History and Tradition
“Never cease to cultivate this vine that has been entrusted to you.”
… Angela Merici
Although St Ursula’s College began life in Toowoomba in 1931, the College draws its spirit and tradition from the lived experiences of many people in many continents and across many cultures over 400 hundred years of history.
The story of St Ursula’s College is linked in every way with two great stories.
Our story is grounded in the story of Catholic education that was told dramatically and humbly lived out by Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago.
Our story began in the mind and heart of Angela Merici, the woman who founded the Company of St Ursula in 1535 in the city of Brescia in northern Italy.
Much of Angela’s spirit continues to influence our approach today as we work towards being a place where people are celebrated for their unique giftedness and potential.
In recent years there has been a growing awareness among many Ursuline schools that this network can provide a means of mutual support and development amongst our schools through the sharing of spiritual and intellectual resources. It has also been considered that the international nature of the Ursuline schools helps foster an important global awareness in students and staff and an appreciation of other cultures and societies.
Those who become part of the community of St Ursula’s College inherit this rich tradition and heritage. They also have the privilege of contributing to the dynamic shaping of the charism of Angela Merici as it is embodied in this place and time.
Spirituality and Community
St Ursula’s College is a hopeful, faith-filled community. It is a welcoming, people-centred place where faith and life are motivated by the example and spirit of Jesus. The Ursuline spirit inspires an educational environment where there is unconditional recognition of the giftedness of each person.
Each person is known and valued and respected. Relationships are characterised by trust, care, respect, gentleness, service and forgiveness. This is a dynamic, lived spirituality which inspires hope and empowers all members of the community to realise their fullness of life. St Ursula’s College is a place where deep learning arises from commitment to providing opportunities for staff and students to make a difference in this world.
At St Ursula’s College, the honouring, exploration and lived experience of the Catholic tradition is central to the life of the community. Each person is respected as one who is created in the image and likeness of God. Each person is on a faith journey. Each person has a responsibility for enacting justice, peace and ecological sustainability.
St Ursula’s College is a community which holds a shared understanding of its core transformative purpose evidenced by confident innovation, reflection and responsiveness, individuality and interdependence, service and justice are at its heart. It is in these ways that the St Ursula’s College community is connecting with life.
At St Ursula’s College our motto is “Serviam” – I will serve – and we encourage all girls to live this out in their everyday lives. There are numerous cultural and service groups to which the girls can belong. Service Options encourage students to develop an appreciation in supporting service organisations in the community. Activities include: Meals on Wheels, Rosies – Friends on the Street, Care for Cambodia, Pink Ladies supporting National Breast Cancer Foundation, Interact and Social Justice Initiatives.
CULTURAL STATEMENT
St Ursula’s College, Toowoomba, a Catholic educational and residential community in the Ursuline Tradition, is dedicated to the education and care of young women.
We strive to create learning opportunities that will encourage students to take responsibility for their own thinking and learning, so that they may become more resourceful and empathetic young women who seek:
the development of a personal faith and spirituality; participation and leadership in all facets of today’s and tomorrow’s world.
The challenge for all is to model relationships within and beyond our community based on:
mutual respect; tolerance and acceptance; care for the individual and the environment; interdependence and collaboration; service
so that our students, growing in wisdom, justice and integrity, will contribute responsibly to their own transformation and that of society.
