2nd – 4th August: NEAA Conference
Hobart, Tasmania
Mercy Partners Director of Formation Dr Caroline Thompson and Formation Manager Libby Blom attended the NEAA Conference in Hobart in early August. Caroline presented a workshop on charism and use of the Mercy Partners charism resource Keep the Lantern Burning. It was a great opportunity to catch up with Presentation leaders from across Australia and to strengthen networks.
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11th August: Well-Lit Pilgrimage, Pre-Event Dinner
Online
On Friday 10 August Mercy Partners Formation held a pre-pilgrimage online meeting to meet and greet the 16 pilgrims who are attending the 2023 Well-Lit Path pilgrimage (Tuesday 19 September to Saturday 30 September).
Mercy Partners Formation team Dr Caroline Thompson and Libby Blom will lead the pilgrimage which focuses on all three foundational charisms – Mercy, Presentation and Franciscan. Our pilgrimage follows the paths of St Francis in Assisi, Nano Nagle in Cork and Catherine McAuley in Dublin.
The ministries represented at the 2023 Well-Lit Path pilgrimage are: All Hallows’ School, Mater Misericordiae, Mercy Community Services, Mount Alvernia College, St Patrick’s College Townsville, St Ursula’s College, plus leaders from the Sisters of Mercy Parramatta, a Sister of Mercy Brisbane and Brisbane Catholic Education. For more details see the image below.
After waiting four years to host our second pilgrimage Mercy Partners Formation pilgrimages will be held in 2024 and then a biennial offering will be established to ensure all leaders within Mercy Partners can participate.
The proposed dates would look something like this over the next few years:
- September/October (Autumn) 2024
- April (Easter/Spring) or September/October (Autumn) 2026
17th August – 18th August: AMSSA Conference and Mater Pilgrimage
All Hallows School and Mater, South Brisbane
The Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association (AMSSA) Staff Conference was held at All Hallows’ School from 17th to 19th August. Representatives from Mercy Schools across Australia and New Zealand joined the All Hallows’ staff to reflect on the conference theme Mercy in Liminal Times. Mercy Partners Director of Formation Caroline Thompson led two sessions on nurturing, preserving and reimagining Mercy charism in schools and Formation Manager Libby Blom organised a pilgrimage walk to the Mater Hospital.
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21st August: AMPJP Conference
Melbourne
The Association of Ministerial PJPs (AMPJP) Conference was held in Melbourne on 20th and 21st August. Mercy Partners Board members Kieran McCarthy and Catherine Parker, along with Director of Formation Caroline Thompson attended the Conference. This was a great opportunity to meet with representatives of all of the PJPs and to share ideas and approaches to challenges in the sector. Caroline Thompson represents Mercy Partners on the AMPJP Mission Committee.
26th August: Formation for St Ursulas Board Meeting
Yeppoon
The St Ursula’s College Board held its annual strategy and planning day on Saturday 26th August. Caroline Thompson led the opening session on Presentation Leadership and gave participants an update on Mercy Partners. This was a great opportunity to meet with directors, the College leadership team and to check out the progress on the new building works being undertaken by the College.
Want to find our more about Mercy Partners Formation?
Mercy Partners Formation offers a range of programs, events, resources and support for leaders in Mercy Partners ministries to foster and incorporate the founding congregations culture, values, charism and Catholic identity.
