Vale Sr Mary Duffy

Sister Mary Duffy rsm 12/5/1937 – 16/9/2024

On Monday 16 September, Sr Mary Duffy rsm passed away in Melbourne, aged 87 in the 67th year of her profession.

As Principal of St Mary’s College, and then the inaugural Principal of Catholic College Bendigo, Sr Mary has been a commanding presence in the history of this College. Her enthusiasm for education in Bendigo was legendary as from the early 1980s she drove the amalgamation: chairing committees, cajoling donors, increasing enrolments and bringing the people of Bendigo along with her vision for the future of Catholic education in Bendigo. It became known as one of her greatest achievements. By the time she moved on to other projects, she had accomplished so much and left the College in a robust position to continue growing and developing.

She admitted that the challenge was, at times, arduous: “To find the rhythm of alternately holding on and letting go, of listening and responding, of leading and being led.” When she left the College at the end of 1989, she was extremely proud of what had been achieved and confident of the school’s future direction, “The young people of Catholic College Bendigo are special – they bring a vitality, openness and generosity to our community which augurs well for the future of this city and our world.”

Sr Mary’s love of St Mary’s College was well known. Many anecdotes and stories have been told of how much she enjoyed her school days, which inspired her career as a teacher and also her vocation as a Sister of Mercy.

Mary Duffy attended St Mary’s College for both her primary and secondary education – Prep in 1942 through to Matric in 1954. Her younger sister Helen also attended St Mary’s and she too became a Sister of Mercy. Their brothers Terrence and Maurice both attended St Mary’s College as juniors before transferring to Marist Brothers’ College in McCrae Street.

During her education at St Mary’s College, Mary was taught at every year level and for every subject by Sisters of Mercy. She participated in extra-curricular activities and was particularly interested in drama and musicals, often representing the College in speech and poetry competitions. She was a leader in the Young Christian Students movement and was elected College Captain in her final years at school.

In 1955 Mary entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Mercy at Rosanna and was professed in that congregation in December 1957. In the following six years, she completed her studies in Arts and Education at the University of Melbourne and Mercy Teachers’ College, Ascot Vale. During these years she taught for one year at Our Lady of Mercy College Heidelberg and part-time for four years at St Aloysius College North Melbourne.

Her next appointment was as Principal of Holy Rosary Primary School Kensington and part-time lecturer at Mercy Teachers College. Following two further years full-time at Mercy Teachers’ College, Mary was appointed Formation Mistress for the newly professed members of the Sisters of Mercy.

She was asked to be the Principal of the recently-formed Sister Formation Program known as Assumption Institute, which offered programmes for younger women from all religious congregations. This opportunity was set up in response to the directives of Vatican II that younger religious should have the opportunity for additional study in Theology and Scripture before moving into their professional ministries.

In 1972 Mary returned to the classroom at Sacred Heart College Geelong and during the next eighteen years, she taught in Warrnambool, Wodonga and Bendigo. She was appointed Principal in Wodonga and for the following six years, undertook the project of relocating the school to a new building, now known as Catholic College Wodonga.

Sr Mary returned to Bendigo in 1981, initially as Principal of St Mary’s College, but within a short time she was asked to be the inaugural Principal and oversee the amalgamation of the two colleges conducted by the Sisters of Mercy and the Marist Brothers, which became Catholic College Bendigo. Her name became synonymous with this major undertaking and the curriculum overhaul and building program which followed.

In 1982, Mary celebrated 25 years as a Sister of Mercy with a celebratory Mass in the Mercy Chapel. Her brother Rev Father Maurice Duffy, Rector of Pius XII Seminary at Banyo in Brisbane, was the principal celebrant.

During her years in the Diocese of Sandhurst, Sr Mary was involved in several education boards and committees at both a local and wider level. She took a special interest in the Grants Allocation Committee which was responsible for the distribution of funds for the development of schools in Victoria. She also enjoyed working with other Religious men and women in offering retreat experiences for students and weekends for youth.

