain Tiah suggested this, it fitted with the Flame of Brigid)

Strive (Sports Captain Bridie suggested this one)

Passionate

Tenacity

Diversity

Aspire

Resilience

Next, we all voted for

our preferred suggestion, this is the outcome.

1^st Strive

2^nd Aspire

3^rd Resilience

 

This was a really interesting exercise. Maybe we weren’t actually doing something for Vinnies, but it got us all thinking about what is important when managing life’s challenges.

The prayer for these two meetings was the poem by Emily Dickenson, Hope is a thing with Feathers. Emily wrote it when she was a girl like us, struggling with school, with home and with her future. She wrote poems and sent them to her friends. Next Newsletter we’ll tell you about our “Hope is” project.

 

College Mission Captains

Jess, Gemma and Caitlin

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What’s happening around the College? Welcome to Term 2 at Brigidine College

Welcome back to Term 2!

We have hit the ground running in Term 2! Here’s an update on what has been happening around the College.

Interhouse Cross Country

 

Twilight Tour

 

This Tuesday we opened the College to over 200 families from across Brisbane who descended upon the College to discover what makes Brigidine excellent. From the moment our guests stepped onto the campus, the air buzzed with excitement and curiosity. The Twilight Tour is designed to showcase the diverse opportunities available at Brigidine, from innovative academic programs to vibrant extracurricular activities. Our aim was to not only inform but also inspire our visitors by providing a comprehensive view of the college life.

 

Centenary Planning Forum

 

 As we approach the momentous milestone of Brigidine College Indooroopilly’s Centenary, we held an initial meeting to gauge ideas for events and prospects.  Our goal is to honour the rich history and profound legacy of BCI through a series of memorable events and initiatives. This meeting focused on discussing ideas for the centennial activities, ensuring that every aspect reflects the values and traditions of Brigidine College while engaging the entire community—alumnae, students, staff, and supporters alike.

 

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Join Us! Welcome to Term 2 at Brigidine College

At Brigidine College Indooroopilly, we are excited to announce that we are expanding our team.  We want passionate and dynamic professionals to join our educational community. At Brigidine, we are committed to providing a nurturing and stimulating environment for both students and staff, rooted in our strong values and commitment to excellence in education.

Current Opportunities

Relief Teachers:

We are seeking enthusiastic relief teachers across various disciplines who are ready to step in and provide high-quality education whenever needed. Ideal candidates will have a flexible approach to teaching and a keen ability to engage students with diverse learning needs.

Junior School Teacher:

An opportunity has arisen for a dedicated Junior School Teacher who is passionate about fostering a love of learning in young minds. This role requires a deep understanding of the developmental stages of children and a commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive classroom environment.

Humanities and Religion Teacher:

We are looking for a skilled Humanities and Religion Teacher to inspire and educate students in subjects such as history, geography, social sciences and religion. The ideal candidate will bring innovative teaching practices and a passion for developing critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the world.

Why Brigidine College?

Brigidine College Indooroopilly prides itself on its supportive community and commitment to professional development. We offer a collaborative and inclusive work environment, where teachers have the opportunity to grow professionally and contribute to the education of confident, capable students.

If you are looking for a rewarding career in education and want to make a difference in a vibrant learning community, we would love to hear from you. Join us in shaping the future at Brigidine College Indooroopilly.

Apply Now

To apply, please visit our careers page on the Brigidine College Indooroopilly website. We look forward to reviewing your application and potentially welcoming you to our team. Let’s work together to continue the tradition of excellence at Brigidine College.

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Upcoming Events at Brigidine and in the community Welcome to Term 2 at Brigidine College

There are exciting things brewing around the College and within the Brigidine community! Make sure you download the College App and keep an eye on the calendar.

Click here to download for Apple users.

Click here to download for Android users.

If you wanted to keep up to date with what’s happening in the Brigidine Community, follow our Instagram and Facebook. 

Cultural Diversity Day – Friday May 3 

Students are invited to participate in Cultural Diversity Celebrations on May 3. During First Break on the Curragh there will be live performances, a cultural bake sale, face painting and games. Students are invited to wear a splash of their culture or a cultural outfit. Please keep in mind this needs to be added at school and removed prior to leaving in the afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

Join Us for the P&F meeting next Wednesday, May 8!

 

The Brookfield Show 17 – 19 May 2024

The Brookfield Show, the biggest, little country show around is set to amaze and delight show-goers across three jam-packed days from May 17-19.

For all Show information, from Competitions to Entertainment, Trade Space, Sponsors and how to buy tickets, visit here.

 

P&F Mother Daughter High Tea 2024

Tickets are now available for the highly anticipated Brigidine College P&F Mothers and Daughters’ High Tea with a very special surprise Guest Speaker… Keep your eyes peeled for hints as to who will be keeping us entertained on May 19!

The event will be held in the stunning Main Auditorium, Brisbane City Hall.

Get your tickets here. 

 

 

 

 

Synodality and the Life of the Parish – Friday 24 May 2024

At St Ignatius Church, Kensington Terrace, Toowong from 7.30– 9.00pm.   All welcome!

The key speaker: Fr Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, S.J. member of the Roman Synod on Synodality.   • Dean of the Jesuit School of Theology in California.

You can listen to his podcast reflecting on the last session of the Synod via QR code available on flyer.

Joined by: two of our finest local theologians:

* Fr Orm Rush. Author of The Vision of Vatican II: Its Fundamental Principles, he was invited to address the last session of the Synod in Rome.

* Associate Professor Maeve Heaney.  Director of the Xavier Centre for Theological Formation at Australian Catholic University & author of  Suspended God: Music and a Theology of Doubt. She was a participant in our recent Plenary Council.

 

National Reconciliation Week – Week 7 (27 May – 3 June)