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Home to Network for Mercy Education Mercy Secondary Education Association
History Continued - 1992-1997 Some
Lasting Efforts
was the theme of Conference
XI, 1992,
held at Mercy Center, Madison, CT. Sister
Patricia McCarthy, CND, keynoted by addressing “Non-Violence: The Call to Go
Beyond Justice to Mercy.” Patricia's
clear presentation, questions, and challenges set the tone for the entire
conference. Workshops were provided
which assisted in getting “practical” in Mercy: “Creating Unity Amidst
Diversity,” “Spirituality Called Mercy,” “Development,” “Building
Self-Esteem in the School,” “Teaching Catherine McAuley.” Mary
Waskowiak, RSM, member of the Institute Leadership Team, presented an update on
the MSEA Education Proposal indicating that following several meetings with
members of the MSEA Board and others, the Institute Leadership Team gave a
unanimous “yes” for the formation and funding of a national education
office. This office will include all Mercy-sponsored elementary and
secondary schools in the Americas. Sister
Corinne Raven, RSM (Chicago) was chosen as President-Elect.
Creating
and Maintaining Ministering Communities was
the theme of
Conference
XII, 1993,
held in Macon, Georgia at Mount de Sales Academy, where
the members of the MSEA experienced true southern hospitality. Sister
Doris Gottemoeller, President of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy, was the
keynote speaker. Doris'
thought-provoking presentation touched on how members of administration,
faculty, and staff are called to be united to one another—to
have a spirit of belonging—to
search for shared identity—to
have an understanding of moral authority and to mirror Catherine McAuley who
created ministering communities. Her
presentation not only challenged members of MSEA as educators, but also provided
some practical experience. Breakout
sessions included reflections and suggestions for directions for the newly
formed Institute Office of Education to Marla Yeck, RSM, Director. Marla Yeck, RSM listened and responded to the reports
provided by the groups. The
accomplishments listed on pages 302-3 of With Fidelity were extended to include: 4. The “Values
of Mercy Secondary Education Association”
were developed by the entire membership over a two-year period 1989-91.
They were printed and promulgated in 1991. 5. The “Mercy
Leadership Development Program for Secondary Educators” prepared by the Mercy Experience Task Force chaired by Toni Ann
Secrest (Mercy High School, Burlingame, CA,) dated December 1990. (A
note in 1993 recalls: “This history was compiled by Sister Judith Heberle, RSM,
(Rochester) one of the founding mothers of MSEA.”) The
history continues…
Conference
XIII, 1994,
convened at Mercy Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
Creating
a Mercy Response
called members to reflect on
the ways “We witness to mercy when we reverence the dignity of each person,
create a spirit of hospitality and pursue integrity of word and deed in our
lives.” (Constitutions 8) The
theme was carried out through the weekend and presented by keynoter, Sister
Suzanne Elliott (New York) who spoke on “The Needs of Youth: A Profile of
Young People Today.” Suzanne
highlighted four needs emerging from United States culture: the need for peace,
the need for relatedness, the need for meaning, and the need for the feminine.
A panel of three members then picked up on the themes of “reverencing
dignity,” “creating hospitality” and “pursuing integrity.”
Focus groups developed these themes. During
the business meeting, Sister Margaret Dempsey (Brooklyn) was elected
President-elect. The business
meeting included reports from Sister Marla Yeck, Director of the Institute
Office of Education, the establishment of a Mercy Leadership Academy for
potential administrators, and the development of a self-assessment tool for
Mercy high schools to be ready for implementation by September 1995.
Also, members voted to approach the Mercy Higher Education Colloquium for
financial support for qualified graduates of Mercy secondary schools who wish to
attend Mercy colleges and universities. Sharing new ideas, practical suggestions, and networking were an integral part of the conference, which closed with a presentation by Judith Bobber from Mother McAuley High School in Chicago entitled “Mercy Spirituality, the Educator.”
Conference
XIV, 1995,
was co-chaired by Mercy High School, Burlingame which housed the conference and
Mercy High School, San Francisco.
The
conference theme was Mercy Secondary Education.
What Does It Truly Cost?
Sister Carol E. Wheeler,
Principal of Mercy High School, Baltimore, was the keynote speaker.
Her all- encompassing presentation on the theme presented a mandate to
Mercy educators to pass on the charism and tradition of Mercy education during
this critical window of opportunity while there are still Sisters of Mercy on
boards and faculties. Her
presentation was printed in book form and widely distributed. A
panel presentation representing teachers, development, administration, and
boards responded to the presentation and the theme.
