St Brigid’s School 100th Anniversary Mass
Welcome to this Mass and a special welcome to the children of St Brigid’s, because you are the reason that this school exists. Without the children the buildings have no purpose, without the children the teachers have no one to teach.
Today we are celebrating that for one hundred years children have played, learned lessons, grown in faith, and forged friendships at St Brigid’s. Hopefully those who have worked here have also grown in their relationships with Jesus the Lord and that among them support and friendships developed in the staff room.
Today we gather with full hearts to celebrate one hundred years of St Brigid’s School, New Norfolk—a century of faith, learning, and love.
One hundred years ago, something small but beautiful began here. The Sisters of Charity laid the foundations—quietly, faithfully, like Mary in today’s Gospel, saying their own “yes” to God. They built more than classrooms; they built a spirit. Then, in 1950, the Presentation Sisters took up that mission, inspired by Nano Nagle’s lantern of hope, ensuring that this school would continue to shine brightly for generations to come.
And we give thanks, too, for Fr Peter O’Loughlin—whose presence among us today is a living reminder that the story of this school has been shaped by people who believed in it, who invested in it, and who helped it grow so that more children could be welcomed, taught, and formed.
In more recent years, dedicated lay principals—and today Mrs Di O’Rourke—have carried this mission forward with wisdom, courage, and love. The story continues… and you, dear children, are now part of that story.
Today’s feast of the Annunciation is perfect for this celebration. We heard how the angel Gabriel came to Mary with an invitation: “Rejoice… the Lord is with you.” And Mary, though unsure, though wondering, said yes: “Let it be done to me according to your word.”
That “yes” changed the world.
And here is the beautiful truth: every day at St Brigid’s, you are invited to make your own “yes.”
When you are kind to someone who is left out—that is your “yes.”
When you try your best in your learning—that is your “yes.”
When you walk, as we sang at the beginning, in the footsteps of Jesus—that is your “yes.”
You may think you are small. But so was Mary. And through her “yes,” God did something great.
Over these one hundred years, thousands of “yeses” have been spoken in this place—by sisters, priests, teachers, parents, and students. And together, they have built a school where hearts are formed as well as minds, where, as we will pray, hearts are made pure, and where we learn that we truly belong to one another as the Body of Christ.
And so today is not just about looking back—though we do that with gratitude. It is also about looking forward.
What will the next one hundred years look like?
That depends, in part, on you.
As we go forth today singing “This is our school,” remember: this is not just a place you come to—it is a place and community that you help to build. Every smile, every act of kindness, every effort you make helps to shape what St Brigid’s is and what it will become.
Dear children, God is with you. Just as surely as the angel said to Mary, so it is true for you: “The Lord is with you.”
So be brave. Be kind. Be joyful.
And like Mary—say “yes.”
Most Rev. Anthony J. Ireland
Archbishop of Hobart
25 March 2026