Palos Heights Women Honored with Catherine McAuley Award

Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Catherine McAuley Award: Mrs. Sheila Rave and senior Annie Duffy, both of Palos Heights. As part of its annual Mercy Day celebration, Mother McAuley bestows the Catherine McAuley Award on a student and faculty member who demonstrate a deep faith and commitment to the school and the students which inspires their co-workers, students and family members to be better stewards of Catherine’s vision.

Mercy Day celebrates September 24, 1827, the day Catherine McAuley opened the first House of Mercy—a place to shelter and educate women and girls—on Lower Baggot Street in Dublin, Ireland. Mother McAuley honors this day with a special student assembly which features the retelling of the story of Catherine McAuley and the award presentation.

This year marks Mrs. Sheila Rave’s 35th year teaching theology at McAuley, and her 46th year teaching. With her gift of writing, she has been asked to deliver homilies at prayer services, retreats and also at Masses over the years. She’s guided thousands upon thousands of students in over 100 theology classes. She’s also very well known for creating beautiful, touching and inspiring poetry every single day.

Ms. Eileen Boyce, principal, said, “It’s not the completion of those tasks that makes Mrs. Rave the Catherine McAuley Award winner. It’s the way she carries herself and the gracefulness she exudes in every single word she utters. She smiles joyfully, she laughs kindly, she speaks kindly of others, and she’s always so much more concerned for the well-being of others than of herself.”

During her acceptance speech, Mrs. Rave spoke about Catherine McAuley and how she devoted her life to mercy. She quoted Pope Francis, who has declared this year the “Year of Mercy” for the Catholic Church, as well as Shakespeare, who, in his play The Merchant of Venice, says mercy is “twice blessed.”

“Just what is mercy?” She asked the audience. “I found a definition that has stayed with me: mercy is kindness that goes beyond what is expected.… If everyone practiced mercy, we would have a slice of heaven here on earth.”

Senior Annie Duffy was selected by her peers as this year’s recipient of the Catherine McAuley Award. As an active member and leader in student ambassadors, student council, the upper classwomen advisory board, Eucharistic ministers, varsity club and SADD, Annie makes an impact as a leader at Mother McAuley.

“Like Mrs. Rave, it’s not the completion of these tasks or the tasks that she performs that makes her the award winner,” says Ms. Boyce. “It’s the way she carries herself: that permanent smile brightens up every hallway and every room she enters, her can-do attitude helps get the job done with enjoyment, her kind and caring presence ensures her friends, her family and even strangers that she’s always there and willing to lend a helping hand.”

During her speech to students, Annie shared some of her experiences at McAuley, and explained how they made a difference in her life.

“Being able to attend one of the largest all-girls Catholic schools in the country has truly been a blessing,” Annie stated. “While education is a huge part of our school, McAuley has taught me many important lessons outside the classroom, as well. It has given me confidence that I didn’t know I had. I have learned how to stand up for what I believe in, and to stand up for those who can’t do it for themselves. I’ve taken on leadership roles that I never thought were possible, and I have gained the appreciation that we are all beautifully different people with individual gifts.”