Mary Ward: First Sister of Feminism by
Almost exactly 400 years ago, an English woman completed an astonishing walk to Rome.An English Catholic, Mary Ward had already defied the authorities in England. In 1621 she walked across Europe to ask the Pope to allow her to set up schools for girls. 'There is no such difference between men and women that women may not do great things,' she said.But Mary's vision of equality between men and women angered the Catholic Church and the Pope threw her into prison. This is a story just waiting to be told!The story shines a refreshingly new light on the popular Tudor/Stuart era. Mary's uncles are the Gunpowder Plotters. Her sponsors are Archdukes, Prince-Archbishops and the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. In Rome she spars with Pope Urban VIII and the Roman Inquisition, just as they are also dealing with Galileo.As the story sweeps from Yorkshire to Rome, from Vienna and Munich to Prague and back to England, we see Mary dodging pirates in the Channel, witch hunts in Germany and the plague in Italy. We see travellers crossing the Alps, and prisoners writing letters in invisible lemon juice to smuggle them past their gaolers. The settings range from the resplendent courts in Brussels and Munich to the siege of York in the English Civil War. The reader is immersed in seventeenth-century life.
Mary Ward: once and future foundress by A Dangerous Innovator: Mary Ward (1585-1645) by 
Our School's values are derived from those of Mary Ward: freedom, justice, sincerity, verity, and freedom. You can learn more about these values at the link below.
2023 is the Loreto Year of Justice.
There are a total of fifty paintings, displayed in the Mary Ward Hall in Augsburg, Germany, that depict significant events in the spiritual life of Mary Ward. Little is known about their creation, but it is likely that they were commissioned by Mary Ward's first companions.
Mary was a woman ahead of her time and her words still inspire us today. Click here for some of her most famous quotes
Mother Gonzaga Barry is also immortalised by her quote:
“This set me thinking and wishing our dear Loreto children were a ‘row of goodly pearls’.
I would string my pearls on a triple cord, strong and sure.”
Our School houses are named Barry, Mornane, Mulhall and Ward in honour of great Loreto women.
Barry House is named after Mother Gonzaga Barry who led the first group of Loreto nuns to Australia from Ireland in 1875. She began the Loreto school in Ballarat, quickly following that with other schools across the country. She was a great pioneer in education opening teachers' colleges and preparing girls for university.
Mornane House is named for Mother Stanislaus Mornane, who was one of the very early pupils of Loreto Abbey Ballarat in 1876 and became the first Australian Loreto pupil to enter the institute in Australia. She spent many years in Sydney where she was a teacher and Mother Superior.
Mulhall House takes its name from Mother Stanislaus Mulhall. She arrived in Australia in 1897 teaching at Mary's Mount and for many years was the Mistress of Novices. Mother Mulhall had a passion for music and in 1915 followed Mother Gonzaga as Provincial Australian.
Ward House is named after Mary Ward, foundress of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM) as the Loreto nuns are officially called. Born in England in 1585, she traveled valiantly across Europe founding schools in many countries and setting up a new style of religious life. She died in 1645 confident that "women in time to come will do much"
Books in the Library
The Companions of Mary Ward by Companions of Mary Ward by After Mary Ward's "glory vision", she became more convinced of her purpose and began to gather a company of women to help her achieve it. These women were: Suzanna Rookwood, Catherine Smith, Jane Browne, Mary Poyntz and Winefrid Wigmore. Later, they were joined by Barbara Ward and Barbara Babthorpe,
The lifestyle of the companions was strictly ordered. They rose at 4.00am for prayer, followed by Mass and private oration of the Divine Office. There were twice daily examinations of conscience. Silence prevailed at meals, while Scripture was read and at many other times during the day. They wore modest black clothing but - unlike their enclosed counterparts - went about in society. This led to their title by those who did not like them of “galloping girls” and “chattering hussies”.