Steward/Member Representatives

Sr Margaret Endicott is a Sister of Mercy and a member of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea.  Originally, Sr Margaret began her ministry as a Primary school teacher and Principal and then a Parish Worker. Over the last thirty years Sr Margaret has been particularly involved with Religious Congregations and not-for-profit organisations as a Facilitator, trainer and member on committees and boards. In 2006, Sr Margaret began her involvement with the development of Ministerial Public Jurdic Person (MPJP), as the facilitator and Project Worker of the Queensland Mercy Leaders and the establishment of Mercy Partners.  Sr Margaret was also a member of the Formation Committee of Mercy Partners and assisted in the development and delivery of the Formation Program for its first five years, along with the establishment of the Mercy Alliance of MPJPs. Sr Margaret's work continues with MPJPs - the New Zealand Sisters of Mercy, Institute of the Sisters of Mercy Australia and Papua New Guinea, Newfoundland Sisters of Mercy and the Loreto Sisters in the establishment of their Ministerial PJP.

Sr Catherine White grew up in Brisbane and taught for a couple of years before entering the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (MFIC).  After her profession, Sr Catherine was missioned to Papua New Guinea, first to Lumi High School in the mountains of the West Sepik and to St Ignatius High school on the coast in Aitape.  Sr Catherine returned to Australia when the Melanesian Sisters became a separate Province. At the request of the Bishops for Sisters to do adult  theological formation post Vatican II Sr Catherine completed a degree in Theology at Brisbane College of Theology, followed by specialisation in Liturgy at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. On her return she worked in the Toowoomba Diocese for a number of years as Director of Liturgy. After time on congregational leadership, Sr Catherine served in Thailand with Franciscans International and in a MFIC secondary school in Egypt.  Sr Catherine is currently the Australian Leader of the MFIC Sisters.

Micheal O’Sullivan is currently the Manager of the School Improvement Unit for Brisbane Catholic Education.  In this role Micheal provides advice and leadership to drive School Improvement across BCE Schools. Micheal has worked for many years in the forefront of education, teaching in a variety of schools and serving for a number of years as Principal. Micheal has a long association with the Sisters of Mercy, having been educated by the Sisters of Mercy.  However, it was not until he began working as a teacher alongside various Sisters of Mercy, that he was inspired by the way in which the Sisters went about their ministry. Micheal has developed a lifelong interest in, and deep appreciation of, the life of Catherine McAuley and the early days at Baggot St.  He is drawn to Catherine’s correspondence and the legacy of her Charism. Micheal has participated in the Mercy Partners Formation Program and is currently a coordinator of the Mercy Mission Formation Network. Micheal has qualifications in Mercy Spirituality, Theology, Music, Auslan, Education, Leadership and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sr Margaret Jones is a Sister of Mercy of the Parramatta Congregation. She has qualifications in Education, Speech and Drama and Spirituality. Margaret began her ministry in Primary Education and Administration. She was then invited to become a Formator for her Congregation and, for several years, journeyed with newer members. Her ministry in Formation led to further training in Spirituality and Leadership. For the last thirty-five years Margaret has been involved in all aspects of the programmes at Marymount Mercy Centre Castle Hill NSW. Marymount offered six-month and three-month Spirituality Programs, Programs for the training of Formation Personnel and Programs for women and men preparing for Perpetual Profession in their Congregations. Participants came from Australia and across the world. Margaret has enjoyed her years of ministry in Education and Spirituality and has felt privileged to share the journey with so many people. Margaret has been a member of four Leadership Teams for her Congregation and is currently the Congregation Leader.

Sr Loreto Conroy was recently elected to the Leadership Team for the Sisters of Mercy North Sydney after completing nine years as Congregation Leader.  For the past six years, Sr Loreto Conroy has been a Trustee for Catholic Healthcare. She has been the Chairperson of the Mercy Foundation; a Board member of Mercy Foundation, a Director of Mercy Family Centre Limited and a member of the Immigration Advisory Group for the Federal Minister for Immigration. Sr Loreto has previously held the position of National Manager of Migrants and Refugees for the National Council of Churches.  Sr Loreto’s background is in primary education as well as social work with the UNHCR working in refugee camps in Thailand. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science (specialising in aged care), Diploma of Teaching and a Diploma of Migrant Teaching. 

Sr Karon Donnellon is a Sister of Mercy and a member of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea.  She was elected Institute Leader in September 2023.  Since joining the former Ballarat East Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy and then the Institute, Sr Karon’s ministries have included secondary teaching, Diocesan Youth Director, Juvenile Justice Chaplain, Director of Mission for Catholic Social Services Victoria, Institute leadership and facilitation.   Over the last few years, Sr Karon has been working with a number of religious congregations in Australia, and coordinated and facilitated a Mercy Leadership Program and Dublin Pilgrimage for Board members and senior executives of Mercy ministries.  She has served on a variety of boards and is currently on the Board of Catholic Social Services Australia.    Sr Karon’s formal qualifications include a Master of Arts – Leadership and Organisational Analysis from the Alanus University; Graduate Diploma of Arts (Criminology) from the University of Melbourne; a Bachelor of Education from the University of Melbourne; and a Bachelor of Theology from what is now the University of Divinity.   

