Dear Members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community
Community is a very important word in this greeting, and as I write it each time I try to address you, I often reflect on what it truly means to be a community — or is it a word that just joins us together? At information evenings and on College tours I tell interested people that I believe one of the many distinguishing features of our College is that we genuinely believe in community. When students make mistakes, part of the reconciliation process is to restore balance and respect to the community; not punishment, but harmony with community.
What does that actually mean? The word commune often has such negative conations and it might be confused it with ‘sects’ or we might think of the hippy-type communes of the 20th century, but commune is really about a group of people coming together to share in a common life, based on values, interests and moral purpose and beliefs. MLMC is such a genuine community because we, inspired by the Mercy tradition of Catherine McAuley, strive for excellence in education grounded in the Gospel teachings of Jesus Christ. It occurs to me how genuinely special, personal and different that really is. Here on ‘the Hill’, education is about the awakening of life within a tradition that in itself is life giving.
Over the past fortnight I have been reminded of this in several ways. The first was our Celebration of Mercy through Mercy Week and, in particular, Mercy Day. This day of celebration highlights the importance of celebration; of values that are indeed different to that which our children learn through social media and the many other influences on their lives and the importance of Mercy being real. In addressing the College community on Mercy Day, I emphasised the connection of each us to Catherine herself and thus to her vision of Mercy; to her vision of doing.
The first thing I want to you to understand is that you, each and every one of you is connected to a story, to a tradition to a charism and to a calling that is world wide, world rich and substantial and yet each of you has a direct link to the very beginning of the Mercy tradition. Yes. There is a direct link. The Sisters of Mercy were founded in 1831 by venerable Catherine McAuley. Catherine had recently been professed and thus the sisters of Mercy were established. Catherine only worked as a sister of Mercy for 10 years and in that time she established a total of 14 Houses of Mercy, each of which was an independent congregation.
One such house was a foundation in Carlow, south of Dublin in 1837. Carlow sent a group to Wexford, who in turn sent a group to Carrick on Suir. When gold was discovered in Gore, New Zealand, the priest from there asked the sisters from Carick on Suir to establish a house and two sisters travelled to do so, but found it untenable so they left. On the way home they stopped in Melbourne and were invited to establish a house in Mansfield and, so, in 1891, they did. A house was established and St Mary’s Primary and later Sacred Heart College, Mansfield.
In 1896, the Mansfield house sent a foundation here to Lilydale and at the same time some sisters came from the home community of Carick on Suir, one of whom was Sr Mary Gertrude Power, whom the Power building is named after.
So, you see, the link is direct:
Catherine McAuley Dublin
Catherine McAuley Carlow
Wexford
Carrick on Suir
Mansfield
Lilydale 1896
You — Student in the Mercy tradition 2019
You — 123 years after the laying of the foundation stone that still sits at the base on the verandah of the Mount St Josephs Building (the convent)
You — 123 years after the sisters, dressed in full black habits stood atop this very hill with an height differential of 32m and surveyed the land afar
You — 123 years after the Sisters, who started with very little, were poor and asked for little, but arrived and worked with the intent of service
You — 188 years after Catherine took her vows and started the work of the walking sisters
Yes. You — a direct link.
And it leads me to ask:
What does that heritage ask of each of us?
What does that direct link call each of us to do?
What of these six Mercy Values we see plastered around our school?
What is your calling?
And then I reflect.
The answer is simple — you, too, are called to act. You, too, are called to serve.
You, too, are called to better yourselves, to develop your talents so that you can serve.
You are called to be your best and then to give of your best.
That is Mercy in action.
I often think of the sisters that stood on this hill, Rourke’s Hill, 123 years ago. What would they think now? Would they be pleased? What would they think of the magnificent facilities available to you? I would think they would be pleased, for we have begun ... just begun … but there is much more to do. But, today, we stop to give thanks and celebrate. We celebrate each and every Mercy sister who has walked this hill. We celebrate the sisters who work today, especially Sr Mary who is with us each and every day.
A second event that highlighted to me the genuine nature, the uniqueness and the connection of our community, was the passing of Shannon Lowden (Class of 2016). During Mercy Week we were well aware that Shannon and her friend Caleb had been four-wheel driving and were missing. Both were in our constant prayers. During that week a number of Old Collegians were in constant contact, offering to help and seeking some consolation about their fears. Sadly, during the afternoon of Mercy Day, we heard the news of the tragic accident, with the passing of both Shannon and Caleb. The contact with past students increased and many just popped in to visit and pray in the College Chapel. They simply did not know where else to go or what else to do.
A Liturgy of Comfort was held in the College Chapel on Wednesday 18 September with the class of 2016 very well represented as, of course, was Shannon’s family. The prayer contained within this newsletter, Footprints in the Sand, is taken from that liturgy. Shannon’s funeral will be held at the College in the Doyle Centre on Thursday 26 September at 12.30pm. Fr Dean, our College Chaplain will officiate.
Eternal rest grant unto Shannon and Caleb, O’ Lord
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithfully departed
Through the mercy of God
Rest in peace.
End of Term 3
With the end of the term today, I am aware that the College has a number of students travelling. The College Japanese tour is well underway and today two bus loads of students depart for central Australia. We wish all travellers a safe and happy trip.
Lastly, with the end of term here and the school holidays beginning, although I will be present for some days over the break I am due to start my period of long service leave. I will not return to the College until the Melbourne Cup weekend in November. During my absence, Ms Tanya Hutton will be the acting Principal for the first two weeks of Term 4 and Mr Louis Papadimitriou will take over during the second fortnight of Term 4.
God bless
Philip Morison
Principal
