Mission, Ministry, & Service

We are champions of our Mercy heritage, our Catholic identity, and finding ways to live Mercy through Service, Justice, Hospitality, and, of course, Mercy. We welcome everyone from all faith traditions and those who are agnostic. You are welcome here! As our name suggests, our office comprises three core areas: Mission, Ministry, and Service. We hope you will join us in one or all three . No matter how you find your way to us, you will find a warm and caring space. We also operate Catherine’s Cupboard, an on-campus food pantry, and the Mercy Hospitality Center, both located in St. Gert’s Hall, as well as Our Lady of Mercy Chapel.

Through our three core areas, our team is committed to sharing the College’s mission, Mercy Charism, and Catholic identity with students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. We work collaboratively across the campus to infuse our values and the Mercy Charism into all we do – campus activities, faith experiences, classroom learning, community service, etc.

Named for Catherine McAuley, who founded the Religious Sisters of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland in 1831, Catherine’s Cupboard is our on-campus food pantry operated by the Office of Mission, Ministry, & Service. Catherine lived her life in service to others–especially the sick, women, and the poor–and responded to the needs of her time. Today, we operate Catherine’s Cupboard to support members of the Mount Aloysius Community who have inadequate amounts of or unreliable access to food and basic hygiene items.

Hunger affects our overall health and ability to concentrate, study, work, play a sport, or care for others who count on us. Many circumstances can lead to temporary food insecurity – job loss, medical issues, death of a parent, spouse, or other loved one, etc.

Catherine’s Cupboard is free and confidential for enrolled students or current employees of the College. Typically, the Cupboard is stocked with non-perishable food, snack items, and hygiene products. Occasionally, we have household items (tissues, cleaning supplies) and baby products (food/formula, diapers). Catherine’s Cupboard is located in St. Gert’s Hall. To request confidential access to Catherine’s Cupboard, email mission@mtaloy.edu or stop by to see our Campus Minister.

The College is proud to have Mercy Associates on our campus who work with our Mission, Ministry, & Service team to advance the charism and ethos of Mercy.

Mercy Associates are women and men who hear and respond to a call from God, an invitation to Gospel holiness lived through sharing in the mission of Mercy. They desire to walk with and care for those who are poor, sick and uneducated. Associates, while maintaining individual lifestyles, seek to embody the spirit of Mercy in partnership with the Sisters of Mercy through a mutual covenant. As identified by its founder, Catherine McAuley, the mission of Mercy is central for associates, who share in prayer, community, ministry and friendship.

Mercy Associates come from many different faith traditions but are respectful of, and comfortable with, Christian symbolism and prayer.

Steeped in Catholic tradition and inspired by Catherine McAuley, we welcome everyone from all faith traditions and those who are agnostic. Our Ministry team offers a wide array of programs and opportunities to enhance your faith and spirituality from individual spiritual guidance to group discussions or programs designed to spark curiosity and conversation. Our office leads faith formation programs, hosts retreats, Bible studies, and a multitude of programs to enrich your prayer and spiritual life.

Our goal is to help you, wherever you are in your faith journey, to deepen your relationship with God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Service is at the heart of a Mount Aloysius education. It’s who we are and what we do. Students will have many opportunities to serve our local communities and help people in need through volunteerism. Service hours or projects are required in some courses such as LIBA 150, or as part of a scholarship award. Athletic teams and clubs are also required to do service.

Our office coordinates and leads monthly Mercy Days of Service. Open to all students, faculty, and staff, these opportunities require only a few hours of your time generally on a Saturday morning. We coordinate all the logistics, including transportation. Occasionally, we offer longer, more immersive experiences that require an overnight or multi-day trip. These trips allow us to devote more time to a single project and expose students to needs in other parts of our country and world. These trips are planned during semester breaks.

For self-directed service hours, we provide a list of possible sites that offer, or have requested, service hours from students. You are responsible for contacting the site and coordinating all the details – dates, times, transportation to/from the site, etc.