Rare devotion available at Mercy CBD centre

25 Sep 2013

By The Record

Pope Francis offers flowers to a statue of Our Lady of Lujan during his weekly audience in St Peter’s Square on May 8. Photo: stefano rellandini, reuters, cns

For many Western Australians, their first encounter with the image of Our Lady of Lujan was in reports of a special Mass held in Rio during World Youth Day.

At the end of the Mass for Argentinian pilgrims, Pope Francis blessed a statue of Our Lady of Lujan, the Argentinian patroness, and entrusted the 30,000 youth gathered in and outside the Cathedral into Our Lady’s care.

This statue is very rare in Australia but Western Australian Catholics can visit one at the Mercy Heritage Centre in the CBD.

In October, the Music Room at the Heritage Centre has a special display honouring the music ministry at Coolgardie Convent.

Our Lady of Lujan was housed at Coolgardie after it was given to Mother Antonia McKay, the leader of the small group of Sisters of Mercy living in Coolgardie.

The Sisters had left Argentina during the persecutions in Argentina in the 1870’s, coming to WA via Adelaide and always prayed for their beloved Argentina.

Our Lady of Lujan had a prominent place in the celebrations at the Coolgardie convent, school and Parish for many decades. You will find the Mercy Heritage Centre the middle of the Perth CBD, opposite the Cathedral.

It was designed and built by Fenian artisans. With bricks made of the clay from what was to become Queens Gardens and with magnificent hand-carved woodwork, the elegant 1871 Convent of Mercy is tribute to the skill of those early craftsmen.

Visitors to the Mercy Heritage Centre have the unique opportunity to see inside this stately building that was home to hundreds of Sisters of Mercy over its long history and now introduces every caller to many facets of the lives and work of these indomitable women.

Many people do not realise that Perth was the first Australian arrival point for the Sisters of Mercy who have started schools, hospitals and social services all around Australia.

From the arrival of Mother Ursula Frayne and six companions in 1846, the Sisters have pioneered many initiatives.

The first high school in WA was started on this site in 1848 and it was from here that Mother Ursula and two companions left, in 1857, to establish the order in the Eastern states.

Visitors to the Centre have been enthralled by the many items that recall this rich and diverse history and which highlight the many links the Sisters have with the wider history of Perth and Western Australia.

You will be able see the beautiful music room in which many famous WA musicians received early training and the striking stained glass windows of the 1871 chapel, donated to the Sisters by Governor Weld.

You can see rooms and items that were part of the daily lives of the courageous women, many of whom came from distant countries like Ireland and Argentina. Joining local women who had entered the Convent, they all dedicated themselves to the service of the families of WA.

Visitors have described this as an experience they will never forget and one that has been incredibly enlightening.

The Mercy Heritage Centre is open to ‘walk in’ visitors every Tuesday. Group bookings for other times can be made by ringing (08) 9325 4155.