1. Releasing The Potential Mary Reynolds rsm Executive Director Mercy International Association August 2015 Making Mercy A Verb In Our Schools

3. Curriculum Pastoral Care Communication Management & Administration Policies Stewardship of Resources (Personnel, Property & Financial) Staff Development Evaluation & Reviews Links with other Hospitals/Organisation Extra Curricular Activities Visitors /Parents Visioning for the present & future Establishing policies to translate philosophy/ ethos into action TTraining and Support for Management & Staff Change Management Leadership Tasks Welcome & Hospitality Atmosphere of building Symbols, Icons, Emblems, Decor, Displays Relationships, Collaboration, Partnership Developing, Monitoring & Evaluating Religious Formation Excellence Compassion Service Evangelising mission of Catholic Church Human Dignity Respect Justice Charism of Mercy Congregation Wholistic Care Special Concern for the poor Integrity Courage Heritage and tradition of school Identity Hospitality Catholic Faith Tradition

4. Articulating the Mercy Philosophy Of Education Mercy education reflects a Christian and Catholic identity -takes its inspiration from the ministry of Christ - participates in the mission of the Church within the surrounding culture Mercy education is person centered - focussed on the dignity and destiny of the individual as a child of God - and as a member of the community of humanity and earth. Mercy education promotes an explicit system of values. - commitment to justice -pursuit of truth - cultivation of beauty, - respectful relationships. (Compassion, Justice, Respect, Hospitality, Service and Courage) Defines knowledge in a broad sense. -Knowledge and understanding are more than the accumulation of facts and figures.

5. Creating a Mercy Culture/Ethos in the school

6. Characteristics of a positive Mercy school culture A mission focussed on student and teacher learning and geared towards the total development of the person School leadership that values continuity and improvement A rich sense of history and purpose Core values of collegiality A special orientation towards the poor Positive beliefs and assumptions about the potential of students and staff to learn and grow Rituals and ceremonies that re-enforce core values A physical environment that symbolises joy and pride A widely shared sense of respect and caring for everyone

7. Translating Philosophy & Ethos into Action

8. Questionnaire  What education principles guide the daily life of the school  What religious/moral principles guide the daily life of the school?  Can you say 3 things of which your school is most proud and say what values are implied in them?  What values are implied in the way rooms and spaces are utilised?  Why do you think parents send their sons/daughters to this school?  What symbols and signs do you see in the school that represents important school values?  What rituals and ceremonies take place in the school that represent important school values?  What traditional practices in the school represent important school values?  From the history and stories you have heard about the school, what values were important in the past that are not present now?  What attitudes/norms of behaviour exist in the school that make it difficult for you to fulfil your professional role? (Toxic values)

9.  What attitudes/norms behaviours exist in the school that make it easy for you to perform your professional role? (Positive Values)  What are the main beliefs that guide the following areas in your school? School Management; School Organisation; Curriculum Content; Internal Communications system/relationship with parents/etc?  What are the main beliefs that guide the teaching approach in your school?  What are the main beliefs that guide the following areas in your school? Pastoral Care System; Discipline  Could you name 3 things that the school values most in students?  Could you name 3 things the school values most in teachers?  What beliefs, assumptions underpin the following sets of relationships?  Teachers and Teachers; Teachers and Students; Students and Students; Teachers and Parents?  What are the main beliefs that guide the links with the wider community in your school?  What value do the State examinations add to your school? Questionnaire

10. Linking Mercy School Culture & Ethos to School Planning & Evaluation

11. “ ‘How demanding the marvellous career of a teacher is, how it forces you to give a lot of yourself, also how difficult and sometimes unrewarding it has become.’ “ Palmer Parker. Author of The Courage to Teach ‘What keeps teachers going has largely to do with their inner lives.’ Nicolas Sarkozy to French Educators (2007) Sonia Nieto, Researcher ‘We teach who we are. As we teach, we project the conditions of our spirits onto our students and how we are together. Knowing our students and our subjects depends heavily on self knowledge. So to teach well, to be well, we must explore our own inner landscape.’

12. Exploring our Inner Landscape Intellectual, emotional, spiritual By intellectual is meant the way teachers think about teaching- the form and content of how people know and learn, of the nature of the students and the subjects taught By emotional is meant the way the teachers and students feel as they teach and learn By spiritual is meant the way one answers the hearts longings to be connected with the largeness of life – a longing that animates love and work, especially the work of teaching.

