Faith & Mission

The Mercy Charism is Literally Our Gift

It can be easy to take for granted the remarkable history of our College.  We can forget how long we have been here, our story began before the first Melbourne Cup, before the first AFL game, before the Exhibition Centre across the road was even imagined.  Not every school can claim to be the oldest girls’ secondary college in Victoria, nor can they say they have their foundress buried on site.   Our chapel is the third most significant church in Melbourne, and we have treasures such as a chalice used by Pope Pius IX and a century-old golden harp shipped from Ireland, still capable of being played.

We also hold a priceless and deeply personal record of our legacy, our 168-year-old College registry.  Every student’s name has been carefully handwritten into its pages, beginning with the first six pupils, whose names were penned by Mother Ursula Frayne herself.  This document stands as a powerful reminder that our story is not just about buildings or relics, it is about people, relationships, courage, and faith.

Our Mercy Charism is what makes us strong.  It is our clear north star, guiding our direction and grounding our mission.  We are never left guessing or needing to pull ideas out of thin air.  Instead, we draw on a rich and living history, one that reveals to us the ideals, values and actions of those who came before us.  We stand firmly on the foundation they built.  The Sisters of Mercy walked the streets, defied expectations of cloistered life and carved out a path that was bold and new, a road less travelled that we are privileged to run along today.   We are blessed not only to turn to God, Jesus and the Saints, but also to inspiring figures from our own story, Ursula Frayne, Mother Dillon, Mother Sherlock and the best cheerleader Melbourne has ever seen, Bishop Goold.  hese were real people who did real things to shape Melbourne and Fitzroy into the places they are today.  Our faith calls us to action, and it is through action that the Mercy Charism truly becomes our gift.

As we participate in the global Church’s Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee Year, we are reminded that sharing our story can take others on a journey and sometimes, revisiting our past can lead us to places we never imagined possible.  We don’t just walk in the footsteps of those who came before us; we carry their legacy forward, boldly and with hope, knowing that our story is still unfolding.  We are proud of who we are, and we embrace the opportunity to be called to action -  and it is through action that the Mercy Charism truly becomes our gift for life.

Ms Hannah Hale

Director of Faith and Mission