“Mercy Pathways of Joy and Hope”
All Hallows School, Brisbane
In Term 2, four of our students travelled to Bendigo and Kyneton for a 3-day programme that focused on the theme of Mercy: Pathways of Joy and Hope. This theme was inspired by the belief that mercy lights the way to a world filled with joy, hope, and compassion. Our students had the opportunity to listen to others, engaging in meaningful workshops and discussions that focused on developing their ideas to shape the futures of their schools. The conference was attended by students from Mercy schools across Australia and provided our students with opportunities to share their stories of mercy and learn from other students and their stories of mercy from their schools.
Before the end of Term 2, I had the incredible opportunity to represent our school at the 2024 AMSSA conference, which was hosted by Catherine McAuley College in Bendigo. This event brought together students from Mercy schools across Australia. During the conference, I was able to learn more about how Mercy works are applied in the real world. The conference not only enabled me to learn new skills but also provided an opportunity for personal growth. Engaging in workshops and participating in discussions with peers I had never met before challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and improve my collaboration skills. One of the highlights was listening to the inspiring speeches delivered by representatives from Mercy Works and Young Mercy Links. These talks were not only motivational but also provided practical insights into how Mercy’s mission is carried out across different communities. The workshops were equally engaging, offering hands-on experiences that deepened my understanding of Mercy Works and Young Mercy Links and their applications. Overall, the conference was an amazing experience for which I am so grateful.
Ruby Collin, Year 11
The AMSSA conference was a wonderful learning experience. This conference, which was located in Bendigo, provided me with the opportunity to collaborate with other high school students across Australia to discuss issues in our society. With multiple guest speakers, we were educated on various topics such as life for individuals in lower-class areas like Africa and Papua New Guinea, the Young Mercy Links foundation, and a multitude of environmental struggles our nation faces, while also providing us with the opportunity to reflect on our own community. A memorable moment of the conference was the clothes swap. This required every member of the camp to bring a piece of clothing to exchange with someone else. This highlighted the problems regarding consumerism within our community and the need for individuals to encourage the reuse of clothing items. Overall, the AMSSA conference was a memorable and insightful experience.
Olivia Mosticone, Year 11
The AMSSA Conference was both exciting and enjoyable. Getting to meet new students like us from other states and schools gave us the opportunity to connect and share our hope and love together as Mercy people. Personally, the thing that stood out most from the conference was how Sister Sally told us about her journey to Mercy. She told us that the journey to Mercy is like a scarf with complicated embroidery. This means that there are many obstacles that prevent us from getting to be in the Mercy world, where we could share our love and hope together and bring smiles to the faces of those who are truly in desperate need of our help. I learnt that helping those in need is not only about giving them what they need now and then, but it’s about teaching them how to fish. If they have knowledge of how to make what they need, it would be much easier for both the giver and receiver. Overall, it was enjoyable and educational, as well as an opportunity to make friends with other students who attended the conference.
Athiei Gor, Year 10
Mount Lilydale Mercy College, Mt Lilydale
Year 11 students: Andrew T, Holly H, Rehan M and Hannah B
At the end of June, we had the opportunity to attend the Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association (AMSSA) Conference, held at Catherine McAuley College in Bendigo. It was exciting to meet Mercy students from all over Australia, where we could connect and form new friendships.
At the end of our first day, we celebrated with a Mass in Bendigo Cathedral, the second largest in Victoria. This was celebrated by Bishop Shane Mackinlay. Each school presented a candle with their crest on it. Adding to the already amazing experience, there was a choir singing hymns that echoed throughout the cathedral’s vaulted ceilings.
On the Wednesday, we were able to choose from four workshops — with each connected to a Mercy Works project in Australia or overseas. They included a refugee cooking class, putting together birthing kits, creating posters about fast fashion, or putting together personal care and toiletry packages. These activities aimed to help us appreciate the value of what we have and how we can share generously with others. For example, we learnt from Birthing Kit Foundation Australia how such kits help create a sterile environment for childbirth in remote regions and reduce the risks of health complications for women.
