Students Share Bonds of Community on Annual Sisterhood Day

Sisterhood Day at Merion Mercy Academy has taken a variety of forms over the years, but the one constant is an emphasis on strengthening community bonds. On August 29, 2024, Dean of Students Maya Johnson ‘12 brought together sophomores, juniors and seniors for a half day experience that included a presentation by those students who attended the Mercy Education Leadership Conference, sisterhood reflections from a member of each class, and a community commitment exercise. 

Shayla Adams ‘26, Annie Askin ‘25, Maggie Judge ‘25, Chiarra Mazza ‘26, and Stacey Reese ‘26, kicked off Sisterhood Day by sharing their experiences at the Mercy conference in Detroit  in June. In addition to developing their leadership skills, the girls grew deeper in their understanding of Mercy values and Critical Concerns, and formed relationships with students from other Mercy Education schools from as far away as Belize. A highlight of their time together, however, was simply forming stronger bonds with one another. 

Those bonds of sisterhood were the subject of three reflections from Liv Siorek ‘27, Colette Remy ‘26, and Kaitlin Angelucci ‘25. 

Having just started her sophomore year, Liv shared that she’s never felt alone as a student at Merion Mercy. She said, “Merion to me means feeling accepted and feeling like you matter to everyone around you.” She defined sisterhood as, “always belonging.”

In her remarks, Colette spoke on the theme of home and how Merion girls are family, despite not falling into the typical definition of that word. She explained, “As a group of people we all share rich and substantial values that bind us together. Every single person in this school has something exceptionally special and extraordinary about them.” 

Kaitlin took a different approach to the topic of sisterhood by beginning with a story about her brother who started his own business this summer. In the end, his experience was less about the money he earned and more about the lessons and connections he made along the way. She related this to the connections between sisters at Merion Mercy. “We are so lucky because God gifted us this sisterhood, giving us opportunities for so many connections. We must be willing to make connections with each other to help each other grow.” She encouraged her classmates to see the sisterhood as a resource for “achieving our hopes and dreams.” 

Sisterhood Day was also used to introduce this year’s service project titled “Mapping the Mission.” The goal is to raise $6,000 to divide between our partners Bethlehem Farm, St. Francis Inn and the Community Center at Visitation. The first fundraising event will be the “Glow Big or Glow Home” back to school mixer on September 6.

The morning concluded with Ms. Johnson introducing a new initiative titled “community commitments,” a set of agreements that the students will create and utilize to help determine how we will interact with one another and how we will be together as a community. She explained:

“Creating community commitments is essential for fostering a sense of unity, purpose, and shared responsibility among students, faculty, and staff. In an environment where young women are encouraged to explore their identities and develop leadership skills, having a set of collective commitments helps establish a foundation of mutual respect and support.”

The students were asked to begin this assignment in their homerooms, determining language that should be included in the community commitment. Ultimately, Ms. Johnson and StuCo will gather to draft a final version. 

Sisterhood Day 2024 demonstrated that these young women are not just classmates—they are a family, united by shared values and a collective vision for the future. As they move forward, their bonds of sisterhood will continue to guide them, ensuring that Merion Mercy remains a place where every student feels valued, supported, and inspired to grow.