Opening the Door at Sacred Heart College Geelong, Victoria

On Tuesday, 8 December, whist Rome slept in anticipation of Pope Francis’ opening of the holy door at St Peter’s Basilica, the staff of Sacred Heart College Geelong, together with the our local Sisters of Mercy, gathered at the original entrance to the College, opposite the Grotto.

These doors of Mercy have been opened in Geelong since Mother Xavier Maguire and her companions came to the region in 1859 to establish the convent of Mercy and the school which become Sacred Heart College. It is these doors that appear on the keepsake given to all staff (and that will be given to all students in 2016) along with the stained glass window at the convent entrance which depicts St. Francis Xavier whose feast day coincided with the day that the Sisters of Mercy arrived in Geelong on the 3 December 1859. These doors, along with the doors at College Reception, painted red to match those of the Mercy International Centreat Bagott Street,  were blessed during the ceremony by Rev Allan Ansell reciting the words of Pope Francis, “it is time for the Church to take up the joyful call to mercy once more”.

Sacred Heart Convent Doors	Sacred Heart College Geelong _Reception Doors

After passing through the doors to make their way to the College Chapel, the congregation placed photographs of people from within our own community who are in need of mercy or who show mercy on our Mercy Wall. In the Chapel the Gospel of Matthew 25: 31-40 was read and prayers of intercession focused on justice, dignity and unity.

The celebration concluded with a reflection on Mercy given by Mercy Theologian Elizabeth Dowling rsm and the presentation of an image of the Bronze Statue of Catherine McAuley to Principal, Anna Negro, a gift from the Sisters of Mercy to the College.

Messages to: Anna Negro - Principal Sacred Heart College Geelong