CNS PHOTO COURTESY OF SISTERS OF MERCY

Mercy Sisters Sheila Stevenson and Kathleen Wayne, vocation ministers, speak with a young woman during a recent career fair at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa.

Group aims to preserve Mercy Sisters’ values at schools order founded

ERIE, Pa. — Martin Larrey’s passion is history. He has taught college students the history of Latin America, 16th- and 17th-century Europe and the ancient world.

These days, however, he is working to preserve history, as in the tradition and values of the Sisters of Mercy at colleges and universities the order founded in the United States.

Larrey, a longtime college administrator, is interim executive director of the Conference on Mercy Higher Education.

Formed in 2003, the conference is working to ensure that the 16 colleges and universities founded by the Sisters of Mercy in the U.S. maintain both the Catholic and Mercy traditions.

Larrey and representatives who work in the mission activities of Mercy institutions met recently at Mercyhurst College in Erie to share ideas on how to integrate the Mercy mission, values and direction into higher education. He says most colleges and universities carry out that role to varying degrees through on-campus Mercy mission and service offices.

With Mercy regional communities being integrated into larger communities, the rights and responsibilities for Mercy colleges and universities are being transferred to the conference.

"It’s a long and time-consuming process," said Larrey, who has a doctorate in Spanish imperial history. He was dean of humanities at Gannon University in Erie several years ago. His most recent college post was dean of graduate students at the Mercy-founded College of St. Mary in Omaha, Neb. In his current position, Larrey works out of an office at the college.

Mercy Sister JoAnne Courneen, who directs the Mercy Institute at Mercyhurst College, said she is helping assess the institute’s current and future role in integrating the Mercy mission and Catholic tradition at the Erie college.

"I found the meeting helpful as it reinforced some of what we had been thinking and provided new insights," she said.

Larrey is looking to take Mercy-oriented values such as hospitality, compassion and service to others and make them a stronger part of Mercy higher education.

"We need to find a language and focus on which we can agree," he said.

Also, he said, conference members are aiming to collaborate more on educational goals and outcomes.

He said previous meetings have defined a Mercy philosophy that recognizes the sacredness and dignity of the human person, especially those who are disadvantaged.

"We want our people to recognize that kind of relationship with God in their career and way of life," he said.

Larrey would like to see programs designed for both employees and students explaining Mercy values and what it means to be part of Mercy higher education.

He and Mercy mission representatives will get a chance to continue discussing that issue and others at the next meeting of the conference in January. — CNS