MLMC | Mount Lilydale Mercy College

Dear members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community,

The season of autumn has quickly arrived and although some may say we never really experienced a traditional Melbourne summer, the variation in our weather patterns — with high temperatures, high hot winds and weather warnings one day to cool rainy days the next — has indeed been interesting. Let us pray for those in our state’s west who have experienced fires and those in our immediate area who suffered from wind damage and loss of power.

The arrival of autumn and March would indicate that the year is certainly marching along and with it the busyness here on Rourke’s Hill.

(1) Community Mass

Last Thursday, the College celebrated our Community Mass, which is important for many reasons, one of which is that it highlights the importance of the values which we hold dear as a community rather than being just another school. The Community Mass is an event where we celebrate the start of the academic year officially by inviting community members who do not attend the campus every day and we launch our yearly theme with them. It is also the time that we welcome all new students to our community, presenting them with College badges and we bless the Bibles that College Chaplain Father Dean Bradbury will present to them. Lastly, it is the time when we formally welcome our Year 12 cohort as the senior class of our College as they take up their leadership role.

Last week, the hot weather on the day was not conducive to a such a large event, but we planned well and the facilities were readied and appropriate. I thank all those who braved the extremities of Melbourne’s weather to attend and hope you enjoyed the experience. It is important that after the COVID-19 years, when many community events were cancelled, that we continue to rebuild them. We will continue to promote and invite all community members to such events.

At the Community Mass I spoke of “Being the difference” and I include only some of my address to the gathered participants:

Today marks a significant moment in the life of our school community as we gather to welcome a new cohort of Year 7 students and all newcomers to our Catholic secondary college. It is with immense joy and anticipation that we extend our warmest greetings to each and every one of you, for you are the future of our great College, the bearers of our legacy and the torchbearers of our future and of our values.

And as always let us begin with story, but unlike other stories I tell, this one does not begin with ‘Once upon a time in a land far, far away’. In fact, this story is a true story written by a man named John W Schlatter and I have heard many dramatised versions of it, but I wish to tell it to you in its actual form as it was written. It is not a new story.

Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend. They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally, the long-awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk. Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. "Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill. "You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mother’s sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realised that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So, you see Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more than just pick up my books, you saved my life."

Now you might be sitting there thinking cynical thoughts about how I made this story up, but I assure you that I did not.

It is a true story.

And it makes me wonder.

What if Mark did not stop to help a stranger?

What if Mark had ignored Bill and went on his merry way?

What might have happened to Bill?

The fact is that we never know how our actions impact each other. We never know the importance of even the smallest act of kindness. We never know that how we treat someone may impact their lives for better or for worse, so let’s make sure it is always for the better.

And this simple ideal is at the very heart of our community. The concept of respect for each and every member of our College is at the essence of who we are.

At the heart of our community foundation is the Golden Rule, which teaches us to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves.

This principle serves as our guiding light, reminding us to show kindness, empathy and understanding in all our interactions. In a world that can sometimes feel fragmented and divided, let us be beacons of respect and unity, honouring the dignity of every person we encounter.

But what does it truly mean to live out the Golden Rule? How do we go beyond mere words and embody the spirit of respect in our daily lives? The answer lies in being the difference. It means standing up against injustice, speaking out for those who cannot and lending a helping hand to those in need. It means embracing diversity, celebrating individuality and fostering a culture of inclusivity where everyone feels valued and accepted. It means choosing empathy over apathy, compassion over indifference and love over hate.

Being the difference is not always easy. It requires courage, integrity and a willingness to challenge the status quo. But it is in those moments of adversity and uncertainty that our true character shines through.

It is when we choose kindness over cruelty, generosity over selfishness and understanding over judgment that we make the greatest impact on the world around us.

So, the newest and oldest members of the student body of MLMC in 2024, as you embark on this new school year, I urge you to be the difference. Be the voice of reason in a world filled with chaos. Be the light in the darkness, guiding others towards hope and renewal. Be the hands that build bridges of understanding and reconciliation, bridging divides and forging connections. And above all, be the heart that beats with love, compassion and respect for all.

Let us all embrace this new College year, the year of 2024 with optimism, determination and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. Together, as a community bound by faith in courage, compassion, hospitality, justice, service and respect, there is no limit to what we can achieve. Welcome to our Mercy Catholic College, where every student is valued, every voice is heard and every dream is within reach.

