Our Mission, Vision & Values
Mission
Our Mission is the education of young people within the context of Christ’s mission and the traditions of Saint Clare and the Sisters of St Joseph.
Vision
Our Vision is to be a Catholic community that values and nurtures "learning for all of life".
We value community, relationships and teaching and learning for "all of life".
Josephite Values
“Never see a need without doing something about it.” – Mary MacKillop, 1811
The Josephite Order was founded by Sr Mary MacKillop and Father Tenison Woods. Mary MacKillop, known to Australians as Mother Mary of the Cross, lived a life of faith-filled service to others. She was courageous, tenacious, and resilient in the face of adversity. Mary and her Josephite Sisters worked diligently on behalf of the isolated, poor, and disadvantaged, using education to empower people and to establish a community that responded to people in need.
At the time of the beatification of Mary MacKillop, Pope John Paul II said: “Mary MacKillop embodies all that is best in your nation and its people – genuine openness to others, hospitality to strangers, generosity to the needy, justice to those unfairly treated, perseverance in face of adversity and kindness and support to the suffering. Think of Mother Mary MacKillop and learn from her to be a gift of love and compassion to one another, for all Australians and for the world.”
In 2008, on his visit to World Youth Day in Sydney, Pope Benedict XVI said: “Mary MacKillop is one of the outstanding figures in Australia’s history. I know that her perseverance in the face of adversity, her plea for justice on behalf of those unfairly treated and her practical example of holiness have become a source of inspiration for all Australians. Generations have reason to be grateful to her.”
Mary MacKillop’s life and work are built firmly on these values, which formed the framework out of which all her endeavours grew. They form the foundation of what has made her a window of hope in our world.
Mary MacKillop – A Window of Hope – Monica Cavanagh rsj.
Mother Mary MacKillop was a faithful servant of God and of people in need. She believed education liberated people from poverty and oppression and allowed them to live full and happy lives.
Her spirit and Josephite charisma find expression in St Clare’s through:
- inclusive policies and procedures
- senior students’ immersion trips to remote areas and to inner Sydney to work with poor and isolated Australians
- the work of our chapter of St Vincent de Paul – both staff and student conferences
- the work of our human rights group
- commitment and support for Catholic Mission and Caritas
- student visits to Storm Retirement Village
- our Feast Day fundraising activities
- our Biannual Sleep-Out
- various fundraisers for local groups and organisations.