A MAJOR event in the year-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy in Queensland was the presentation of commemorative badges to representatives of Mercy Ministries throughout Brisbane archdiocese recently.
The badges were presented during a ceremony in the chapel at All Hallows’ School in Brisbane. On the same evening Stage 2 of the Mercies’ Heritage Building at All Hallows’ was blessed.
The Mercy Sisters’ Brisbane congregation leader Sr Sandra Lupi welcomed about 200 guests to the celebration.
“As part of the ritual this evening, you will be presented with the 150 Year badge. We hope you will wear it with pride as you are part of this 150 Year story,” Sr Lupi said.
“The theme chosen for our sesquicentenary Living Mercy is clearly marked on the badge. It is a theme that encompasses and interlinks our past, present and future.”
Ministry representatives were called forward by Sr Lupi and executive officer to the congregational leadership team Elizabeth Oropold. The leadership team presented the Mercy ministry representatives with individual, personal 150 badges for their leadership teams, staff and boards.
Heritage Centre director Peter Connell explained the background to the opening of Stage 2 situated it in the overall plan for the centre.
Brisbane Mercy congregational leadership team member Sr Jean Gormley, heritage board members Peter Connell and Sr Anne Hetherington, and ministry representative Nigel Harris carried a lantern of light, lit from the 150 “Living Mercy” candle to bless each of the exhibition rooms.
Meanwhile, the anniversary being celebrated by the Brisbane congregation of the Sisters of Mercy has been marked by schools with a Mercy heritage, including All Hallows’, which is also celebrating its 150th anniversary. St Mary’s College, Ipswich, and St Saviour’s College, Toowoomba, also began the new school year by acknowledging the anniversary in a special way.
All Hallows’ opened the year with a liturgy at QPAC Concert Hall. Before the Mass, the Sister Mary Celine Chorale, led by conductor and the college’s head of creative arts Kylie Moore, set a reverent and sacred atmosphere by singing Misericordias Domini.
The chant translates as “Forever I will sing the mercy of the Lord” which was fitting for this celebration which recalled 150 years of Mercy education.
Principal Dr Lee-Anne Perry reminded students, staff, guests and parents that this was a year of celebrating 150 years of “Living Mercy” and the wonderful contributions of the Sisters of Mercy.
School captains Anjelica Rush and Ellie Miller challenged students to get involved in 2011 in the ordinary everyday living of mercy and asked them to be mindful of, “How would you like to be remembered?” in years to come.
At St Mary’s College, Ipswich, principal Deidre Anderson acknowledged the impact of the floods on the community of Ipswich and the rest of the state of Queensland and how it impacted on her personal story.
“We already know the devastation the floods have caused, and are acutely aware of the wonderful human spirit and compassion that has come to the fore during these times. ” Ms Anderson said.
She gave the reminder that, “… life is never quite what we plan, the certainty is we will face challenges and there will be difficult times. But be assured and find strength and comfort from the knowledge that you are part of a caring community where the spirit of Mercy resonates in all we do and say. And so as our theme for 2011 reminds us; We are ‘People of Mercy’ … working together to make a difference.”
A spokesperson for St Saviour’s College said the college has planned a range of school and community activities for 2011 to help students “to further appreciate not only the traditions established by the sisters but the ongoing mission shared by all, in terms of Living Mercy in the world today”.
“This is reflected in the theme chosen for 2011 – ‘Valuing the Past – Shaping the Future’,” the spokesperson said.
