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:

• Instruct the ignorant;
• Counsel the doubtful;
• Admonish the sinner;
• Bear wrongs patiently;
• Forgive offenses willingly;
• Comfort the afflicted;
• Pray for the living and the dead;
• Grateful contemplation of God’s world.

EARTH

We believe in the need to work toward the sustainability of life and support movements and legislation that secure the fundamental right to water for everyone, and that address climate change. That leads us to examine our own behaviors and policies and to adopt more environmentally sustainable practices. We also advocate against hydrofracking; against mining that impacts indigenous and impoverished communities; for regulations that protect land, air and water; and for national and international agreements that mitigate climate change and ensure support for those most vulnerable to its effects.

IMMIGRATION

We reverence the dignity of each person and believe everyone has the right to a decent home, livelihood, education and healthcare. In the United States we work for just and humane immigration laws, a reduction in deportations that tear families apart, and an end to the detention bed quota. We look at the root causes of immigration, including U.S. policies that contribute to the economic and social conditions that push people to flee their countries, and the global impact of migration through our reality as an international community of women religious.

NON-VIOLENCE

We work for peace through prayer, education, and personal and communal practices of nonviolence. We support nuclear disarmament, reduction of arms, and the use of dialogue instead of armed conflict. We work to prevent domestic violence and abuse of women and children, stop human trafficking and reduce violence in our communities. That leads us to advocate for commonsense gun violence prevention legislation, an end to the death penalty, an end to the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, and dialogue with Syria and Iran.

RACISM

We believe racism is an evil affecting us all. We work to mobilize sisters and associates in recognizing and dismantling institutional racism in order to become an anti-racist multicultural community. We advocate for upholding the voting rights of marginalized Americans and for a fair criminal justice system, and point out racism wherever it exists.

WOMEN

We believe that women’s education, health and spirituality need special attention. We continue this mission in our schools, colleges, health-care institutions and spirituality centers. We advocate for equal pay, for services for domestic violence victims, and for the rights of girls and women in especially repressive societies.