Dear members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community,
Welcome to the new term after what I hope was a wonderful holiday for all those that were able to enjoy it. I hope you found some warmth amidst a very cold period.
Building works update
During the holiday period the building company Becon Constructions took possession of the building site and demolition and earth removal started almost immediately. The College also conducted a sod turning event, where Old Collegian James Merlino, who is the Minister for Education and Deputy Premier, used a 'golden' shovel to dig the first hole in the soil. Mercy Education Limited was represented by Executive Officer Eugene Lynch, who also turned the sod. Companies and all involved with the build were well represented:
- Architects: Matthew Cirillo, Anthony Worm and Carmello Palamara
- Pure Projects (our Project Managers): Lachlan McGregor
- Becon Construction: Jason Brilli, Daniel Jackson and Ross Clavarino
- College Staff: Elizabeth Keogh (Deputy Principal – Mission), who wrote the ceremony, Tanya Hutton (Deputy Principal – Learning and Teaching), Louis Papadimitriou (Deputy Principal – Organisation), who is managing our organisation during the project, and Dean de Munk (Business Manager), who is overseeing the finances of the project
- College Captains: Danielle Virgona and Ethan Wake (who led most of the ceremony)
Apologies were received from Stephen Elder, from Catholic Education Melbourne, and Christopher Houlihan, CEO of Mercy Education Limited.
The sod turning marked a significant milestone in the building works, which have been in the planning for three years. The sod turning saw us in prayer for the blessing of the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of March 2019.
In the period of this construction, there will be some disruption and noise, including the introduction of some portable toilets near the front of the College, however, we have done everything possible to reduce the impact on the students and to minimise the disruption to the learning program.
New Archbishop
The holiday period also saw another significant and important event with the announcement of the retirement of our Archbishop, Dennis Hart, who officially retired at the end of June after 17 years as Archbishop of Melbourne. He will continue until the 1 August, when Archbishop Elect in the Most Rev Peter A Comensoli will become the new Archbishop.
In introducing our new Archbishop, Stephen Elder, executive Director CEM, wrote:
His Holiness, Pope Francis, has appointed Bishop Peter Andrew Comensoli of the Diocese of Broken Bay as the next Archbishop of Melbourne. Bishop Comensoli will become the ninth Archbishop of Melbourne.
Born in the Illawarra in 1964, Bishop Comensoli graduated from the University of Wollongong with a Bachelor of Commerce in economics, and worked in the banking sector before switching to theology. In 1986, he entered St Patrick’s Seminary, Manly, and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Wollongong in 1992. Bishop Comensoli served as Chancellor of the Diocese of Wollongong for six years. Bishop Comensoli was appointed an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney in 2011 under Cardinal Pell, becoming Australia’s youngest bishop. Following Cardinal Pell’s elevation as Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy in 2014, Bishop Comensoli served as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Sydney for nine months until Archbishop Fisher’s installation as Archbishop of Sydney. That same year, Bishop Comensoli was appointed the third Bishop of Broken Bay. In addition to his Bachelor of Commerce, Bishop Comensoli holds a Bachelor of Theology and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the Catholic Institute of Sydney, a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in moral theology from the Accademia Alfonsiana in Rome, a Master of Letters in Moral Philosophy from the University of St Andrews in Scotland and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Theological Ethics from Edinburgh University.
Our Archbishop-designate has had a significant interest in the schools of his current diocese, which has been significantly affected by the Turnbull Federal Government’s funding reforms.
CASPA Conference
The first week of Term 3 has progressed very well and has seen the College conduct Semester 1 Awards Ceremonies for Years 7, 8 and 9. Unfortunately I was unable to attend these events as I was at a CASPA (Catholic Secondary Principals of Australia) Conference in Cairns. I understand from Tanya Hutton (who represented me as Acting Principal at the Awards Ceremonies) that each event progressed extremely well. I thank her for her work and the privilege it afforded of attending the conference. Congratulations to all students who thus far have been awarded Certificates of Academic Achievement and Academic Merit. Hopefully your persistence and hard work have been rewarded. The ceremonies for Years 10, 11 and 12 will be held next week.
At the conference I enjoyed many excellent and thought provoking speakers, one of whom was Jamila Gordon, whose story is inspiring and certainly should cause us to appreciate the opportunities and education afforded to each and every one of us.
Jamila was born into a nomadic family in Somalia, the eldest of 18 children and spent the first seven years of her life in a make-shift camp without water, electricity and little food. Civil war came to Somalia and at the age of 18 she ended up in the slums of Mombasa, Kenya, without family, food or money. Good fortune saw her meet an Australian backpacker who helped her and she arrived in Australia with no money and without a word of English, but she felt fortunate to be alive.
Jamila’s first job was as a dishwasher in a restaurant at $5 an hour, but her determination saw her gain university qualifications and enjoy a corporate career that has seen her travel the world working for such companies as Qantas and IBM.
Listening to Jamila was an inspiration and reminded me of what each and every one of us wants for our students and children: to be the best that they can be and to be of service to others. Before Jamila’s father sent her to Kenya he gave her some very sound advice: "I'm sending you away for your safety. Wherever you end up, the things that will allow you to survive and thrive are to make yourself useful, be the best version of yourself and grow big dreams!” This advice has guided Jamila through her life and it is sound advice for all of us.
If you would like to read a bit more about Jamila, you can do so HERE
Reminder - College closed Monday 23 July
The College will be closed this coming Monday with all students enjoying a day at home. Mount Lilydale Mercy College will be hosting staff from Aquinas College and St Joseph’s College, Ferntree Gully, for a staff formation day with Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP, who is a Dominican Friar and former Master of the Order of Preachers.
Our prayers
Sadly over the holidays we heard of the passing of two former staff members. Lorraine McCart passed away last week. Lorraine was a Year 8 homeroom teacher and taught Maths, Science and Chemistry here at MLMC before moving to Mater Christi College. All of Lorraine’s children are Old Collegians.
Helen Christie also passed away during the holidays. Helen was a stalwart of the College who started work here in 1974 and was a member of staff for at least 25 years, teaching a huge range of subjects and working in Careers.
Let us pray for the repose of the souls of Lorraine and Helen. May they, along with all the faithfully departed, rest in peace.
God bless
Philip A Morison
Principal
