Mercy IN ACTION

Over the summer, 17 rising WMA 8th graders visited 5 different outreach partners with a chance to experience new ways of living the mercy charism. They spent each day in various culturally and economically diverse communities in the Greater Philadelphia Area. At the Saint Francis Inn, they helped this Franciscan community in Kensington prepare to celebrate Father’s Day with their guests.

They visited with both elderly and preschool students at Mercy Neighborhood Ministries, assisted The Aquinas Center with preparations for a summer camp that they offer for Afghan refugees and helped to maintain a community garden in Camden. Finally, at MANNA they packaged roughly 1,500 meals to be delivered to the homebound. We were thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity once again to our WMA students!

This year, on the last day of school before Easter break, our 8th grade class had the incredible opportunity to lead students through the Stations of the Cross on the Motherhouse lawn.

“What a joy, and how uplifting it was to attend the WMA Stations of the Cross during Lent! As I ‘made the stations’ I was touched at the portrayal of the various stations by the eighth graders and the attention of the kindergarten class with whom I was walking. The prayer ended with a personal reflection by each student. Thank you teachers and students of WMA for such a lovely experience!”

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Sister Suzanne Gallagher

All grades also had the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation, and 8th grade teacher Katie DeSanto led a reflection/meditation for any students who wished to participate!