A Christmas Blessing
May the light of Christ shine brightly in your heart this Christmas.
May His peace fill your home,
His joy uplift your spirit,
And His love guide your days.
As we celebrate the birth of our Saviour,
May you be reminded of the hope He brings to the world,
The grace He offers each day,
And the promise of eternal life.
May the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—
Watch over you and your loved ones,
And may this season be filled with faith, warmth, and wonder.
Amen
Welcome
As Spring draws to a close, we reflect on the meaningful work carried out by Mercy Partners over the past three months. Our journey during this time has continued to be guided by our core values—compassion, justice, respect, and hope. These principles have shaped our decisions, inspired our actions, and strengthened our resolve to serve with purpose and integrity.
As the year draws to a close, we are pleased to share the final outcomes for the year. These initiatives reflect the dedication and effort of all involved, helping to shape a strong and hopeful outlook for Mercy Partners.
Newsletter Highlights
In this edition of our newsletter, you will find a collection of updates, insights, and stories that highlight this important work and our ongoing commitment to mission. These include:
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- An acknowledgement of the upcoming 180th anniversary of the Sisters of Mercy’s arrival in Australia.
- Following a thorough review of the annual Nudgee Trust grant round application and assessment process, we are pleased to share the outcomes of this review. In this edition, you’ll find updates on the changes made and what ministries can expect from the grant process in 2026.
- We’re pleased to launch our 2026 Annual Ministry Planning Guide – developed specifically for our ministries, this Guide offers essential information designed to support strong, collaborative working relationships and effective planning for the year ahead.
- Over the past three months, we’ve seen our Governance in Action through a series of impactful events and initiatives. We have focused on supporting our ministries by deepening their understanding of both the canonical and civil responsibilities of Mercy Partners and their respective Boards. Alongside this, we’ve continued to provide formation opportunities for our ministries that strengthen leadership and reinforce our shared commitment to mission and values.
- We continue with our Mission in Action feature where we shine a light on the extraordinary efforts of our ministries who empower their mission and uplift the communities they serve.
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Additionally, we would like to share some recent personnel updates relating to Mercy Partners and our Ministries’ Boards.
Mercy Partners is pleased to announce the re-appointment of Board Directors Cath Bartolo and Lee Anne Perry for a further three-year term.
We deeply value the wealth of experience and insight Cath and Lee Anne bring to the Board, as well as the strong leadership they continue to provide through their roles as Chairs of the Formation Expert Working Group Committee (Cath) and the Education Collaboration Committee (Lee Anne).
Appointment of Director of Formation
As part of our commitment to the successful implementation of the new Formation model, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Kate Garrone as our new Director of Formation.
Kate brings over 30 years of experience spanning psychology, education, and formation. Her proven leadership in strategic formation, governance, collaborative initiatives, and the nurturing of Catholic identity makes her an exceptional addition to Mercy Partners. We look forward to the insight and expertise she will bring to this important role.
Kate will commence with Mercy Partners on 23 January 2026.
Ministry Board Updates
As the sole member of its ministries, the Mercy Partners Board has thoughtfully discerned and approved the following appointments and tenure extensions over the past three months.
New Appointments
- Ms Carol Dowd – Board Director, All Hallows’ School
- Ms Pheobe Wowor – Board Director, All Hallows’ School
- Dr Katie Williams – Board Director, Mater Misericordiae
- Dr Esme Strydom – Board Director, Mercy Community
- Mr Stephen Mee – Board Chair, Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College
- Mr David Rubic – Board Director, Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta
- Ms Stephanie Naunton – Deputy Chair, St Patrick’s College Townsville
- Ms Raelene Eves – Board Director, St Patrick’s College Townsville
- Mrs Louise Burke – Acting Board Chair, St Rita’s College
- Mr Peter Selwood – Acting Deputy Chair, St Rita’s College
- Mr Paul Desmond – Board Director, Whitefriars College
- Ms Catherine Jackson – Board Director, Whitefriars College
Tenure Extensions
- Mr John Gilmour – Board Chair, Holy Cross Services
- Ms Jane Britt – Board Director, Holy Cross Services
- Mr Adrian Shea – Board Director, Holy Cross Services
- Ms Helen Bentham – Board Director, Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta
- Ms Margaret McKenna – Board Chair, Whitefriars College
- Mr Norman Elliot – Board Director, Whitefriars College
- Mr Neil Crossan – Board Director, Whitefriars College
- Mr Simon Davies – Board Director, Whitefriars College
Mercy Partners extends its heartfelt thanks to the following ministry Board Directors who have recently concluded their service on a ministry Board. We are deeply grateful for their generous contribution, leadership, and commitment to the mission throughout their time on the Boards.
- Mr Brian Bissaker – Board Chair, Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College
- Ms Rita Khodeir – Board Director, Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta
- Ms Leonie Keaney – Board Director, Whitefriars College
- Ms Gaynor Robson-Garth – Board Director, Whitefriars College
- Mr Nickolas Soraghan – Board Director, Whitefriars College
- Mr James Thomson – Board Director, Whitefriars College
Mercy Partners extends its sincere gratitude to Lucy Laakso, Company Secretary at the Mater, for her dedicated service over the past two years and wishes her every success with her exciting journey ahead.
