On Monday 17 September 2012 more than thirty managers and staff from across three of the Mercy Community Services Ministries – Mercy Family Services, Mercy Aged Care Services and Mercy Disability Services welcomed Sister Áine Barrins, Sister Margaret King, member of the Brisbane Congregation Leadership team and Elizabeth Orupold, Executive Officer Sisters of Mercy Brisbane, to the Queens Road Nudgee campus. On a simply spectacular Brisbane spring day the team from the Cookery Nook (www.cookerynook.com.au) cooked and served a mouth-watering traditional Aussie BBQ, before all those present were engaged by Sr Áine as she shared some of her reflections on the life and letters of Catherine McAuley.

The Mercy Community Services’ team is well connected with the history and heritage of the Sisters of Mercy, however, they were inspired by Sr Áine’s skilful ability to call on Catherine McAuley’s own words and the words of those who knew her intimately, to demonstrate how she embraced the challenges of walking alongside and empowering the poor and disadvantaged. Many in the group reflected how interesting it was to note the similarities between the challenges that were embraced by the founding members of the Sisters of Mercy, and those faced by staff working across Mercy Community Services Ministries today.

Whilst the community services we provide are important, the quality of the service can be assured if we work in line with the charism of Catherine McAuley, the charism that is Mercy.