Paul Cahill joined the Carmelites in 1968 and was ordained a priest in 1974.  Since then, he has served at different times in parish ministries in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne.  He was Provincial from 1989-1995 and from 2016-2022.  Currently he is Parish Priest of Port Melbourne-Middle Park. Predominantly, he has ministered in education at the Order’s only secondary school, Whitefriars College in Melbourne, serving as Principal from 1997-2012. Paul was closely involved in the transition to lay leadership of the College, the civil incorporation of Whitefriars College with Lay Directors and more recently in the transition of the ownership and governance of the College to Mercy Partners. Paul is an enthusiast for a synodal Church and encouraging all the baptised to exercise their vocational rights and responsibilities as ministers of the Gospel.  He believes this is very much in harmony with the Carmelite Charism which emphasizes Contemplation, Community and Service. Paul is very happy to serve as a Mercy Partners Steward Representative as the Carmelite representative and to enter into the learning this involves.

Sr Peta Goldburg is the Congregation Leader of the Sisters of Mercy Brisbane Congregation.  Sr Peta began her Ministry as Music Specialist and teacher of Religious Education.  She taught at All Hallows’ School before becoming Assistant Principal Religious Education at St Mary’s College Ipswich prior to joining the Faculty of Education at Australian Catholic University (ACU). Peta is the foundation Chair and Professor of Religious Education at ACU and has held various positions including Head of School Religious Education, Associate Dean Catholic Identity and Partnerships, and Director of Postgraduate Studies in the Faculty of Education as well as being the elected staff representative on Faculty Board, Academic Board, and ACU Senate.  Peta has published widely in the area of Religious Education and Catholic Identity including ten textbooks for secondary school Religious Education as well as academic articles.  She has played a significant role in curriculum development for Religious Education nationally as well as chairing syllabus writing committees for the Qld Curriculum & Assessment Authority for Study of Religion and Religion Ethics and has been an advisor for Board of Senior Secondary Studies ACT Religion Syllabus. She is regularly invited to present to teachers in Catholic Schools across Australia. Sr Peta’s qualifications include: Doctor of Philosophy (Uni of Newcastle); Master of Arts Studies in Theology (Uni of Qld); Master of Religious Education (ACU); Graduate Diploma Religious Education (McAuley College); Bachelor of Arts, Music Education (Qld Conservatorium of Music); Associate in Speech & Drama (ASDA); Licentiate in Speech & Drama (LSDA); and Associate Trintiy College Lond (ATCL – Piano). Peta is a member of the Archdiocese of Brisbane Catholic Education Council and has served on a variety of councils including Marist Schools Regional Council, and the Qld Catholic Education Commission Formation and Religious Committee. She was elected to the Leadership Team of the Brisbane Congregation in 2018 and then elected Congregation Leader 2023-2027.

Dale has worked in Catholic education internationally and nationally over the past 40 years. She has held numerous positions including Deputy Principal (7 years)  and Principal (15 years) at St Rita’s College Clayfield.  She was appointed as the first lay Principal of St Rita's College in 2009. She has a deep commitment to, and understanding of, the importance of charism in the faith journey of young people. Dale was Principal when St Rita's joined Mercy Partners in 2009 and continues to work with the Presentation Sisters as Chair of Presentation Sisters Queensland Limited.  Dale concluded her Principalship at the end of 2023 and now serves on several Boards within the educational sector.

As a young primary school teacher, Mary joined the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion in 1966. After her profession, Mary’s ministry as a primary school teacher continued. In 1970 she was appointed to the Sion Motor Mission Team and for the next five years, served in two inner Melbourne parishes with a high majority of immigrants. Forming catechists to assist in teaching religion to some 2000 primary and secondary Catholic students attending State Government Schools, led to her lifelong passions of religious education and formation of children and adults, formation for lay leadership and participation in parish life, and promoting justice for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. In subsequent years Mary worked as a Pastoral Associate and in Catholic Education. As a Pastoral Associate, her ministries included catechetics, adult faith formation and family support in parishes. For nine years she taught and held a number of positions of responsibility at Our Lady of Sion College in Box Hill and served on the College Board. Mary’s internal ministry began in 2003 when she was elected to the Province Leadership Team. She served as Provincial from mid-2004 to 2012, and as Regional Leader from 2017 to 2023. Over this period, she was active in several committees and discernment groups and was a member of the Board of Our Lady of Sion College. In more recent years she has played a key role in discussions about the future governance of Our Lady of Sion College, and the discernment process culminating with the decision to join Mercy Partners. Mary now looks forward to a mutually enriching engagement with Mercy Partners as a Steward representing Our Lady of Sion.