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About our SchoolSt Ignatius School Mission Statement St. Ignatius School Community is a faith community centred on Christ and associated closely with our Jesuit parish. Our community of students, parents, staff and clergy is committed to creating an environment in which the Good News flourishes. As a Catholic school, gospel values are nurtured and all are encouraged to grow in love and service of their neighbour. We work co-operatively towards an informed, welcoming and caring community where each person comes to self-acceptance and self-respect, and each person, equal and unique, is accepted and respected by others. Parents and staff acknowledge each other’s vital role in the education of students and the need for a strong link between home and school. Together we work to prepare students for their future by providing a supportive and challenging learning environment. We strive to help all students develop a love of learning, an acceptance and celebration of excellence and effort, and a sense of responsibility so that all may grow to their full potential - spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically.
This youngest son of a Basque minor government official was born in 1491. He had minimal education and had a strong upbringing in courtly etiquette. Career opportunities for the youngest son seemed best in the Court circles where military prowess was also valued. On 21 May, 1521, he persuaded the Captain, against all odds, not to surrender Pamplona to the French. In a relatively brief battle, French artillery breached the walls of Pamplona and Ignatius of Loyola was hit by a cannon ball and had both legs broken, one very severely. The French carried him to the family home at Loyola where he convalesced over the next 12 months. The castle library had only two books - The “Lives of the Saints” and “Life of Christ”. These he read over and over again and in his many bedridden hours sometimes he fantasised about living the life of a saint and at other times he fantasised about marrying a princess. His reflections on what happened in him after these fantasies occurred, ultimately led to his conversion. Obviously the life of a saint had final sway. Upon recovery he left Loyola and went to the town of Manresa where he prepared himself for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. At Jerusalem he experienced a deep desire to remain there and convert the heathens. The Franciscan keeper of the holy places had other ideas and sent him back to Europe. During this phase of his life he was developing a prayer regime that came to be known as the “Spiritual Exercises”. Because he was not a priest his giving of the Spiritual Exercises was viewed with some suspicion. At the age of 34 he decided he wanted to become a priest and began his formal primary education with the school children of Salamanca. He dropped out of primary school for a year but put himself back into school and learnt the Latin he needed for his University studies. Again after several false starts he began study at the University of Paris where he gathered a band of men together who would eventually become the Society of Jesus. On completion of their studies, they were all going to go to Jerusalem to preach. This, for various reasons, proved to be impossible, so this group offered themselves to the Holy Father to go wherever he would send them for the Greater Glory of God (Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam).
The history of the Toowong Catholic School, first known as St Michael and Holy Souls, then known as Toowong Convent School, and now known as St Ignatius Parish School - growing better and stronger. On 2 November, 1902, Archbishop Robert Dunne, when laying the foundation stone of the Toowong Catholic School, exhorted the people to “cherish the school as their own. Cuddle it to your hearts, make it the apple of your eye. There is nothing in the world that will reward you so well”.
Toowong was formally declared a separate parish under the care of the Jesuit Fathers on 31 July, 1916. Soon the district outgrew the Church and school and the Sisters of Mercy donated a portion of their property to build the new St Ignatius Church/School complex on its present site. In 1930 St Ignatius Church/School opened, replacing the Holland Street facilities. Then school then had 9 classes with 212 students. The Scholarship class was in the foyer, while 5 classes were held in the present hall space, with 3 preparatory classes behind the present stage area. During the depression years of the 1930’s, relief worker programs enhanced the surrounds of the new St Ignatius Church/School - the wall was cut back, and ramps, steps, drains were built. In 1946 the foundation stone of the two storey brick block behind the church was laid. This building was to provide individual classrooms and domestic science facilities. The new school was opened in 1948. The Morrow property, behind the school, was purchased by the Parish in 1975 to provide local playground accommodation for the younger classes. In the early 1980’s minor alterations were made to accommodate a library, office and staff room. The school came under lay principalship in 1983. In 1986 further upgrading of classrooms to State standards, together with a classroom extension, including tuckshop and Amphitheatre, was completed. In 2000 an additional 2 classrooms were constructed for the Year 3 classes, and the amphitheatre was converted into our current Art Room. In 1996 the Morrow House was replaced by the present 2 storey brick building and undercover on the Grove Crescent site, dedicated to Sr Mary Leonard, RSM, in appreciation of her work for the School and Parish over a period of 44 years.
Ignatian Practice of 'The Examen' The Examen is a reflective prayer practice which allows children to reflect on the day's events and to become more aware of the presence of God in their lives. Five Stages of the Examen:
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St Ignatius’ Parish School is named after the Founder of the religious order known as the Society of Jesus, more commonly called the Jesuits. 
