Principal’s Message
History
Brigidine College Randwick opened its doors in 1901 with an enrolment of fifteen students. For one year the school was in a rented house, “Strathallen” in Avoca Street (now the Ward Medical Institute). A year later the imposing “Aeolia” and its land was purchased and this was followed by construction of school and convent buildings. Up until the 1950’s Brigidine Randwick was a large establishment comprising provincialate, novitiate, and a K-12 boarding school for girls with boys also as day students in lower primary years. Brigidine College is now a secondary day school for girls only and continues to operate in the buildings built by the Brigidines as their school and in later additional buildings.
Charism
Our College was founded in 1901 by the Brigidine Sisters who were guided by the charism of St Brigid. The staff and students of Brigidine College are called to remember, and be witness to, St Brigid’s remarkable concern for the poor and the oppressed, her patience, humility, joy, steadfast faith and her willingness to serve others.
The Brigidine Charism is:
- Grounded in Faith
- Strengthened by Courage
- Lived out through Service and Hospitality
- Actioned with Compassion, Hope & Justice
The College Ethos
DEVELOPING THE WHOLE PERSON
Our mission at Brigidine College is to develop young women of faith, compassion, and hope.
Brigidine College is committed to the development of young women who:
- value the reality of God in their lives
- respect the dignity of others
- love learning for its own sake
- think independently and fair-mindedly
- are well-balanced, happy and self-confident
- belong to a caring community of teachers, students and parents
- value themselves as women
- are appreciative of creative and cultural pursuits
- develop skills that will enable them to adapt to the changes and challenges of life
- be concerned about significant issues of justice, peace, and environment.
Creating the fire to make the extra out of the ordinary.
Be extraordinary!
Like all other Brigidine schools, our College has the crest and the motto of the Brigidine Congregation. Up until 1948, the motto of the school was Finis Coronet Opus, the End Crowns the Work. In 1948, it was decided that all Brigidine schools would adopt the crest and motto of the Congregation.
The Badge of the Congregation of St Brigid, which is now used by Brigidine Schools throughout the world, was originally designed by the Irish College of Heraldry.
The Cross in the top section of the badge is that of St Brigid, and the large cross of diamonds is taken from the family crest of Bishop Daniel Delany, who founded the Brigidine Sisters. The Cross of St Brigid is based on the simple cross of reeds which tradition says Brigid used when teaching the truths of the Catholic faith. It is found widely in Irish homes as it is believed to protect the home from fire. The small lamp in the centre of the badge represents the light of Christian faith and the light of learning.
The motto “Fortiter et Suaviter” is the underpinning of Brigidine ethos. This translates into “To act with strength and gentleness”. In the words of Bishop Delany:
“Nothing is as strong as gentleness.
Nothing is as gentle as real strength”
This motto has been embraced and valued by all Brigidine students and remains inspiring and relevant for women of the twenty-first century.
Our local parish is Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church Randwick and is run by the priests from the missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) order.
Parish Priest: Fr Gerard McCormick MSC
A: 193 Avoca St, Randwick NSW 2031
P: (02) 9399 6775
W: www.sacredheart.org.au
Mass times can be found on the OLSH website