Partners in Mission: Governing with Felicity, Grounded in Relationship
Loreto Ministries Steward Directors, Principals, Board Chairs, Business Managers, members of the Loreto Ministries team and facilitators Rev Jamie Calder SJ and Paul Davis gathered at Loreto College Coorparoo for the Loreto Ministries Stewardship & Governance Conference 2026.
Last weekend the Loreto Ministries Steward Directors, Principals, Board Chairs, Business Managers and members of the Loreto Ministries team came together to explore more deeply how we respond to the call to be Partners in Mission in our schools, in our MPJP and in today’s broken world. We were also joined by incoming Loreto Ministries Steward Director, Lilian Topic, Lucinda Garling (member of the Loreto Ministries Finance and Risk Committee) and two school Board Directors, Paula Hoctor and Gabrielle Canny.
Loreto Ministries is one of the youngest MPJPs in Australia and Fr Jamie Calder SJ and Paul Davis helped us explore how our MPJP entity is an expression of Church in Australia. It brings with it some significant responsibility over the stewarding of schools, the growth of mission and being a voice in the Church.
We also had the privilege of deepening our understanding of the role the principal has in leading our schools today. We came to a better understanding of their world and of the rising pressures both within and outside the walls of each school.
Later that day we also worked together to determine if there were things we could do together to enhance our Loreto network in response to the challenges raised.
At the conference we also took time to recognise and farewell four people who have contributed a great deal to our network and who will leave at the end of the year. We pay tribute to Sr Anne Kelly CJ, who is completing her term as a Loreto Ministries Steward Director; Samantha Hellams, who is concluding her service as Chair of Loreto College Marryatville; Donna Orazio, who is completing her term as Chair of Loreto College Coorparoo and Louis Chiam who is finishing as Board Chair of Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak. We are deeply grateful to each of them for all they have added to their entities and to the Loreto network.
Mother Gonzaga Barry said, we are called to “leave after you something on which others may build and rise higher still.” The conference challenged us to consider what that something will be. While the work flowing from these conversations is only just beginning, we will identify a number of priority areas to develop over the coming months. We are committed to leaving our legacy and dreaming a future Loreto that continues to provide a sustainable and transformative education.
The conference discussion was deeply reflective and profound, and we look to the future with great courage and confidence. I am deeply grateful to all attendees who contributed so much to the time shared together. I too thank Kim Wickham, Principal, Loreto College Coorparoo and her team for making us feel so welcome and cared for over the conference.
Author: Maureen Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Loreto Ministries
Published 30 July 2026