We also created care packages that provide essential hygiene/personal care products for those who are struggling with such basic necessities. These experiences helped us to be compassionate for those struggling to afford basic necessities and find practical ways of being able to provide help and practical assistance.
Seeing students from other Mercy schools across Australia together at this Conference was truly inspiring, and fostered a strong sense of community, united by our Mercy values. A special thanks to Ms Keogh (Deputy Principal — Mission) for organising this opportunity for us, and also to Miss Guy (Year 10 Level Leader) and Mr Russell (Barak Campus Director) for attending with us.
Our Lady Of Mercy College, Parramatta
The following OLMC Parramatta students (Chloe D, Haynin L, Sofia T, Kasey B), accompanied by Ms Millgate, attended the AMSSA Student Conference in Bendigo
Students’ Reflection
We attended the AMSSA Student Conference in Bendigo, Victoria. Across three days we participated in a range of workshops and networked with students from Mercy schools all over Australia. We were inspired by the stories of the Mercy Sisters and former students who are serving vulnerable communities in the same way that Catherine McAuley did during her time. We returned to school with a commitment to follow their lead through advocacy and action in our school life and beyond.
Sacred Hearty College Kyneton
Sacred Heart College has been privileged to cohost, with Catherine McAuley College Bendigo, the biennial student conference of the Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association (AMSSA). AMSSA is an association that brings together more than 50 secondary schools from across all Australian states and territories as well as New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Importantly, the schools come together annually for either staff or student conferences with Kyneton and Bendigo able to host the student event after several years of Covid-driven delays.
The conference included almost 150 students and staff with activities running from Monday 24 – Thursday 27 June. The activities included guest speakers, workshops, liturgies, visits to local tourist sites as well as a formal conference mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo and a conference dinner at Bendigo’s Town Hall.
I was fortunate to be able to attend every day of the conference and found the experience energising and quite moving. Highlights for me included:
- The personal stories and witness of a number of young women connected to Mercy and committed to nourishing the spirit of Catherine McAuley, and the Sisters of Mercy, in the 21st century.
- The enthusiasm and determination of the young people who attended the conference and brought those gifts into the discussions and activities. The hope of a young person is very special thing.
- The opportunity to showcase Sacred Heart College to schools from across Australia and provide students and staff an insight into why it is a wonderful Mercy school.
Appropriately, I want to include several comments from SHC students who attended the conference:
On 25th – 27th of June, a group of six Sacred Heart College Kyneton students attended the AMSSA conference. We interacted with students from various Mercy schools around Australia.
We visited Central Deborah gold mine, the heritage trams and the Great Stupa in Bendigo. On Tuesday, we attended Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral and then had dinner in the Bendigo Town Hall, we had a delicious meal and danced the night away.
On Thursday, we returned to Sacred Heart, with everyone from the conference being welcomed into our community.
A highlight of the conference was creating care packages for women and children escaping family violence. We also exchanged our own personalised business cards with other students throughout the conference to connect with each other once we left.
St Aloysius College, North Melbourne
In Term 2, four of our students travelled to Bendigo and Kyneton for a 3-day programme that focused on the theme of Mercy: Pathways of Joy and Hope. This theme was inspired by the belief that mercy lights the way to a world filled with joy, hope, and compassion. Our students had the opportunity to listen to others, engaging in meaningful workshops and discussions that focused on developing their ideas to shape the futures of their schools. The conference was attended by students from Mercy schools across Australia and provided our students with opportunities to share their stories of mercy and learn from other students and their stories of mercy from their schools.
