Leadership Forum 2026 Highlights

Last week, Mercy Education welcomed board chairs, heads of school, and assistant heads to the annual Leadership Forum, February 11-12 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The gathering opened with reflections from the Institute Leadership Team of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas:

• Susan Sanders, RSM – President
• Patricia Flynn, RSM – Vice President
• Terri Bednarz, RSM – Councilor
• Judith Frikker, RSM – Councilor
• Maureen King, RSM – Councilor

They invited participants to deepen their understanding of Mercy sponsorship and to embrace their shared responsibility for carrying the charism forward. As Sister Terri Bednarz reflected, “You are the future of Mercy. You will carry the charism of Mercy.”

Sister Sue Sanders reminded participants that “there is no better present, no better gift you can give to the Sisters of Mercy than your ministry of influence in Catholic and Mercy education.” Her words underscored both the trust the sisters place in our lay leaders and the profound importance of the work happening each day in our Mercy schools.

A major portion of the Forum was devoted to introducing a new Mercy Education resource, “What Is Ours To Do?” Living Our Call as Mercy Educators in Divided Times. The session was led by Mary Kate Becker, Associate Director for Mercy Education; Alison Kline-Kator, Ed.D., Director of Mission Integration at Mercy High School (Farmington Hills, Michigan); and Mary Ann Steutermann, Executive Director of Mission Effectiveness at Assumption High School (Louisville, Kentucky). The idea of publishing the booklet grew out of conversations within Mercy Education’s Mission Integration cohort, whose members named a shared concern: in an age when social, political, and cultural divisions often run counter to the Mercy charism and the Critical Concerns, what is the distinct role of Mercy educators? The call to form compassionate, discerning leaders is more important than ever.

Through prayer, Scripture, shared reflection, and discussion, participants explored how Mercy leaders can navigate complex issues with clarity, courage, and compassion. School teams discussed several real‑world scenarios from the booklet and shared practical ways they would implement the guiding principles from the booklet within their school communities.

The Forum concluded with a powerful sendoff from Christine Basque Malloy, chair of the Mercy Education Board, who invited leaders to continue embracing their vocation with authenticity and courage. She shared the words she is carrying forward: “Be your authentic selves. You are called. Remember who you are. Keep doing what you’re doing to extend the reach of Mercy. You are the present. Together we step into the future, and we have each other’s backs.”

View photo album here.

Video: “Prophets of a Future Not Our Own”
At the Leadership Forum, attendees were moved by a video created by Alison Kline‑Kator featuring students from across our Mercy Education community. Together, they read the reflection “Prophets of a Future Not Our Own,” a reminder that while we may not see the full fruits of our work, God is always at work through us.