School Community Gathers For Mercy Day

The school community gathered together for Mercy Day on Friday, 6th September 2024.

Mercy Day is one of the most important events celebrated at Catherine McAuley Westmead.

It is the day the school commemorates our foundress, Catherine McAuley and celebrates the foundation of the school as one based on Mercy values - social justice, hospitality, courage, integrity and excellence.

The day began with the Mercy Day Mass as the whole school, joined by special guests and parents and carers, gathered together to celebrate.

Thank you to The Very Reverend Robert Reidling, St Patrick’s Cathedral Dean and Administrator and Episcopal Vicar for Education, The Very Reverend Peter Williams, St Patrick’s Cathedral Vicar General who celebrated Mass with us.

The Very Reverend Peter Williams, St Patrick’s Cathedral Vicar General and The Very Reverend Robert Reidling, St Patrick’s Cathedral Dean and Administrator and Episcopal Vicar for Education who celebrated Mass with us.

The school also welcomed Sr Barbara McDonough, Parramatta Sister of Mercy and Past Principal; representatives from Catholic Schools Diocese of Parramatta; principals and leadership team members from Parramatta Marist High School, Mother Teresa and Sacred Heart Primary Schools; local politicians and representatives from our Parents and Carers Group.

A special part of the Mercy Day Mass is the blessing and commissioning of the 2024-2025 Student Leaders. The newly elected leaders made their act of commitment in front of all those gathered and received their badges of office. Ms Refalo, School Principal, congratulated the leaders in her Principal's Welcome and Reflection.

“You have been elected by your peers and teachers because, like Catherine and the school leaders before you, you are women of hospitality, justice, integrity, excellence, courage and mercy, and you are these things because you follow the path set for us by Jesus. We know that you cannot do this alone, and we know that the rest of the school community is behind you leading with you in the way that Catherine modelled to us,” Ms Refalo said. “I thank you for the year of service to your school community on which you are about to embark. I look forward to working with you as, together, we make our school an even greater place to be.”

Following the Mass students and staff changed into their costumes for the day, this year to the theme set by the Student Representative Council of ‘Rhyme Without Reason’. Students and staff as always were very imaginative with their outfits and the afternoon was spent together as a community enjoying each other's company and raising money for Mercy Works and the Timor Leste Chicken and Egg Program.

Thank you to the Parents & Carers Group members who assisted with lunch.

A special thank you to the members of the Parents & Carers Group who generously gave up their time to assist with serving lunch.