“Sine Deo Nihil”

Without God there is Nothing.

Our Motto

Sine Deo Nihil – Without God there is Nothing.

Our Mission

To provide excellence in Catholic and classical education, for the love of God and learning.

Our Philosophy

At St Philomena School, we value education for education’s sake, and not merely as a means to something else. A true education includes so much more than mere knowledge and includes the formation of a child’s character.

That is why we have high standards in behaviour, manners and courtesy. In many ways, our education philosophy might be termed “old school”, yet at the same time modern methods and technologies are employed to the degree that they are useful. Nevertheless, St Philomena’s is not about technologies and innovative methods; it is about the children. It is about the development of their individual personalities in such a way as to make full use of the various gifts God has given them, and to share these talents later for the betterment of society.

St Philomena School was established in response to the concerns of catholic families about the available education choices for their children. Parents approached the Society of St Pius X (SSPX) to ask for assistance in developing a truly Catholic school that would assist them to provide proper spiritual and academic foundations for their children.

In early 1992 under the auspices of the SSPX and with the assistance of then District Superior, Father Francois Laisney, a small group of parents and friends began the monumental task of establishing a Catholic School in Brisbane. Through the great generosity of Dr Felice and Mrs Marie Zaccari, eleven rural acres at 61 Koplick Rd, Park Ridge, was purchased in February 1993.

Over the next six years parents and friends undertook a range of difficult tasks including negotiations with Council, curriculum development, purchase, movement and refurbishment of buildings, fundraising, and meeting State and Commonwealth government requirements for funding and approvals. Under the intercession and guidance of St Philomena all obstacles were finally overcome and St Philomena School opened on Tuesday 2 February 1999.

St Philomena School has been guided and developed by five principals:

St Philomena School bids you welcome!

St Philomena’s is an independent traditional Catholic School in Brisbane, Queensland run by the Fathers of the Society of St Pius X. Our School is unique in that, from the earliest age, we seek to give a classical education to our children. Of all educational methods, the classical curriculum seems to be the most tried and true. It includes learning Latin, classical studies in Ancient Greek and Roman history, and the study of Logic. Only literary classics are studied in class, and French is also taught in the upper grades. Our academic results are reflected by the myschool website, rating St Philomena School the best in the local area, and one of the best schools in Queensland.

Of at least equal importance to us is the study of the traditional Catholic Faith, including studies of the catechism, Sacred Scriptures and Church history, the lives of the saints, prayer and the liturgy. The motto of the school being Sine Deo Nihil (nothing without God), both study and practice of Catholicism is the focal point of the school. The school day begins and ends with prayers; the children attend a weekly school Mass; they conclude each week in the school chapel with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

We see the type of education we wish to impart upon our children as the best means to prepare them for life after St Philomena’s: in high school and beyond. Excellence in every endeavor undertaken is encouraged, and children formed at our school may be confident that their character and academic training will prepare them to meet future challenges.

One of the great features of St Philomena School is the support afforded by the broader School community. We have a great partnership with our parents, and mutually support one another in the formation of their children. A very tangible sign of this partnership is the fact that the Parents and Friends Association annually raises some $50,000!

This website will give you some idea of life at St Philomena’s, but you are more than welcome to visit the School to see it in action and to ask any questions you may have.

Fr Joseph Ockerse
Principal