On Monday, 10th March, we celebrated our O’BRIEN Feast Day. O’Brien House is in honour of our founding order of Sisters St John of God. We commenced the day with a beautiful Mass led by Father Liam Ryan. We were honoured to have a special guest, Sr. Pat Rhatigan, a current SSJG sister based in Broome, join us in commemorating the life and legacy of this pioneering order. Sister Antonio, the founding sister of the SSJG order arrived in Broome in June 1907, leading a group of nine sisters from Ireland and Australia to serve at the Beagle Bay mission. Their mission was to educate girls and care for the sick, and their work continues to inspire us today.
The Pomegranate, representing the Sisters, signifies healing and fullness of life, with the scattering of seeds symbolising the generous self-giving required to reach out to those in need. The Cross, a symbol of our connection with God, reminds us of the guiding presence of Christ in all that we do. Our O’Brien motto, “In faith, we flourish,” reflects the foundation of our community and our mission to continue Sister Antonio’s work.
The Gospel reading for the day, from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 6:24-34), deeply resonated with the themes of our celebration. In this passage, Jesus reminds us to trust in God’s care and not to be consumed by worry. As He says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…” (Mt 6:25). This message encourages us to put our faith first, just as Sister Antonio did when she followed her calling to serve others. Her life, dedicated to caring for the sick and educating the young, shows us that when we place our trust in God, He provides for our needs, and we can flourish in faith.
As we celebrated O’Brien Feast Day, we were reminded that living with faith and generosity is central to our community. After the Mass, O’Brien students from Years 3-6 participated in a fun and competitive tug-of-war game, collaborating with their buddy groups from Years 7-12. The celebrations concluded with a delicious cake, beautifully decorated by our Wiriny Buru team.
A huge thank you to Head of Year Glen Hickinbotham, House Ambassador Brooke Bennett, along with our special ministers Margaret Hamilton and Matthew Ralph, and all the readers and ministry volunteers Anna Gatt, Jacob Ryan, Margaret Hamilton, Lee Kearsley, Matthew Ralph, Zac Webster, Rian-Marty Saraza, Oliver Walls, Antionette Murray, and Tina Kearsley. A special thanks as well to all students for wearing their house shirts with such pride – they looked incredible and added to the vibrant spirit of the day.
It was a truly memorable day of reflection, joy, and community, reminding us that when we act with faith, as Sister Antonio did, we too can flourish and make a meaningful difference in our community and beyond.
