Houses

Qilin – Gentle, benevolent & peaceful

Francis House Patron – St. Francis of Assisi

Francis, the man of God, left his home behind, abandoned his inheritance and became poor and penniless, but the Lord raised him up.

House Logo:

Although the image of the Qilin is bold and powerful, Chinese legend has it that the Qilin helps good people, especially those who aim to do good deeds and is a gentle creature.

House Motto:

Justice, Stewardship & Respect – These are the charisms of St. Francis. We too are called to seek justice, be stewards of creation and respect one another, as members of Francis House.

House Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

Dragon - The Eastern Dragon is a symbol of power, goodness, benevolence, and astuteness.

MacKillop House Patron – Saint Mary MacKillop

Mary MacKillop (the Australian people’s saint) had numerous fine and desirable qualities and characteristics; strong willed, determined, honest, generous, caring, very holy, courageous, and a person of integrity. Her patronage is Catholic Colleges.

House Logo

The Eastern Dragon has long been associated with power and intelligence. Eastern Dragons have been thought to make the heart beat stronger instilling a fire within, enabling you to stand taller both physically and spiritually.

House Motto:

Courage, Determination and Integrity - The motto highlights the qualities and characteristics that all who are attached to MacKillop House find most desirable and aspire to display.

House Prayer:

Most loving God we thank you for the example of Saint Mary MacKillop, who in her living of the Gospel witnessed to the human dignity of each person. She faced life's challenges with faith and courage.
We prayer through her intercession for our needs.We make this prayer through Jesus the Lord.
Amen.

Phoenix – symbol of new life and hope.

Phoenix House Patron – Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati worked tirelessly in supporting the sick and the poor, and in advocating the Church’s social teachings. He is quoted as saying " To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth, that is not living, but existing."

House Logo:

In mythology the main feature of the Phoenix is that it is reborn through fire; when it gets old it will make a nest and set it on fire. The Phoenix will be consumed in the flames, but will be reborn out of the ashes. Among Christians, it can represent rebirth after death.

House Motto:

Peace, Passion & Perseverance – These three words were found to be the virtues that our students found to be fundamental in our patron saint’s life and in being a member of Phoenix House.

House Prayer:

Father, you gave the young Pier Giorgio Frassati the joy of meeting Christ and of living his faith in service of the poor and the sick.

Through his intercession may we, too, walk the path of the beatitudes and follow the example of his generosity, spreading the spirit of the Gospel in society. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen

Pixiu – symbol of long life, protection and elegance.

Teresa House Patron – Blessed Mother Teresa

Teresa was born in Albania and later became a Presentation Order Nun. She was teacher at a girl's school in India and she became aware of the poverty in Calcutta. She then left the order and became the founder of Missionary of Charity sisters who devote their life to the poor. "Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love." "Be faithful in small things because in them that your strength lies".

House Logo:

The Pixiu a particularly powerful and auspicious creature of good fortune. It is said to have the power to assist anyone suffering. The creature seems to project a sense of strength, elegance and mobility. Its obvious characteristic is its fat body to indicate a full stomach loaded with unlimited amounts of good fortune.

House Motto:

Charity, Compassion, Dignity – These three words best describe some of the virtues in Blessed Mother Teresa. Such characteristics have been identified and highlighted for the students to strive towards.

House Prayer:

Dear Jesus, help me to spread Thy fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with Thy Spirit and Life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of Thine. Shine through me, and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel thy presence in my soul. Let them look up, and see no longer me, but only Jesus. Stay with me, and then I shall begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be a light to others.

Gryphon – symbol of strength and wisdom.

Gryphon House Patron - Saint Thomas More

Saint Thomas More was a devoted defender of the Church. His lead his life looking after his family and standing up for what he believed. His unwavering devotion to God throughout his life is reflected in his final statement "The King's good servant – but Gods first."

House Logo:

Gryphons have been known for centuries as symbols of strength, intelligence and wisdom. They are also said to have hoards of fabulous treasure, which they guard endlessly. The joining of eagle and lion into one creature incorporates the qualities of strength and wisdom of both these regal animals.

House Motto:

The house motto for Gryphon is "Loyalty, Strength and Wisdom". Strength and wisdom representing the dual qualities of Gryphons and loyalty representing St Thomas More’s unwavering devotion to God.

House Prayer:

O'Lord
Give us a mind that is humble, quiet and peaceable,
Patient and charitable
And a taste of your Holy Spirit
in all our thoughts and deeds.
O'Lord
Give us a lively faith, a firm hope,
A fervent charity, a love of you.
Take from us all luke-warmness in meditation
And all the dullness in prayer.
Give us fervour and delight in thinking of you,
Your grace and your tender compassion towards us.
Give us,
Good Lord,
The grace to work for the things we pray for.
Amen.

Pegasus – symbol of strength, trust and friendship.

Lisieux House Patron – Saint Therese of Lisieux

St Therese of Lisieux had trust and confidence in God. She is known as the ‘Little Flower’ because during the time she was a nun, she was offering to God what she called ‘flowers’ which were little kindnesses to others, little sacrifices, demonstrating her generosity.

"The only way that leads to love – is the way of childlike trust and the way of a child that sleeps, afraid of nothing, safe in its father's arms.”

House Logo

Pictured above is the Pegasus, a winged divine stallion, one of the best known creatures in mythology. It presents an image of strength as the Pegasus was a thunderbolt bearer. The wings represent the soul's ability to transcend the weight of earthly burdens and rise above such concerns into the air, with its soaring flight a symbol of the soul's immortality and serves as the carrier and protector of the spirit.

House Motto:

The motto is three simple words that encompass the life and character of St Therese and those which qualities we aspire to achieve: Trust, Spirit, Generosity.

House Prayer:

St Therese of the child Jesus and the Holy face, teach us to follow your way in confidence and trust. Help us to realize that our Father's love watches over us each day of our lives. Obtain for us the light to see, In sorrow and in joy, in trials as in peace, the loving hand of our Father.
Give us your own faith and trust, So that we may walk in darkness, As the light, holding fast to the way of love, Knowing as you did that everything is a grace.
Amen.