On Monday, April 15, the Gwynedd 社区 had the honor of hosting Sr. Marilyn Lacey, an esteemed Sister of Mercy. She is the founder and Executive Director of Mercy Beyond Borders, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “forging ways for women and girls in extreme poverty to learn, 连接, 和铅.” In an impactful all-school assembly during 社区 Period, Sister Marilyn shared insights into her organization’s work supporting education for all girls in South Sudan.

Drawing from her personal experiences, Sister Marilyn recounted compelling and inspiring stories of courage from young women who have faced unimaginable challenges such as abuse, 人口贩卖, and forced marriages. Despite these adversities, these resilient women found refuge and opportunity at St. Bakhita’s Primary School, the only all-girls institution in South Sudan and completely supported by Mercy Beyond Borders. 在这里, within a nurturing environment, they not only receive education but also a safe place to live while acquiring vital life skills and building lasting friendships with other young women.

Mercy Beyond Borders works to raise funds for scholarships to St. Bakhita’s, as well as high school and higher education opportunities for these girls. Sister Marilyn’s presentation greatly informed the Gwynedd community on the situation in South Sudan and stressed the importance of the role education plays in transforming these girls’ lives. During the assembly, the Mercy Effect club presented Sister Marilyn with a check for $2,000 raised at the Mercy Effect Annual Character Breakfast. 

Following the presentation, a group of ten juniors, selected by their theology teachers, had the privilege of engaging in a luncheon with Sister Marilyn. They were able to ask her questions about her time spent abroad and eagerly absorbed her insights. Sister Marilyn shared many stories that were filled with resilient women she encountered and her compassionate response. These anecdotes truly demonstrate Sister Marilyn’s unwavering support of this mission and her organization’s dedication to improving the lives of women and girls globally. 另外, she shared how she was recognized as an “Unsung Hero of Compassion” by the Dalai Lama and showed the girls a cherished scarf gifted by Mahatma Gandhi.

The school was fortunate enough to have Sister Marilyn speak in multiple theology and social studies classes on Monday, 周二, 和周三. 她的故事, 宣传, and passion left a strong impression on the Gwynedd 社区, inspiring our students to lead a life guided by empathy and a commitment to social justice.

 

- Charlotte Wolfe '25 & Camille Campbell '25