On November 30, 1850, four Sisters of Mercy and five postulants departed Ireland for the wilderness of Arkansas at the request of the state’s first Catholic bishop, Andrew Byrne. Bishop Byrne was well aware of the sisters’ commitment to serving those in need, and he believed they could help him grow the nearly non-existent Catholic population in the newly created Diocese of Little Rock. The small group arrived at their final destination in Little Rock more than two months later – on February 5, 1851 – after a grueling journey, but immediately set about visiting the sick and teaching at what would soon become known as St. Mary’s Academy.
On the same day 175 years later, the Mount St. Mary Academy community gathered in the McAuley Center for a special Founders Day Mass that honored the incredible legacy of the school’s founders and celebrated a historic milestone unmatched by any other school in Arkansas. Founded in 1851, Mount is recognized as the oldest continuously operated school in the state. It is also the third oldest of the 54 Sisters of Mercy-sponsored schools representing the Mercy Education network across six countries and one territory.
As students entered the McAuley Center, senior Student Council members rang the Angelus Bell 175 times in honor of the school’s 175th anniversary. The bell was given to the Sisters of Mercy by Bishop Byrne at the school’s first location in downtown Little Rock. Sr. Deborah Troillett, RSM ’73, former Mount president, and Chelle McKenzie McCarroll ’02, director of alumnae relations, served as special guest speakers, both thoughtfully reflecting on the past, present and future of the school. Other special guests included Sr. Lisa Atkins, Sr. Anita DeSalvo ’65, Sr. Diane Koorie, Fr. Shaun Wesley of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Hot Springs, and Donna Chachere ’83, MSM Board of Directors chair.
At the conclusion of the all-school Mass, members of the Class of 2028 received their Mercy pins, which serve as daily reminders to live the Mercy values. Additionally, Msgr. Lawrence Frederick, affectionately known as Fr. Fred, was gifted a stole embroidered with the Mercy cross and the school’s special anniversary logo as a token of appreciation for his nearly 35 years of service to Mount and a memento of the historic anniversary year. Attendees were also treated to the surprise unveiling of a framed Papal Blessing imparted by Pope Leo XIV in honor of Mount’s 175th anniversary.
The celebration continued after Mass as students, faculty and staff enjoyed birthday cupcakes from the school. Mount also organized an inaugural “Nun Run” for all 534 of its students – and many faculty and staff – the following day, on February 6. Participants donned nun habits or party hats and carried party horns as they ran, jogged or walked a single lap around a portion of campus.
Mount was happy to have MSM alumna and THV11 news anchor Brooke Buckner Lipe ’16 at her alma mater on February 5 to cover this year’s Founders Day Mass. Click here to watch her story about the special day. Plus, view photos from the Mass and the next day’s Nun Run at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCKXkc.