As we reach the halfway point of Term 1, it is wonderful to see our community demonstrate the unity that comes from our shared goal of developing AHSisters as young women of faith, compassion, learning and leadership with our extensive programs and activities always grounded in the example of Catherine McAuley’s life and faith and our Mercy values and ethos.
From students collaborating on classroom and cocurricular activities to our dedicated staff and our many parent and caregiver volunteers, the spirit of unity lies at the heart of our All Hallows’ Mercy community.
In Radical Spirit: 12 Ways to Live a Free and Authentic Life, Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister reminds us of the responsibility and opportunity that comes from working in a loving community towards a common goal:
“We have much to learn from each person we encounter. And in turn, every person we meet requires something from us: a sense of worth, a genuine respect, a sincere admiration, and recognition of their unique contribution to the world.”
United by our 2024 school theme, Listen with Curiosity, Speak with Courage, Act with Integrity, may we continue to support each other while respecting our differences and focusing on our commonalities.
School Board Retreat
Last Saturday, our dedicated and experienced School Board spent the day at our annual School Board Retreat, where they were joined by our Leadership Team to reflect, set goals, and establish priorities for the future.
Our community is blessed to benefit from the expertise of our diverse Board who are focused on the continuous improvement and development of our school for both current and future AHSisters. Through their governance oversight, they skillfully balance the needs of our community today and in the future — ensuring the continuation of our Mercy mission and ethos, together with oversight of strategic planning and risk management across all aspects of our school’s operations.
One of the many projects the Board has been considering since early last year is our new Facilities Master Plan, which will be launched in Term 2. Included in the plan is the next facilities project, the redevelopment of St Gertrude’s open space. This project will see St Gertrude’s redeveloped into an additional active play space and shaded seating, complementing the current Years 5 and 6 playground, and providing facilities for physical activity that are so important for our students’ health, wellbeing and development.
I look forward to sharing more details about our new Facilities Master Plan and St Gertrude’s redevelopment in the coming months.
Whole School Project
Each year, as part of our Mercy Action program, our whole school community joins together to support the annual Whole School Project, which is designed to raise awareness and address a specific social justice issue. In 2024, the project "Pathways of Possibility" will address the issue of employment readiness for people seeking asylum.
Pathways of Possibility will provide financial support to the Romero Centre’s project that provides work-readiness training to people seeking asylum, such as English language skills, access to tutoring, and CV and interview preparation. We aim to raise funds to assist 17 individuals, facilitating their journey to become job-ready and continuing to financial security.
Inspired by Catherine McAuley’s life’s work and dedication to education, particularly for women, we are excited by the potential of our Pathways of Possibility project making a tangible and lasting difference in the lives of people seeking asylum.
Wishing you and your family every blessing for the week ahead.
Mrs. Catherine O’Kane (Principal).
Dean of Mission
We Are on Our Lenten Journey
This Lent, we are invited to counter a globalisation of indifference.
Pope Francis describes Lent as a “season of grace, a time of conversion”.
By conversion, he means a conversion of the heart to change our focus from self to other. It is a time for action, the Pope said, but also a time “to pause” – to pause in prayer and to pause “in the presence of a wounded brother or sister.” At this time, we pause to think about those people across the world enduring the terror of war and conflict, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Ash Wednesday last week saw the All Hallows' community pause for prayer as well as engage in purposeful action where we had the 'other' as our focus. In our House Groups, staff and students gathered for a time of prayer and reflection at the Ash Wednesday liturgy. In beautiful rituals around the campus, we were reminded that our actions make an impact on those we encounter and that we should pause to ask for God's grace at this time of preparation for Easter.
The All Hallows' tradition of hosting a Rice Day fundraiser continued on Wednesday as a practical way of showing solidarity with those whose access to food is limited. On this day, the only thing available to the community in the Café and Tuckshop was plain rice and water. While we missed the sausage rolls and salads, there was amazing support for this fundraiser, which raised money for the Whole School Project, "Pathways of Possibility".
Thank you to everyone who participated in this traditional marking of Ash Wednesday. We raised over $700, which will aid the Romero Centre in funding their employment training programs for refugees and asylum seekers.
We are indeed providing what Pope Francis calls in his Lenten address, "a flash of new hope" to those new to our shores.
Project Compassion Launch
Amelia Tutt (6.2) and Josie Walker (6.3)
On Tuesday, five students from Year 6 attended the Project Compassion Launch along with students from many other schools across Brisbane and as far as Nambour and Burleigh Waters. We were also lucky enough to see a few friends from our old schools and friends who will be coming to AHS next year.
