Mercy Mondays: Sigma Phi Sigma inducts newest members

On Sunday, Nov. 8, Salve Regina’s National Mercy Honors Society, Sigma Phi Sigma, celebrated the annual induction ceremony to formally welcome the society’s newest members.

Typically, this ceremony would be celebrated on Fall Festival Weekend with returning members, family, and friends of the inductees in attendance in person. This year, a socially distanced ceremony hosted the 21 new members and offered a livestream of the ceremony for family, friends and returning members from the safety of their homes.

The ceremony began with a welcome and invocation from Dr. Kelli J. Armstrong and a challenge to new members from Sigma Phi Sigma’s president, Ashley D’Antuono’21. Vanessa Saucier’21 (Vice President), Samantha Levey’22 (Treasurer), and Hannah Harlow’22 (Secretary) then shared a few words about the three qualities required for membership in Sigma Phi Sigma, which include scholarship, service and fidelity.

All new inductees shared the Sigma Phi Sigma pledge, which concludes: “…I pledge to witness Mercy by reverencing the dignity of each person, creating a spirit of hospitality, and by pursuing integrity of work and deed in my life.”

Co-moderators Dr. Theresa Ladrigan-Whelpley, vice president of mission integration, and Mary Beth Pelletier ’06, (M) ’12, office coordinator for mission integration, welcomed the new members and shared words of inspiration from Catherine McAuley and encouraged all to be a leader of light on campus, as “shining lamps, giving light to all around us.” President Kelli J. Armstrong and Chancellor Sister Therese Antone looked on with pride.

After the new members and Sigma Phi Sigma’s e-board shared a prayer, Dr. John Quinn, professor of history, was invited to share a keynote address. Dr. Quinn highlighted Salve Regina’s Sisters of Mercy and their virtues of leadership by reflecting on the namesakes of each of Salve Regina’s major buildings and invited new members to connect the life work of the Sisters of Mercy and the leadership of  Sigma Phi Sigma members at Salve Regina.

Shawn Quinn lights the candle as part of the Sigma Phi Sigma Induction Ceremony at Our Lady of Mercy Chapel, Salve.

Special thanks to Matthew Kelly, minister of music and social justice, and the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life for providing music for the ceremony.

To see more pictures, visit Salve’s Flickr Page.

Please join Salve Regina in congratulating its newest members of Sigma Phi Sigma. The Sigma Phi Sigma Inductees for 2020 are:

Class of 2021 

Kaitlyn M. Brilhante

Class of 2022 

Jaclyn M. Andersen
Maria Nenee Angulo
Elizabeth A. Brilhante
Anne-Marie Brilhante
Taylor L. Cefalo
Madison J. Fluke
Alexandra E. Kenney
Peter A. Tsemberides

Class of 2023

Hannah E. Autenrieth
Sarah R. Belling
Jillian D. Gaffga
Miranda J. Gallagher
Emily C. Gibson
Thomas O. Manion
Bethany A. Martin
Grace N. Pelletier
Shawn K. Quinn
Hannah A. Rossman
Tatiana V. Sotelo
Sophia R. Strazza

E-Board Members include:

Ashley D’Antuono ’21, president

Vanessa Saucier ’21, vice president

Samantha Levey ’22, treasurer

Hannah Harlow ’22, secretary

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.