In March 1926, twenty-three pioneering women moved into a half-finished building on Missenden Road to form Sancta’s first student community. Lit only by candlelight and led by the fearless Reverend Mother Margaret MacRory, it is easy to imagine the excitement and nervousness they were feeling as they came together for their very first meal. They surely did not know that their courage and ambitions would illuminate Sancta for a century.
Since that first night, more than 6,000 students have called Sancta home: women and men of compassion, curiosity and conviction who have gone on to lead, serve, and create change in every corner of the world.
A Milestone year
Our celebrations officially commenced on the morning of Saturday 21 March 2026, with a Mass of the Sacred Heart. This was followed by the Once in a Century Reunion, which went from early afternoon until late at night.
Celebrations will culminate with the Centenary Gala Weekend from 21 to 23 August 2026, with the Centenary Gala Dinner to be held on Saturday 22 August 2026 at the grand Centennial Hall within Sydney Town Hall. Other informal events will be held throughout that weekend, here at Sancta, and possibly at a certain pub close by!
These will be moments to remember our past, reconnect with one another and look ahead to Sancta’s second century, one that continues to empower generations of Sancta students to walk in wisdom.
The story of Sancta is, and always will be, the story of its people, and we would be honoured if you could celebrate it with us.
Mass of the Sacred Heart
Once in a Century Reunion
Centenary Gala Dinner
Launching Sancta's 100th Year
Centenary Highlights
A Centenary keepsake
Inspired by the Florentine Well that sits at the gentle heart of our Quadrangle, this limited-edition necklace honours the place where friendships form, lifelong memories take hold, and the rhythm of life at Sancta unfolds.
For generations of students and alumni, the Well has been a quiet meeting place and a symbol of connection across time. This piece captures the beauty of those shared moments and celebrates the enduring spirit of the Sancta community.
Created especially for the Centenary year, the Florentine Well Necklace is designed as a lasting reminder of belonging, memory and the relationships that shape the Sancta experience.
Sancta Story Wall
The memories alumni and friends share with us about their time at Sancta are invariably warm or meaningful or very funny (or all three at once). In thinking about all these stories, we’ve created a dedicated space to capture and celebrate the stories that make Sancta what it is – by creating the Sancta Story Wall.
We invite you to take a look, read what others have shared, and add your story. You can upload a photo, write a memory, or share a moment that captures what Sancta means to you. We would love to see contributions from across many decades and to watch the Story Wall grow in the months ahead.
The first decade
The second deacde
The third decade
The fourth decade
The fifth decade
The sixth decade
The seventh decade
The eighth decade
The ninth decade
If you would like to learn more about Centenary events, partnerships, giving opportunities, or ways to be involved, please get in touch with Hayden Edwards, Sancta's Director of Community Engagement.