Founders Day 2023

We gathered as a school community and began Founders Day 2023 with 2 Masses in the Chapel.

As we gathered in the Chapel, waiting for Mass to begin, it became clear, very quickly, that we were celebrating three incredible women: Teresa of Avila, whose Feast Day it was; Cornelia Connelly, who founded the Society of the Holy Child Jesus on the Feast of St Teresa, back in 1846, and Antonia Beary, who had been the face and heartbeat of Mayfield for 17 years.

Teresa, Cornelia and Antonia shared so many things in common- a passion for education, reform and innovation; compassion in spades; a willing submission to God’s will; and a habit of being obedient to authority in such a manner that they always seemed to end up getting their own way!

And so, on Founders Day, amidst the joy of tree planting, the sports fixtures, the debates, quizzes, music competitions and house feasts, we turned to three incredible women of the Church for inspiration:

Teresa of Avila: “To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that.”

Cornelia Connelly: “It is a great thing to know God‘s Will and to be ready to do it generously”

Antonia Beary: “Work hard, play hard, eat cake and say your prayers!”