In late July, Loreto Normanhurst was honoured to welcome back alumnae Angela Bailey (née Keating, Class of 1958) and Katherine McLachlan (née Keating, Class of 1961), who returned to the school for the first time in many decades. Joining them was Catherine’s daughter Fiona — herself an alumna — for a special morning tea and visit to the Chapel, where treasured family history is carved into the walls. 

The Keating family’s connection to Loreto runs deep. In 1954, Angela and Kathy’s father, Leo Keating, gifted the school two remarkable statues — one of Jesus, at the entrance of the cloisters, which has recently been lovingly cleaned and restored, and another of Mother Mary holding Jesus, which continues to grace the front of the Chapel. Leo commissioned the works from Italy as a personal expression of faith and gratitude, and they have become enduring symbols of spiritual reflection for generations of students. 

For Angela and Kathy, stepping back into the Chapel brought a wave of joyful nostalgia. Neither had visited since their school days, and their memories flowed freely — stories of wearing chapel veils at every Mass, volunteering to carry the nuns' books to class, and the sense of reverence and quiet mischief that coloured their time at Loreto. 

“It feels just the same,” Angela said softly, brushing her hand across the marble base of the statue. “But more beautiful somehow.” 

The moment was made even more special knowing that Angela’s two daughters and Kathy’s daughter Fiona also walked the same halls years later — a true Loreto family tradition. 

Their visit was a beautiful reminder of the multi-generational ties that bind our community, and of the enduring legacy left by families like the Keatings. We are so grateful for their ongoing connection and for the opportunity to honour their father’s extraordinary gift — one that continues to inspire awe and reflection in every student who passes through our Chapel doors.