Our Faith and Mission program provides opportunities for students to realise and explore issues of social justice in our local and global communities. Students are encouraged to be aware of the needs in our community and for our environment, working together to create a just world in the true spirit of Mercy.

Catherine McAuley College is built on the Mercy Charism inspired by Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy and is actively engaged in the community of the Sandhurst Diocese. Like Catherine, the teachings of Jesus and the Gospels inspire us in our words and actions and support the Mercy Values of service, courage, compassion, hospitality, respect and justice.

The Gospel values and teachings are fundamental in the integrated programs of Veritas and Virtues, which support students in developing a greater understanding of issues and the connection to all areas of the curriculum. Outreach, community service and awareness of the needs of others is an integral part of the program undertaken across all year levels.

Students are supported in developing a meaningful, contemporary connection to their faith through social justice activities, prayer, liturgies, community service and Mercy in action. Inspired by Catherine McAuley’s courage and determination to educate, empower and serve the poor, students are offered opportunities to engage in activities to support both local and global projects, including the Winter Sleep Out, Seeds of Justice conference, leadership days, Bendigo Foodshare, Mercy Works and the Caritas Challenge.

Walking together in hope is the College theme for 2022, which reminds us that as a hope-filled community, we will journey together to live out the Gospel values; those same values that once inspired Catherine McAuley continue to inspire and motivate us today. We walk with our families in the education of their children and seek new community partnerships to help us live out our mission.  Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ underpins our reGEN program, which encourages students to care for our environment, reduce our carbon footprint, minimise waste, save energy and water, promote biodiversity and reduce our impact on climate change. Many challenges and activities to support the reGEN project will be implemented by the student leaders.

“All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.”

(Laudato Si’, Paragraph 14)