About Us

Our Mercy Identity

The Sisters of Mercy developed expertise in the care and education of girls nearly 200 years ago, and Mercy High School proudly carries forward that tradition.
Catherine McAuley was born in comfortable circumstances in Dublin, Ireland, in 1778, and was orphaned and destitute by age 20. She lived with a Quaker couple for almost 20 years as a companion to Mrs. Callaghan; when Mr. Callaghan died, he left Catherine most of his estate. She used this inheritance to build a house on Baggot Street in Dublin to provide education and healthcare to the city’s women and children in need. The House of Mercy opened on September 24, 1827, the feast of our Lady of Mercy. Other women joined Catherine there, and on December 12, 1831, she and two other women professed religious vows, founding the Sisters of Mercy.

The Mercy charism soon spread throughout Ireland and England and two years after Catherine’s death in 1841, Frances Warde led the Sisters of Mercy to the United States. In 1867, the Sisters of Mercy arrived in Baltimore and established the Mount Saint Agnes High School and college. 

Founded in 1960, Mercy High School is an independent, Catholic, college preparatory school sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. We educate bright and creative girls in grades 9 through 12 and instill a commitment to excellence, hospitality, service, justice, and compassion. We are sponsored by the Mercy Education System of the Americas. Other ministries in the Baltimore area sponsored or co-sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy include Mercy Medical Center, Stella Maris, Marian House, and Sisters Academy of Baltimore.

Today, the Sisters of Mercy live and serve in more than 25 countries including Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and throughout the Caribbean. The House on Baggot Street, now called the Mercy International Centre, continues to represent the founding spirit of Catherine McAuley and her earliest companions.
“No work of charity can be more productive of good to society than the careful instruction of women.”
~Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy

OUR MISSION

We, the community of Mercy High School Baltimore, are a private Catholic, college preparatory school for young women of diverse backgrounds from across central Maryland. Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, we provide a rigorous education marked by academic excellence and personal attention. Here, students learn to communicate ideas and express themselves confidently, both individually and in collaboration with others. Mercy creates an environment where young women form habits of lifelong inquiry, critical thinking and courageous action in a global society. In the tradition of Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, our work reflects a commitment to hospitality, service, justice and compassion.

OUR CORE VALUES

Our Core Values are the hallmarks of a Mercy Education.
These are the ideals we stand up for and strive to live up to.
We hold ourselves to these standards as an institution, as a community and as individuals.
Each value is interconnected and necessary as we take Mercy into the world.

List of 5 items.

  • A Voice for Dignity and Respect

    Mercy students honor the intrinsic value of the individual and recognize God’s presence in each person. We embrace a global vision and value differences of opinion, and are unafraid to confront hostile or hurtful attitudes. By standing up for those who can’t, we go beyond acceptance to help make sure everyone feels recognized and heard.

  • Compelled by Mercy

    Mercy students, in the spirit of Catherine McAuley, are steadfastly determined to take Mercy into an interconnected world. Our shared sense of social consciousness is fortified by universal empathy and a conviction that all are worthy of God’s mercy. This deep awareness and compassion move us to take principled action and serve the needs of others.

  • Educational Courage

    Mercy students welcome the challenge of pursuing their full potential in a culture of excellence, critical thinking and curiosity. Their multifaceted journey builds character while it builds essential skills. Our holistic program expects engagement, a thirst for knowledge and personal responsibility, while preparing students to thrive for a lifetime. 

  • Inspired by Faith

    Mercy students become living models of faith and forceful advocates for Gospel values. Grounded in our Catholic identity in the Mercy tradition, we welcome all faiths and are strengthened and shaped by these relationships. As we pursue a personal relationship with God, we strenuously follow Jesus Christ’s example of social justice, love and service.

  • Principled Leadership

    Mercy students are poised to lead with their unique gifts. Prepared with an ethical and moral compass, we put Mercy values into action and work assertively for what is right. We’re equipped to make difficult choices, learn from our mistakes and develop high emotional intelligence. As an international community, we’re confident in our ability to make a positive difference and push for systemic change.
Learn more about Mercy’s Community Goals or Philosophy.

Mercy High School

1300 East Northern Parkway
Baltimore, Maryland, 21239

Phone: (410) 433-8880
Fax: (410) 323-8816
Mercy High School Baltimore is a sponsored ministry of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and is a member of Mercy Education.

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