Sisters’ charism burns bright as St Monica’s celebrates 60th anniversary

St Monica’s College, Epping in Melbourne is celebrating its 60th anniversary and among the celebrations is a strong thread of gratitude for the school’s long association with the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.

By Debra Vermeer

College Principal Brian Hanley said while St Monica’s College began as a parish-owned regional school and is now a Melbourne Archdiocesan school, it was staffed by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan from its inception in 1964, the year the Sisters accepted an invitation to establish a secondary school for girls. 

“Eventually, a convent was constructed on the grounds of the school on Davisson Street, Epping.  The College became coeducational in 1978 under the principalship of the late Sister Therese Quinn SGS,” said Brian, who has been Principal since 1991 and took over the role from Sister Harriet Gleeson SGS.

This year, a Good Samaritan presence has returned to St Monica’s staff with Sister Veronica Quinn SGS joining the Learning Support Team.

“The College community remains a strong supporter of the Sisters who reside in the northern suburbs of Melbourne,” Brian said.

“This relationship is valued by the students and staff, by the Sisters who are regularly visited by Monicans, and by those Sisters who frequently attend College events.”

Deputy Principal (Identity, Mission and Community) Bernadette Harris was educated by the Sisters at St Stephen’s, Reservoir, which will become a campus of St Monica’s next year, and then at St Monica’s.

“My links with the Good Sams are long,” she said. “I’ve written the history of the school, and I look after the archives. The story is really close to my heart.”

Bernadette said she was drawn to the Good Samaritan charism from a young age and was happy to be able to return to St Monica’s as a teacher.

“I think I was drawn to the Benedictine aspects of the Good Sam charism and the relational aspects of who it calls us to be, which translates so well to working with young people,” she said.

“That underlines our whole approach here at the school. It sustains us in our own spiritual life, and we hope it will also teach our students those strong foundations.

“We help pass this on by ensuring that the history of the College is accessible and celebrated by the whole school community but also that the mission is lived out through things like a commitment to social justice, community service, liturgy and prayer, youth ministry and living out our faith so that it’s active in the life of students and staff.”

Bernadette said many College facilities and awards were named in honour of Sisters of the Good Samaritan, and the school was also involved in some of the Sisters’ current ministries.

“Our staff and students visit and support the ongoing work of the Sisters in Bacolod in the Philippines. We had a group visiting there in November last year and it was really transformational for them to not only learn about the history of the Sisters but to meet some of the Sisters in the Philippines and see what the Good Sams are doing now.

“It gives them a great sense of things beyond themselves, of reaching out to others and welcoming in. At the College, we do what we can to support those ministries in terms of fundraising and collection of practical items. By being immersed in these ministries, the students and staff know the Good Sam message is still very much alive.

“There is a richness to the relationship, which I hope will never be lost.”

The Sisters have also been part of the Jubilee celebrations, with former St Monica’s student Sister Michelle Reid SGS returning to give a presentation at the Staff Spirituality Day and Sisters who had taught at the school invited to an anniversary celebration for past staff members.

Sister Margaret Keane SGS was Campus Director, Religious Education Coordinator and taught at St Monica’s for eight years from 1979, just as the school was becoming co-educational, and was delighted to return for the Diamond Jubilee function.

“I was very fortunate to have been at St Monica’s – a really happy time,” she said. “I love going back there and seeing the beautiful buildings and the amazing innovative teaching now being offered.

“Now, the College is over three campuses and has more than 2000 students. It is very faithful to the Good Samaritan Benedictine values and to our Sisters. I feel very proud and grateful to have been a small part of this community.”

She said the Jubilee celebration for past staff members, which included an extensive photo gallery and afternoon tea, was a wonderful opportunity to revisit her time at the school.

“It was a very cold afternoon, however, there was nothing cold inside the beautifully decorated and heated room and the atmosphere of joy in recognition of former colleagues,” she said.

Sister Veronica Quinn SGS said although she had no previous connection with St Monica’s, she was enjoying working part-time this year as a Learning Support Officer.

With a background in primary and teacher education, it is the first time that Veronica has been on staff in a secondary school.

“I love it,” she said. “It’s a huge school and my job is to support the teachers. I don’t have a class as such, but I work with individual students and I’m really enjoying spending time with young teenagers.”

Veronica’s work includes being part of the Acutis Program, named after Blessed Carlo Acutis, who died in Italy in 2006 at just 15 years of age, and is now on the pathway to sainthood.

“It’s an intensive program for students in Years 7 and 8, a cohort who were really very affected by the COVID-19 lockdowns, especially here in Victoria. We take them out of classes in groups of 10 and give them extra support,” she said.

“It’s a great school and it blows me away how much they have woven the Good Samaritan spirit into the fabric of the place, both with staff and students, and how those links are still very much alive. I feel very much at home there.”

This article was published in the October 2024 edition of The Good Oil.