Our Lady of Dolours
Our Lady of Dolours if the patroness of our school and parish. ‘Our Lady’ is Jesus’ mother Mary, and ‘Dolours” means sorrow. OurLady of Dolours can also be referred to as ‘Our Lady of Sorrows’ which is in relation to the Seven Sorrows in Mary’s Life. the Seven Sorrows of Mary are a popular religious theme and a Catholic devotion. Our Lady of Dolours is also a key aspect of Marian spirituality and art in the Catholic Church.
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.
We celebrate Our Lady of Dolours feast day on 15 September.
Sisters of Mercy
Our Lady of Dolours Chastwood Primary School and Parish were established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1895. The Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy was founded by an Irish nun named Catherine McAuley.
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.
The links below will take you to more information about the history ad mission of the Sisters of Mercy.
Sisters of Mercy – North Sydney
Sisters of Marcy – International
Catherine McAuley
Catherine McAuley was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1778. In 1824 she used her inheritance from an Irish couple she had served for twenty years to build a large House of Mercy where she and other lay women would shelter homeless women, reach out to the sick and dying and educate poor girls.
The House on Baggot Street opened in 1827. To give these efforts greater stability, Catherine and her co-workers founded a new religious congregation. On 12 December 1831, she and two others professed their vows as the first Sisters of Mercy. Before her death on 11 November 1841, Catherine funded convents and works of mercy throughout Ireland and England.
Catherine was a deeply spiritual woman with a highly developed sense of social justice, fueled by the poverty she saw around her.
The below link provides further information about Catherine McAuley.
OUR MERCY VALUES
Our school charism i immersed in the Mercy tradition of having been founded by the Sisters of Mercy who were active in the school from 1895 to 1989. Guided by our Mercy tradition, every student is invited to earn 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 within the school community. Every grade learns in detail about one Mercy Value and puts what they have learnt into actions through grade initiatives and events.
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