It seems pretty easy to me to evaluate a school’s academic success.  ACT test scores, college acceptance, scholarship totals, graduation rates, etc. give a good picture. (Have you looked at our scholarship totals recently?   WOW!)  It also seems pretty easy to me to evaluate athletic success.  State, south state, and district titles, tournament trophies, and number of students involved give a good picture. (Next time you are in the Commons, look at the trophy cases.  All state championship trophies.  WOW!)   Lastly, it seems pretty easy to me to evaluate a school’s success at developing leaders – offices at Youth Legislature, Student Council and class activities, etc. (Did you know that the last two female governors in Youth Legislature were OLA students?)

But, what standard are we going to use to measure Catholic Identity?  Certainly, celebration of Liturgy, daily prayer, annual retreat days for each class, reconciliation services in Advent and Lent, a coordinated six-year religious education curriculum, special prayer services, etc. must be included. (Have you attended an OLA ring ceremony, or an OLA Alumnae Induction ceremony, or a NHS Induction ceremony, or an OLA May Crowning recently?  They are special!  WOW!) 

But Catholic identity goes beyond these activities.  It includes such things as concern for others, a passion for justice, a respect for the earth.  It includes how we welcome anyone who comes to our campus.  It is building a Faith Community among our students and among our faculty.  It is instilling Mercy core values (dignity, integrity, spiritual growth and development, respect, hospitality, appreciation for diversity, compassion, justice, service) in each young woman who is enrolled at OLA.  It is a mindset as well as a series of events.  It is faith and good deeds working hand in hand.  It is transforming hearts as well as educating minds.