Year 9s embrace social justice

Our year 9 Students and staff engaged in a retreat day on Wednesday June 21st with keynote speaker Karon Donnellon RSM (Sr of Mercy).

The theme for the day was Celebrating our Past and Inspiring our Future

This theme for our whole Jubilee Year was linked to celebrating the way Catherine McAuley was inspired by her faith to build the House of Mercy. Then - how WE are inspired by this work, to continue into the future, looking to our own communities and then taking the responsibility to be better global citizens by supporting those in other countries as well. 

Karon began the day encouraging the students to see themselves as the future of ‘Mercy’. She commented that looking after the poor, the sick and feeding the hungry is up to all of us, and there are many ways to become aware of the difficulties people face within Australia and around the world. 

The students began the day in St Pat’s church working in groups to explore our own school values and to discuss how these are lived out here at Mercy Regional College. 

After a very tasty shared morning snack we headed into the middle school building to learn about the way the works of mercy can be so relevant to our world today. The students worked in groups again to learn about the way ‘mercy works’ is contributing to the support of the poorest and some of the most disadvantaged people in our region including Timor Leste, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.

After a shared soup and roll lunch and a break, the students embarked on some practical activities that not only raise awareness, but make a difference. 

  1. Making knotted blankets to be given away via the Vinnies support program.
  2. Sorting food and clothing to be donated to: 

-The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

-Warrnambool Foodbank

-Vinnies

  1. Decorating our own House of Mercy in honour of Catherine McAuley and the Srs of Mercy - with inspirational quotes and images of support in the community. 
  2. Planning awareness and fundraising activities for our Year 9s to support Mercy Works in Term 3.

The students engaged in the day very well and were very open to the messages that Karon and the Year 9 RE staff shared about how they would be carrying on the MERCY tradition to support those in need. 

Thanks to Wendy Gleeson for preparing our delicious soup and to all staff who participated on the day.