As a way to commemorate both a Catholic tradition and its Mercy heritage, Saint Xavier University will be celebrating the Spirit of Mercy Day – a special SXU holiday – on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Various events are scheduled to take place throughout the day and students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend them.
The Spirit of Mercy Day is a combination of the Catholic observance of the Mass of the Holy Spirit and the Sisters of Mercy celebration of Mercy Day.
Sister Joy Clough, RSM, – the Director of Saint Xavier’s Office for Mission and Heritage – provided further details of both traditions.
“The mass of the Holy Spirit is a traditional Catholic practice at colleges and universities to ask the Holy Spirit – as the Spirit of Wisdom – to bless the new academic year. This is our first big, all-university mass to ask for God and the Holy Spirit’s blessing on the school year,” said Clough.
“Mercy Day has traditionally been celebrated at all Mercy institutions around the world on September 24. What does Mercy Day commemorate? It was on September 24, 1827 that Mercy education began in Dublin, Ireland. So, September 24 is the patronal feast of Sisters of Mercy all around the world.”
According to Clough, three major events are scheduled for the day. The Mass of the Holy Spirit is going to take place at noon in the McDonough Chapel of the Mother of Mercy. All classes scheduled at noon have been canceled so that students may attend the mass.
At 3:30 p.m., near the Academy Bell, the commissioning of university leaders will take place.
Clough explained that at this small ceremony, representatives from the university’s Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, student organizations, alumni, and the Sisters of Mercy will receive a small token of appreciation, ring the Academy Bell, and then receive a special blessing.
Finally, the day’s celebrations end at 4:00 p.m. in the Student Lounge with “Meet Some Mercy Sisters.” SXU students will have the opportunity to meet and talk to several Sisters of Mercy guests.
Each year, different groups of sisters are invited to SXU; this year, sisters who have volunteered at the university through the Mercy Cares program as well as a few sisters without any ties to Saint Xavier, will be the guests.
Refreshments at the event will be served.
Clough remarked on the significance that this day holds to the university.
“It’s a wonderful way to bring together the realities of Saint Xavier’s Catholic identity and its Mercy heritage because we’re bringing those two traditions together and that really captures the reality of this institution,” said Clough.
“My hope is that faculty, administrators, students, and staff would be happy to take a moment out of their day to say ‘Yeah, I’m part of this institution and I want to celebrate the things that make Saint Xavier Saint Xavier.”
Macy Zamudio
Senior News Editor
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