The launch was at St Stephen's Cathedral. Once we arrived, we admired the beautiful stone cathedral. It was a very interesting liturgy that made us all think about what we could do to make the world a better place. The focus of the liturgy was about being compassionate whenever you can and not expecting anything in return. Archbishop Coleridge encouraged us to make this our project.
After the liturgy, we all lined up for pancake races. The pancake races were a relay-style race and we were having so much fun, especially Eliza, who was the best at it. We also met the Archbishop. He was so lovely and kind. We received a scroll to represent the Lenten season and Project Compassion.
We believe that this Lent, we should all think about others and do what we can to show compassion wherever we can.
Anniversary of National Apology
Last Tuesday All Hallows' was honoured to host an inter-school event to mark the 16th anniversary of the National Apology. Over 120 staff and students from a variety of Catholic Schools around Brisbane, came together to spend time with Elders and to hear of the significance of the Rudd Apology to the Stolen Generations made in 2008.
On arrival, students were invited to write the name of their Country on the St Ann's driveway wall to symbolise the coming together of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from all over the nation. After a touching Acknowledgement of Country and smoking ceremony delivered by Marlon Riley and Uncle Eric Alice, we participated in a liturgy that involved the offering of water from every school in attendance. This water was later blessed by Uncle David Miller, who proceeded to offer blessings to all in attendance.
The highlight of the gathering was hearing from Aunty Cheryl Buchanan. Cheryl Buchanan is a proud Guwamu woman from southwest Queensland. She is a renowned publisher, playwright, author, speaker, director, teacher, lecturer and traditional dancer. Cheryl is a mother of 7 children and grandmother of 26. Spanning more than five decades, Cheryl has played an integral role in driving social change for her people—both at the state and national levels. To this day, she remains a vocal political activist and passionate advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Aunty Cheryl shared publicly for the first time, the heartbreaking story of the loss of her first child in 1972, who was stolen from her at birth and sent to live with a family in England. This shocking story is unfortunately all too common for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families around the nation, and it is vital that we never forget the impact of policies leading to the Stolen Generations.
The gathering concluded with the boys in attendance learning a dance and the girls working on the creation of jewellery using traditional Aboriginal designs.
We are very grateful to Aunty Cheryl for sharing her story and for the amazing organisation of the program for the day by members of our Reconciliation Committee, including Uncle David Miller, Ravina Waldren, Belinda Miller and Stacey Hannam. Days like this mean we will never forget the stories of the past.
Twilight Retreat Program
Our Twilight Retreat Program continued last Tuesday with a gathering of Year 9 students from All Hallows' and Villanova College. Facilitated again by Br Damien Price and ably supported by about forty Year 11 and 12 students from both schools, the retreat focused on the importance of respect in relationships of all kinds.
The wisdom sharing came from four Year 13 students (2023 graduates) from both schools who reminded the Year 9 students they should trust their instincts and have the courage to stand up for themselves in the face of pressure. Issues of peer pressure, safe partying and being an upstander were canvassed in a dialogical approach.
Despite the serious nature of the conversations, there was time for socialising during the dinner break, where we introduced the visitors to our famous terrace dance party!
Thank you to Br Damien, our Year 13 students Una O'Brien and Gianna Lamari and all who participated in the Twilight retreat program.
Galentine's Day
Fundraising for our 2024 WHole School Project began in the lead-up to Galentine's Day.
Students were able to purchase chocolates and a compliment for their friends and teachers, which were delivered to Home Groups on Tuesday morning. The demand was huge, and we actually ran out of hearts on which special messages were written.
The Galentine's Day celebration occurred on Tuesday, 13 February, with the delivery of the chocolates and compliments, the wearing of red and pink and a rocking dance party on the terrace at lunchtime.
In all, over $1800 was raised for our project, "Pathways of Possibility".
What a great way to start our fundraising efforts for the year!
Eucharistic Minister Training
The formation of our staff and students was further developed last Thursday with a refresher course on how to be a Eucharistic Minister in Mass. Our Head of Mercy Charism, Ms Prisk, ran a lunchtime session where she reminded us of the Catholic doctrine of trans-substantiation, which holds that during consecration, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ.
The processes of receiving and distributing the Eucharist, as well as giving blessings, were the key focus areas of the mini-professional development session. The students are excited to be able to prepare to be ministers for their upcoming House Masses.
Invitation to Mercy Action Commissioning Liturgy
This coming Wednesday, 21 February, we will gather in the Chapel to bless the work of the Mercy Action program.
All staff, students and parents involved in Mercy Action this year are invited to attend to receive a blessing and officially launch our service learning program.
The liturgy begins in the All Hallows' Chapel at 8am.
