Trustee Directors visit Mercy Place Montrose
In early February, the Mercy Ministry Companions (MMC) Trustee Directors held their first in-person meeting for the year at Mercy Place Montrose, Residential Aged Care Facility, at the foot of the Dandenongs.
The group enjoyed a tour of the modern facility and its beautiful natural surrounds, followed by a strategic update from Angela Nolan, Group CEO at Mercy Health Australia, and Virginia Bourke, Chair of Mercy Health.
Thank you to our generous hosts for the day Tania Bugat National Manager Mercy Aged Care, Susan Cochrane Service Manager, and Loryn Pearson Acting Household Operation Manager.
MMC attends Mercy Community Services AGM
In early December, Mercy Ministry Companions (MMC) Trustee Directors attended the inaugural Mercy Community Services (MCSAL) AGM held at MacKillop Family Services in South Melbourne.
Attendees enjoyed a presentation by Dr Robyn Miller, CEO of MacKillop Family Services, and an address by MMC Chair Margaret Bounader.
Margaret accepted the MCSAL Financial report for the year ending 30 June 2022 and noted the AGMs and annual reports for MCSAL Ministries. She thanked these Ministries for the challenging work they do for those most in need in our communities, as well as MCSAL Chair Matthew Clancy, the Company Secretaries both past and present and the Directors for their continued sterling efforts in such a challenging environment.
MCSAL Ministries support:
- Women and children experiencing or leaving family violence (McAuley)
- People with a disability, and their families (Mercy Connect)
- Older people; people with a disability; people with substance abuse (Mercy Services)
- Children and young people at risk, in care or with a disability, and their families (MacKillop).
In particular, Margaret recognised the efforts of all involved in building strong relationships with our new PJP and acknowledged the previous Boards of McAuley Community Services for Women, Mercy Connect and Mercy Services, and the current Board of MacKillop Family Services for their hard work in creating and supporting the vibrant Ministries we see today.
MMC tour MacKillop Family Services Heritage and Information Service
Mercy Ministry Companions (MMC) Trustee Directors toured MacKillop’s Heritage and Information Display, which sits on the site of the former St Vincent de Paul’s Boys’ Orphanage in South Melbourne, one of Australia’s oldest remaining orphanage buildings.
Opened in 2013, the Display features an extensive collection of artefacts and photographs gathered over 150 years, from the eight homes once run by our three founding congregations – the Sisters of Mercy, the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of St Joseph. It offers a small glimpse into the lives of the more than 100,000 children who, between 1854 and 1997, spent all or part of their childhood living in care.
The display is part of our Heritage and Information Service, which provides a search and support service for people seeking information about Catholic homes and orphanages, as well as preserving historical records for orphanages and children’s homes dating from 1857.
Learn more about MacKillop’s Heritage Display.
MMC celebrate with MacKillop end of year dinner
After a busy day attending the MacKillop AGM and touring the Heritage and Information Service, a number of the Trustee Directors enjoyed a dinner at MacKillop Family Services, a thank you for all who contributed to Mercy Community Services (MCSAL) throughout the year.
It was a great opportunity for the Trustee Directors to converse with the CEOs and Directors of the MCSAL Ministries and MacKillop Family Services, and to meet all those who had contributed to another successful year.
MMC Mission Coordinators’ Network
The Mercy Ministry Companions (MMC) Mission Coordinators’ Network has been established to provide support for people undertaking ‘mission formation’ roles full time, or as part of other roles, within MMC’s various ministries.
The group held its first planning session at the MMC offices in Brunswick in November 2022. At this meeting, it was identified that a current gap in resources was information about MMC, which could be included in existing Induction or Orientation programs and Welcome Days offered across our Community Service, Education, and Health and Aged Care Ministries. Further work on this material, which we are calling a ‘Welcome Pack’, will take place at the next meeting of the Network on 27 February.