(2) College events this week

This week we have experienced several other important events.

On Tuesday, we hosted an event whereby Fr Dean blessed and Mr Christopher Houlihan, Chief Executive Mercy Education, officially opened the latest additions to our College facilities, which have been some years in the making. These projects have presented us with challenges, but they have also built our resilience as a community.

Yesterday we hosted many dignitaries at the College as we launched our official partnership with the Liverpool Football Club, and the College became a sea of red. This partnership will see MLMC host a number of significant soccer events in the coming years and be a genuine builder of values within our community.

You can read more about this launch in our next newsletter.

Again, let me share with you some of my address to the gathered participants as we start to explore this valuable partnership:

I stand before you today with immense pride and excitement as we embark on a journey that not only signifies the power of collaboration but also embodies the very essence of our shared values and aspirations.

Today marks the launch of a transformative partnership between the Liverpool International Academy and Mount Lilydale Mercy College.

As we gather here, we bring together two institutions guided by principles that resonate deeply with our core being. The Liverpool International Academy, with its unwavering commitment to Ambition, Commitment, Dignity and Unity, echoes the spirit of resilience and excellence. Their emblematic phrase ‘You will never walk alone’ encapsulates the ethos of solidarity and support that defines their community.

Likewise, Mount Lilydale Mercy College, under the banner of ‘Be the difference’ stands as a beacon of Service, Hospitality, Courage, Justice and, above all, Respect. These values embody the essence of compassionate leadership and the relentless pursuit of positive change.

Today, as we join hands in partnership, we merge these guiding principles to create a force for profound impact and transformation. Together, we envision a future where every individual is empowered to reach their fullest potential, where barriers are broken and dreams are realised.

This partnership is not merely a collaboration between institutions; it is a promise — a promise to nurture talent, cultivate leadership and foster a culture of inclusivity and belonging. It is a commitment to providing unparalleled opportunities for growth and development, both on and off the field, in the classroom and beyond.

I am hoping that you will have gleamed by all that has been written above that building community is important here on ‘The Hill’ at MLMC and so, too, is our partnership with parents and caregivers in that process.

(3) Parent involvement

There are many ways that parental involvement is important in our College, but here I wish to highlight two:

College Advisory Council (CAC)

The College Advisory Council is a group of parents that come together to provide advice to the Principal through a formal process which is an important part of our governance process.

The purposes of the Council are as follows:

(a) To act as a consultative Council for the College and the Principal in the provision of Catholic education.

(b) To promote the Mercy ethos and to ensure the charism is alive and central to all deliberations.

(c) To assist the Principal and staff in school policy making, including the formulation of foundational documents and those policies related to child safety.

(d) To assist in the preparation of the College budget and to recommend its adoption.

(e) To provide advice concerning the financial administration of the College.

(f) To give such practical support to the College as required in matters such as capital development, the maintenance of College facilities and equipment.

(g) To take part in the strategic planning for the future operations of the College.

(h) To assist generally in developing relationships both within the College community and between the College and the wider community.

(i) Supporting any fund-raising activities organised by auxiliary bodies associated with the College.

(j) To facilitate the welcome of parents and students new to the College.

(k) To develop strategies for the local promotion of Catholic education.

(l) To provide advice according to members’ expertise.

The Constitution of the Council may be found on our College website by clicking HERE, along with the College Advisory Council Application Form. We are currently looking for two interested community members to join council and I invite you to consider an application.

Community Forum Group (CFG)

The Community Forum Group (CFG) is also an important part of the consultation processes of the College. This group meets once or twice a term with usually six meetings a year. The role of the group is to provide community feedback on a range of issues. The issues may be raised by the College or indeed from the community itself.

I apologise for the late notice, but the first meeting of the CFG is next Wednesday 6 March at 7.30pm. The venue will be decided upon once numbers are finalised and an agenda emailed to participants next week.

We continue to look for new members of the CFG. You may choose to become a permanent member of the group, in which case you will be formally appointed, or you may choose to attend a single meeting to be involved in a particular discussion. If you are interested in joining please contact me via principal@mlmc.vic.edu.au

Similarly, if you have an agenda item you would like to see discussed, please email me the details at principal@mlmc.vic.edu.au

The first meeting is next Wednesday night, with the initial agenda items: