On the annual event of Mary Ward Day, the whole student body and all staff of Loreto College work in inter-departmental or cross-curricular teams. Each team runs an activity that represents one or more of the five gospel values, associated with Mary Ward, the foundress of the Loreto sisters: freedom, justice, truth, sincerity, and joy. Students choose, sign up for and then take part in one of these activities.

Mary Ward's unwavering faith, which manifested itself in such a spiritual and pragmatic application of Gospel values, presented a dynamic focus for the day's activities. The first of these values is freedom and Mary Ward wrote: I discovered the freedom one should have to refer all to God. I think the vibrant and enthusiastic dynamic of the whole day is a fitting referral to God, particularly the joy and new friendships formed on so many activities.

Two Gospel values which Mary Ward particularly made her own are truth and justice. Mary Ward writes: Be lovers of truth and doers of justice. Unsurprisingly, the developing world featured significantly, activities included simulation games, reflections, an African drumming workshop and a Colombian fruit cocktail workshop, which presents local communities with alternatives to the illegal drug market. Nearer to home, political justice featured in the form of Tony Lloyd M.P; Sameen Ali, a victim of a forced marriage and a forensic science activity at the Manchester Museum. A range of historical injustices were considered through visits to historic Chester, the Manchester Imperial War Museum, the Kelham industrial Museum, the Liverpool Maritime Museum, Quarry Bank Mill, Staircase House, the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield and historic York, where one of Mary Ward's contemporary Loreto communities live and tell the story of this inspiring woman. Students commented on many aspects of their learning, including: navigation with a map, working conditions before the health and safety laws, the horrifying experiences of soldiers and how poverty is an everyday reality for most people.

Many of our students chose to learn truths about nature by visiting the Blue Planet Aquarium, Chester Zoo, the Jodrell Bank Observatory, Smithills Open Farm, the red squirrels of Formby sand dunes, and by walking and doing conservation work in the Peak National Park. Truth and justice were also explored through media stereotypes, a wide variety of films, computer games, a walking tour of Manchester and a visit to the Bradford Media Museum, where Gordon Brown made a surprise visit and shook hands with our students! Student comments included: Nature's a beautiful thing that shouldn't be destroyed, The Lovell telescope is awe-inspiring and Caverns are cool

Another of Mary Ward's Gospel values is sincerity, she writes: Be such as you appear and appear such as you are. The calm Chill Zone, with opportunities for Reiki, hand massage and meditation contributed significantly to this value, as did creative activities, such as making a decorative box for treasured momentos and designing a recycled fashion outfit from old clothes. A photography competition in Tatton Park, a visit to the Antony Gormley statues on Crosby beach and a Sing Live event also focused on students' creativity. The army-led Krypton Factor, the Skylight Circus Skills workshop and an off-road cycling activity on the Trans-Pennine trail also helped students to demonstrate their agility, co-ordination and balance. Again, students' comments were very positive: I have learned… To live the dream, To appreciate unique art and a range of architecture, and It's good to take time out sometimes.

Very few of our students need to learn the final value of joy. Mary Ward wrote: Show yourself at all times glad and joyful, for Almighty God loves a cheerful giver… Some activities of course lend themselves specifically to this value, a charity 5-a-side football tournament that raised £300 and the roof of a local sports centre and our very own Loreto Reporters, who spent the day capturing the spirit of Mary Ward through photography, interviews, film and an article for the College radio broadcast. The feedback given by students on this day is always overwhelmingly positive and I think Mary Ward must smile and pray for our College community; one of our students summarised everyone's feedback well with: Mary Ward Day rocks!

Mary Ward: 1585-1645

Mary Ward was born in 1585 into a devoted Catholic family in Yorkshire. Mary was 15 when she embarked on a religious life. Travelling Europe on foot, she and her companions educated young women, helped persecuted and imprisoned Catholics. Mary founded schools in the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Austria, and in today's Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Criticized and maligned for her efforts to expand the role of women in spreading the faith, Mary was imprisoned by Church officials who called her a dangerous heretic. Her work was destroyed, her community suppressed, and her sisters scattered. Never abandoning her trust in God's guidance, she died in York, England, in 1645 during the Cromwellian Civil War.