Prayer & Liturgies
Prayer
Prayer is an important part of daily life at Mount Lilydale Mercy College. Through the student Daily Bulletin, homeroom groups are given the opportunity to pray together as a class during morning homeroom, reflect on issues that may be happening and add their own personal prayers. In addition, a prayer of thanks is said each day before lunchtime reminding the College community of how fortunate we are to live in a prosperous country while praying for those who are less fortunate than us. The College Chapel is also open for students to visit should they need a space for prayer and reflection.
Mass & Liturgy
As a school community returning from the summer break, Mount Lilydale Mercy College celebrates the beginning of the new school year with a full school mass and a community mass. The theme of the Eucharist is linked with the theme adopted by student leaders each year. As part of this, new year 7 students are welcomed to the College community and the year 12 students are acknowledged as the new student leaders of the College. We come together again as a school community at the beginning of Term Two to celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Christ through an Easter Liturgy. The liturgy focuses on the Passover meal celebrated by Jesus and his disciples, the Last Supper and the ways that the College theme reflects the relationships of Jesus with his disciples. As part of the Easter Liturgy, the College Choir, Music students and the Year 11 and 12 Drama and Theatre Studies students perform a dramatisation of the challenges of Jesus’ life and words.
Retreats
Each year level of Barak Campus undertake retreat events. The students own experience of being in relationships is canvassed, specifically their relationships with friends, family, God and self. These relationships form the basis of the theme that is focused on for the duration of the overnight retreat experience. This is achieved through individual reflection, a video presentation, group activities, prayer and journal writing. The themes each level focus on are:
Year 10 - ‘Past, present, future’.
Year 11 - 'Relationships'
Year 12 - 'College Theme'
Youth Ministry Trainee
For the past six years, Mount Lilydale Mercy College has offered a year 12 student from the previous year to return to the College as a Youth Ministry Trainee. The position offers, for that person, the chance to continue to be involved in the College for the year after graduating and the opportunity to return to the College as a staff member, to develop skills and experience. The role of the Youth Ministry Trainee includes the promotion of social justice at the College, the development and promotion of Indigenous education and youth spirituality works within the school. They are involved in initiatives like Project Compassion, Reconciliation Week, Mercy Day, the St Vincent de Paul College Conference, Christian Outreach, Jigalong trip, the organising of retreats and College liturgies.
