PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Welcome to this year’s seventh issue of Community. Term 4 progresses at a rapid pace, and the end of an extremely eventful year of college life and activities approaches. 

Since Issue 6, our Year 7 and Year 9 cohorts had a sensational time and made marvellous memories on the inaugural Victor Harbor and Central Australia camps, respectively. Right at the end of Term 3, students danced the night away at the first College Ball since 2019. Most recently, the Class of 2022 spent their final day at the college and commenced their exams last week. Naturally, they will make us all proud. We believe in them and know they are ready.

In Issue 6, I wrote about the first UK stops on the itinerary for my four-week Mercy immersion program*. Shortly thereafter, I travelled to Ireland, where I visited Mercy sites across the country. Along the way, I received very warm welcomes from the Sisters and other Mercy colleagues I met. I feel grateful to have attended Mercy Day celebrations on 24 September in the original House of Mercy Catherine McAuley founded on that very day in 1827. 

Throughout Ireland, I saw Mercy convents continue to do their part to further Catherine’s legacy. Some convents had sadly closed, but several of these were still used for causes that embody the Mercy ethos. Most notably among them were:

• The Convent of Mercy at Westbourne in Limerick now houses the Children’s Grief Centre.
• In Buttevant, County Cork, the townspeople converted their convent into a shelter for Ukrainian refugees.

Although they no longer provide homes to Sisters, the spirit of Mercy still lingers in these places. –And that warms the heart.

We at St Joseph’s College will always honour our duty and cherish our place in the scope of Catherine’s vision while upholding her legacy. Our college aspires to reflect the fundamental duty of every Catholic person, which is to extend love to all. Accordingly, the topics of inclusion and diversity form a component of the social responsibility the college has to the diverse nature of our students and families. You can read more about our Mercy values here, and about everything the college does to support our students, families, and staff here.

Community reminds us to look back on and celebrate all the fantastic achievements of everyone in our college community. I hope you enjoy reading their stories as much as we enjoy sharing them with you.

God Bless,

Mrs Marg Blythman

College Principal

*Read more on the Principal’s Blog, Weeks 9 & 10 of Term 3; Weeks 1 & 2 of Term 4.