Celebrating shared Mercy tradition
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More than 430 staff from three Catholic colleges came together for the first time in early September for a day of reflection, honouring their shared Mercy traditions.
St Aloysius, St Francis de Sales and Mercedes Colleges were all founded by the Sisters of Mercy and share in the values and teachings of Sister Catherine McAuley, who opened the first House of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland, in September of 1827.
Nearly 100 years later, educators and support staff from these schools are continuing in Catherine’s footsteps as they help raise compassionate, community-minded and well-educated students who will contribute to making the world a better place.
The brainchild of the three Religion, Identity and Mission heads across the schools, the reflection day was a demonstration of Mercy hospitality and an opportunity for staff to grow their insight into faith, take respite and build a renewed energy to share with their students.
Guided by moderator James Meston from Arch D Radio, a panel of speakers including Sister of Mercy, Meredith Evans rsm, Louisa Rennie, CEO of Mercy Education Ltd, and Isabel Salter, from the Mercy Global Action team, led an insightful discussion about what Mercy does, and can look like, in the modern world.
This was followed by more than a dozen different activities where staff could practice mindfulness and creativity, make new connections and reset for the remainder of the academic year.
Mercedes College hosted the inaugural reflection day in its new Yitpi Centre. Mercedes acting APRIM Helen Ayliffe said it was a “momentous day of collaboration and celebration by three of our Catholic schools.
The college celebrated its annual Mercy Day Mass in the Yitpi Centre for the first time on September 27.
The Mass was celebrated by Adelaide’s Vicar General Fr Dean Marin with co-celebrant Fr John Shanahan.
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