QUEENSLAND’S 300 Catholic school communities have taken up the challenge to find new ways of opening doors for students, parents, staff and the broader community throughout the Year of Mercy.
Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Lee-Anne Perry said the jubilee year had been an opportunity for schools to reflect on the many aspects of mercy.
“Throughout the year students have seen that there are many ways to demonstrate mercy and they have come up with their own ideas about how to show mercy to others,” Dr Perry said.
“From Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School on Thursday Island in the far north, south to St Augustine’s at Currumbin Waters on the Gold Coast and west to Mt Isa, students have been deepening their understanding of mercy.
“Many students have taken the opportunity to welcome visitors from other schools, kindergartens and early learning centres to share with them something of the life of the school community.
“Others have visited emergency workers to say thank you for the work they do and some have reached out to aged care centreresidents in their communities to brighten their days with visits and concert performances.”
Dr Perry said Catholic schools were also focused on ensuring their own doors were open to all those in need.
“Many of our schools have welcomed refugee families as part of their communities,” she said.
“The Year of Mercy has provided a special opportunity to really stop and think about how we address the needs of some of these most vulnerable students who have often suffered great trauma before they reach a new life in Queensland.a
“They provide us with a reminder of Pope Francis’ words – ‘A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just’.”
