Over three days (Wednesday 19 – Friday 21 July), two of our Year 10 students, Isabella L (AJIN) and Bianca C (AGGL), joined students from 13 Mercy Schools across Tasmania, South Australia, country Victoria and Melbourne to explore and challenge each other on how they are living Mercy.
Day One, hosted at the Academy of Mary Immaculate Fitzroy, centred around our founding story of Catherine’s response to the Gospel in caring and loving those who suffer. This included a special welcome to the House of Mercy in Dublin via video. Next, we focused on our Australian story of Mercy, with the first foundation led by Mother Ursula Frayne, beginning in Perth and then the context of 19th Century Melbourne, where she expanded the mission.
Day Two explored ways Mercy people are living the Gospel today, hosted by OLMC. Students were energised by the stories and encounters from the Sisters of Mercy, MercyWorlds and Young Mercy Links. The evening Trivia and the ice cream were equally engaging.
Day Three at Holy Cross Retreat Centre focused on the challenge ahead - how might we live Mercy in our schools and community when we return home. The cross-school sharing at this session empowered and strengthened the existing actions in our schools and challenged their future. The Pilgrimage finished with Mass and commissioning by Fr Erick Niyiragira CP and supported by Br Tri Cao Van CP.
OLMC thanks the generous work of Ms Bernadette Hogan and Ms Judith Weir who, after many months of dreaming, created and offered this life-giving immersion into Mercy for our schools. We also gratefully acknowledge the massive support team behind the scenes of Miss Sidari, Mrs Jenkins, Mr Hocking and Mr Robertson.
