Staff from the Catholic Education WA visited Mercedes College on Thursday 26 May as part of their 200-year celebrations.
More than 215 staff returned to the site where Catholic education began back in 1846 when six Sisters of Mercy arrived in the Swan Colony. Throughout the course of the day staff reflected on and experienced the organisation’s history incorporating opportunities for prayer, tours, a pilgrimage, and a celebration of Aboriginal culture. With the overarching theme of the day being “Our beginnings. Experience our history.”
In groups, staff rotated through a range of activities including a tour of St Mary’s Cathedral, the Convent of the Sisters of Mercy with Sr Joan Smith. They visited the site of the Pioneer Sisters’ Graves at the school and heard the story of sister Ursula Frayne, who led the sisters out from Ireland. They participated in a Taize prayer with Sr Breda O’Reilly in the beautiful Chapel of the Immaculate Mary while others enjoyed an audio guided pilgrimage walk – in the footsteps or Ursula Frayne.
Principal, Kerrie Fraser said the Mercedes College staff were very proud to be hosting the Catholic Education WA. “Our College community is the custodian of the flame of Mercy education carried to Australian shores by Mother Ursula Frayne. “Our students have the responsibility to embrace their Mercy education and to make a difference to the world outside school”.
