Yesterday we celebrated Mercy Day and I would like to share with you some of what I shared with our students.
It is important to remember why we are celebrating Mercy Day and to recognise the size and breadth of the Mercy Community each and every one of us belongs to.
This week in the USA, Ireland, South Africa, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and all over Australia there are Mercy schools celebrating Mercy Day. They are raising money, just like us, for important works of Mercy all over the world. We are trying to support Mercy Works and their work in Papua New Guinea, providing health care and education among so many other things that are needed. We want to make a difference in the lives of others.
Catherine McAuley once said “Never command anything which you yourself have not practised” If we wish to be treated with respect and compassion, we must show that to others. At OLMC we are empowered together to be Mercy people and this privilege means that we need to think about our actions at school and beyond. How do we show up in all the places we are seen, whether that be online or in person? How will others see us and interpret our words and actions? Are they the ways we want to be seen?
Today we want to be seen as a strong community that is joyful, courageous and compassionate and whose commitment to justice means that we are proud that we are contributing to improving the lives of people simply by participating well in our Mercy Day.
Mercy Day was a wonderful celebration showing all that it means to be part of the OLMC Community. We watched with pride as our students engaged wholeheartedly in the day, taking every opportunity to have fun and celebrate our community.
This has been a very busy two weeks. On Tuesday evening we celebrated the skills and talents of our sporting teams with the 2022 Sports Evening. Kate Moloney, Captain of the Melbourne Vixens netball team was our special guest. Much has been written about girls turning away from sport during the long periods of remote learning. I am so pleased and proud to be able to say that OLMC is well and truly bucking this trend. Our students have participated in GSV, other organised external sporting competitions and House based sporting activities in numbers stronger than prior to COVID. Presenting medals and trophies to students on the night was a great privilege. Congratulations to all who received an award.
This is our last newsletter for the term. It has been a challenging term due to illness and managing all that normally comes with winter. As we go into the break our Year 12 students are beginning their exam preparations and we wish them all the very best.
All at OLMC wish everyone a wonderful break and time spent resting and relaxing with family and friends.
We look forward to another busy and successful Term 4.