MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

“You should remember that not to advance is to go back.”

         – Catherine McAuley

On Thursday, 15 September, we gathered as a community to celebrate the Feast of our Lady of Mercy, Catherine McAuley with a Mercy Day Mass. Her feast day is on September 24, but as this falls during the holidays, we celebrated Mercy Day in the last week of term.

195 years ago, Catherine McAuley opened ‘The House of Mercy’ at number 64 Baggot Street, Dublin. Catherine put out the call for help and the response was remarkable. Soon, they were providing shelter to homeless women, reaching out to the sick and dying and providing an education to girls who were poor. Her legacy lives on today through the Sisters of Mercy and lay Mercy associates, volunteers and partners in ministry continuing in the spirit of Catherine McAuley to address the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.

This year’s Mercy Week theme is, ‘Catherine McAuley: Boundary Breaker’, which provides us with an opportunity to reflect on how Catherine’s life inspires us to push boundaries in the world. As people of Mercy in this College, how are we called to break boundaries?

It was so special that the Institute Leader, Sr Evelyn Crotty, and North Queensland Community Leader, Sr Ann Keim, of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy Australia and Papua New Guinea were also able to join us for this Mass. We thank Bishop Timothy Harris for presiding over the Mass, assisted by Father Siby. After Mass, our entire community participated in outreach and community service activities bringing Mercy into action. We ended the day with a talent show which certainly brought our Mercy value of Joy to the forefront. We are very grateful to Elissa Andrews, Dean of Faith & Mission, and Harriett Veukiso, College Chaplain, for organising such a wonderful day.

END OF TERM ACHIEVEMENTS

Congratulations to all of the students who competed in the Townsville Junior Eisteddfod. There is so much talent in our College that is nurtured and developed by the most incredible music, drama and dance teachers and instrumental music tutors. 

We also wish the College’s States Rowing Squad all the best, as they compete against the best in the state in Bundaberg from Saturday, 17 – 19 September 2022. Thank you to Catherine Rentoule, our College Rowing Coordinator, and Harrison Parks, the Head Coach of the Combined Schools’ Rowing Program.

Sadly, we have farewelled Tanya Snow, one of our Teacher Aides this week who has been at the College since 2018. We will all miss her, wishing her all very best as she embarks on a new adventure.

I do hope our students and teachers enjoy a well-deserved holiday break to rest and relax and we look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 4 with renewed energy and focus for the final 8 weeks of this school year.

Amber Hauff

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL