Take Five with Caroline Thompson

In our latest interview, where we invite you to get to know the staff of Mercy International Association, we feature Caroline Thompson, Head of Heritage and Spirituality.

Caroline sat down with MIA's Head of Communications, Brenda Drumm to respond to our Take Five Questions.

Brenda: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and where you are in the world?

Caroline: I am currently living in sunny Brisbane Australia. I have lived in Australia for over fifty years – my parents emigrated from Wales when I was in primary school. For most of my life I worked as a teacher and it has been a great privilege to work with young people, to hear their hopes and fears and to see them take their place in the world. I have learnt much from them and their enthusiasm, hope and sense of fun.

I am a mother of two, now very grown up, children and I have an array of delightful grand cats and grand puppies in my life (and very recently a grand sheep called Nadia). As you can probably tell I love animals.

I also love reading, writing, meeting friends for coffee, corny romance movies, volunteering and travel. I am very un-Australian in my aversion to sport, sunbaking and vegemite.

Brenda: Can you tell us a little bit more about your life and career to date?

Caroline: I spent over thirty years in schools as an English/History/Italian and Religious Education teacher. I have undertaken a variety of roles within the education system including Principal, Assistant Principal, Head of Mission and Leader of Pedagogy.

I left teaching ten years ago to work as Director of Formation for Mercy Partners and turned my attention to working with leaders, Board Chairs and directors and school, aged care and health care staff to investigate ways that the Catholic identity and mission of their ministries could and should be nurtured and clearly articulated. I really enjoyed this role which brought me into contact with a wide range of people using their gifts to care for and support others. I also had the privilege to explore with them the blessing and challenge of charism for their ministry and their role in honouring the founding charism of their place.

In the formation space I not only had the opportunity to conduct workshops, retreats, leadership forums, pilgrimages, strategic planning sessions and reflection days but also to serve on a variety of formation teams including the National Catholic Education Conference Faith Formation and RE Committee, the Good Samaritan Education Council, the Edmund Rice Community Services Mission Committee, the Mercy Mission Formation Network, the AMPJP Mission Committee and to chair of the Loreto Ministries Formation Committee.

Brenda: Can you share a little bit about the role you have taken on recently with MIA?

Caroline: I was appointed Head of Heritage and Spirituality for Mercy International and started work remotely at the beginning of November. I will move to Dublin next June when Catherine’s House reopens. The role involves facilitating, creating and managing the programs that are offered from the House of Mercy, welcoming pilgrims and groups from across the Mercy world, developing resources to nurture leadership in Mercy, and to ensure that the house continues to be a place of encounter, challenge, learning and transformation into the future.

One of the first programs to be offered after the House reopens will be the Young Mercy Leaders gathering in July 2026 when young people from around the world will have the opportunity to visit Catherine’s House, to explore leadership through the lens of mercy and to encounter Catherine McAuley in the house she opened for the poor of Dublin. I am really looking forward to welcoming this group of young leaders and accompanying them on this journey into the heart of mercy.

Brenda: What is happening for you in Mercy International Association at the moment?

I am working remotely and spending a lot of time on ZOOM calls which has been a challenge for me as I love interacting with people. However, I have had the time and space to look at what type of programs can be offered from the House, both in person and online, and to explore how the Mercy charism and heritage can be nurtured and reimagined for the future.

I have recently updated the Young Mercy Leaders Program to look specifically at the history and importance of the House of Mercy, Mercy Spirituality, Mercy and Justice and Mercy Leadership. The program has a balance of workshops, walking tours and visits to significant mercy places, celebration, reflection, prayer and ritual and opportunities to spend time with Sisters and key staff. It should be a great four days.

Brenda: What is your favourite quote and why?

Caroline: I like the scripture verse from Micah – 'to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.'

We could all benefit from that bit of prophetic advice.

From Catherine I like – always act with courage – I have it on a t-shirt and it gets a lot of comments.

ENDS

Thanks Caroline for your generous sharing - it's been great to let our Mercy Family get to know you a little bit more.