The business meeting included a presentation by Mary Waskiowiak, RSM from
the Institute Leadership Team on the future of the Institute Education Office
which had been discontinued by the Institute Leadership Conference pending
future study. Sister Cathleen
Cahill gave a report on the Leadership Academy which was held in June and was
tremendously successful. Thirty
potential Mercy administrators attended and were prepared to be leaders in Mercy
education in the tradition of Catherine McAuley.
Three tasks forces were formed to investigate the possibility of a Mercy
Teachers' Institute, Joint PR efforts, and a Mercy Sponsorship Conference.
Conference
XV, 1996,
took place at Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset, New York.
It was hosted by Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Catherine McAuley High
School, Brooklyn, and Mercy High School, Riverhead, NY.
The
theme of the conference was Mercy Educators, Voices That Challenge. The
conference was preceded by a meeting on sponsorship which was coordinated by
Barbara Wheeley, RSM, from the Baltimore Regional Community Leadership Team. Over fifty
representatives from 33 schools gathered to discuss what we could do to form
a Mercy Education System. A task
force was formed to continue the study. The
meeting opened with a tribute and presentation in honor of Sister Judith
Herberle, RSM one of the founding mothers of MSEA who wrote the history and who
had played a major role in the Association since its inception.
Judith died in the summer of 1996. There
were two keynote presentations. Dr.
Judith Dorney presented the challenge of “Learning From Girls and Their
Teachers: Developing Voices That Challenge.” Dr. Lorraine
Monroe of Bank Street College challenged us to know what constitutes “Real
School.”
Both presentations left Mercy educators inspired and challenged.
Workshops helped the over 400 participants, the largest conference ever,
to experience some possible solutions to the “voices that challenge.” At the business meeting, Rosann Fraher, RSM (Burlingame) was elected President-Elect. Cathleen Cahill, RSM reported on the Leadership Academy which had been held at St. Joseph's College in Hartford in June. Ms. Terri Hanrahan reported on the Teacher's Institute which took place at Mercyhurst College in June. A suggestion was made to amend the by-laws at the next meeting with regard to the stipulation that the MSEA Board have a majority of Sisters of Mercy. Strengthen
Mercy Hearts was
the theme of Conference
XVI,
1997. This
conference was held at Catherine McAuley High School in Portland, Maine.
Sister Edward Mary, Principal, welcomed the 171 participants from 17
states and Belize. Again,
a meeting on sponsorship for Mercy secondary education preceded the conference.
Members of the Regional Community Leadership Teams joined with
administrators from the high schools to review the process delineated by the
Task Force with Susan M. Weber serving as consultant for the study.
Susan Weber was in the process of interviewing principals, presidents,
and Regional Leadership presidents/delegates at this time.
She gave an explanation of the instrument to be used to generate the
profile of Mercy secondary education. The
conference opened with a panel reflecting on what touches our Mercy hearts. Candace Anderson,
Dotty McCrea, and Pete Cordova shared some of their personal experiences
as Mercy educators. Mary
Aquin O'Neill, RSM presented a
compelling keynote address: “Strengthen Your Mercy Heart.”
Corinne Raven, RSM
provided a response to the address. This
was followed by questions and comments from the membership at large. The
afternoon provided time for small group work on the “Pathways
to the Future” process.
Margaret Dempsey, RSM led this discussion and later prepared the written
report for the Pathways Committee. During
the business meeting by a majority vote, it was agreed to modify Point 3.6 of
the By-Laws (on Executive Board membership) by deleting “a majority of whom
shall be Sisters of Mercy.” Rosann
Fraher, RSM, President-Elect, and Michele Whitehead (Chicago) were the two
members of the Executive Committee whose terms were not expiring. Both had two
years remaining in their terms; therefore, four new members needed to be
elected. To help stagger terms, the
membership present at the conference agreed that the two persons elected with
the highest votes would serve a three-year term and the other two elected would
serve a two-year term. Peggy Lake,
RSM, (Brooklyn) and Ms. Dorothy McCrea (Burlingame) were elected for the
three-year term. Ms. Carolyn
Jaworski (Omaha) and Mr. Michael Johnson (Cincinnati) were elected for a
two-year term. The
financial statement for the 1996-97 fiscal year of the Association was reviewed
and accepted.. During
the liturgy on Sunday, Margaret Dempsey commissioned all the members of the
Executive Board: those newly elected, Michele Whitehead as she began her second
term, and Rosann Fraher, RSM, as president. The
conference concluded with Margaret Dempsey providing a report on the Institute
Congress. Miss Toni Ann Secrest,
MSEA's representative on the planning committee for the Institute Congress, was
gratefully acknowledged. Rosann
Fraher, RSM, encouraged the membership to participate in the activities of the
MSEA as we direct the Association into the future. Network for Mercy Education - Home |
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