So much unites our Mercy schools!
Their embrace of the Mercy Education Core Values. Their commitment to the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy. Their witness to the power of a Catholic Mercy education. And, September 24 – Mercy Day!
On this day school communities remember Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, a woman whose rootedness in the Gospel call to “love thy neighbor,” whose passion for the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy being “the business of our lives,” has inspired good works across the globe. We, like Catherine, are gifted with the charism of Mercy for the good of others.
The stories shared in this issue of Mercy Impact reflect how the gift of Mercy charism blossoms in the member schools of Mercy Education
Mount St. Mary Academy
Little Rock, Arkansas
More than 500 Mount St. Mary Academy students, faculty and staff spent the morning of September 22 volunteering at nearly 25 locations across central Arkansas in honor of Mercy Day. Mount honors this important date each year by completing acts of service on its campus, in its surrounding neighborhood and throughout the Little Rock area, and the school was proud to collectively contribute approximately 800 hours of hands-on service to its community this year.
Infant of Prague Catholic Nursery and Kindergarten
Mangilao, Guam
Our Mercy Week was an extraordinary event celebrated by our school community centering on different themes each day based on our Mercy Day theme this year and the Critical Concerns. On September 19, 2023, the third day of celebrating Mercy Week, the staff and students gathered for a prayer service for immigrants and celebrated our diverse ethnic backgrounds. It is our responsibility not only to provide our little ones with early access to education, but also to prepare them to be responsible and caring citizens of the world.
Merion Mercy Academy
Merion Station, Pennsylvania
MMA’s Mercy Day 2023 began with a classroom activity titled “A Common Thread” in which each student decorated a quilt square with symbols, colors, art, etc. that mean something special to them and speak to their culture.
A stirring Mass followed , and afterwards, students learned more about the Sisters of Mercy’s Critical Concerns. The day also included an introduction to the Mercy Girl Effect project, “Mercy Wheels Keep the World Turning,” and MMA's objective is to raise $6,175 to purchase 65 bikes to help girls get to school more quickly and safely.
Mount Saint Mary Academy
Watchung, New Jersey
Throughout the week, the Mount community commemorated its pride of being a Mercy school and its dedication to uphold the mission of Catherine McAuley, the Mercy Education Core Values, and the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy. On Friday, we all paused during the Mercy Day Liturgy in Immaculate Conception Chapel to honor our sisters on campus who inspire us as well as all of those who underline the value of mercy. Our Sisters of Mercy and Mercy Associates renewed their vows and covenants, respectively.
Assumption High School
Louisville, Kentucky
We had a whole-school Mercy Day Celebration assembly on September 26, where we recognized an alumna with the “Who Will Tell the Story?” medal, discussed ways of living Mercy in our lives, and honored a Model of Mercy from each grade level. It was a great day!
Mercy Heights Catholic Nursery & Kindergarten
Tamuning, Guam
Mercy Heights Catholic Nursery & Kindergarten celebrated Mercy Spirit Week on September 18-22, 2023. We celebrated the five Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy 5 and explored the theme “Walking with Mercy.” We began our celebration with a prayer service followed by a various activities each day of the week.
Walsingham Academy
Williamsburg, Virginia
As part of our Mercy Day celebration, our Lower School and Upper School collected a total of 1352 lbs. of food items for the Williamsburg House of Mercy! Also, after our Mercy Day Mass Celebration, our senior class received their official Mercy pins which proudly mark them as the recipients of the Mercy legacy. Our seniors were then paired with students from our kindergarten class for a butterfly release on the Green symbolizing the spirit of Mercy going out into the world!
Mercy Junior College, Inc.
Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Philippines
Mercy Day celebration was held on September 29, 2023. It was started with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist then a showcase of talents. Free lunch was served for the faculty and staff.
In the afternoon were the indoor and outdoor games. It was a joyful celebration!
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania
The school community gathered for a celebration of Mass during which Sr. Patricia Donlin, RSM, and our guest, Sr. Karen Schneider, RSM, renewed their vows as Sisters of Mercy.
In connection with our focus on the Critical Concern of Women, we enjoyed a visit from Mercy Focus on Haiti representatives Elizabeth Hasson '18, Sr. Karen Schneider, and Steven Werlin. We also had a day of "spirit-full" activities with a little friendly competition!
