Whitefriars College Board Formation
Whitefriars College Board Formation
1 June 2025, Melbourne
On 1 June, Mercy Partners Board Director, Cath Bartolo and Formation Consultant, Christine Clarke, travelled to Melbourne to facilitate a formation session with the Whitefriars College Board and Senior Leadership team.
The session, “Synodality in the Mercy Partners journey of Mission and Catholic Identity” focussed on explaining Synodality and the connection it has with Mission and Catholic Identity.
Feedback from the session was very positive. It included:
- Valuing the listening that occurred through the synodal process.
- Recognising the linkages between Mercy Partners mission and the Carmelite charism.
Cath and Christine were keen to deepen their understanding of the Carmelite Charism while strengthening their connections with the College Board and Senior Leadership team.
AMPJP Wisdom Circle
19 June 2025. Online
Mercy Partners Board Directors, Cheryl Caughley and Lee Anne Perry recently participated in the Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (AMPJP) online Wisdom Circle where they had the opportunity to share experiences and hear how others are addressing common issues and opportunities.
The session included hearing guest speaker, ACU Associate Professor Jamie Calder SJ, speak about his insights into Ministerial Public Juridic Persons as a Small Christian Community within the wider Catholic Church.
Mercy Alliance Online Formation Seminar
26 June 2025, Online
The Mercy Alliance is a network of the four Public Juridic Persons (PJPs) — Mercy Ministry Companions, Mercy Care, Whānau Mercy Ministries, and Mercy Partners — in Australia and New Zealand.
The Mercy Alliance facilitates two formation sessions each year.
On 26 June 2025, the formation session focused on Discernment and Decision-Making in Governance and Leadership: Openness to the Spirit in the Midst of Our Busyness. The session was presented by Pip McIlroy from Checking for Understanding consultancy.
A number of directors and leaders from the Mercy Partners Board and our Ministries participated in the session. Several key insights emerged, including the understanding that cultivating a disposition of discernment requires us to:
- Foster an open mind
- Let go of the desire to control
- Acknowledge our own assumptions and biases
- Avoid undue haste
- Befriend insight and wisdom
- Become aware of intuitions
- Integrate Catholic tradition and heritage
(Adapted from the work of Dr Bernadette Miles PhD, on the topic of Discernment and Decision-Making in 2020).
Brisbane Catholic Professionals Luncheon
27 June 2025, Brisbane
Members of the Mercy Partners Board recently participated in the Brisbane Archdiocese’s Brisbane Catholic Professionals Luncheon.
The guest speakers were the Brisbane Broncos Chair, Karl Morris AO, CEO, Dave Donaghy, and Coach, Michael Maguire, who spoke about values-driven leadership, teamwork, and community impact through the lens of one of Queensland’s most iconic sporting organisations.
Beyond engaging with the guest speakers, the lunch also served as a valuable chance to connect with colleagues from the broader Brisbane Catholic community.
Our Lady of Sion College Catch Up
11 June 2025, Melbourne
On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the Mercy Partner Board hosted a welcome luncheon, bringing together representatives from the Our Lady of Sion College Board, the Senior Leadership Team, and the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion to acknowledge the transition of the College from the Sisters. The luncheon served as a valuable occasion to cultivate relationships and promote collaboration.
The luncheon provided a warm welcome to the College representatives and set the stage for building meaningful, enduring professional connections.
