Our Lady of Dolours – Patroness of Our School and Parish
‘Our Lady’ is Jesus’ Mother, and ‘Dolours’ means sorrow. We believe that Mary is a pillar of strength and gentleness. When we reflect on the difficult times that Mary suffered as Jesus’ mother, we recognise her unwavering faith, grace and strength. Mary reminds us as Christians, we are called to bring the joy, the hope and light of Christ that we all have within us.
Our Lady of Dolours Primary School & Parish Catholic Heritage:
Our Lady of Dolours Primary School and Parish Chatswood were established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1895, after being given a portion of land in a cemetery grant of approximately 3 ½ acres. The Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy was founded by an Irish nun named Catherine McAuley. Catherine was a deeply spiritual woman with a highly developed sense of social justice, fuelled by the desperate poverty she saw around her.
In today’s society, the Sisters of Mercy remain steadfast in their mission to serve those who suffer from poverty, sickness and lack of education with a special concern for women and children. Click here to learn more about the history and mission of the Sisters of Mercy.
Mercy Tradition at Our Lady of Dolours Primary School
Guided by our Mercy Tradition, every student is invited to learn about our Mercy Values. These Mercy values help our students to grow as disciples of Jesus both locally and globally in our community. Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 are provided multiple opportunities to share their understanding of our Mercy Values with the school community.
Every grade learns in detail about one Mercy value. These values are:
- Kindergarten: Love
- Year 1: Forgiveness
- Year 2: Respect
- Year 3: Compassion
- Year 4: Excellence
- Year 5: Hospitality
- Year 6: Integrity and Inclusion