Overview

Conference XXV, 2006 – “Bridging our Future: 25 Years and Beyond” the 25^th annual Mercy Secondary Association  (MSEA) conference was held on October 20-21 in San Francisco, California and co-hosted by Mercy High School, Burlingame and Mercy High School, San Francisco.  Participants included MSEA members from the United States, Belize and Argentina.  Dotty McCrea welcomed all to San Francisco in the name of the board of MSEA: Cindi Baughman, President-elect; Patty Moriarty, RSM, treasurer, Melissa Bullock, secretary, and Regina Ward, RSM, Carolyn Witte, Laura Held, Members-at-Large.  Anne Murphy, RSM, President of the Regional Community of Burlingame and Carolyn Krohn, RSM, Councilor of the Regional Community offered a warm welcome to the group.

A beautiful opening prayer was delivered by Marielle Bautista, Class of 2008 from Mercy High School, San Francisco.  The California State Senator, Jackie Speier, discussed the Value of Mercy Education in her life.  Senator Speier graduated from Mercy High School, Burlingame in 1968.

Sister Anne Curtis, RSM, Councilor of the Leadership Team of the Institute of the Americas, offered a keynote address on “Reconfiguration and the National Agenda” and called for action on the Sisters of Mercy Chapter Act to support immigration.

Sister Adele Howard, RSM, Director of Fraynework Multimedia, delivered a keynote address and shared an interactive multimedia package, Mercy and Justice Shall Meet, that develops 8 case studies to address three areas of concern for all of us: Violence against Women and Children, Racism in all its Forms, and Displacement of Peoples. 

The evening included a scenic ride through San Francisco to Mercy High School, a presentation of the history of the Sisters in Burlingame by the students from both schools and a delicious reception.

The business meeting on October 21 included the following: a financial report, Network for Mercy Education report, information on the new Mercy educators prayer book With Great Confidence in God and Board members nominee speeches.  Carolyn Witte was reelected to the board, and Bernaldino Pech, was elected to his first term on the board.

Another moving prayer service was presented by Mercy High School, Burlingame.

Then the Reverend Sandy Curtis-Martus delivered a keynote “Rooted in Mercy, Centered in God.”

The conference concluded with a moving Liturgy and Commissioning of the Board Members.

 That evening a reception was held in Harry Denton’s Starlight Room to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of MSEA.  Cindi Baughman, President, presented the history of MSEA and thanked the founding members including Sr. Carol Wheeler, Sr. Nancy Thompson, and Sr. Helen Marie Burns who, in 1977, talked about bringing together those engaged in the ministry of Mercy education. Of course, they didn’t just talk, they acted and after meetings, questionnaires and much discussion held the first Mercy Secondary Education Conference at Mercy Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan.  At the second MSEA the first Executive Board was elected: Sr. Carole Wheeler, President; Sr. Mary McCarthy, Vice President; Sr. Cathleen Cahill, Secretary; Sr. Nancy Thompson, Treasurer; Members at Large: Sr. Amy Bayley, Sr. Lourdes Sheehan, and Sr. Mary Anne Smith

 Conference XXVI will be hosted by Mount Saint Mary in Watchung, New Jersey.

 Pictures

Page 1 - At the conference

Page 2 - Cable Car on Wheels Trip

Page 3 - School Presentation and continued celebration....

Thank you Mercy High School, Burlingame and Mercy High School, San Francisco. 

Thank you MSEA Board

Proceedings