On Christmas Eve in 1120, the first 40 Norbertine Canons professed in the Valley of Prémontré, France.
This year, Norbertine Canons worldwide will celebrate the 900th anniversary of the Order founded by Saint Norbert of Xanten with a year-long jubilee.
Australia’s Norbertine community was founded in Perth in 1959 when young priests Father Peter O’Reilly O Praem, Father John Reynolds O Praem and Father Stephen Cooney O Praem arrived in Perth from Kilnacrott Abbey in Ireland, upon the invitation from then Archbishop of Perth, Redmond Prendiville, to Abbott Felim Colwell O Praem.
Now aged in his 90s, Fr Cooney, one of the founding fathers, still lives at the Queens Park Priory with three Norbertine Brothers studying to become Norbertine priests.
Just a few years after the arrival of the three Norbertine Canons, St Norbert College was opened by Archbishop Prendiville, on 27 February 1966, and has since grown to be known as “the hidden gem on Treasure Road” in Queens Park, one of the few schools in the world with a link to the Order.
Speaking with The Record, Prior of the Norbertine Community in Australia, Father Peter Joseph Stiglich O Praem, who lives at the Priory next to the College, said the spirit of community instilled in the Order differentiates it from the others.
“We are a small, independent community and follow the rule of St Augustine which some other [Orders] do. However, one of the hallmarks from St Norbert of Xanten was that he followed the rule because it starts with: ‘the first reason you have come together is to be common in the house, to be at one heart and mind on the way to God’,” Fr Peter said. “Hence in our formula, we promise life and community and the vows of poverty, chastity and consecrated celibacy. But the first thing we promise is life in the community.”
It was also the community spirit that enabled St Norbert College – an apostolate of the Order and the only Norbertine-owned school in Australia – to enjoy a successful 2020, a challenging year for many, including those in the education sector as COVID-19 crippled the world.
College Principal Simon Harvey believes that as challenging as 2020 was, there were many gains and wins worth celebrating at the College.
“If we focus too much on the challenging period we had, we would forget the gains and wins we had during the year – that we never thought possible,” Mr Harvey said.
“The support we receive from the community, parents and family and the teachers’ focus on the students’ needs – just escalated to another level. I believe that is something we need to celebrate.
“The collaborative nature of our staff working with our students and parents in a remote learning sense, I think it was just amazing, and that’s the greatest win. To be able to look at opportunities to celebrate our community, such as the graduation of our Year 12 students and other key liturgical events, while following restrictions were also incredible,” he continued.
With the motto Ad Omnia Paratus – Prepared for All Good Works”, the College community aims to provide “an authentic Catholic education in the Norbertine tradition”, which is more than academic results.
Class of 2020 graduate Chloe Reder told The Record the College community she belonged to since Year 7 had prepared her to pursue her aspiration in becoming a midwife.
“When I look back at everything that the school did, including the rules that they gave out, it all helped me to get where I am today,” Miss Reder said.
“The College helped me to move into the future; to get the marks, a job and into uni. I couldn’t have got here if I didn’t go to school and learn these things.”
Ranked in the top 12 WA Catholic schools and the top 50 WA schools for 2020, based on median ATAR results, 920 students are returning to the College in the new academic year, along with 100 staff, to be involved in the many celebrations planned for the 900th anniversary of the Order the College community belongs.
“It will be a privilege to be able to celebrate 900 years of the Norbertines throughout the world,” Mr Harvey said.
“We, as staff, students, parents and members of our community, owe a sense of gratitude to the Norbertines for founding St Norbert College.”
“We’re very comfortable saying that the greatest strength [that] people have attributed to us is a sense of community – and we get that directly from the Norbertines. We must treasure their warm and genuine presence in our school community.”