About AJASS

Sister Catherine Mead initiated a gathering of Principals of Secondary and Regional Colleges who have Mary MacKillop's charism as their inspiration, to coincide with the Inaugural Australian Catholic Secondary Principal's Conference which was held in Melbourne from 16-18 April 2000. The aim of this gathering was to initiate networks and to share the realities of Josephite education.

Sister Kathleen McSweeney followed this initiative and saw an opportunity to strengthen the Josephite charism and make it meaningful and more tangible through the school communities. Sister Kathleen had the idea that a Josephite Association of primary and secondary schools should be formed and there were five possible Catholic Secondary Schools in Victoria with links to Mary MacKillop.

Sister Fran Mannes contacted the principals of five Victorian secondary schools in November 2004 to gauge interest in developing strategies that would strengthen the ties between the Sisters of St Joseph and the secondary schools. A meeting of "five Principals" was held at MacKillop House on 3 May 2005. Each Principal was asked to share what each school does, have done and how they plan to continue doing what is required to ensure that the spirit of Mary MacKillop thrives in their school communities. A formation of an Association of Principals in Josephite Affiliated Secondary Schools was discussed at this meeting to perpetuate the charism of Mary MacKillop. Very quickly the discussion moved from personal membership to schools membership. This was a quantum leap – formation based on bringing together all the Josephite schools at present in Australia and beyond. The need for this Association was agreed with a suggested draft working of its purpose: "To embrace, extend, strengthen and perpetuate the charism of Mary MacKillop and by our sharing to develop and grow in her spirit."

During 2005 the 'five principals' made contact with schools across Australia and New Zealand that had a connection with the Josephite charism. Strong interest was shown in the idea of a conference in North Sydney in March 2006 to explore the possibility of a commitment to the formation of a formal association of schools. This inaugural conference overwhelmingly endorsed the formation of the "Association of Josephite Affiliated Secondary Schools" (AJASS) on 31 March 2006. The formal motion of inauguration was unanimously passed at the meeting of Principals in March 2006.