Pilgrimage of Young Mercy Leaders

It has been two months since 142 Young Mercy Leaders gathered in Dublin coming from Mercy-affiliated high schools and universities in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Britain, Ireland, and the United States. While the energy of the group gathered was tremendous, there is evidence that it is not dying out as students returned to their home communities. Mercy International Association has heard from many of the delegations about ways in which the students are sharing this Mercy story with others in their schools and universities.

One resource that has been provided to help share the story is a video of the highlights of the conference, created by Dan Kimbrough, Communications Professor at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania (USA).

In this 17-minute video, Dan provides highlights from the various keynote presentations, rituals, workshops, and theatrical performances; features talent show acts of the Melbourne Congregational Schools, and high school students Ryan Boulton-Lear (Liverpool, Great Britain) and Katie Kavanagh (Athy, Ireland); and interviews participants from four USA universities and four high schools in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland.

Various reflections have been posted online. Abby Culp and Meg Maynard from Mercy High School, Omaha, Nebraska (USA) each shared reflections through a blog sponsored by the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Gwynedd Mercy College (Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania USA) and Misericordia University (Dallas, Pennsylvania USA)  students contributed to a blog in the midst of their travels. Keynote speaker Marilyn Lacey rsm shared a few thoughts with the readers of her Mercy Beyond Borders newsletter. Click on the highlighted name to go to each respective blog.

Plans are emerging for the next pilgrimages of Young Mercy Leaders. While this pilgrimage was a joint event for high school and university students, in subsequent years the two groups will be divided into separate groups. The next pilgrimage for high school students will be held in mid-July 2013, and a pilgrimage for university students and young adults will be in mid-July 2014.

Messages to Mary Kay Dobrovolny rsm - Assistant Director Heritage & Spirituality