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Mercy Secondary Education Conference Poses Provocative Questions
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Karen Calta, conference planning committee member, presents Sister Delores Hannon, president of Mercy High School, Omaha; and Sarah Regan, principal of Mercy High School, Omaha with a Mercy Cross in gratitude for hosting the conference.
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More than 160 Mercy educators and administrators from around the Institute descended on Omaha, NE, October 13-14, 2017, for the Mercy Secondary Education Conference hosted by Mercy High School, Omaha.
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Students from Mercy High School, Omaha, sing during the opening prayer service.
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The program theme was “Mercy Responds: Who is My Neighbor?” Sister Susan Sanders, West Midwest Community Team Member, welcomed attendees and reminded them how important Mercy educators are in the lives of the young women and men they minister to. Sister Susan said, “God has brought you here to think together long and large about the really important things your students need to learn from a Mercy secondary education. The hints you take, however, are Spirit born and Mercy driven. Blessings on your considerations these most important days.”
The keynote speaker was Sister Deirdre Mullan from Ireland whose present ministry is working with UNICEF to look at ways they can partner with religious communities. The foundation of her presentation was based on a quote from Nelson Mandela:
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
Sister Deirdre concluded by telling participants it is essential to resist prejudice and injustice to achieve our full humanity. She dedicated her final video on “Who is my Neighbor” to Sister Corky Raven in gratitude for her years of service to Mercy Education.
Friday afternoon and Saturday morning were spent in learning sessions discussing two different questions: “Who are we as Mercy?” and “What are the challenges of our time based on our theme?” Saturday afternoon wrapped up the educational portion of the conference with small-group and large-group reflection and sharing.
During the Liturgy at the conclusion of the conference, Mercy students who speak a variety of languages including Spanish, Ewe, Chinese, Kirundi, Arabic, French, Korean, Dinka and American sign language, read the intercessions. Maria del Mar Peydro, Caroline Cóceres and Josefina Gourdy Allende from Argentina sang a beautiful song in Spanish. You may watch it
here. Attendees then enjoyed dinner and entertainment provided by the Mercy High Singers.
Prior to the start of the conference, the Mercy Education System of the Americas (MESA) Board Members met for two days to continue to build relationships with the ministries by being present and to listen to their questions and concerns. They also shared information regarding governance issues in respect to reserved powers, appointment of new board members, spending threshold policy and stewardship review process.
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Sister Marilyn Lacey Named
2017 Opus Prize Laureate
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“I felt called by God to help these women and girls who are suffering,” - Sr. Marilyn Lacey, RSM
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The Opus Foundation, in collaboration with Regis University, has awarded its annual Opus Prize to Sister Marilyn Lacey, RSM, for her work with
Mercy Beyond Borders. At a public ceremony in Denver on Oct. 11, the Foundation presented the award. The recognition comes with a gift of $1 million. Congratulations to Marilyn and Mercy Beyond Borders!
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Mercy Elementary Education Network
to Join MESA
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Statement affirmed by the Mercy Elementary Education Board (MEEN)
October 12, 2017
It is with comfort and confident hope that the decision to “fold into the Mercy Education System of the Americas” (MESA) the Mercy Elementary Education Network (MEEN) by the fall of 2018 has been affirmed by the MEEN Board.
The MEEN Board will assume all responsibilities for its dissolution and communication to its members, as well as to the leaders of MESA and to the regional communities both local and Institute, recognizing that all have directly or indirectly supported MEEN over these past 35 years.
To celebrate our years of coming together in Mercy as leaders, educators and pastoral caregivers to families, faculties and staff, children and local communities, we shall invite all former and current MEEN members who are able to come to be a part of a closing ritual prayer in Merion Station, PA. (This historical coming together will include MEEN members only.)
We are grateful to MESA for “opening this door of mercy” into which we place the gift of MEEN, its history, members and years of loving welcome to others. The Mercy of God and the blessings of our work as educators and Sisters of Mercy will now rest in the care of MESA.
-- Sister Judith Stojhovic, Sister Ann Mc Kenna, Sr. Joanne La Freniere, Sister Ruth Ravey, Sister Toni Lynn Gallagher, Sister Mary Ellen Owens and Sister Marilyn Fanning.
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Welcome MESA's New Communications Specialist
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Please help us welcome DeQuendre Neeley-Bertrand. She is an award-winning writer, editor and communications professional who has joined MESA as its new communications specialist and webmaster. DeQuendre, pronounced DEE-kwin-dra, will work part-time in a remote office. She's responsible for building MESA's communications strategy, developing its social media presence and managing the website.
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Mark your calendars for these upcoming events and stay tuned for more details.
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MESA Leadership Forum
March 1, 2018 | 8 am - 3 pm Atlanta, GA
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“Partners in Mercy”
Leadership Academy
July 23-24, 2018
Baltimore, MD
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