Following on last years’ very successful get-together of some Mercy Schools in the Gauteng area at Mayfair Convent, it was decided that this year we would meet at St. Matthews, Soweto. Ascension Thursday is not a public holiday in South Africa but as a Religious School we have the option of taking it as a day off normal school. It is generally felt that the people working in our schools need to annually spend a day in formation together to retain and build on the spirit of Mercy in our schools.
Ascension Thursday dawned bright and clear and all members of the staff of St. Matthews, Mayfair Convent, McAuley House and Morekolodi Primary School from far off Mmakau joined together. We were very pleased that St. Theresa’s Craighall sent two staff representatives to join us. Getting together is not always easy for some people, so minibus taxis and school buses were used to bring everyone to St. Matthews.
Some of the Principals at the Mercy Schools Function
The day commenced with Mass which was said by Bishop Kevin Dowling. The Mass had been specially prepared by staff of McAuley House and the inspiration for the prayers of the faithful came from quotations from Catherine McAuley, to guide us as to what she would want for our school communities. Staff Representatives from all aspects of our school, were represented in the saying of these prayers. The glorious singing of the collective members of staff of so many Mercy Schools and the very meaningful words of the Mass was deeply moving.
After a much enjoyed tea and eats in the chilly Highveld sun, we gathered together again to be addressed by Bishop Dowling on the challenges we face in Mercy Schools. His address was extremely thought provoking and firstly challenged us to think more deeply on our need for prayer and reflection. He quoted Archbishop Romero when he said “ If it were not for the gift of prayer and reflection with which I try to stay united with God, I would be no more than what St. Paul says: clanging metal”. He then spoke of four aspects which would help us as we worked in a Mercy School;
1. Mercy as Awareness; The need to be centred on the God within us and centring prayer
2. Mercy as Empathy– He urged us to reverence the privilege of looking in the face of a child, to look more deeply and to uncover the pain in a child,whilst creating safe places for children to be in.
3. Mercy as Empowerment; to empower our students to develop critical thinking.
·To educate holistically and transform lives bit by bit by developing critical thinkers
·To encourage the development of the recognition of the dignity of human beings in our society where the concept of “real men” is warped and women are sometimes treated so badly.
4. Finally he focused on Mercy as Solidarity in Action. He spoke of Catholic social teaching which encouraged us to :
· Give people dignity by being people centred
· Give the preferential option for the poor
· Ensure that the common good must prevail
Break away groups were then challenged to think and discuss the practicality of implementing some of the things we had heard. The day ended with a lovely lunch which had been prepared by the learners of St. Matthews, School of Hospitality.
Our grateful thanks are extended to Bishop Dowling who travelled a long distance to be with us, Sister Francis and the staff and students of St. Matthews for hosting us so graciously and for preparing wonderful refreshments for us.
Sr. Francis Sheehy, Principal of St. Matthews School in Soweto and Amalia Filiantris, Principal of Mayfair Convent School
We trust that next year we will be able to gather with an even bigger group of people from all the Mercy Schools in our area of the country.
Eleanor Hough
Principal,
McAuley House,
Johannesburg
South African Province
