Our College officially launched its 125th anniversary celebrations as well as a new version of the College Prayer at a student-led assembly held in the Doyle Centre on Wednesday 10 March. College Captains Melinda Virgona and Sam Green began the full College assembly by welcoming not only this year's Year 7 students and those students new to the school, but also our current Year 8 cohort who missed out on being part of many such events last year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Year 12 students were presented with their College badges by Year 12 Level Leader Mr Andrew Leaumont and Principal Mr Morison, followed by badges being presented by Mr Morison and Year 7 Level Leader Miss Jessica Tipping to our Year 7 students. Other students new to the College from Years 8 to 11 were also given MLMC badges to welcome them to the community. Later in the week in each homeroom our College Chaplain Father Dean Bradbury presented to each Year 7 student a copy of the Holy Bible for them to keep. The Bibles and badges were all blessed by Fr Bradbury at the assembly.
Mr Morison officially launched our 125th anniversary celebrations by sharing details of how our College began and the laying of the foundation stone by Archbishop Carr atop Rourke's Hill in November 1896. Students were then shown a video montage of images from our College's history. They were amazed by some of the activities and fashions of the past.
Sports Prefects Luke Phillips and Kelly Whitchell then announced the House Cup points tally update, with Carr House out in front after the recent Swimming Carnival:
| House Cup points tally | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ryan | 544 | |
| Maguire | 694 | |
| Terry Dunn | 732 | |
| O'Neill | 740 | |
| Frayne | 872 | |
| Carr | 974 |
Mercy and Justice Prefect Amelia Jerin provided information to students and staff about how they can get a coffee or another hot drink from the Mercy — Catherine's Cafe van on alternate Thursday mornings which is a new initiative by our VCAL Students. And our Year 12 students will soon be using the van to provide hot drinks and meals to those in need in our community, demonstrating how students can put this year's theme, the Mercy value of Service, into action.
Deputy Principal — Mission Ms Elizabeth Keogh provided an overview of the process they went through to update to prayer, while ensuring that they kept the essence of the original. Principal Mr Philip Morison then led the students and staff gathereed through a reading of the new College Prayer.
College Prayer
God of Mercy
We come from many different backgrounds, bringing with us our many talents, hope and fears, as we join together
on Wurundjeri land to create the community of Mount Lilydale Mercy College.
As a Catholic community inspired by the gospel teaching of Jesus Christ, may we:
Respect all creation
Act with compassion
Be courageous in our decisions
Be hospitable for those we encounter
Reach out to others with justice
And stretch our minds creatively to be of service to all.
Through the example of our patrons, Mary and Joseph, and the Mercy foundress Catherine McAuley, may we seek you in all things.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
