Mercy Action 2005 – Italy and Ireland

from Anne Youssef Year 11, Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta

There aren’t many ways to describe the experience of the Italy/Ireland Mercy trip, besides saying it was simply brilliant. The opportunities it presented all of us on the trip were definitely some that we’ll remember fondly forever.
There were 16 girls and 3 teachers fro OLMC on the trip and from the very beginning the positive energy flowing through all of us, set the scene for the trip.
Our first stop was Rome where we visited many churches, basilicas, tourist sites and good restaurants with our guide, Mariella, who revealed to us the fascinating history and lifestyle of the Romans. We were fortunate to have an audience with  Pope John Paul II which was an experience in itself. When we arrived in the hall, instead of the quiet reverent audience we were expecting, there were people chanting, Mexican waves flowing through the audience and to our great pleasure, an Italian soccer team also attending. Needless to say that being in the same room as the Pope was a brilliant experience. The very next day after having climbed the 320 steps to the top of St Peter’s Basilica Dome, we were yet again in the presence of the Pope giving us the Epiphany blessing, but this time we were out in St Peters square and so was the majority of Rome, or so it seemed.

There’s no way of comparing Ireland to Italy as they are completely different in every way possible. For starters, where Italy was concentrated in Rome, our trip through Ireland was much more spread out and allowed us to see the beautiful country on our long trips to places such as Glendalough (where the monastery of St Kevin is), Avoca (the town which the old TV series, Ballykissangel was shot) and beautiful County Kilkenny where we spent 3 days discovering the ancient town and visiting the Waterford crystal factory, Blarney castle and St Brigid’s College. We also visited our sister school, Mercy College and Coolock House, the house where Catharine McAuley cared for Mr and Mrs Callaghan, whose legacy to her enabled her to start the House of Mercy in Dublin.

Possibly one of the most surprising experiences while we were in Dublin was our visit to the Mercy International Centre. Although most us weren’t expecting it to be that exciting, it gave us all a really good insight into the works of Catherine McAuley. The nuns have preserved the building beautifully and they gave us a great tour. The effort of the nuns to try and maintain unity between all the Mercy sisters and their works throughout the world is quite admirable and definitely made you proud to be a Mercy girl. Our final night in Ireland came too fast but is one of the most memorable as it was the only night it snowed and it was beautiful.

The Trip overall was brilliant as I said before and I would recommend to anyone that they take the offer next time it comes as it was well worth it and will be a trip I will never forget.

Kitty Guerin   kguerin@olmc.nsw.edu.au