A Message from the Leader of Ministry
Siobhan Kelly
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.” (Catherine McAuley)
We are very much looking forward to the upcoming Ministry events at Catherine McAuley Catholic College as we enter the final weeks of Term 3 and prepare for the beginning of Term 4.
Our first major celebration will be the Year 12 Graduation Mass on Thursday 25 September at 9:45am in the College Chapel. This is a momentous milestone as our very first graduating class reaches the end of their 13 years of education. It will be a special time of thanksgiving and blessing, as we honour their achievements and send them forth with our prayers. During this Mass, we will also hold a commissioning ceremony for our new student leaders, as the leadership baton is passed from the 2025 to the 2026 Student Leadership Team. We congratulate our incoming leaders on their successful appointment and look forward to the way they will guide our community with faith and integrity.
Next, we eagerly anticipate Mercy Day on Wednesday 15 October, the first Wednesday of Term 4. This year our celebrations will centre on the Mercy Value of courage. Catherine McAuley embodied this value as she educated and housed vulnerable people in Ireland during the penal times, despite the dangers of doing so. Our whole-school liturgy will reflect on her courage and challenge us to live it out today. Following this, students will enjoy an extended Break 2 with food stalls offering sausage sizzles, cakes, milkshakes, soft drinks, and treats, before moving into a range of fun faculty-led activities.
In Week 2 of Term 4, our Year 12 students will embark on their retreat, themed On The Road. This retreat will invite them to reflect on their journey so far, strengthen their sense of community, and discover anew that Jesus walks with them always, especially as they take their next steps into Year 12 and beyond.
Finally, we warmly invite all families to join us for our Family Mass at St Stephen’s Catholic Church, Tea Gardens on Sunday 16th November at 8:30am. Family Mass is a beautiful opportunity for us to come together as one united community in Mercy to pray, celebrate, and strengthen the bonds that connect us as families and as a College community. The celebration will feature a children’s choir, morning tea, helium balloons, and bracelets for all children who attend. It promises to be a joyful occasion for the whole family.
We look forward to sharing these rich moments of faith, celebration, and community with our students and families and we wish you all the best for the coming holidays.
United in Mercy
Siobhan Kelly