Learn about faith, justice, and education.

Mary Ward was born in England in 1585 at a time when Catholics were persecuted and women were expected to marry or join a cloistered convent. Yet Mary Ward followed God’s call to journey inward and outward, choosing a different way to live out her faith and vocation — one that transformed the lives of many and still does so today with the legacy of her wondrous work.

On January 7, 2026, students, educators, faith leaders, and partners from across the Toronto Catholic District School Board gathered at Loretto College to celebrate the enduring legacy of Venerable Mary Ward—a woman whose vision for education, justice, and freedom continues to inspire generations.

For those of us who identify as followers of Mary Ward, this involves more than changing some of our habits or the brands we buy in the supermarket. Stepping out of our comfort zone - based on the charism of Mary Ward, a woman who walked across Europe to serve her Sisters/friends, challenged the ecclesiastical hierarchy of her time, and was imprisoned for it - definitely involves much more.