Students from St Catherine’s College were amongst those in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on 14 June 2011 celebrating a Eucharist of Thanksgiving for 150 years of Mercy presence in the Wellington and Palmerston North dioceses. Hundreds of people packed the church in a mood of joyous celebration. They were marking the Sisters’ many years of dedicated service especially in the education and nursing fields. St Catherine’s, started by the Sisters in 1950, is still owned by the Mercies with Sisters regularly being at the college although they are no longer on the teaching staff. Mercy values in the college are very strong with the students being proud to be known as Mercy women.
Catherine McAuley, who began the congregation in 1831 in Dublin, espoused the educational values of competence and compassion and these are lived out daily in the school by students and staff alike.
Sr Stephanie Kitching with St Catherine's College students at the Thanksgiving service
