St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School Honors Sisters of Mercy with Special Athletic Jersey

Since arriving in 1862, the Sisters of Mercy have shaped Catholic education in Columbus, Georgia, leaving an indelible mark on our community. To commemorate their incredible legacy, St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School unveiled a special athletic jersey on December 9, 2024 in their honor. The jersey, designed in a striking Marian blue, symbolizes devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, reflecting the faith and values that the Sisters of Mercy have instilled in our school community.

St. Anne-Pacelli administrators, faculty, staff and students celebrated the Sisters of Mercy’s impact on our school and wished them well in retirement during an all-school ceremony, held on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. School leaders surprised Sister Pat Thompson and Sister Margaret Downing with the school’s new Sisters of Mercy jersey during the “Celebration of Gratitude,” this afternoon in The Land, the school's gym.

The color of the Sisters of Mercy jersey will be incorporated into our high school Viking Athletics branding and be available as an option in addition to our school’s red, white and navy jerseys for our 15 sports moving forward. The Sisters of Mercy jerseys include the Mercy cross on the upper left shoulder and will be worn on special game days by our high school Vikings. 

“The ceremony was a way for us to recognize Sr. Pat Thompson, Sr. Margaret Downing and all the Sisters of Mercy before them for their unwavering dedication to Catholic education, selfless service, and commitment to building the strong foundation that continues to guide generations in faith and knowledge here in Columbus,” said St. Anne-Pacelli High School Principal Carolyn Brewster. “We are grateful for their extraordinary contributions and honor their legacy with this meaningful symbol of our appreciation which will serve as a visual reminder for our community of this holy group of women.”

Ledger-Enquirer Coverage of Sisters of Mercy