As President of the Association of Josephite Affiliated Secondary Schools (AJASS), I feel great anticipation as we prepare for the 2025 AJASS Principals Conference, which will be held at Mary MacKillop Place at the end of this month. This year, we gather under the Jubilee theme Pilgrims of Hope, marking 20 years of shared mission, collaboration, and commitment to the charism of Saint Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods.

This conference is not only a celebration of our journey, but a moment of deep reflection and renewal. We will be especially inspired by the theological and spiritual insights of Sr Catherine Mead rsj (Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart) and Sr Michele Connolly rsj (Sisters of St Joseph Lochinvar).

Sr Catherine Mead’s research has illuminated the mechanics and manifestation of what makes great Josephite-inspired leadership, promoting a journey of encounter, listening, and transformation. She reminds us that as principals, we are called to walk with others, to recognise Christ in the everyday, and to lead with hearts that burn with purpose and compassion. Complementing this, Sr Michele Connolly’s scriptural scholarship challenges us to engage deeply with the Gospel, not just as a text, but as a living call to justice, mercy, and truth.

Together, their work invites us to see leadership not as a role, but as a vocation — one rooted in faith, courage, and hope.

These insights are not abstract — they are lived out daily in our schools. One of the most important elements of this year’s conference will be the sharing of testimony. We will hear from AJASS alumni and serving principals, reflecting on the strength and impact of leading with a Josephite heart. These stories reflect on moments of challenge, grace, and hope. They speak of walking with their communities through times of uncertainty, of fostering cultures of inclusion and care, and of being inspired daily by the courage and creativity of their students and staff.

I consider it so important that AJASS continues to offer meaningful spiritual formation aimed at principals. Strong formation of the principal in Catholic schools is essential for nurturing faith-filled leadership, fostering Gospel-centred communities, and ensuring mission integrity. Rooted in Christ and inspired by the Josephite tradition, well-formed leaders guide with wisdom, compassion, and vision — shaping schools where students flourish spiritually, academically, and socially in service of the common good.

My hope is that the 2025 conference will be a space for dialogue, prayer, and professional growth, honouring the legacy of the Sisters of Saint Joseph while equipping us to respond to the challenges of contemporary education with integrity and vision. We will explore how to lead with hope in a world that often feels fragmented and uncertain, and how to nurture communities of belonging, resilience, and grace.

My overall goal for the conference is for all attendees to leave illuminated by the Emmaus story as a metaphor for leadership. I am excited to welcome my colleagues from around Australia – what stories of hope will they bring? What wisdom will they share? And how will they return to their communities, renewed and recommissioned for the road ahead?

Chris Gabbett
President of AJASS (Association of Josephite Affiliated Secondary Schools)
Principal, Mary MacKillop Catholic College, Highfields (Queensland)