Mount Saint Mary Academy graduates 62 women of Mercy

The community of Mount Saint Mary Academy, along with family and friends of 62 graduating seniors gathered June 3 in Immaculate Conception Chapel for Commencement Exercises, where diplomas were conferred by Bishop James F. Checchio.

The Bishop recalled the many challenges the girls have overcome since being confronted by the pandemic at the end of their freshman year, and reminded them of the superior education they have received through the Mercy core values.

In her speech, salutatorian Mary Claire Schleck recalled some of those challenges, “I don’t have enough fingers to count the amount of times that something ‘unprecedented’ has happened to our class. Yet, those trying moments of isolation allowed us to become more appreciative of the joyous times in community. When things got tough, that’s when we dug the anchors deep – finding every ounce of effort to hold on.”

Valedictorian Charlotte Gray shared a philosophy that has sustained her through the past four years, expressed in one phrase: No doubt. “What I have observed among all of us, especially young women, is the tendency to doubt ourselves. In doing so we become our own worst enemies. Too often, I have seen my peers doubt their intelligence, their appearance, their self-worth, and I am heartbroken when they, or others, cannot see what I see in them. So, ‘no doubt’ became a language of encouragement. Two words to remind someone that, even when you are in your worst or most stressful moment, I have never doubted you, and you should not doubt yourself. ”

On the eve of their graduation, members of the senior class and their families gathered in Immaculate Conception Chapel for a Baccalaureate Mass celebrated by Father Anthony Sirianni, pastor, St. Helena Parish, Edison.

Father Sirianni applauded the resilience of the students, pointing out, “You bond that you, as young women, had. When the school reopened you were leaders.” He stressed that “Our Lady of Mercy truly guided you through these years and into the future, always aware of those in need.”

During the Mass, Mercy Sister Marjorie Tapia, a member of the Mount Saint Mary Academy Board of Trustees, offered a reflection, encouraging seniors to consider what it means to be “compelled by mercy,” one of the school’s five core values. The others include: a voice for dignity and respect; principled leadership; inspired by faith, and educational courage.

She reminded graduates that they have experienced sparks of mercy cultivated as a class, while learning from their teachers, competing as athletes, all while embraced by the Mount community.

Sister Marjorie shared that mercy moves each person “outward and beyond ourselves,” and requires that mercy be pushed out into the world as Sisters of Mercy foundress Catherine McAuley envisioned.

At the conclusion of graduation, as graduates processed out of the Immaculate Conception Chapel with diplomas in hand, faculty, staff, administration and members of the Board of Trustees clapped them out on to the next stage of their journey,

This full-circle tradition began when graduates were freshmen and they entered the main doors of the Mount where the entire school community, lined up and down the stairs and hallways, clapped them in as a welcome to the Mount Pack.

The tradition reflects the experience of Gray, who said, “The Mount is a place where sisterhood flourishes, where family is formed. We came to the Mount as strangers, nervous and excited for these four formative years. Today, we leave the hill as sisters who have surpassed so many expectations and demonstrated exactly what it means to be a woman of Mercy.”

Those newly graduated women of Mercy were proud to receive $23 million in scholarships. 100 percent were offered admission to and have been enrolled in four-year colleges and universities.

Mary Morrell, Editor-in-Chief

1. Graduates and the extended Mount Saint Mary Academy family shared in the Commencement Ceremony that saw 62 women of Mercy take the next step on their educational journey

3. Sister Lisa D. Gambacorto, RSM, Ed.S., Directress of Mount Saint Mary Academy, is flanked by members of the Board of Trustees as they celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2023 on June 3.

John Batkowski photos