Catherine McAuley, Westmead- 60th Anniversary Commemorative Statue and Garden

A very special part of Catherine McAuley Westmead’s 60th anniversary celebrations on Friday, 6 November, was the unveiling and blessing of a commemorative statue of Venerable Catherine McAuley, set within a new garden. The statue and garden are located at the foot of the stairs to the Sister Barbara McDonough Building, beside Mercy Square.

The statue is modelled on one that stands in the gardens of both the House of Mercy in Dublin and Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta. In these statues, Catherine has her hand resting on a seat, inviting others to come and sit with her. The school’s statue is an original design, incorporating a cup-of-tea motif as a welcoming invitation for students and staff to sit with her. This reminds us of the familiar ‘comfortable cup of tea’ adage often used at Catherine McAuley Westmead to welcome people and offer comfort during difficult times.

The statue and garden were unveiled and blessed during the 60th Anniversary Student and Staff Liturgy. School Principal Ms Mary Refalo, Director of Catholic Identity & Mission Ms Genevieve Banks, Catherine McAuley staff who are also alumnae – Ms Nidhi Mahajan, Ms Adele McGlone, Mrs Catherine Moxey, Miss Rebecca Reynolds, Miss Sangeeta Raja, Mrs Belinda Spratt and Ms Isabella Ticchio – and Year 7 representatives walked from the liturgy to take part in the unveiling and blessing. The ceremony was live-streamed for those watching from the liturgy being held in the Morley Center.

School Principal Ms Mary Refalo said it was fitting to include a statue of Catherine McAuley in the school’s 60th celebrations.

“On the occasion of our 60th anniversary, inviting Catherine into our midst was an important symbol of our continued connection with her story and her invitation to support one another,” Ms Refalo said. “The beautiful statue we have installed in the gardens of Mercy Square calls us to sit together in one another’s company, and reminds us to do this with hospitality and love.”