On Thursday 26th February, we gathered in the beautiful Nulungu Chapel to celebrate O’Brien Feast Day. Students from Years 3–6 joined in celebration, proudly wearing their O’Brien House shirts; it was truly a sea of red and an amazing sight to see!
Mass was led by Father Bryan, who shared a powerful message about leadership and faith. He spoke about the saying, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too,” explaining the idea of the zero-sum game of leadership — where one person’s gain can mean another’s loss, and challenged us to think instead about abundance versus scarcity in the Kingdom of God. His message reminded us that true leadership is grounded in generosity, service and faith.
Throughout the Mass, we were blessed to hear beautiful reflections from both our primary and secondary students, who spoke confidently and thoughtfully about the meaning of O’Brien House.
We honoured the legacy of Sister Antonio O’Brien, our House patron, who in 1907 led a small group of Sisters of St John of God into the remote and largely unknown Kimberley region. Despite harsh conditions, illness and isolation, they worked alongside First Nations and mixed-race communities with courage and compassion. Sister Antonio was a pioneering Sister of St John of God in the Kimberley and the founding sister of our school, a legacy we continue to carry with pride.
Our House symbols remind us of who we are and what we stand for:
The Pomegranate represents the Sisters of St John of God and the healing and fullness of life.
The scattered seeds symbolise generous self-giving and reaching out to those in need.
The Cross represents our connection with God and Christ.
Our motto, In faith we flourish, calls us to grow through trust, courage and service.
Following Mass, we came together to celebrate with a beautiful cake, marking this special occasion as a community. Each student received an O’Brien magnet as a token to take pride in and remember our Feast Day.
A massive thank you to all staff and students who contributed to such a beautiful and smooth celebration. A very special shout out to Sister Pat, who made a huge effort to join us for the O’Brien Feast Day Mass — we were so grateful to have you with us.
In faith, we truly flourish. ❤️
