Mercy in Action
Sisters in faith, McAuley students are stewards of Mercy. Like our foundress, Catherine McAuley, our young women live their faith through prayer, worship and service.
The young women of Mother McAuley High School have inherited a great tradition and a great challenge: to preserve the faith and make it grow, to have the courage to live by the Catholic values they believe in, and to take the initiative to be women of the 21st century -- educated women who will respond to the needs of others.
Mother McAuley’s Campus Ministry assists the young women of our community to face this challenge. Campus Ministry is at the heart of our mission as a Catholic school and supports the spiritual development of our students. McAuley offers students a number of opportunities to follow in the footsteps of Catherine McAuley and examine their relationship with God, self and others, through discussion, reflection, service and prayer.
“It is not sufficient enough that Christ be formed in us; he must be recognized in our conduct.”
Catherine McAuley
Faith & Service in Action at McAuley
Last week, the Class of 2026 attended their Junior Service Retreat! This year's retreat focused on addressing food insecurity, both locally and globally. Groups of students spent their morning packing meals at The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Catholic Charities Chicago, and Feed My Starving Children. It was a meaningful day full of service and reflection!
Research findings "reveal a consistent portrait of girls' school graduates who are more engaged academically and socially than their coeducated peers." Thank you to the International Coalition of Girls' Schools (ICGS) and our fellow Chicagoland girls' schools for partnering with us throughout Women's History Month to highlight The Girls' School Advantage!
Continuing our celebration of Women's History Month, we've partnered with the International Coalition of Girls' Schools (ICGS) and fellow Chicagoland girls' schools to highlight the benefits of an all-girls education. Research shows that girls' school graduates, compared to coeducated peers, are more likely to exhibit stronger community involvement, greater cultural competency, and increased political engagement.
On March 18, we hosted a ceremony and breakfast for students and their families to celebrate this semester's Macs with Merit! Macs with Merit is an award given to a student by a teacher or staff member on behalf of their honorable character, diligent work ethic, and notable contributions to the McAuley community.
Happy Catholic Sisters Week! We are always proud to celebrate the trailblazing Sisters of Mercy within our school community. Mother McAuley stands on your shoulders as we embrace your unwavering vision, core values, and mission of educating young women. Thank you to all of the Sisters of Mercy, past and present, who have served as role models for our Mighty Macs throughout the years!
Our very own faculty member, Jamie Portal Guardi '95, and her daughter, Kate Guardi '29, braved the shave at the St. Baldrick's Event at St. Catherine's parish this past weekend!
Each month, students involved in our clubs or organizations gather with the residents at Mercy Circle and to complete an activity. This month, students in the Catherine McAuley Honors Scholars and Culinary Club worked with the Sisters of Mercy to decorate flower pots in preparation for spring!
Our entire school community gathered together to begin our Lenten journey with an Ash Wednesday Mass on March 5, led by Rev. Ritchie Ortiz, associate pastor from Queen of Martyrs Church.
Members of our Macs LEAD (Leadership, Education, and Awareness of Disabilities) club led the charge in organizing McAuley's participation in the Chicago Polar Plunge. They joined forces with Brother Rice as the Best of Both Worlds Team to raise over $15,000 for Special Olympics Chicago! Among the 23 the school teams that participated, Best of Both Worlds, came in second for fundraising.
For over 10 years, Mother McAuley Art Students have participated in the Memory Project, which invites high school students to create heartfelt portraits of children living in orphanages around the world. AP Art & Design and Studio Honors students created this year's portraits that were recently delivered to children in India.
Our entire school community gathered together for our Black History Month Prayer Service on February 13. Thank you to our Black Student Union for hosting the beautiful service filled with community, prayer, reflection, music and stories of history makers!
Students and faculty members ended Catholic Schools Week by attending the weekend-long Kairos retreat.
Happy Catholic Schools Week! Our entire school community gathered together this morning for a wonderful Mass to celebrate the theme of "United in Faith and Community."
We kicked off the new year with a retreat for our freshman students. This day-long event allows students to engage with their fellow classmates, dive deeper into their faith and Mercy values, and build on the sense of community that began during the three-day Empower: First Year Experience orientation in August.
Peace Corp Volunteer, Elizabeth Burke '83, visited our Theology IV: Global Studies Class in December.
Each month, students involved in our clubs or organizations gather with the residents at Mercy Circle and to complete an activity. This month, students in Spanish National Honor Society and the Catherine McAuley Honors Scholars worked with the Sisters of Mercy to pack Thanksgiving Desserts for families who benefit from Pat’s Pantry.
On November 1, our school community gathered together for All Saints Day Mass, where we remembered the lives of our loved ones who have passed on.
This week, students from our National Art Honors Society hosted their annual pumpkin auction. Faculty, staff and students were able to bid on their favorite pumpkins, and the proceeds benefit The Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.
Last week, Peer Ministry students prayed, mourned, and paid their respects to 101 indigent, unknown people buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Our students were present to walk with these souls to their final resting place. This was an educational opportunity for the students, and it was also an opportunity to carry out our mercy mission, as burying the dead is a corporal work of mercy.
Each month, students involved in our clubs or organizations gather with the residents at Mercy Circle and to complete an activity. This month, students in Latinas Lead, Irish Heritage Club, and Catherine McAuley Honors Scholars worked with the Sisters of Mercy to create cute pumpkin crafts. The event was featured in the Daily Southtown on October 18.
This morning, our entire school community gathered together for a wonderful prayer service in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month!
Mercy Week was a blast! We celebrated our traditions and history over the course of the week, including our Mercy Day celebration!
We gathered together on Friday morning for a wonderful Opening Mass to commemorate the start of a new school year. We look forward to a school year full of Mercy!