MISSION STATEMENT FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION

The Sisters of Mercy identify their particular vocation in the Church as sharing in the mission of mercy of Jesus Christ, who came to reveal to all people the steadfast merciful love of the Father for them. ‘Our gift as Sisters of Mercy is to know God's loving kindness and to share it with others'. (Constitutions 1.03)

In particular, we are called to make known this merciful love of the Father through an apostolic service of those in need, in imitation of Jesus Christ, who ‘came not to be served but to serve.' (Matt 20:28)

This service is carried out through our commitment to those values expressed in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and through our corporate witness to them in the ministries of education, health care, social welfare, and other activities directed toward the development of faith and the alleviation of need.

Each Mercy secondary school strives to reflect in its structures, curriculum and practices, and in the quality of the relationships within it, the particular spirit of mercy which Jesus lived and taught.

VISION STATEMENT

Core Values
We aspire to live by the core values of spirituality, compassion, justice, excellence, hospitality, community and service.

• Spirituality  ‘A spiritual person .. is able to judge the value of everything.'  1 Corinthians 2:15
  As a place of hope and love, we nurture in the individual and the community a sense of being connected to God.
  
• Compassion  ‘...do to others whatever you would have them do to you...'  Matthew 7:12
  As a place of hope and love, we compassionately seek to empathise with and respond to others in a spirit of mercy.
  
• Justice  ‘Judge not and you will not be judged, do not condemn and you will not be condemned, forgive and you will be forgiven...'  Luke 6:37
  As a place of hope and love, we promote justice, opportunity and equity through the awareness of the rights and responsibilities of all.
  
• Excellence  ‘And some seed fell into good soil and growing tall and strong, produced crop; and yielded thirty, sixty, even a hundredfold'  Matthew 1:8
  As a place of hope and love, we encourage and celebrate the development of excellence within the College community.
  
• Hospitality  ‘I was a stranger and you made me welcome'  Matthew 25:36
  As a place of hope and love, hospitality is experienced within a welcoming and friendly environment.
  
• Community  ‘The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul...and they were all given great respect... None of their members was ever in want'  Acts 4:32-34
  As a place of hope and love community means belonging, respect, support and commitment as partnerships develop.
  
• Service  ‘I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.'  Matthew 25:35
  As a place of hope and love service means seeking and providing a Mercy mission within and beyond the St Joseph's College community.

COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES 

The College supports and promotes the principles and practices of Australian democracy, including a commitment to:

• elected Government;
• the rule of law;
• equal rights for all before the law;
• freedom of religion;
• freedom of speech and association;
• the values of openness and tolerance.

Picture: Foundress, Catherine McAuley