Mission

SERVICE

Mercy Week Liturgy

We began our Mercy Week celebration with mass at Our Lady of Angels. Mercy Week celebrates the values of our foundress Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy. We honor our Mercy values and the work of the Mercy Community that began 194 years ago in the House of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland.

Mercy’s School Supply Drive for Ayudando Latinos A Soñar (ALAS)

in Half Moon Bay was a great success! ALAS assists farm workers on the Coast and asylum seekers from the Texas and San Diego Mexico border. Supplies were given out on September 4th. A group of Mercy students and our Campus Ministers (Sandy Flaherty and Angie Simonetti) were able to help. Again a big thank you to our students and Mercy community!

Día de los Muertos

Mercy’s Religion classes decorated our altar by the grotto with photos of loved ones for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). It is a holiday rooted in Mexican culture that honors deceased family members. Celebrants make ofrendas (altars) decorated with marigolds, sugar skulls, favorite food/ beverage, and photos. We’d like to thank our Mercy community for creating a beautiful ofrenda for our loved ones!

St. Anthony Foundation

Religion Teacher Maika Hefflefinger’s Sophomore Religion class visited St. Anthony’s Foundation in the Tenderloin community of San Francisco. Several students had the opportunity to contribute, serving over 2,000 lunches that are provided daily in the dining hall to community members who may be experiencing low funds towards the end of the month and even those who may be experiencing homelessness at this time. St. Anthony’s prides themselves in respecting the dignity of every human person who comes to St. Anthony’s, welcoming and referring to each guest by their first name—something that has left a lasting impression on the students. In addition, other students helped sort through many bins of recently donated clothing to hang neatly on the next clothes racks to go out into the clothing stores, where individuals and families can shop for new or lightly used clothing at least once per month! Some students even helped as assistants in the store— catering to the fashion preferences of St. Anthony’s guests. All in all, it was a beautiful and rewarding day! Two more sophomore religions classes will be attending next semester.

Marian Grotto Dedication

The official dedication of our Marian Grotto was held on September 23rd, the Vigil of the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy. Students and our Mercy community brought so many beautiful flowers that were placed at the Grotto. At the beginning of each class period, Religion classes gathered at the Grotto for a short prayer service. And at Noon, St. Catherine of Siena School’s kindergarten class visited, sang Marian songs, and presented a lovely crown for Mary. Their kindergarten teacher Marian Abbott is an alumna of Mercy. After classes, we held the official dedication of the Grotto by Fr. Stephen Howell. Religion teachers also led us in prayer. Mercy alumna Una Kinsella, the project designer, and former Facilities Director Darrell Justus, who built the grotto, were present and honored. We would like to extend our special thanks to our Campus Ministers Angie Simonetti and Sandy Flaherty for their vision and commitment to the making of a very special Marian Grotto on our campus garden walkway that students and community can enjoy daily.

Kairos

Seniors at Kairos

We were incredibly grateful to once again be able to offer our students the opportunity to attend the overnight Kairos Retreat. Kairos provides the opportunity for students to reflect on their relationship with themselves, others and God. The word Kairos means God’s time. Kairos gives students the opportunity and time to allow God to work in them.