Letter from the Head of School

“Our name is Mercy; our spirit is compassion.”

~ Foundress Catherine McAuley

As Head of School, I am delighted to have the opportunity to serve and lead Merion Mercy Academy. We extend our sincere appreciation to Laura Farrell, our first lay Head of School, for sharing with us her commitment to all girls’ education as well as her strong Catholic faith.

While I am new to this position, I have a long and cherished history with Merion Mercy starting with my daughter, Kelly, who graduated in the class of ’04. I served as a member of the Board of Trustees (2005-2016), as Chair of the Board of Trustees from 2009-2014, and most recently as Director of Operations from 2020 until June 2022. Through the years, I have been continually inspired by the simple and profound power of our mission:

Merion Mercy, an independent Catholic, college preparatory school sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, empowers young women to lead, learn, and serve through an education grounded in spiritual development and academic and personal excellence.

Inspired by the life, work, and spiritual vision of Catherine McAuley, our mission is everything. Through the past 138 years, Merion Mercy has remained true to our Mercy Core Values, our Catholic identity rooted in the Gospels, the legacy of Catherine McAuley, and the Sisters of Mercy. Our Mercy legacy serves as both our roots and our wings, that which grounds us and that which compels us to grow in love, leadership, and learning. The ever-renewing wellspring of Mercy has no beginning, no end, and no limits. The more it is given and received, the more it grows. We believe that Mercy has infinite power to transform people and our world for good.

This exceedingly powerful and ever renewing dynamic is fueled by each and every member of our Merion community who supports us through gifts to the MMAnnual fund, scholarship contributions, tax credit donations, and Sip’n Bid donations, no matter how large or how small. It is you, our donors, who keep the fires of Mercy burning, inspiring our students to make themselves and their world better. For this, I offer our humble and deep gratitude.

In Mercy,

Marianne Grace Head of School