Annunciation

Why the School of the Annunciation? Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium, “The Joy of the Gospel”, emphasises that it is Mary who “made possible the missionary outburst that took place at Pentecost”. He notes, “She is the Mother of the Church which evangelises, and without her we could never truly understand the spirit of the new evangelisation”. True evangelisation flows from Mary and is placed under her protection. As Pope Francis says, “There is a Marian ‘style’ to the Church’s work of evangelisation”. The consecration of the School to Mary, therefore, is placed at the very heart of its life and work.

The Annunciation lies at the centre of this work of evangelisation, of the transmission of the Good News, since it was at this moment that the Good News was proclaimed in its fullness. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it, “For the first time in the plan of salvation and because his Spirit had prepared her, the Father found the dwelling-place where his Son and his Spirit could dwell among men.” At the Incarnation we have the full Revelation of God in history in the person of Mary, prepared and made ready for this. Announced by the angelic messenger of the Lord, this Good News was received by one who was full of grace, and becoming incarnate the Person of the eternal Word took flesh for the salvation of the world.

Our Lady Mary is unique, as the God-bearer, the Theotokos; but as one of the Fathers of the Church reminds us, “every Christian is also believed to be a bride of God’s word, a mother of Christ”, receiving the loving News of the Father so that Christ can bring his redemptive grace into every situation and moment.