历史, Mission, and Spirit of Mercy
The history of Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School dates back to 1861, though the legacy of Mercy began several decades earlier in Dublin, 爱尔兰. 凯瑟琳·伊丽莎白·麦考利, 天主教女信徒, was born in 1778 and would come to be known as the foundress of the 仁爱修女会. 作为一个年轻女子, Catherine recognized the many needs of the economically poor in early nineteenth-century 爱尔兰 and determined that she and women like her could make a difference. By 1822 she developed a program for instructing and training poor girls, distributing food and clothing to the needy, and performing other works of mercy.
1827 – Catherine used an inheritance from an Irish couple, 卡拉汉家族, whom she had served for twenty years, to build a large residence where she and other laywomen sheltered homeless women, 受过教育的穷女孩, and reached out to the sick and dying. 仁慈之家, 位于巴格特街, 9月24日开幕, a date celebrated today as Mercy Day throughout the world.
Catherine envisioned the education of women as a means to spread Christian values, 影响社会变革, and empower women to find and achieve their fullest potential. This philosophy is the foundation of the 仁慈的教育 schools and educational programs around the world.
1861 – The Academy first opened its doors in Assumption Parish and later moved to a private residence at Broad Street and Columbia Avenue. By August 1863, there were 28 students.
1920s – 到20世纪20年代, both boys and girls from first through twelfth grades were being educated at the Academy. The original building at Broad and Columbia grew as adjacent building housing the convent, 一座教堂, and the school with an auditorium, 教室, and a cafeteria/recreation room.
1947 – The need for more space dictated a departure from the cherished Broad and Columbia location to the newly acquired Taylor Estate in Gwynedd Valley, where the Sisters converted stables into 教室 and erected a science building to serve the Academy and the newly founded Gwynedd Mercy Junior College from 1947 to 1955.
1955 – 1955年4月, the elementary and secondary schools moved into the newly completed academy building, located on the current site of Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School.
1963 – The Academy of the 仁爱修女会 became known as Gwynedd Mercy Academy.
1981 – Tremendous growth of all Gwynedd Mercy branches—the college, 高中, and the elementary school—required the need for additional space. The former Spring House Public School on Norristown Road was purchased to house the elementary division. At last, Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School has a home of its own!
最近几年
1994-2004
Two campus expansions added a 550-seat 表演艺术 Center, 教堂, 游说团体, 前厅, 艺术工作室, Music Amphitheater and practice rooms, 多层报告厅, 和图书馆.
2002 – The first 校董会 was formed to govern Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
2005 – The Fourth Institutional Chapter of the 仁爱修女会 developed the five Critical Concerns to address the most vital needs of our time, 鼓励我们的回应:
- 非暴力
- 女性
- 种族歧视
- 移民
- 地球
2015 – Sr的加入. 帕特里夏·弗林, RSM 学习共享 houses a MAC lab, technology and resources center, 协作工作空间.
2017 – The 校董会 approved the appointment of the first President and lay leader of Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
仁慈的教育, comprised of 58 Mercy educational ministries including schools in Argentina, 伯利兹, 关岛, 洪都拉斯, 牙买加, 菲律宾, 和美国, 成立.
2018 – Construction of a multi-sport complex—with a synthetic turf field, expanded track & 现场设施, and a natural grass field—launch of a Rowing program, and creation of internship programs expand academic, 运动, 奖学金, and professional opportunities for students.
2020 – A five-year strategic plan launched, forever impacting how Gwynedd Mercy women are educated, 启发, and empowered to be merciful in spirit, 思想创新, 有领导的勇气.
今天, the 仁爱修女会 continue to nurture young women in the character and spirit of 凯瑟琳McAuley. In 1861, it was this same mission and dedication to women that compelled the sisters to establish the Academy of the 仁爱修女会 in Philadelphia.