Mercy Day celebrated at St Joseph’s Parish

Mercy Day was celebrated in St Joseph’s Parish last Tuesday, honouring the enormous contribution of the Sisters of Mercy to the community over the past 145 years.

Mercy Day is celebrated in September on the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy, with its origins dating back to the formation of the Sisters of Mercy by Venerable Catherine McAuley when the first convent in Baggot Street Dublin was placed under the patronage of Our Lady of Mercy in September 1831.

The arrival of the Sisters of Mercy in Gunnedah in January 1879 was a blessing for the parish and the wider community. Within a year the sisters had built a convent opened two schools and welcomed boarders from around the region. In the following years, branch convents were opened all around the northwest to provide education to one and all.

The Sisters opened Gunnedah’s first secondary school, the town’s first business college, the first nursing home at the convent, and Gunnedah’s first hostel for aged care, McAuley.

The original purpose of the Sisters in coming to Gunnedah has changed enormously since those early days and today only Sr Regina McInerney remains with Sr Christina Belling and Sr Gabrielle Foley moving closer to their families earlier this year.

Sr Regina was honoured at the Mass con-celebrated by Fr Antony and Fr Abmar. Students from both Mercy schools attended the celebration, with flowers presented to Sr Regina.

Year 12 students received a special blessing as they prepare to take on their HSC exams. After Mass, the Mercy Associates gathered for morning tea with Sr Regina in St Joseph’s Hall.

Parishioner Abby Kidd made a presentation to Sr Regina on behalf of the Mercy Associates.