Dear Merici Community,
Dare to Dream
To ‘dare’ is to call on courage, strength, imagination and strategy. To ‘dare’ is to be willing to take on the unknown, to embrace change and to shape things for the better. To ‘dare’ is to be futures focused, positive, agile and active. To ‘dare to dream’ is to do all of the above as well as to open oneself to awe and wonder.
Jesus dared to dream and hope. He envisaged a wondrous future defined by love and unity.
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:22-23
Pope Francis in Let Us Dream responds to the crises our world is facing by calling all to be daring:
“This is a moment to dream big, to rethink our priorities—what we value, what we want, what we seek—and to commit to act in our daily life on what we have dreamed of. What I hear at this moment is similar to what Isaiah hears God saying through him: Come, let us talk this over. Let us dare to dream.”
Saint Angela saw that the heartbeat of a daring Jesus is to be found at our core, in those we meet, in every decision we make, in the day-to-day and in all that God has created. She wrote “Do something, get moving, risk new things, stick with it, get on your knees then be ready for great surprises.”
We all are indeed blessed that in 2021, a year of new beginnings and immense challenges, that we have the freedom to act and shape our lives, to dream knowing that we are loved unconditionally by God and so are open and ready for “great surprises”.
I was enveloped by a great warmth of welcome as I joined Merici College as Principal this year. I feel immensely privileged and proud to be leading such a wonderful community. It is one defined by our school motto, ‘Fidelitas’ where all are encouraged to act as Pope Francis has demonstrated, with a heightened awareness of the impact our actions have on ourselves, others and creation. Our College seeks to be a “bright candle” that makes a positive difference in our local and global world.
I have joined a joy-filled and dynamic learning community, intent on building upon the heritage founded by all that have come before us. This heritage works to liberate, empower and motivate young women to use their gifts with confidence, creativity, generosity and in the loving service of others. I am proud to a member of a learning community that responds to changing circumstances, and a wicked virus, with courage, agility, positivity, resilience and skill.
Full letter here
Anna Masters
Principal
