Study the heart of Mercyhurst.

Mercyhurst offers an interdisciplinary minor in Catholic Studies that aims to deepen students’ appreciation of Catholicism. Inspired by the university’s core values — social mercy, global responsibility, compassionate hospitality, intellectual creativity, and reflective awareness — this minor allows students to conduct serious intellectual inquiry into the history of the religion, as well as present-day religious practices. Students explore the meaning of the Catholic intellectual tradition; analyze important documents and practices; and compare and contrast perspectives that support and challenge church teachings in light of contemporary issues.

Fast Facts

• There are five critical concerns of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. They include caring for the poor, immigrants, the earth, as well as promoting nonviolence and combating racism

• The William C. Sennett Institute for Mercy and Catholic Studies collaborates with the Diocese of Erie to provide educational opportunities that can vitalize faith/reason through public scholarship and hospitable dialogue

• The Catholic Studies minor is housed in the William C. Sennett Institute for Mercy and Catholic Studies, which serves to highlight the breadth and depth of the Catholic intellectual tradition