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Our Story
Our story is a rich tapestry of lives lived in prayer, service and the pursuit of justice. We are called to continue the legacy of Saint Mary of the Cross Mackillop and Sr Irene McCormack to 'never see a need without doing something about it'.
Our story
Irene McCormack Catholic College was established in 2000 by the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia in response to an increased demand for Catholic education in the rapidly growing north-western corridor of Perth, Western Australia. The College opened with 30 students in 2002, in small, temporary premises close to the planned school site on Bradman Drive, Butler. The school has continued to evolve and develop and is designed for a capacity of 1,100 students.
As a Catholic school, Irene McCormack Catholic College is open to all families, no matter their faith or socio-economic circumstances, who seek a Catholic education for their children, as far as resources allow. Wherever possible, the College aims to minimise potential barriers for parents, such as fees and other school costs, to make a Catholic education accessible to all families. Significant discounts are available for families holding specific Health Care Cards. Individual circumstances will be considered in discussion with the College Business Manager.
One of the key tasks of the Catholic school is to form Christian men and women committed to the love, compassion and justice of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a Catholic School, Irene McCormack Catholic College aims to promote justice, particularly to those who are culturally, physically, intellectually, financially or spiritually disadvantaged. We are committed to demonstrating the Church’s commitment to the dignity of the individual.
Our story is distinctively Australian in its origin and character. We draw on the spirit and wisdom of the First Nations people. In particular, we acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their rich cultural heritage, their deep connection to Country and their stewardship of this great land over thousands of years. We pay respect to the Whajuk Noongar people, the original custodians of the land upon which our school is situated, and their elders past and present.
Irene's Story
The College was named in honour of Sr Irene McCormack and to continue her legacy of prayer, service and justice.
Sr Irene McCormack was born and raised in Kununoppin and Trayning, the land of the Njaki Njaki Noongar people. In her early years, she thrived at school under the tutelage of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, a uniquely Australian Order of nuns founded by Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, and the Order to which Irene committed her life’s work.
Sr Irene was a teacher, school principal and missionary who dedicated her life to serving the people of Western Australia and the poor and marginalised people in Peru. She lived a life of Prayer, Service and Justice, the three precepts of our College motto. Sr Irene was martyred in Huasahuasi, Peru, in 1991, by members of Sendero Luminoso, a Maoist rebel terrorist organisation. At the time, she was providing Caritas food parcels and educational services to the families of the town. Our College serves to both honour her life and legacy, as well as inspire a new generation of missionaries who will adopt the mantra of St Mary MacKillop: “Never see a need without doing something about it.”
College Patrons
The story of Irene McCormack tethers together the profoundly Australian origin of our other patrons, Saint Mary of the Cross Mackillop and the College House patrons: Father Tom Dunlea, Sister Joan Evans, The Golding Sisters, and Frank McGarry. All of these people are Australians whose commitment to their Catholic faith inspired their work to bring equality and justice to all Australians. Furthermore, based on the motivations of their life’s work, each House Patron is assigned to one of four pillars: Catholic Identity, Education, Community, and Stewardship, which also align with the four pillars of Catholic Education.
Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop
Fr Tom Dunlea
Sr Joan Evans
The Golding Sisters
Frank McGarry
Beginning in South Australia, Saint Mary Mackillop was guided by the Gospel to stand with the poor and marginalised people of her time so that they could realise their potential to participate fully in the community. She transformed lives by providing access to education and teaching practical life skills. Along with Father Julian Tennison-Woods, she founded the Order of Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
As a parish priest in New South Wales, Father Tom Dunlea was approached by a young boy asking him to minister last rites to his dying mother. The woman begged Father Dunlea to look after her son, and so, when the woman passed, Father Dunlea took the boy under his charge, which eventually led to the establishment of Boys’ Town, a residential facility for displaced boys. Today, the Dunlea Centre provides a comprehensive service to adolescent children and their families who are at risk of family breakdown, but who want to restore their relationships.
A Presentation Sister from Perth, Sister Joan Evans is a model of how practical acts of charity and mercy can make a significant difference to the lives of many. Sister Joan worked in Thailand to build the dignity and sanctity of life in communities that lacked options or opportunities. She promoted the education and care of the poor to bring about real and lasting change.
The Golding Sisters, Kate, Belle and Annie, were Roman Catholic suffragettes in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries in New South Wales. They founded various organisations and used their public speaking skills, first-hand understanding of women’s needs and Catholic social teaching principles to sway opinions of those who didn’t support women’s equality. They pursued gender equality and justice for woman, in a world dominated by men. They actively promoted greater possibilities for women in the work force, in education and politics. They had an ability to bring people together and to share in a vision for a more just, common future, which, ultimately, is what a community seeks to do.
Frank McGarry was a lay missionary working in the Northern Territory where he was appointed as Protector of Aboriginal people. Together with Father P. J. Moloney, he established The Little Flower Mission. Through his protection and work with Aboriginal people of central Australia, Frank McGarry modelled true stewardship. He promoted a sense of harmony and solidarity, and his care of the local community demonstrated the true spirit of the Gospel.
Saint Mary of the Cross Mackillop
Beginning in South Australia, Saint Mary Mackillop was guided by the Gospel to stand with the poor and marginalised people of her time so that they could realise their potential to participate fully in the community. She transformed lives by providing access to education and teaching practical life skills. Along with Father Julian Tennison-Woods, she founded the Order of Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
Fr Tom Dunlea
As a parish priest in New South Wales, Father Tom Dunlea was approached by a young boy asking him to minister last rites to his dying mother. The woman begged Father Dunlea to look after her son, and so, when the woman passed, Father Dunlea took the boy under his charge, which eventually led to the establishment of Boys’ Town, a residential facility for displaced boys. Today, the Dunlea Centre provides a comprehensive service to adolescent children and their families who are at risk of family breakdown, but who want to restore their relationships.
Sr Joan Evans
A Presentation Sister from Perth, Sister Joan Evans is a model of how practical acts of charity and mercy can make a significant difference to the lives of many. Sister Joan worked in Thailand to build the dignity and sanctity of life in communities that lacked options or opportunities. She promoted the education and care of the poor to bring about real and lasting change.
The Golding Sisters
The Golding Sisters, Kate, Belle and Annie, were Roman Catholic suffragettes in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries in New South Wales. They founded various organisations and used their public speaking skills, first-hand understanding of women’s needs and Catholic social teaching principles to sway opinions of those who didn’t support women’s equality. They pursued gender equality and justice for woman, in a world dominated by men. They actively promoted greater possibilities for women in the work force, in education and politics. They had an ability to bring people together and to share in a vision for a more just, common future, which, ultimately, is what a community seeks to do.
Frank McGarry
Frank McGarry was a lay missionary working in the Northern Territory where he was appointed as Protector of Aboriginal people. Together with Father P. J. Moloney, he established The Little Flower Mission. Through his protection and work with Aboriginal people of central Australia, Frank McGarry modelled true stewardship. He promoted a sense of harmony and solidarity, and his care of the local community demonstrated the true spirit of the Gospel.
