MERCY EDUCATION
"To instruct is an easy matter, but to educate requires ingenuity, energy, and perseverance without end."
- Frances Warde, Sister of Mercy
Waldron Mercy Academy is a Mercy school associated with MESA (Mercy Education Systems of America). Being a part of this organization allows our faculty and staff to have the unique opportunity to share thoughts, lesson plans, and ways to educate our students in the Spirit of Mercy world wide. The Mercy Education System is international, spanning six countries : Argentina, Belize, Honduras, Jamaica, the Phillippines, and the United States.
Mercy education finds its roots with Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, who opened the first House of Mercy on Baggot Street in Dublin, Ireland in the 1827. It was opened as a school for poor young girls and shortly thereafter began serving the sick and less fortunate. Mercy schools are encouraged to embrace and express the values of collaboration, compassion and service, educational excellence, world vision and responsibility, and spiritual growth and development.
During their years at Waldron Mercy, students are taught the Mercy Values* inspired by Catherine McCauley and carried out by the Sisters of Mercy. These values are:
Spirituality
The example that Jesus leads us, the Gospel guides us and Catherine McAuley’s spirit enlivens us. Our students are taught contemplation and action, prayer and service.
Community
Our school community guides our students to deepen their relationship with God, strengthens them for outreach and service in and outside of our community, and continually inspires them to help and serve others.
Service
We teach our students to see Jesus in the most marginalized people. Our outreach program helps guide our students to perform works of Mercy for the less fortunate. Our students are taught to follow Jesus’ example in all that they do.
Social Justice
Our students gain empathy and understanding about social issues in our world including but not limited to: poverty, human rights, the degradation of earth, the increase in violence and racism, the continued oppression of women, the abuse of children, the mistreatment of immigrants and the lack of solidarity among people and nations.
Works of Mercy
We work to educate our students on serving those who need our help. At a young age they are a part of direct service in the community. They are also encouraged to seek out ways to help our world and change unjust systems. Both approaches are compassionate responses to the most basic of needs as described in the centuries-old tradition of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
The spiritual works of mercy:
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Instruct the ignorant;
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Counsel the doubtful;
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Admonish the sinner;
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Bear wrongs patiently;
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Forgive offenses willingly;
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Comfort the afflicted;
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Pray for the living and the dead;
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Grateful contemplation of God’s world.
The corporal works of mercy:
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Feed the hungry;
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Give drink to the thirsty;
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Clothe the naked;
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Welcome the stranger;
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Visit the sick;
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Visit the imprisoned;
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Bury the dead;
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Care for our common home.
*this list has been adapted from the Sisters of Mercy Mission & Values
Learn more about MESA and Mercy education on the MESA website.