APMI News
….experiencing FAITH in the Mercy Tradition
Dear families
Next Monday 11th November is Remembrance Day, a day where we acknowledge those who died or suffered while serving in wars, conflicts and peace operations. Thank you to Mrs Conway and the students of Yr 5C for leading our whole school Liturgy.
The 11th November each year is also our foundress’ feast day, Venerable Catherine McAuley. Her story is as follows:
Catherine Elizabeth McAuley was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1778. From the time she was a young child, Catherine saw her parents living their Catholic faith through service to the poor. After her parents died, Catherine lived with Protestant relatives who wanted her to become a member of their church. Catherine remained true to the Catholic faith.
When Catherine was 25, she was invited to be a live-in companion to a wealthy retired couple. Her faith and loving care for them and the needy people in the neighbourhood was a powerful example for them, and they both became Catholic before they died. They left their fortune to Catherine.
This inheritance gave Catherine the money she needed to establish a house to serve people in need. Catherine purchased property and a large house was built. It was called the “House of Mercy” and opened in 1827. It included a church, school, a work area for training the residents for jobs, and dormitories for the poor and any women who wished to join Catherine in her ministry.
Catherine did not wish to form a religious order. Nuns in Ireland in those days spent most of their time cloistered away from the people Catherine was determined to serve. Catherine knew that to be a real help to the poor and needy, she needed to be among them so that she could see the realities of the struggles they faced on a daily basis.
The Archbishop of Dublin convinced Catherine that becoming a religious order would help her to serve more people. Catherine agreed, and she and two friends began training to become nuns. When they took their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, they were allowed to include a vow of service to the poor, sick, and uneducated. Catherine’s order, the Religious Sisters of Mercy, was born in 1831. The nuns wore plain clothing and were known in Ireland as the “walking nuns” because they spent so much time in the community helping people.
Catherine died in 1841. Today there are more than 12,000 Sisters of Mercy worldwide. They run 200 health care facilities, 19 colleges, and 58 schools and provide many other services that help people of every age.
Pope John Paul II declared Sister Catherine McAuley “Venerable” in 1990. This is the first step on the path to sainthood. Catherine always said that “proof of love is deed.” Like Catherine McAuley, we can let our kind and caring deeds be the proof of our love for Jesus and others.
Thank you for supporting our awareness and fundraiser project for “Day for Daniel” - $497.25 was raised which will go towards continued development of free resources and programs for parents, carers and educators to teach children how to stay safe.
Huge shout out and thank you to our Yr 5 students for using their initiative and taking action to raise $113.50 for Catholic Missions through their Pyjama day! Well done and thank you! That money will go towards supporting the local church and community in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in particular, and the training and formation of priests, religious, catechists, care for vulnerable children and promoting and forming people for mission.
The new play space on our oval is being enjoyed by our students, with part of the design including a Yarning circle. We’d love to hear your ideas and thinking around how we can design this space in consultation with local artist Kim Walmsley. You are invited to join us at 4.30pm on Thursday 14th November for a very casual chat. We’ll meet at our yarning circle to collaborate on ideas and how we can best have this space reflect who we are as a community. Thank you for giving this your time and consideration.
Enrolments are now open for students from Years 4 and older (in 2025) in the St Patrick’s Cathedral 2025 Sacramental Program. Children who have already been Baptised complete their initiation into the Church through the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Communion. This is a partnership in which families and the Parish community work together as your child is nurtured in the practice and love of the Catholic faith. An information session will be held early next year, where you’ll be given a preparation workbook which is to be completed at home. The Enrolment forms, dates and details will be sent home with students in Year 3. If you’ve any questions or queries, please contact the Parish office on 46 371 500
Date claimers:
Week 7 Thursday 14th November – Have a chat at the yarning circle 4.30pm
Week 8 Friday 22nd November – Yr 6 Service Learning group Christmas visit to Brodribb
Week 9 Thursday 28th November – Anointing Mass (Year 4 students to attend)
Week 10 Thursday 5th December – End of Term Awards Assembly 8.45am Mercy Centre
Have a great week and thanks for reading,
Ann-Maree Ward (Assistant Principal – Mission & Identity)