After ten years in Bendigo, Mary was asked to prepare to take up a new role in the Mercy Congregation in the area of Mission Integration. This programme aimed to assist staff and volunteers in Mercy ministries to deepen their understanding of the Mercy ethos which shapes the spirit and activities within these organisations. She travelled to Canada where she completed her Master of Theology degree at Regis College, Toronto, and participated in Ethos Internships in Mercy Institutions in the USA. On her return to Melbourne in 1992, Mary offered retreats and seminars on the Mercy Story to Sisters and staff throughout Australia for the next eight years.

The experience gained from the amalgamation in Bendigo made Mary a suitable nominee for other Mercy ministries considering a similar process. Among later appointments, she was asked to chair the Transition Committee, established by the Leaders of the Christian Brothers, Sisters of St Joseph and Sisters of Mercy, when they sought to amalgamate the Child and Family Services of their respective congregations. After several years of consultation and planning, MacKillop Family Services was established to carry on the traditions and services of these ministries.

Towards the end of 1999, Mary was elected to the Leadership Team of the Sisters of Mercy Melbourne Congregation, charged with shared responsibility for the welfare of the Sisters and the ongoing development of Mercy Ministries sponsored by this congregation. On completion of this appointment, there was a surge of interest at the Mercy International level with Sisters and lay colleagues in the Cause for Canonization of Catherine McAuley. Mary was appointed to the position of Vice Postulator for the Oceania region, a role that involved promoting Catherine’s story and spirituality through ongoing seminars and retreats. During this time, she worked throughout Australia and Papua New Guinea and also offered some programmes in Ireland.

In the early 2000s, Sr Mary was also Chair of the Board of Mercy Works, the ministry that supports long-term Development Projects, working with some of the most challenged people in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

Once in semi-retirement in Melbourne, Sr Mary still acted as a resource for those interested in the Mercy ethos, visiting the elderly and shopping for food and necessities for Asylum Seekers with whom she met each week. She had a special interest in the newer members of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea and enjoyed sharing with them at their gatherings.

Sr Mary remained in contact with many of her former colleagues and associates and always took a particular interest in the activities of her alma mater, now known as Catherine McAuley College Bendigo. In 2016 she took part in the celebrations acknowledging 140 years of Mercy Sisters in Bendigo. She gave the opening address at the Jubilee Mass and was delighted to find a picture of herself on the wall of the Heritage Room in the former convent at St Mary’s.

Sr Mary Duffy died on Monday 16  September 2024 in Melbourne aged 87, in the 67th year of her profession She was known as an amazing woman with a tremendous capacity for hard work and for remembering student and family names. She will be farewelled from St Brendan’s Catholic Church in Flemington.

“When the history of the early years of Catholic College Bendigo is written, the name of Sr Mary Duffy must figure most prominently. Only someone with the vision, the skills, the dedication and faith and zeal of Sr Mary Duffy could have accomplished so successfully, the task of amalgamating two great Colleges into the co-educational Catholic College Bendigo. It is impossible to find words to adequately describe Sister’s contribution. May we, the Governors’ Council, simply say, Congratulations, Sr Mary! Sincere thanks for all that you have done for Catholic College Bendigo. May God bless you.” Mons Bryan Long – November 1989

“Sr Mary has done a magnificent job in combining three schools into one dynamic and most successful co-educational school. It must be acknowledged that this was by no means an easy task, but through her faith, her experience, her administrative skill, her creativity and her genuine care for our young people, Sr Mary has moulded a school that is the envy of most. We are all grateful for Sr Mary’s outstanding and generous contribution to Catholic College Bendigo.” Mr Peter White, Junortoun Campus Coordinator 1989

Omnia pro te cor Jesu

Prepared by Barbara Lomas from the CMCB Archives and from Sister Mary Duffy’s own words (July 2016)