Mercy Week
Honoring Our Heritage
On Sept. 24, 1827, in Dublin, Ireland, Catherine McAuley founded a home to shelter and educate young girls. This house would be the foundation for the Sisters of Mercy — and for 17 U.S. colleges and universities, including ours.
Each September, we celebrate this heritage during Mercy Week to coincide with the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy.
A Weeklong Celebration
Mercy Week features a variety of educational and service-related programming that brings our campus community together, from inspirational films and engaging lectures to shared meals and lively discussions. We talk about current crises in our country and world, and think of ways the Mercy community can impact change. We also honor exceptional individuals at GMercyU for their commitment to service. Specific programming changes from year to year, but the Mercy message is always loud and clear.
Mercy Week 2025: September 22-27
This year's theme, "Rooted in Mercy, Leading with Hope," calls us to connect our history with the needs of today and to turn reflection into action. Join us for the activities that speak to you. Bring a friend, meet someone new, and help us carry the light of Mercy from our campus into the world
Monday, September 22
SNAP Blood Drive
Be the change - give blood! Join us for the American Red Cross Blood Drive, hosted by SNAP. Every donor makes a lifesaving impact and will receive a $10 Amazon gift card as a thank you.
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Julia Ball Auditorium Lobby
Sign up here or visit redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code: Gwynedd Mercy University.
Staff Council Mercy Tea: Mercy Emerging at Work
A space to connect with colleagues and reflect on our shared Mercy mission, this gathering will focus on deepening our understanding of how mission shapes our work. Together, we'll explore various ways we intentionally exercise our Mercy values, not only through daily tasks, but also through mission immersion opportunities.
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Assumption Hall Great Hall
Seeking Safety: Understanding Asylum: Focus on the Critical Concern of Immigration
Join us for a compelling presentation from the South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR), an organization that empowers immigrants and asylum seekers with legal information, representation, and connections to essential services. Sponsored by the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; the Mercy Center for Service, Spirituality, and Justice; and Student Engagement — CORE Programs.
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Register here
Questions: inclusion@gmercyu.edu
Bible Study: Spill the Tea with J.C.
Join a welcoming, discussion-based Bible study that explores Scripture through Mercy values and everyday life. All are welcome. No prior experience needed and materials are provided.
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Mercy Hall Room 9
Tuesday, September 23
Jamaica Student Service Panel
Join us to hear about the experience of Public Health alumni who completed the Promoting Global Health Through Service class. They will share about the health education trainings they developed and led with teens who were new mothers and adolescents living with HIV at Mustard Seed Communities in Jamaica.
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: University Hall W116
Mercy Service and Experience Fair
Learn from the different Mercy-centered experiences on campus, especially highlighting experiences to Vermont, Texas, Ireland, and others.
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: University Hall Rotunda (Floor 1)
Wednesday, September 24
Mercy Mass and Frances M. Maguire '55 Healthcare Innovation Center Grand Opening Celebration
Join the GMercyU community for our annual Mercy Week Mass, followed by the ribbon cutting for the Frances M. Maguire '55 Healthcare Innovation Center. We will give thanks, bless this new space, and celebrate a bold step forward in healthcare education rooted in Mercy. All are welcome.
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Frances M. Maguire '55 Healthcare Innovation Center
Thursday, September 25
Kenya Service Panel Discussion
Students who traveled to Kenya will share meaningful moments, cultural insights, and lessons in collaboration, resilience, and faith, and how these experiences will shape their practice back home. Bring your questions and be inspired to serve.
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: HIC A150
Service Event in the Community Learning Garden
Join us to learn about the garden and the fruits and vegetables grown for Catherine’s Cupboard. The Campus Learning Garden is an outdoor space for the GMercyU community. Spend some time enjoying the produce and flowers, and help care for the garden. Gloves and tools are available.
Time: 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Community Learning Garden, outside Genuardi Hall
Advocate for Immigration and Climate Action in DC with IFTJ: Info Session
Learn more about an upcoming national conference where students can travel together to learn about and advocate on behalf the Critical Concerns of Migration and Earth. Applications will be available for students to fill out.
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Mercy Hall, Room 9
UNV 101 Service Panel
Learn more about the UNV-101 service-learning experiences from faculty, staff, and students, and how it connects to mission and mercy.
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Friday, September 26
Mercy Then & Now
Join us for a special event that brings to life the inspiring visionaries who shaped GMercyU. Event features rarely-seen letters and photos and personal stories from Sisters of Mercy who will be in attendance.
Time: 11:30 am. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: University Hall W105 & Zoom
Questions: harbaugh.a@gmercyu.edu
Mercy Tea and Authors
Come join us for Mercy Tea and Authors, where we gather to celebrate scholarship across campus. We will sip tea, browse featured works, and cheer on colleagues being recognized.
Time: 2:15 p.m. Location: Keiss Library
Questions: library@gmercyu.edu
Saturday, September 27
Red and Gold Day
A day of food, games, community, and Griffin pride. All are invited!
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Griffin Complex Lawn
We should be shining lamps,
giving light to all around us.— Catherine McAuley