Before the end of Term 2, I had the incredible opportunity to represent our school at the 2024 AMSSA conference, which was hosted by Catherine McAuley College in Bendigo. This event brought together students from Mercy schools across Australia. During the conference, I was able to learn more about how Mercy works are applied in the real world. The conference not only enabled me to learn new skills but also provided an opportunity for personal growth. Engaging in workshops and participating in discussions with peers I had never met before challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and improve my collaboration skills. One of the highlights was listening to the inspiring speeches delivered by representatives from Mercy Works and Young Mercy Links. These talks were not only motivational but also provided practical insights into how Mercy’s mission is carried out across different communities. The workshops were equally engaging, offering hands-on experiences that deepened my understanding of Mercy Works and Young Mercy Links and their applications. Overall, the conference was an amazing experience for which I am so grateful.
Ruby, Year 11
The AMSSA conference was a wonderful learning experience. This conference, which was located in Bendigo, provided me with the opportunity to collaborate with other high school students across Australia to discuss issues in our society. With multiple guest speakers, we were educated on various topics such as life for individuals in lower-class areas like Africa and Papua New Guinea, the Young Mercy Links foundation, and a multitude of environmental struggles our nation faces, while also providing us with the opportunity to reflect on our own community. A memorable moment of the conference was the clothes swap. This required every member of the camp to bring a piece of clothing to exchange with someone else. This highlighted the problems regarding consumerism within our community and the need for individuals to encourage the reuse of clothing items. Overall, the AMSSA conference was a memorable and insightful experience.
Olivia, Year 11
The AMSSA Conference was both exciting and enjoyable. Getting to meet new students like us from other states and schools gave us the opportunity to connect and share our hope and love together as Mercy people. Personally, the thing that stood out most from the conference was how Sister Sally told us about her journey to Mercy. She told us that the journey to Mercy is like a scarf with complicated embroidery. This means that there are many obstacles that prevent us from getting to be in the Mercy world, where we could share our love and hope together and bring smiles to the faces of those who are truly in desperate need of our help. I learnt that helping those in need is not only about giving them what they need now and then, but it’s about teaching them how to fish. If they have knowledge of how to make what they need, it would be much easier for both the giver and receiver. Overall, it was enjoyable and educational, as well as an opportunity to make friends with other students who attended the conference.
Athiei, Year 10
St Joseph’s College Stanthorpe
Nine students from St. Joseph’s, Stanthorpe, made the trip to Bendigo to attend the AMSSA Student Conference in June. Our students valued the opportunity to meet and interact with teenagers from 19 other Mercy schools throughout Australia. Seeing and hearing personal stories of living hope and joy through works of Mercy, as well as participating in workshops inspired and energised our students to continue living the Mercy tradition. Conversations have already begun around what students would like to facilitate in our school community. With many memories and lifelong experiences created, it was an incredible opportunity for our young people, the future of tomorrow.
St Joseph’s College, Mildura
“We arrived in Bendigo last night and attended a welcome dinner for the AMSSA Conference delegates at Sacred Heart College Bendigo.
20 of 54 Mercy schools in Australasia are represented at this year’s conference, mostly from Victoria but also from SA, NSW, and Queensland. It’s the first to be held since Covid, so there’s a real sense of enthusiasm and hope.
Our two Year 10 student delegates, Mayvelyne M and Nathasha A are wonderful ambassadors for the school and have already made many new friends among the students from other Mercy schools.
We have an action packed few days ahead of us, including speakers, workshops and excursions throughout Bendigo and its surrounds – today we went down a gold mine and tried our hands at gold panning, and this evening we are off to Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral followed by dinner at the Bendigo Town Hall.
Today’s keynote speaker was Sr Sally Bradley, Executive Director of Mercy Works. She has given an inspiring talk to the students about her personal Mercy journey – ‘the clay in Gods hands’ – as well as explaining the sustainability work that Mercy Works does in Australia, PNG, the Philippines and Timor Leste. Sr Sally was very articulate about the fact that ‘The poor need help today and not next week’ – Mercy in action, as Catherine McAuley herself would have advocated.”
