Gathering in gratitude for the many blessings achieved by the Religious Order in Western Australia, the Sisters’ of Mercy gathered in the month of September, to commemorate several achievements which included 175 years of ministry in Western Australia, Mercy Day and the 10th Anniversary of the Institute.
The 175 anniversary celebrations commenced with a mass celebrated by Perth Emeritus Archbishop Barry Hickey, on 19 September at the Santa Maria College chapel, followed by a shared meal and reflection of the “many fruitful years of prayer, service and community living.”
Special milestone jubilees of seven Sisters, added to the joyful ambience. Leader of the Sisters of Mercy in WA Sister Carmel Daley RSM celebrated her golden 50 year anniversary. Sr’s Clare Rafferty RSM, Kaye Bolwell RSM and Beverley Stott RSM celebrated their diamond 60th year jubilee, while Sr’s Laboure Hasson RSM, Ellen O’Neill RSM and Gemma Cassidy RSM celebrated their platinum anniversary – 70 years! All of the mentioned sisters have been involved in education in both country towns and Metropolitan areas. They also served in Administration in schools and Mercy Hospitals.
Leader of WA Sisters of Mercy Sr Carmel Daly (right) stands with a commemorative plaque in tribute of 175 years of WA presence of the Sisters of Mercy and Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB engaging with some of the sisters during one of the recent celebrations held in September. Photos: Michelle Tan and Max Hoh. 
Leader of WA Sisters of Mercy Sr Carmel Daly (right) stands with a commemorative plaque in tribute of 175 years of WA presence of the Sisters of Mercy and Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB engaging with some of the sisters during one of the recent celebrations held in September. Photos: Michelle Tan and Max Hoh.
Reflecting on the occasions, Sr Carmel spoke on the significance of Mercy Day, and the 10th anniversary of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy, reiterating the mission of the Sisters, inspired by the charism lived by their founder.
“On 24 September annually, we celebrate “Mercy Day” the feast of Mary, the Mother of Mercy – often called “Our Lady of Mercy” to commemorate the day in 1827, when the founder of the Sisters of Mercy – Catherine McAuley, opened her ‘House of Mercy’ in Dublin as a laywoman. Four years later, in 1831 the Institute of Sisters of Mercy began,” Sr Carmel said.
“This year 2021, we celebrate 10 years of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea – In 2011, after a long period of consultation, 15 smaller Mercy Congregations of Sisters across Australia and Papua New Guinea voted to re-configure to be more effective in carrying out the mission of Jesus through the works of mercy, locally and globally.
“As Sisters of Mercy, our mission remains to follow Jesus by responding to God’s call to know God’s loving kindness and share it with others. We seek to live by the model (or charism) given to us through our founder Catherine McAuley, as we undertake faith-filled courageous service,” Sr Carmel cited.
“Throughout these intervening years the most significant lesson I have personally learned, is that we never know what is “going on” behind the faces of the people we encounter; so I try to remember that every person carries the spark of the Spirit of God and choose to treat each one with dignity and respect.”
Sr Carmel concluded by saying that the Sisters’ feel “extremely graced by the many blessings of the last 175 years of ministry among the people of WA and in mission lands beyond.”
“This grace is being celebrated particularly by the present-day cohort of Mercedes College in Victoria Square, where Catholic Education Western Australia has been continually offered for all this time,” she stated.
“The sisters know that any achievements are only reached with the friendship and support of those who walked and worked with us along the way.
“The sisters are also conscious of the support and friendship of many local parish priests,” Sr Carmel added.
When asked about what her prayers are for the future of the Catholic Church in Australia, Sr Carmel simply responded, “I share the hopes of many Australian Catholics – that the Church, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will renew itself in the love and compassion of God, where the “cry of the poor and the cry of the earth” are heard and heeded and the Catholic Church’s own social teachings are taken seriously by all God’s people.”