Catherine McAuley Westmead eNewsletter

News From The Principal

Our big focus at school over the next week is Mercy Day, which takes place next Friday. As usual, we will begin the day with Mass in the Morley Centre at 9.30am, followed by a shared lunch, games and a dance party in Dobson Green to close the day.

Mercy Day is the celebration of our school’s Mercy foundation, and as such it is a day of joyful participation in the formal and informal activities outlined above. However, it is also a day of reflection for all of us at Catherine McAuley. The date coincides with Venerable Catherine McAuley’s birthday, and through this we are reminded of the impact she made to improve the quality of people’s lives in the early 1800s. As a young woman she worked diligently to ensure the very poor had dignity and courage. She did this by teaching women skills they could use to earn their own incomes, and she created an education system for the poorest children in Dublin so that they could grow into adults who could contribute to society, and therefore break the poverty cycle. Catherine’s work was inspired by her love of God and of human dignity; she was also inspiring, and we continue to be inspired by her.

Today and tomorrow at school students in Years 7 - 10 will be the audience of a play, ‘A Bright Light in the Darkness’, that explores Catherine’s life. This experience makes Catherine’s life more tangible for students in 2025, and helps to make important connections to our mission of integrity, justice, hospitality, excellence and courage.

The play ‘A Bright Light in the Darkness’.

This term our social justice focus has been on supporting Mercy Works, an organisation run by Sisters of Mercy congregations. Our awareness and fund raising will assist the development of a laundry in remote Northern Territory, in a place called Gumbalanya, situated 300 km east of Darwin. It is a response to housing challenges where utilities such as hot water, and reliable washing facilities are limited. There is also an added benefit of providing employment for local aboriginals to run the laundry, and the opportunity to provide health education to eradicate scabies and rheumatic heart disease.

A project such as this allows people to live dignified lives. Once this laundry is established, those who need the service can access it freely and in their own time. The ability to independently clean our clothes and those of our families, and the access to good health as a result of this, is something we can easily take for granted, but it is a thing that gives us great dignity. In addition, funds raised will go towards the Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation’s Mums and Bubs Group and the programs being run there to improve connections within the community for young Aboriginal mothers and their families.

We are very proud to be supporting Mercy Works again this term.

During Mass in the morning we will also be commissioning our 2025 - 2026 School Leaders. It is right that we do this on Mercy Day, a day for commemorating service and for being inspired by the leadership of venerable Catherine McAuley. The parents of the Student Leadership Team will join us at Mass, but all parents are invited to join us at 9.15am in the Morley Centre for a 9.30am start, followed by morning tea in the Fr David Scott Resource Centre.

Mary Refalo
Principal

Pray With Us

Prayer for the Strength and Compassion Inspired by Venerable Catherine McAuley

Need To Know

Upcoming Fortnight

Term 3 Week 7

Arts Factor Dance Eisteddfod
NSWCCC Rugby League Cup
PDSSSC Athletics Carnival
Bishop of Parramatta Award for Student Excellence
Mercy Day - Friday 5th September

Term 3 Week 8

Year 12 CAFS Enrichment Afternoon
Academy U Year 10 Sustainable Futures Hackathon Event
Year 10 Geography Fieldwork Excursion
Year 10 Vietnam Veterans History Incursion

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HSC CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS SPOTLIGHT 🎭 🎨 🎶 Last Wednesday, 20th August, the Year 12 Creative & Performing Arts Showcase was an incredible celebration of talent! From stunning Visual Arts masterpieces to captivating Drama performances and moving Music, the Year 12 students truly shone.

Congratulations to all the CAPA students for their creativity, passion and hard work!