Mater Christi School
Burlington, Vermont
We have been working with our students on kindness and friendship projects as a Mercy Day Project. We've talked a lot about how we, as a Mercy school, can show kindness to others in our families. As a part of the schoolwide project we created a Kindness/Friendship Bench that will, ultimately, live on the playground. Students, faculty and staff took part in painting this bench.
St. Catharine Academy
Bronx, New York
The entire student body gathered for Mass to celebrate Mercy Day which honors the opening of the first House of Mercy by Catherine McAuley in 1827. SCA students join in her spirit by collaborating with Mercy Center, Bronx, with a cereal drive to provide healthy breakfasts for Mercy Center clients. They collected 600 boxes.
Sisters of Mercy Jamaican Schools
Kingston, Jamaica
Jessie Ripoll Primary, Alpha Institute, Alpha Infant School, Alpha Primary School, Convent of Mercy Academy
For this year’s Mercy Week, our Mercy schools engaged in a variety of creative and meaningful activities which encouraged students and staff to celebrate and continue the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy. The week’s events included special school assemblies; daily viewings of a short film based on the life of Catherine McAuley; an alumni visit; a Mercy-themed craft activity; an inter-school Mercy walk around the Alpha complex; and finally, a Mercy Day Mass at The Most Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Waldron Mercy Academy
Merion Station, Pennsylvania
Our Mercy Day celebrations began with a school-wide liturgy and a special community gathering during which 3 Sisters of Mercy renewed their vows. We ended our day with a Walkathon to raise donations for our October service project with Kids Against Hunger.
Instituto María Regina
La Ceiba, Honduras
We celebrated Mercy Day with joy, sharing with children from different communities and schools, also sharing supplies at the Atlantida hospital and cancer center in our city. The little ones spent their time sharing with their classmates and participating in classroom activities.
Mercy McAuley High School
Cincinnati, Ohio
Mercy McAuley celebrated Mercy Day with Mass, where we also welcomed many Sisters of Mercy, as well as alumnae who graduated 50 or more years ago. Additional fun activities throughout the day included an all-school dance party, kickball, service activities, a walk, yard games, food trucks, and a speaker on recycling as part of our focus on the Critical Concern of Care for the Earth.
Mercy High School
Baltimore, Maryland
For the last 60 years, in celebration of Mercy Day, seniors at Mercy High School, Baltimore have received their Mercy rings, which were designed by members of the Class of 1964 and Sister Ferdinand Tunis, RSM. This year, 12 of our seniors are legacy students, and we are grateful to the 10 alumnae mothers or grandmothers who were able to join us for this beloved Mercy tradition!
Holy Cross High School of Kolambugan Inc.
Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, Mindanao, Philippines
Holy Cross High School of Kolambugan, Inc. culminated their observance of the Season of Creation by doing general cleaning around the school campus, making a vegetables plot garden and planting Philippine lime. According to Kinaiyahan Savers Club action plan, the purpose of vegetable gardening is to have a sustainable source of organic vegetables for proper health and nutrition. The project was facilitated by Sr. Virgencita A. Alegado, RSM , Sr. Helen G. Bongolto, RSM and Miss Agnes T. Sabadoquia.
Mercy Academy
Louisville, Kentucky
Mercy Academy celebrated Mercy Day with recognizing our Mercy Day Scholarship recipients and with an all-school mass. During mass, we reflected on what it means to "walk with Mercy," including a beautiful reflection from our Director of Student Life, Angie Laemmle '91, who has been a Mercy student, alumna, parent, and staff member.
Mount Mercy Academy
Buffalo, New York
Mount Mercy Academy began their Mercy Day with a mass in our chapel with the sisters. The staff and student body then participated in a walk through Cazenovia Park, which tied in with the theme for Mercy Day 2023. The students also showed reverence for the Earth, one of the Critical Concerns, by participating in various beautifying efforts at Cazenovia Park, including picking up garbage, planting and pulling weeds. Concluding the day was the showing of the movie Not Broken, a movie about a young artist with a disability. Our students loved celebrating Mercy Day 2023!
Alpha Vocational Training Centre
Kingston, Jamaica
Alpha Vocational Training Centre Students joined with fellow Mercy schools in Kingston for a Mercy Walk to celebrate our connections through Mercy. Alpha Vocational Training Centre students were given the responsibility of holding the banner that marked the occasion.