Dear Parents & Caregivers,
The last two weeks at Mercedes have been filled with learning activities, growth experiences and gatherings, all promoting a sense of connected Mercy spirit here in our wonderful community. The College began auditions for our production of ‘Bring It On’, the music students and ensembles have been busy practicing for upcoming events, and students were ready to participate in the House Swimming Carnival that occurred this week. Presentations, Years 7 to 12 student leadership training, parent nights and a welcome soiree, afternoon teas and functions have all come and gone.
During the first House family mass we honoured three tenacious and audacious women who were significant in shaping the Mercedes College heritage and culture. Father Sean Fernandez blessed Cooper, Frayne and McAuley Houses and badges which were presented to Year 7 students, new students, and new staff members. Additionally, Executive members of our Advisory Council, Finance, and Parents and Friends (P&F) committees were officially commissioned.
During our second House family mass we will celebrate another three impressive women of Mercy who have let their lantern shine in this community. I have outlined the background of the first three Houses below, and the inspiration and role modelling that these women lend to us all.
The McAuley House is aptly named after the Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine McAuley. She was an Irish woman, a Dubliner, an innovator, and a woman before her time. She made a significant difference in this world. Catherine has a living legacy that continues today through each student and staff member at Mercedes. Catherine was born in 1778, her father died when she was five, and her mother died when Catherine was 20. During the years in between the family had to rely on the financial support of friends and relatives. Through her twenties Catherine was taken in by a wealthy couple who were childless. She lived with and cared for them like as if they were her own family members. When they passed, Catherine was 44, and she inherited their wealth, a wealth that was commensurate to about 4 or 5 million dollars today. Catherine was committed to using that wealth to continue to educate poor woman and girls and to look after those who needed it. This was a work or a vocation, that she had started whilst living with and looking after the elderly couple. Catherine believed love was shown in deeds or action. Love is in the doing, rather than just words. She believed service and mercy to be the fruits of love, that originate from God. Catherine instigated the first House of Mercy amongst the wealthy on Baggot Street in Dublin. She opened the doors of the house to poor girls and women and continued her mission to educate girls and care for the sick. At this time there was no place in society for women to do this type of work. Catherine was told it was not acceptable to do this work as an individual or group, unless of course you belonged to a Religious congregation. Catherine was a woman before her time. So, Catherine’s only option to safeguard her venture and continue her vocation, was to join or establish a religious congregation. And so, Catherine joined the religious women of her time, and established the Sisters of Mercy. The Sisters of Mercy were actually the first group of religious women who were allowed to leave their convent. Their mission was to be out and about in society in education and in health care – which is why they were referred to as the ‘walking nuns’. Catherine’s aspirations to assist young women was something she excelled at, and through her leadership she was able to scale her vision from God in the Sisters of Mercy. Catherine started what was to become the largest congregation in the world, established by an English-speaking founder. Our McAuley Green House has the value of Mercy, which in Spanish translates to Mercedes. Catherine showed us how to lead a live of Mercy on a global level. |
Our Frayne House is named after Ursula Frayne who was also a Dubliner and a pioneer Catholic educator, a shrew, practical and wise businesswoman, and a tenacious Sister of Mercy. She founded our school on the shores of WA in 1846, some 178 years ago. Mercedes College is considered the cradle of Mercy in Australia because of Ursula Frayne. She facilitated the building of Mercedes, which is the first purpose built catholic school in the whole of Australia. Ursula had a known talent in the area of business, she had perseverance and drive, and courage in spades. The value of our Frayne Yellow House is Courage. Ursula lived a courageous life. And was the first Principal of our school. |
Our Cooper House was named after Sister Mary Loyola Cooper, who was an ex-student of our College and a Mercy sister who taught French and English for 60 years in our school. She taught between the years of 1920 – 1980. She is remembered as an exceptional teacher, a leader among teachers. Along with the other Sisters from the Victoria Square Mercy community, Sister Mary Loyola Cooper’s picture is on the wall of the Mercy Convent on our campus here at Mercedes. Our Orange House, Cooper, has the value of Peace, after Sister Mary Loyola Cooper. |
And so collectively these three Houses, represent audacious and tenacious women who committed themselves to their passions using their gifts from God, and in doing so carved a future for each of us to be connected to and be inspired by.
Our College theme for this year “hope opens new horizons,” is, as we know, a quote from Pope Francis, who explained that hope makes us capable of dreaming what is not even imaginable. Hope is a powerful energetic force that gives life and animates the pursuit of goals. Like mercy, hope is eternal. A sense of optimism and aspiration is what keeps us dreaming and helps us to move towards that which gives us life. Our vision, aspire, excel, lead, outlines the significance of starting from a place of aspiration, which is a desire that is hope filled. Each of the three House founders above, moved from aspiration, to excelling by using their God-given gifts in committing themselves to hard work, collaboration, and perseverance, in deed and in action. And then having mastered their chosen aspiration, they led in their area. Each of their unique gifts, like us all, came from God. In using your gifts to aspire, excel and lead to improve the world, you are praising God for all that was given to you. You are doing as God intended you to do. As such, the College motto on our crest is Laudate Dominum, Praise the Lord.
Take care,
DR. LUCIE MCCRORY
Principal