This year’s Mercy Day was especially significant as we celebrated the founding of the Sisters of Mercy by Catherine McAuley 195 years ago, and the subsequent founding of our College fifty years ago. Just 19 years after the beginning of the Mercy Sisters, Sister Ursula Frayne led the first community of Sisters to the Swan River Colony where they set up a school at Victoria Square. This was the beginning of the branching out of the Mercy Sisters and their mission in Australia. Fifty years ago the Sisters from St Brigid’s West Perth had the foresight to establish Mercy College, and we, today, reap the benefits of that initiative and the carrying out of that mission ever since.
Our three main purposes of the day were to Celebrate, Participate and Donate.
We began the day by celebrating a whole-school Mass which was well attended by our beloved Sisters of Mercy, former Principals and members of our Advisory Council. We were treated to a meaningful Liturgical Movement by our senior students whose performance won the Catholic Performing Arts Festival shield. The Mass concluded with the singing of happy birthday to Mercy while our Mercy Sisters cut the celebratory cake.
50th Anniversary House Activities were organised by our House Leaders, followed by a fair with stalls hosted by our Pastoral Care Teachers. Some highlights included an animal farm, strongman striker, a fire truck and silent disco, in addition to many food stalls. The day’s celebrations concluded with the much anticipated Mercy Fest which was coordinated by our Arts Team.
While students and staff professed to having a had a great time, they also indirectly and lovingly donated to Mercy Works, the charitable arm of the Sisters of Mercy, for their global works of charity.