Symbols

In 1912, St Aloysius College adopted a motto and a school badge. The words ’Loyal en Tout’, incorporated in the emblem, can be translated as ‘Loyal in all’. These words refer to the loyalty each student, as a Christian, should have to God, to others, to the school and to themselves.

The belt surrounding the Fleur de Lis on the traditional emblem, is a symbol of the strength of the bond that exists within the St Aloysius College community. The badge was designed in about 1920 by Sr Mary Camillus Murphy, a former teacher of Classics in the senior school. The modern logo, which was introduced in 2010, does not include the belt.

The Fleur de Lis, which appears in the centre of the St Aloysius College emblem, is a variety of lily which is often used as the emblem of royalty. It was chosen by St Louis. King of France, as a symbol of dedication, consistency of purpose and strength of friendship.

Each Year 12 graduate of St Aloysius College is presented with a Celtic Creation Cross, made by the Wild Goose Studio in Ireland, to mark this important milestone.

‘The design of the Cross is an interweaving of the Celtic spiral. This is a symbol of the dance of Creation, it unites us with the Cosmos, Nature and each other’.

(From description of the Celtic Creation Cross found on the back of the Cross)

St Aloysius Gonzaga was born Luigi Gonzaga on March 9 1568, in northern Italy. His father, the Duke of Castiglione, planned for his son to follow a military career but also provided him with a classical education in Florence. It was here that he fell ill with kidney disease and during his convalescent period, he used his time to read about the saints and to pray.

By the time he was seventeen he renounced his inheritance and joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order), volunteering to look after the sick and dying in Rome. When a plague broke out in Rome in 1591, he worked amongst the sick in the city until he contracted the disease himself. He died on 21 June, 1591.

In his short life he showed devotion, courage and compassion and was named the patron saint of youth by Pope Benedict XIII in 1729.

Since the early days of foundation, St Aloysius College was called St Angela’s Select Intermediate School . As a tribute to St Aloysius, Patron Saint of Students, the school became St Aloysius College on the bi-centenary of his death in 1891. As an excellent model for all Catholic youth who in today’s society face their own challenges, he was chosen as the patron of St Aloysius College and is honoured on 21 June.