2020 Opening School Mass ‘Building Futures’
The Merici College school community welcomed parents, friends and representatives from our Colleges, Primary schools and Catholic Education at their Opening School Mass on Tuesday 18 February. The Mass was celebrated by Principal \Celebrant Fr Josh Scott with Fr Emil Milat who assisted him. We also extended a special welcome to the Sisters of the Orders who were instrumental as the founding Orders of the College. The new Merici College House banners in the Opening Procession were led by our House Coordinators and Sr Angela Jordan of the Mercy Sisters and Sr Genny Ryan of the Ursuline Order.
Kiera Stanford, Merici’s 2020 Spirituality Captain, thanked our community for celebrating Mass with the students and staff, “As we gather here today, we recall that 2019 marked 60 years since the foundation of this College. Now today, this community celebrates a new beginning focussing on our 2020 theme ‘Building Futures’. There is a wisdom saying “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. So everyday this year, we will take a new step forward on our journey together.”
At the entrance to the College stands the statue of Angela Merici depicting her as a pilgrim woman. As a pilgrim, Angela was always on the move, carrying her Pilgrim Staff for support along the way. With her eyes focussed on the road ahead and knowing the dream that God planted in her heart, she was resolute about the steps she needed to take, even if, she was at times, uncertain about where the road might take her.
In the Gospel we heard Jesus challenging us to build our lives on strong, sure foundations, to dig deeply so as to withstand life’s storms. In the first reading, St Paul prayed for each of us, asking God to gift us with whatever grace we each may need for our hidden self, built on love, to grow strong. This is the challenge Jesus was referring to in the Gospel – the importance of a strong heart, built on love;
- a love for myself,
- a love of others, and
- a love of
In recent weeks we have seen many examples of a “strong heart built on love” reflected in the words of those who have lost homes and loved ones in the recent fires. We have also witnessed it in the courageous actions of our fire fighters and volunteers. So let us walk forward together, this year, confident of God’s love deep in our hearts with Angela Merici, the pilgrim, walking with us, to “build our futures” day by day, step by step growing as wisdom women with strong hearts built on love.”
We would like to thank all our students for their reverence throughout the Mass and contributing so beautifully to our singing and all the responses. We would also like to thank our readers, our amazing Vocal Group, Maintenance and IT teams, and Canteen staff for preparing and serving refreshments to our guests.
Loretta Wholley Principal