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Mercy Secondary Education Association

History Continued -  2004, 2005 and 2006

Conference XXIII, 2004 - “Cultural Intelligence: Issues and Opportunities for Mercy Education” the 23rd annual Mercy Secondary Education Association (MSEA) conference,  was held on October 22 and 23 in Buffalo, New York. Participants included MSEA members from the United States, Belize, Argentina, Guam and the Philippines. The conference was the third in a series of five with an overall theme of “One Future, One World.”.  Mr. Michael Johnson, President of MSEA welcomed all gathered in the name of MSEA Board members  Nancy Merkle, RSM, Patty Moriarty, RSM,  Regina Ward, RSM, Cindi Baughman, Melissa Bullock, and Dotty McCrea. Nancy Hoff, RSM, President of the Regional Community of Buffalo extended a warm welcome in the name of the community and Mount Mercy Academy, both celebrating 100 years of service. 

In a beautiful opening prayer the students and faculty of Mount Mercy presented music and dance from a variety of cultures. Sisters Mary Catherine Jamito,  Guadalupe Lumantas, and Maria Lourdes Arcenas from the Philippines presented a prayer in dance. The sisters are members of the Regional Community of Buffalo. 

Corinne Raven, RSM,  presented the theme in the context of Mercy values on Friday evening and the conference theme set the stage for the main presentation by Arturo Chávez of the Mexican-American Cultural Center (MACC). He explored the concept of cultural intelligence with definitions of culture, the effects of culture on individuals and groups, and a lively activity where two groups created, demonstrated and evaluated new cultures as a way of exploring the input and principles of the session. Stories from Arturo’s own background and experiences provided many of the day’s highlights.. 

Afternoon breakout sessions provided participants the opportunity to reflect on the conference theme from four perspectives: Creating a Culture of Diversity, The Many Faces of Mercy, Integrating Diversity into Daily Life and Making Connections within the Circle of Mercy.

Business meeting items:  Patty Moriarty, RSM, addressed plans for the conference in Ireland . The business meeting also included a financial report, a report on an adult prayer book initiative by Cindi Baughman and a report from the Network for Mercy Education. Elections were held for MSEA Executive Board members. Having completed their terms Sister Nancy Merkle and Michael Johnson will leave the board. Sister Patty Moriarty and Cindi Baughman were re-elected to second terms, and Carolyn Witte of Mercy High in Detroit was elected to her first term. Dotty McCrea, principal of Mercy High School, San Francisco now begins her term as MSEA president. (History includes portions of article written for Vita by Michael Johnson, President of Mercy Academy, Louisville, Kentucky.)

Assumption High School, Louisville, Kentucky and Mercy Academy, Louisville, Kentucky, will co-host Conference XXIV, October 14-16, 2005. 

Conference XXIV, 2005 – “One World, One Future: Issues and Trends Affecting Mercy Education” the 24th annual Mercy Secondary Education Association (MSEA) conference, was held on October 14 and 15 in Louisville, KY, co-hosted by Mercy Academy and Assumption High School. Participants included MSEA members from the United States, Belize, Argentina, Guam. The conference was the fourth in a series of five with an overall theme of “One Future, One World.” Dotty McCrea, President of MSEA welcomed all gathered in the name of MSEA Board members Patty Moriarty, RSM, Regina Ward, RSM, Cindi Baughman, Melissa Bullock, and Carolyn Witte. Marjorie Rudemiller,  RSM, President of the Regional Community of Cincinnati extended a warm welcome in the name of the community the sponsored schools of the Regional Community of Cincinnati.

A beautiful opening prayer featured the students and faculty of Assumption High School and Mercy Academy was led by campus minister Gloria Thornburg.

Sister Mary Waskowiak, RSM, President of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, offered the keynote address: “Finding Our Voice”. Sister Mary’s presentation was followed by questions and answers and round table discussion.

Business items presented on October 14^th included president-elect and board nominations.

The evening included a reception, tours and dinner at Assumption High School. Mary Lee McCoy, President, Assumption High School and Michael Johnson, President, Mercy Academy, welcomed all. Dinner was followed by a beautiful program featuring the arts by students of Assumption and Mercy Academy.

The business meeting of October 15^th included: a financial report; a report on MSEA initiatives including the adult prayer book; the International Conference; Network for Mercy Education report; Board members nominees speeches. In the election which followed, Cindi Baughman, Cincinnati, was elected President-elect, Melissa Bullock and Regina Ward, RSM were elected to a second term and Laura Held, Burlingame, was elected to the board

“Connecting Our Voice” was then presented by Joyce Koch and Eric Cole, Directors of Technology, Assumption High School and Mercy Academy. Breakout sessions followed. The conference concluded with Liturgy and Commissioning of Board members.

Mercy High Schools, Burlingame and San Francisco extended a musical and warm invitation to all to gather for Conference XXV – the twenty-fifth anniversary conference to be held October 20-21 2006.

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.

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