Loreto Minstries logo
MENU
  • About Us
    • Loreto Ministries
      • History
    • Governance
      • Governance | Loreto Schools
    • Formation
      • Loreto Formation Framework
      • Pilgrimage to the Lands of Mary Ward
      • Loreto Ministries Boards’ Colloquium
      • Staff Spirituality Days
      • Dr Elaine McDonald National Tour
      • LSAC Student Leadership Conference
      • LSAC Leadership Conference
    • Policy & Guiding Documents
    • Meet the Team
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Our Schools
    • Loreto Education Philosophy
    • Mary Ward Schools’ Compass
    • Loreto Schools
      • Loreto Ballarat
      • Loreto Coorparoo
      • Loreto Kirribilli
      • Loreto Marryatville
      • Loreto Nedlands
      • Loreto Normanhurst
      • Loreto Toorak
    • Associated Schools
      • Bayview College
      • John XXIII College
    • Social Justice
  • Child Safety
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Events
    • Subscribe
  • Contact

Strengthening our Collective Mission

One of the great privileges of working in adult faith formation is participating in the faith journeys of others. The questions asked, the reflections offered, and the connections made during formation sessions are thoughtful and personal. The insights shared nourish the reflections of all present, including the facilitator. Working with board members and staff from various backgrounds – different parts of the country; varied connections to the Loreto network; professional experience in education, law, finance and private enterprise; lay women and men and Sisters; people of deep, personal faith and people willing to learn and be challenged – to nurture their embrace of the Loreto tradition is an enriching endeavour. A faith journey is informed by our experiences, and all these experiences bring great richness to the service we offer the Loreto network.

Formation in a faith tradition involves much more than reading books and various articles – it isn’t about becoming an `expert’ on a story for others: it requires seeking and embracing new learning experiences and people while opening one’s heart to listen to the Spirit. Formation in the Loreto tradition calls us to connect with, question and embrace the lessons of the Loreto story and the experiences of others – past and present. All this with an eye for how we can allow the determination, faith and vision of Mary Ward to inspire a contemporary approach to our work and the needs of our times.

The importance of forming leaders and staff in the faith tradition underpinning a community cannot be underestimated: “Formation strengthens our collective mission and is critical to supporting stewardship of our mission into the future.” (Loreto Formation Framework, p.3) It is what keeps us faithful to the vision and mission that we have committed to enlivening and ensures responsible custodianship of the Province’s ministries and mission. Formation programs and experiences enable people to develop their openness to, understanding of and ability to share with others the vision and mission of the tradition they are serving. This in turn enables board members, leaders and staff to authentically offer themselves to the service of the Loreto ministry they are involved with. Formation “invites people to use their gifts to further God’s mission for a particular time, place, and purpose. Recognising that everyone is on a faith journey, formation engages people in discerning their place in the call to bring Gospel values to the service of others.” (Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, 2017) The acceptance of the invitation to open one’s mind and heart to formation experiences in collaboration with our colleagues “is an integral part of our shared leadership” (Sr Wendy Hildebrand ibvm, 2020), and deepens our capacity to contribute to the Loreto mission and the creation of societies characterised by peace and justice.

It has been a privilege to begin working with boards, staff and school leaders across the Loreto network. I look forward to working with many more communities as we continue to strive to transform the Church and the world, particularly by empowering women to seek truth and do justice. For support with developing the Loreto Formation Framework or the delivery of various other formation experiences, you can contact me at carolyn.young@loretoministries.org.au

Author: Carolyn Young, Director of Identity & Mission, Loreto Ministries

Tags: Education, Faith, Formation, Leadership, Loreto, Loreto Ministries, Loreto Network, Loreto Schools, Mission
Back to News

In this section

  • News
  • Events

Categories

  • Communications (2)
  • Education (45)
  • Events (2)
  • Formation (4)
  • From the CEO (18)
  • Governance (10)
  • Loreto Ministries Board (9)
  • Loreto Ministries Staff (14)
  • Mission (22)
  • MWIA (2)
  • News (77)
  • Past Students (9)
  • Projects (4)
  • Reflection (16)
  • Social Justice (15)
  • Technology (7)

Archives

  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019

Subscribe

For Journalists

Media Centre:
Anna Turkington
Communications Manager
Ph: (02) 8912 1309
Mob: 0418 241 280
Email: anna.turkington@loreto.org.au

Loreto Ministries logo

Loreto Ministries respectfully acknowledges all Traditional Custodians of the land and waters of Australia. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, and young leaders of today and the future. Loreto Ministries commits itself to the ongoing work of reconciliation with our First Nations families and communities.

flag-aboriginal  flag-torres-strait-islander

Consent for all imagery of children and young people used on this site has been received.

  • About Us
    • Loreto Ministries
    • Governance
    • Formation
    • Policy & Guiding Documents
    • Meet the Team
  • Our Schools
    • Loreto Education Philosophy
    • Mary Ward Schools’ Compass
    • Loreto Schools
    • Associated Schools
    • Social Justice
    • Thank you for subscribing
  • Child Safety
  • News
  • Contact
Loreto on Twitter
Loreto on Linkedin
Copyright © Loreto Ministries | ABN 33 608 001 298
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions