Ricordia: Mission Week At Merion: Empowering Girls to Serve

by Valentina Tartaglini '29

“Let charity be our badge of honor…so that it may be truly said, there is but one heart and one soul in God.”- Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy

Students at Merion Mercy Academy are taught to “live mercy and seek justice.” Daily, they are empowered to cultivate attitudes of empathy, joy, and compassion. Mercy Girls emphasize the values of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy through countless activities that demonstrate the power of a woman’s voice in society. The following details the meaning and momentum of the year’s most iconic time: Mission Week!

Who are Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy?

Catherine McAuley was an Irish woman who founded the Sisters of Mercy and cared for the poor and ill, women and children in Ireland. The Sisters of Mercy later founded the Mercy schools and in 1884, established Merion Mercy Academy. 

What does Mission Week celebrate?

Mission Week celebrates the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy. These Critical Concerns are Immigrants, Women, Anti-Racism, Non-violence, and the Earth. During Mission Week, one of these key aspects is emphasized per day. For the 2026 school year, this schedule was followed:

Monday: Earth

Tuesday: Anti-Racism

Wednesday: Immigrants

Thursday: Non-violence

Friday: Women 

How do students serve during Mission Week?

Each graduating class is given a corresponding Critical Concern and a related day of service. For example, the freshman class wrote letters to refugees and sick children around the world for the program Letters of Love. 

What activities take place during Mission Week?

Mercy girls are known for their enthusiasm! During lunch codes, StuCo fundraises by selling accessories for the Mission Week mixer, and chances for a number of raffle baskets. Baskets range from self-care to Philly sports-themed and are handed out during the yearly women-focused pep rally at the end of Mission Week.

The yearly pep rally focused on women is beloved by all. It allows young women to grow in community. As Catherine McAuley would say, "No work of charity can be more productive or good to society than the careful instruction of women.” The pep rally allows Mercy girls to build community and celebrate their school’s mission. 

The Mission Week mixer is one of Merion’s most memorable events of the year. Students buy accessories and t-shirts with a common theme and enjoy the culmination of Mission Week. For 2025-26, the mixer theme was class colors. Seniors wore gold; junior, pink; sophomores, blue; and freshmen, green. Snacks are sold, students dance, and the mixer becomes a beloved memory. 

What is money raised for?

An array of charities have been fundraised for in the past. For the 2025-26 school year, Merion Mercy Academy has chosen three: Arise in McAllen, Texas; Bethlehem Farm in West Virginia; and St. Francis Inn in Philadephia. Both St. Francis Inn and Bethlehem Farms provide services for underserved communities and Arise works with immigrant families.

Mercy Minute

Mercy girls develop deep connections to their school community through traditions like Mission Week.

What does Mission Week mean to you?

Chiarra Mazza ’26 said, “To me, Mission Week means community. It's a time when our sisterhood comes together through activities and service, turning compassion into something real. It’s a reminder that through our community and sisterhood, we’re part of something bigger than ourselves, creating impact and love that goes far beyond Mission Week!”

How did you feel about the freshman service project?

Cecilia Malatesta ’29 remarked,  “I liked how we got to raise the spirits of sick kids. I felt like it reflects what we value not just as a Mercy school but as Christians: helping others. It also allowed me to reflect on how lucky I am to be in good health.”

Conclusion

Mission Week is crucial to Merion Mercy Academy’s culture and history. It allows the Golden Bears to remember what they stand for, how they can serve, and what it means to be a Woman of Mercy. 

For more about the Mission Week experience, view this video created by Student Council.