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Our Lady of Sion College celebrates 90 years
16 February 2018
Last Friday St Patrick's Cathedral was filled with students, teachers and family members of students from Our Lady of Sion College, Box Hill to celebrate the College's 90th anniversary. The College was first established in 1928 by the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion to respond to the needs of the children and Catholic families of Box Hill and surrounding areas, and the College has worked tirelessly in the last 90 years to continue the vision they had in those humble beginnings—the desire to provide an excellent education grounded in faith for generations of young women.
The charism of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion founded in scripture and the importance of dialogue continue to permeate the opportunities provided to students today. The College's vision statement is ‘
sowing the seeds of hope,
uncovering excellence within and inspiring a commitment to justice’.
Principal Tina Aspostolopoulos said that ‘today was a wonderful celebration of the life and history of the College, and we look forward to the future with hope
’.
The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Hart and concelebrated by the Vicar General, Monsignor Greg Bennet, during which he blessed special 90th badges that have been designed to celebrate the milestone. During his homily the Archbishop spoke about the students' time at Sion and how ‘it is there to discover who you are and what you can offer to the world' and that 'some people who walk with you today will be your lifelong friends'.
The Archbishop concluded by saying as Archbishop and on behalf of his predecessors how proud he is of Sion.
There are also other celebrations this year such as a ‘Welcome Back to Sion’ reunion afternoon for all past staff and students from across the last 90 years, on 20 May, the annual celebration of ‘Sion Day’ for current students, also in May, fundraising for the San Miguel Community School in Brazil and the Franciscan Family Centre in Jerusalem and a gala concert at the Monash University Robert Blackwood Hall in September.
The College has also initiated a social justice project, ‘90 deeds for 90 years’. The College has come up with 90 deeds that will be carried out, with each individual year level as well as staff being responsible for completing a number of deeds contributing to the total.
Year 12 student and Liturgy Captain Sophie Chan was excited to be part of the Mass. ‘The 90 deeds are such a big part of our mission at Sion. To see the overlap between liturgy and social justice. I think it is such an amazing legacy!’ said Sophie said.
Examples of these deeds include staff visiting Ozanam House to help serve meals; breakfast fundraisers for Project Compassion throughout Lent; the Year 12s will be undertaking the Vinnie’s School Winter Sleep Out; and students will be making period packs for girls around the world to ensure they can go to school year-round through the Days for Girls organisation.
More than anything, they will be celebrating 90 years of educating young women to embrace faith, courage, justice and a lifelong love for learning.
This article was originally published in Melbourne Catholic on 9 February 2018.