13. Developing programmess, strategies, resources and formation experiences to ensure that the Mercy charism is alive, evident and inspiring the lives, work and decisions of Mercy leaders and staff i. Becoming reflective practitioners in the Mercy tradition

14. Programmes which explores the life and mission of Catherine McAuley, local founding stories and fostering and developing Mercy in the workplace Mercy Leadership Programme & Pilgrimage to Mercy International Centre Core Values Resource - Recently prepared in conjunction with Sr. Veronica Lawson Series of questions prepared by experienced Faith and RE leaders in Mercy colleges

15. Mercy Education in the context of the Mercy World ‘Whatever and wherever our ministry is, we are part of one Mercy mission, part of the ongoing mission of the compassionate Jesus.’ While each local school has its own particular culture and traditions, something of which Catherine McAuley was acutely aware and which she affirmed, our collective embrace of Mercy values enables us to contribute to building a better world on a scale which Catherine may never have imagined. Annette Schneider rsm

16. Mercy World

17. Membership of Mercy Global Family

18. Goals of MIA Formation in the Charism of Mercy To stimulate and inspire Sisters of Mercy, their associates and colleagues in ministry, to continue the work of Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy in ways which are creative and appropriate to the needs of the world for the time being.

19. “The intensive immersion in the life and vision of Catherine McAuley, I will not soon forget.” - Michael “We learn who we are indeed, we continue to create who we are by the stories we tell. On this pilgrimage, we had the opportunity to explore the founding stories and to reflect on how we are called to play our part in leading our work places to become authentic expressions of Mercy in the contemporary world.” - Anila “The program has gifted me with renewed vision in my role as a teacher.” – Michelle “The experience of the programme gave me such a humbling perspective on the true values of Mercy Ethos – compassion, respect and a new sense of social justice for local and global issues.” - Tony

20. “My recent trip to Dublin and immersion into the story of Catherine McAuley has provided me with an understanding of my role as an educator in the Mercy tradition in ways I could never have imagined. My insight from the experience was that we can build a bridge between the world of Catherine and challenges that face us now.” - Sharon “It is impossible to have experienced the Dublin journey and not feel changed and indeed challenged to make a difference. My challenges will be two fold – to see Catherine’s story woven into our school curriculum at each year level and to empower the students and staff to lead a life of Mercy, making a real difference in the local, wider and global community.” - Jo “Of the many memories I will take from the Mercy Ethos programme is the comment ‘Be vigilant lest you lose that treasure’ – it was in reference to the gift of the Mercy charism that we have been given and the sense of stewardship we have as Mercy people today.” - Michael “I believe we have been inspired to return to our ministries with renewed vigour and determination to seek opportunities to spread the word and encourage others to walk in the footsteps of these early women of mercy. We have indeed been challenged with a great responsibility to continue their work.” - John

21. Goals of MIA Formation in the Charism of Mercy Young Mercy Leaders’ Pilgrimage

22. Goals of MIA Outreach to the Poor Addressing Root Causes of Poverty United Nations Opposing Trafficking Sustainable Development

23. Year of Mercy Will this be the year, when exercising the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, we will make mercy a verb in regard to displaced people, disconnected families, migrants and trafficked people? “The Spiritual and Corporal works of Mercy are the business of our lives.” Catherine McAuley

24. “Leaving an inhabitable planet to future generations is, first and foremost, up to us. The issue is one which dramatically affects us, for it has to do with the ultimate meaning of our earthly sojourn.” “We may well be leaving to coming generations debris, desolation and filth. The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet’s capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes, such as those which even now periodically occur in different areas of the world. The effects of the present imbalance can only be reduced by our decisive action, here and now”. Encyclical on Environment

25. Goals of MIA Communications

26. We are united by a spirit and a story Born in a house in Dublin, Now spread to the outer reaches of the earth And the inner recesses of the heart. As friends in mercy, United in that spirit and story, we commit ourselves to Preserving the best of the past, Fostering the best of the present, And fostering the best of the future. We pray in the name of Jesus, With the help of Our Lady of Mercy, And inspired by the life of Catherine McAuley. Amen Prayer for Mercy

27. Reflection Questions Is there anything really distinctive about a Mercy school? If so, how are these qualities identified and developed Do schools face any challenges in establishing and activating a Mercy philosophy of education in schools today?