From the President

Dear McAuley Community,

I have been reflecting a lot lately on one of the most unique identifiers of Mother McAuley. We often recognize our legacy, and that of the Sisters of Mercy, who had a profound impact on the city of Chicago as they opened the first hospital and the first school. We have a long history that predates many famous Chicago events and landmarks. Our predecessor, Saint Xavier Academy for Females, was empowering young women before the Great Chicago Fire changed the city’s landscape, before the World’s Columbian Exposition brought Chicago into the world spotlight. We have withstood the test of time. And there’s a simple but powerful reason that we are still here today, and we are still going strong.

It’s because this legacy that was started by the Sisters of Mercy is a legacy of innovation and forward thinking. We are successful because we continue to develop programs and curriculum that meet the evolving needs of our students and prepare them for the future, and because we continue to provide a faith-based environment where young women thrive.

And we do it well.

We believe girls deserve spaces where confidence is assumed, not earned - where they learn to lead without apology and show up fully as themselves. We’re raising the bar on what the world expects from leaders by changing when and how young women begin to see themselves as one. I am thrilled to welcome our students back for a new school year. I feel privileged to once again see the magic unfold as our young women experience beloved traditions, plant the seeds of lifelong friendships, begin the journey on a path to self discovery, and become equipped with the tools to face the challenges ahead with creative problem-solving and determination.

These pages of Inscape celebrate the many ways our legacy plays out daily for our students, our alumnae and our community. Thank you for being a part of this legacy!

In Mercy,