Mercy Mondays: Mercy Week celebrates Salve Regina’s legacy through annual events

Salve Regina owes a lot to one woman. Her name is Catherine McAuley, and her vision of Mercy has endured for 200 years. On Sept. 24, 1827, in Dublin, Ireland, Catherine McAuley founded a home to shelter and educate young girls. This house would be the foundation for the Sisters of Mercy—and 17 U.S. colleges and universities, including our own beautiful Salve Regina University.

Catherine built her house of Mercy in an affluent neighborhood of Dublin so that the wealthy could see the need of the city’s poorest and most vulnerable women and children. Catherine looked around to see where the greatest needs lay, and she devoted her life to education, and to living out the extraordinary power of Mercy in word and in action.

Salve Regina’s beloved statue of Catherine McAuley is a daily reminder of the University’s legacy.

Every year, Salve Regina celebrates this legacy with its Mercy Week. This year’s focus is on the critical concerns of women and anti-racism. Many events will be in person, and others will be available online. It will be a week alive with panel discussions on women in leadership, celebrations of the Mercy mission, spotlights on Catherine McAuley, service opportunities and special conversations for social justice.

“Mercy Week is an important opportunity for the Salve community to come together, to celebrate our mercy heritage and to be inspired to respond to the needs of our campus and the world using mercy as our measure,” said Amy Cady, the assistant director of the Mercy Center. “We hope people will take time to reflect on how our mercy mission really effects how we live together and will celebrate all the good that started from one woman with faith and vision.”

Mercy Week Schedule: September 22-30, 2020

“What is Anti-Racism?” with Father Bryan Massingale
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22

Join host institution Saint Joseph’s College of Maine for this important dialogue on what it means to commit to anti-racism as an institution and individual. Join via the Livestream link. Submit questions during the livestream to vpmission@sjcme.edu.

“Women of Mercy: Mercy Leadership at Salve, Part One”
6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23

Join panelists Dr. Kelli J. Armstrong, Chiquita Baylor, Dr. Sally Gomaa, Dr. Donna Harrington-Lueker, Jody Mooradian and Aida Neary for an engaging dialogue exploring what it means to be a woman of mercy in leadership at Salve Regina today. Join via the WebEx link.

Mercy Day
Thursday, Sept. 24

Catherine McAuley and her companions opened the first House of Mercy in Dublin on this day in 1827. Faculty and staff will receive a coupon through interoffice mail that is redeemable for a cup of tea or coffee and a scone at Jazzman’s, the Starbucks in McKillop Library or Miley Hall.

Mercy Mass
5 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, Our Lady of Mercy Chapel.

On Sunday of Mercy Week, masses honoring and celebrating all areas of student life will be held at 5:00 & 7:00 p.m. These are the new Sunday mass times for the 2020-21 academic year. All are welcome.

“Women of Mercy: Mercy Leadership at Salve, Part Two”
6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, Bazarsky Lecture Hall (will also be broadcast on WebEx)

Join Salve Regina for an engaging dialogue with student leaders from the Student Government Association and Campus Activities Board as they explore what it means to be a woman of mercy in leadership at Salve Regina today. Panelists include Belise Abane, Nina Beatrice, Ashley Dwyer, Michelle Ostolaza, Ileanna Phillips, Jessica Rozon and Izabella Solivan.

Catherine McAuley’s birthday
1-3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, Catherine McAuley statue

Stop by the Catherine McAuley statue behind Our Lady of Mercy Chapel to enjoy a (wrapped) cookie and some birthday cheer.

Service outreach
1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, Gerety Hall lobby

Volunteers are needed to help create and personalize children’s bookmarks for the Confetti Foundation. Sign up online by clicking here.

Mercy heritage night
6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30
Join the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life for an evening with Sister Dale Jarvis and friends as they reflect on the work of Mercy Focus on Haiti, a ministry initiative of the Sisters of Mercy that responds to ongoing human needs in Haiti. Join via the Zoom link.

Featured photo is of a previous event in the Our Lady of Mercy Chapel.

This post is part of an ongoing series called Mercy Mondays that highlights Salve Regina’s dedication to its Mercy Mission. Search the tag Mercy Mission for more updates on the Mercy branches of Salve Regina.