St Aloysius College is Animated by Love

St Aloysius College is Animated by Love

“The proof of love is deed.” These words of Catherine McAuley, Founder of the Sisters of Mercy, call us beyond sentiment and into action. At St Aloysius College, the 2026 liturgical theme, Animated by Love, invites the community to consider love not as an abstract ideal, but as a spirituality lived daily through presence and small, yet significant, acts of service.

In the Mercy tradition, love is never passive. It is attentive to human dignity, responsive to injustice, and empowers us to make choices to care for one another. Love moves outward. It transforms relationships. It nurtures communities. During the College’s first Whole School Mass for the year, St Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians reminded all that love is patient and kind, that it rejoices in truth, and that it endures all things. These words speak to a faith that is not measured by declaration alone, but by how it is embodied in the ordinary moments of daily life.

As we step into 2026, this theme, Animated by Love, calls the SAC community to live with intention, striving to make visible the Mercy values and spreading a message of hope through actions, relationships, and choices.

Mercy spirituality is not a theory, but a practice, and it is often best understood through the witness of lives lived generously. Across our College’s history, we have known individuals who have exemplified what it means to lead with courage, serve with humility, and place relationships at the centre of learning and leadership.

In the life of the St Aloysius College community, few embodied this truth more fully than Sister Deirdre Jordan.

An Old Scholar of St Aloysius College, Sister of Mercy, and former College Principal, Sister Deirdre’s connection to the College spanned decades and influenced generations of learners. Her leadership was marked by a profoundly relational and service-oriented approach that placed students firmly at the heart of decision-making.

Sister Deirdre led with a steadfast commitment to Mercy values, holding firmly to the College’s mission while remaining open, responsive, and deeply human in her leadership. She believed that education was not simply about academic achievement, but about forming young people who understood their responsibility to the world around them.

Central to Sr Deirdre’s leadership was her unwavering belief that love must be made visible through action. She fostered a culture where compassion and service were woven into the fabric of College life, and understood that authentic Mercy leadership requires both strength and tenderness. Her example reminds us that leadership animated by love creates communities where people feel valued and encouraged to grow.

The passing of Sr Deirdre marks a significant loss for our College community. Her influence is etched into our history, our values, and the countless individuals she guided and inspired. Yet her legacy is not one that rests in memory alone. Rather, it deepens our shared purpose, reminding us that the Mercy mission continues through each generation called to live it.

When Sr Deirdre attended last year’s Uniform Launch at the College, she wrote a card saying she was, “overwhelmed by the obvious impact of the Mercy spirit on staff and students today.”

Yenuli P and Liliana B, College Captains for 2026, are proud to walk in the footsteps of Mercy women who’ve gone before them, explaining how, “as College Captains, it is really important to us that we lead with our heart. Like Catherine McAuley we hope to put the needs of the community before our own. As a Year 12 cohort, we sponsor a scholarship for Angel, a student from The School of St Jude in Tanzania. Our constant efforts towards raising funds through various fundraisers throughout the year convey our compassion and care, putting Angel’s needs before our own, allowing her to get the education she deserves. This emphasises that love has no limits or boundaries, when we act out of love, we can help people even if they live on the other side of the world.”

As we move through 2026, Animated by Love becomes both tribute and invitation. It calls us to honour the legacy of those who have walked before us by choosing, each day, to live Mercy in practical and meaningful ways. For students, this may be seen in acts of inclusion, advocacy, and kindness. For staff, it may be reflected in relationships built on respect, encouragement, and care. For families, it is lived through partnership, trust, and shared commitment to the flourishing of every young person entrusted to our College.

The story of St Aloysius College has always been expressed by individuals who understand that love is not proven through words alone. It is revealed in choices made and actions taken.  At SAC, Mercy is brought to life through daily acts of courage, compassion, justice, hospitality, respect and service, ensuring that love, as Catherine McAuley envisioned, is always made visible through what we do.

Ms Maddie Kelly
JAM Coordinator | SACOSA Coordinator


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