Historical Background:
MERCEDARIAN SCHOOL
The Mercedarian Missionaries of Berriz is an International Religious Congregation whose mission is for the integral liberation of all peoples. With the passion to bring the Good News of liberation to all corners of the world, the Mercedarian Sisters came to the Philippines in 1970 to realize its mission with the Filipino people. One of the missions that the Mercedarian Sisters are engaged in from its history is the Education of the young people, forming the mind and the heart of children in the very life of Jesus Christ. Blessed Margarita Maria Lopez de Maturana, theFoundress of the congregation was herself a great educator whose great passion is to form the young lives into the image and likeness of the person of Jesus Christ. With an ardent desire to continue the Spirit of the Foundress, the Mercedarian
Missionaries of Berriz Sisters in the Philippines strongly felt the need to give special attention to Filipino children in their formative years. Thus, in 1982 the Mercedarian Sisters started a summer class for Pre-School which was strongly recommended by the Parish Priest, Fr. In 1985, a new building was put up to accommodate more children in three levels: Nursery, Kinder, and Preparatory. In 1990, the second floor of the building was constructed to accommodate more children in Kinder II. The quality education of the school has proven its product through the high acceptance rate of its graduate in other reputable and established schools. In the year 2000, the elementary level was opened to respond to the demands of the parents for the continuity of their children’s education. In 2004, the elementary level was completed with an ardent desire to serve more children to be active agents of social transformation. THE NAME
The “Our Lady of Mercy” was named before the Patroness of the Mercedarian
Congregation. It runs through the history of the Foundation of the Order of Mercy that was founded by St. Peter Nolasco who was inspired by our Mother Mary, Our Lady of Mercy to liberate people in Spain who were enslaved by the Moors. The Mercedarian Order was born in the XIII century with the sole purpose of liberating those who were captives at that time and those who in one way or the other did not enjoy freedom. As we examined and reflected on the Philippine situation, discerning the signs of the times in our world today, we are challenged to respond to the need for LIBERATION with a deep sense of commitment for JUSTICE, PEACE, and INTEGRITY OF CREATION. With the attitude of Mary, Our Lady of Mercy, exemplar model of discipleship, each student strives to live each day the attitude of unselfish love and dedication for the liberation of others. We believe that “there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend” (Jn. 15,13) as an expression of mercy and compassion. Because of the proliferation of the schools named after the Our Lady of Mercy, our School has changed its name to Mercedarian School without losing its historical meaning and identity. The Mercedarian came from a Spanish word MERCED, which means mercy and compassion. These are some of the core values that are innate of the Our Lady of Mercy, the values that the school carries along in its existence and mission in the field of education. The Mercedarian School seal reflects the history of the Mercedarian Order
and the Mission of the School. It is the school’s emblem and identity that every
member of the school community should know, understand, own, and cherish
with pride and affection. The maroon bars and the cross are historically the color that identifies the participation and support of the Bishop of Barcelona during the foundation of the Order of Mercy by its founder St. Peter Nolasco. The Cross also symbolizes the Christian character of the school that upholds the value of Jesus Christ the Redeemer. The broken chain that embraces the bars, the cross and the torch symbolize freedom from slavery, the identifying mark of the Mercedarian Order as inspired by the Our Lady of Mercy. These also indicate the commitment of the school to the liberation of person through education and to permeate the redemptive spirit of Jesus Christ in the integral formation of the person. The earthen base of the torch symbolizes the Filipino for whom the Mercedarian Education in the Philippines came to birth. Above this earthen base is the torch that takes its flame from Jesus Christ the Redeemer. The flame is to bring light to all who are enslaved by ignorance, power, money, prestige and the like. The circle that encloses the shield is the unending commitment of the school in the call for liberation making justice and peace as a way of life. The surrounding upper half of the seal is the school motto: “for Justice and Liberation”. The School’s vision-mission produce free, responsible and life-giving persons committed to the transformation of a just and humane society characterized by Service, Justice, Faith and Love. And the lower half of the seal is the name of the school, MERCEDARIAN SCHOOL founded in 1982.
