The college chartered trains to transport 743 students, the college executive and teachers to attend the historic event.
The principal celebrant was Bishop Peter Ingham (Wollongong) and the concelebrant was Fr Michael Healy, Parish Priest of St John the Evangelist, Campbelltown.
St Patrick's College was the great educational institution it was today, because of the vision, the foresight, the sacrifice and the hard work of generations of religious Sisters, of parents, students, lay principals, staff and clergy dedicated and committed to sharing their faith in Jesus Christ and his Church with the student body.
"This college has impacted, not only on the lives of its students and their families for eight or nine generations, but on all who have been influenced by the Christian values and personal integrity that these students, as Catholic Christians, have endeavoured to live in the wider community.
"Now is our time; our day - and its passing. When are we going to stop putting things off?
"… As Pope John Paul II said, at the beginning of the new millennium, "Put out into the deep " (Lk 5:4). These words ring out for us today , and they invite us to remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm and to look forward to the future with confidence: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Heb 13:8).
Mrs Lennox, in a message on the college website, says that the college's rich history dates back to when Bishop Polding -- a Benedictine monk, Australia's first bishop and founder of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan -- blessed the foundation stone at the first St Patrick's site on March 17, 1840.
"This makes the college the oldest Catholic independent school in Australia as it was built and funded by local enterprise without government assistance," she says.
Originally staffed by lay teachers, the Good Sams assumed responsibility for the college in 1887 on two sites.
"Their Benedictine tradition and values of justice, compassion, balance, prayerful discernment, hospitality, peace, mutual obedience, community and in particular stewardship are an integral part of the faith and life of the college.
"We are committed to the education of young women and believe that as a single sex school, our students are able to develop to their full potential both socially and academically and spiritually.
Numerous celebrations are being organised throughout the year to mark this memorable time.
As well as the Mass, an International Women's Day breakfast has already been held, on March 8 and an Open Day on March 13. Coming events include
Special guests at the Mass included the Governor of New South Wales, Marie Bashir 
