While we have not been able to gather for whole school Masses or other Liturgical celebrations since returning to school at Level 2, the staff and students of Roncalli College acknowledged Mercy Day today, September 24th.

Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy

Catherine McAuley lived in Ireland in the 1800s. She saw children with no clothes or shoes to wear and some not have enough food to eat. She also saw young women with no jobs, and young children too poor to go to school.

Catherine McAuley was left a significant inheritance which she used to build a large house in Baggot Street in Dublin, an area where wealthy people resided. She called the new house the House of Mercy.

Catherine and her team of helpers did a lot of things to help other people:

• They cared for children who had no parents

• They cared for young women who had nowhere to live

• They set up a school for poor children

• They cared for people who were sick and dying

Catherine knew that God wanted her to spend her life helping the poor and through this Catherine decided that she and her many helpers would become Sisters of Mercy. Catherine chose certain Gospel values that were important to her through which she lived her life around. 

Those values were

• Compassion

• Hospitality

• Respect

• Service

• Social Justice

The Mercy Sisters arrived in Timaru and moved into the Convent in December 1935 and thus began the Convent of Mercy. The Sisters were known for going out in pairs to visit the homes of Sacred Heart Parishioners and were referred to as the ‘walking nuns’. The Convent was the centrepiece of Sacred Heart Girls College (1935) then Mercy College (1969) and finally Roncalli College (1982) when Mercy College and St Patricks converged.

The Roncalli staff began the week with a reflection on Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy. Students in the junior Religious Education classes learned about the story of Catherine McAuley and the first Sisters of Mercy to arrive in Timaru.

The Mercy story and values are immersed in our Roncalli history and its future. Let us start this celebration with the lighting of the candle representing our Mercy heritage.

This morning staff gathered for a ‘Good Cup of Tea Day’ in our staffroom to remember the history of our College and the role the Sisters of Mercy had and continue to have in our faith journey. The staff have also participated in Secret Someone Special this week - staff have enjoyed the flowers, treats, prayers and other goodies they have received by their secret someone. It has been a joy to be a part of.

We are fortunate to have some very talented staff and students at Roncalli. The image of Catherine McAuley was created as part of our ‘Flex Day Mural Painting’ course. Students involved in the ideas process were Brendan Chenier, Alexi Cook, Alexandra Darling, Rosa Sullivan, April Manson, Emily O'Neill and Tamia Barradas. Miss Wheeler and Ms Ludemann helped guide the students. From the initial brainstorming of ideas, Alexi Cook drew up the ideas into final designs that you see above.

E pupiri ana te atawhai i a te Atua i tona aroha
Mercy holds us in God’s loving care
Catherine McAuley