PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Welcome to the fifth issue of ‘Community’ for 2022. The first half of Term 3 has been full of joy. We think you will be impressed with everything we have been able to accomplish despite illness, absences, and other pandemic-related challenges. Plus, there are camps and excursions to get excited about in the remaining half of the term. It is all laid out in this month’s issue.

AN ENRICHING SABBATICAL

Catherine McAuley’s life and legacy have always inspired me. For more than 200 years, her compassion and actions have made – and continue to make – a positive impact here in Sunraysia and all around the world. She was a genuine trailblazer.

In September, I will travel to Ireland and the UK on a monthlong journey to learn more about the history of the Sisters of Mercy and the Mercy ethos that guides our community. The knowledge and experience gained over the course of this brief sabbatical will provide our college with renewed insight so that we remain effectively aligned with Mercy’s values and outlook.

The program’s itinerary will involve detailed study and an extensive tour designed to create an immersive, once in a lifetime experience. I will study Mercy’s outreach programs and history at the headquarters of the Mercy International Association on Baggot Street in Dublin within the famed ‘house with the red door’ that Catherine herself opened in 1827 to help the poor and homeless. While in Dublin, I intend to check in with my colleagues at one of our fellow Mercy Catholic colleges, too.

I will also spend a substantial amount of time speaking with the custodians of several original Mercy convents in both Ireland and the UK, including those in Galway, Limerick, Cork, Birmingham, and Bermondsey to name but a handful. All these convents hold so much history and have been lovingly curated, just like our own Mercy Heritage Centre.

Although this trip centres specifically on Mercy’s past, present and future, I will also explore Irish Catholicism’s history and traditions. The Knock Shrine, the Ennis Friary, and the Rock of Cashel are among a few of the significant sites that I will visit. 

I am grateful to have this opportunity and feel honoured to be welcomed so warmly by the Mercy International Association. I invite you to accompany me every step of the way on this faith-filled voyage. Each week, I will share my discoveries, newfound knowledge, and photos on the St Joseph’s College principal’s blog. 

I look forward to bringing the best of Mercy back home to Mildura

God Bless

Mrs Marg Blythman

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