Religious Education Coordinator – Ian Anderson
This Sunday the Church celebrates Pentecost. Often referred to as the birthday of the Church, the moment Christ’s Apostles left the locked room and preached the Gospel to all nations. Our first reading, taken from the book of the Acts of the Apostles, references the Apostles speaking to a large crowd made up of many nations and all people understanding them. I often reflect on how this story is mirrored against the story in Genesis, the Tower of Babel where God confuses the peoples speech. In Genesis we see mankind using their speech to act in opposition to God, leading to division. In the Pentecost story, God demonstrates that there is no barrier, not even language in communicating his goodness. As Christians, the spreading of the Gospel is our legacy and duty. We received this from those who love us and are called to spread the gospel to those who we love also. The magician Penn Jilette, while not a Christian himself, was asked how he felt about Christians who preach the Gospel openly. He said, “How much do you have to hate someone to believe in everlasting life and not tell them that?” Perhaps this Pentecost you could share the Gospel with your children, maybe in words and in action. Attend Church, do acts of love for your loved ones, call a friend or family member who is on your mind and ask how they are. These are all great ways to celebrate our Christian heritage.
Our young girls here at the College have begun building on their contribution to acts of Mercy in our community. For the past weeks, ten of our students have been attending Stella Maris Aged Care facility to minister to the residents. They have been playing games, listening to their stories and assisting with their technology problems. Our students love to serve the residents and the residents love the presence and gentleness of our girls.
We are also part way into our Winter Appeal. The Mercy In Action (MAG) group is organising an OP Shop on the 27 June (week 9). All girls are encouraged to bring in clothes that can be sold on the day. The money raised will go to support the Charitable Works Fund (CWF). The CWF is responsible for collecting funds for the purpose of supporting the charitable and pastoral works of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney involving over 100 services including, fostering, adoptions, counselling and aged care services.
At a recent conference in Perth, I had the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Mother Ursula Frayne. I would like to do a snapshot about each of our houses in the upcoming newsletters as I found Sr Ursula’s story to be a fascinating one.
SNAPSHOT
Mother Ursula Frayne
Mother Ursula Frayne was born, Clara Frayne, was born in Dublin Ireland and entered Baggot Street with Catherine McAuley in 1834. Upon becoming a Nun, she changed her name to Sr Ursula and was sent by Catherine McAuley to Canada before being asked to come to Australia.
In 1845, the Bishop of the Swan River Colony (Perth’s original name), Bishop John Brady put out a request for nuns and brothers to come to the colony to educate and serve the needs of the poor.
Mother Ursula set up the first school in Perth in 1846. Now known as Mercedes Catholic College, this college began with one student and by the end of the day had six students. Today it boasts over 1000 students. Mother Ursula was a forward thinker, establishing Mercedes College and Santa Maria College. The funds raised by these schools contributed to the paying off of mortgages of many of the Mercy sisters buildings they had begun establishing across Australia. She was moved to Victoria where she opened another two schools and an orphanage and passed away in 1885.
Her work had such a monumental impact on education in Australia and the flourishing of the Mercy sisters that in 2023, the West Australian newspaper identified her as one of the 100 people who shaped the state.
Religious Education Coordinator – Ian Anderson