Director of Mission

The blessings of Mercy Week

By Therese Wilson Email this article

Mercy Week culminates with Mercy Day Mass and Awards.

Mercy Week Activities
In keeping with tradition, Week 10 of Term 3 is Mercy Week; a time to reflect on the values of Catherine McAuley and founder of the Sisters of Mercy, who opened our College in 1954. Further to the reflections held in Religious Education studies, students participated in some fun, inclusive activities around the campus.

Our Junior School took off on a Fun Run, lapping the Main Oval all the way down to the Rose Garden and back again. On Tuesday, despite the drizzling rain, our Senior Justice Leaders put on a very popular sausage sizzle and craft sale, raising money for Mercy Works, and the busking around the Junior School on Thursday was a popular diversion, offering music, song, and even improvisation.

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Mercy Day Mass
This year, with tempremental weather patterns threatening our big day, Mercy Day Mass was celebrated at St Francis Xavier Cathedral, and it was beautiful.

Our College community and invited guests were respectful and reverant as Father John Shanahan and Deacon Andrew Kirkbride led us through this special occasion. Our 2022 College Captains MC'd the event, and several students participated in readings - some in different languages - the Entrance Procession, and Offertory Procession, and in our choir.

As an extension to the Mass we celebrated two special awards: the John Fanning Justice Award, and our 2022 Mercy Award.

John Fanning Justice Award
Four finalists were acknowledged for the John Fanning Justice Award: Abigail Ranford, Charlotte Sorell, Sannawar Sandhu, and Grace McGowan. All  these young women were nominated for their demonstration of qualities that embody the legacy of the late John Fanning, namely being fair, firm, kind, honest, and compassionate. Congratulations to all of you for achieving this great honour.

The 2022 John Fanning Justice Award was today presented to Charlotte Sorell by John's son Josh Fanning. Charlotte, a Year 12 student, is very active in our College community and so recognised for leading with and demonstrating the represention, action, and promotion of the true lived experiences of our Mercy keys. She is a life-long leader, having been a committed Social Justice Leader since Junior School. She selflessly looks out for peers and is never shy to put her hand up to help.

Congratulations Charlotte.

2022 Mercy Award
Our 2022 Mercy Award recipient is former scholar, and South Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People, Helen Connolly.

Helen is advocate for the needs of others, like our student cohort, and highly respected South Australian leader. She has developed a Student Representative Council to ensure young people are engaged and heard, and central in how services are planned and delivered. One of our finalists for the John Fanning Justice Award, Sanna Sandhu, sits on that Council, demonstrating that living the Mercy keys at Mercedes College continues to produce passionate, and compassionate, members of society.

While surprised to learn she was our 2022 recipient, Helen shared today that the accolade gave her an opportunity to reflect on her time at Mercedes College, and how the values instilled continue to  guide her decisions and path in life to where she is now, an active voice for children and young people of the South Australia.

Congratulations Helen.

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Therese Wilson
Director of Mission