We celebrated our School Mass on Mercy Day 2025. Á wonderful occasion of hope and togetherness for our school community.
Principal’s Welcome – Ms Hynes
Welcome to the first school Mass of the year. Our theme today is Respect for All, Always—a call to live our faith by following the example of Jesus in how we treat one another. From the very first day of this academic year, may every member of our school community be met with warmth, dignity, and friendship.
We are blessed with students and staff who embody the ethos of our Mercy school—living with kindness, compassion, and a deep sense of purpose. As we stay steadfast in our focus to progress our new school building in the coming years, we will carry this flame of Mercy, now in the CEIST Tradition with us to illuminate a new space and allow our community to further flourish and grow for generations to come.
Today is Mercy Day, when we honour the legacy of Catherine McAuley, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831 to serve the poor, especially women and children. Her courage and compassion continue to inspire us to act justly and love tenderly in our own lives.
This year marks our 76th Anniversary as a Mercy School, founded in 1949. Many of your grandparents and parents attended this school, deeply rooted in the community. We give thanks for the vision of our founders, especially Mother Kevin and her sisters, who brought the light of education to North Clare. Their legacy is our foundation, and our future is built on their strength and sacrifice.
As we begin this new academic year, we pray for each student to discover their potential, for our teachers to nurture and guide with wisdom, and for every member of our school to feel supported and valued. To our students: if you try your best, that is all we ask. With focus, motivation, and belief in yourself, everything is possible.
Let us also turn our hearts to the wider world. On this Mercy Day, we pray for the people of Gaza, Ukraine, and all our fellow peoples suffering through conflict, famine and injustice. We call on world leaders to act with integrity, to uphold the dignity of every human life, and to choose peace over power. The powerful must be just—and so must we. In our everyday choices, in our small acts of fairness and kindness, we reflect the image and likeness of God. At our core, humanity is good. And it is this goodness that must guide us—for the sake of future generations.
We pray today for all those who are suffering, and for those responsible for their suffering—that they may be awakened to the light of empathy, humanity, and love.
Let us be kind in our interactions, hopeful in our feedback, and honest in our reflections. We are human, and none of us are perfect. But in striving to be better, we honour the divine spark within us.
So let us Pray for this Academic Year
Loving God, As we begin this new school year, we ask for Your blessing upon our students, teachers, staff, and families. May our school be a place of safety, joy, and growth—a home where each person feels seen, heard, and valued.
Grant our students the courage to strive for their best, To be curious in their learning, resilient in their challenges, and kind in their friendships. May they flourish in mind, body, and spirit, and discover the gifts You have placed within them.
Bless our teachers with wisdom and patience, that they may guide with compassion and inspire with love. May our classrooms be filled with laughter, respect, and the light of understanding.
Help us to build a community rooted in mercy and justice, where every voice matters, and every heart is nurtured. Let us walk together in faith, hope, and love— And may this year be one of deep learning, joyful connection, and lasting peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.