On Monday, Sept. 23, Old Main welcomed the addition of six new crosses in the classrooms of the second floor of Old Main.

These crosses, dispersed in the various classrooms on the second floor, are meant to symbolize the school’s Irish Catholic heritage.

Of the six crosses, three of them were crafted by Mercyhurst people. Art Department Chair Tom Hubert personally crafted a pair of the crosses out of clay and dedicated them to Mercyhurst in memory of his parents.
Taylor Rollins photo: The crosses, located in the classrooms on the second floor of Old Main, symbolize the heritage of the Sisters of Mercy.
Another one was created by carpenter Daniel Barricklow as a replica of the rosaries that the sisters of Mercy wore with their habit.

The crosses that weren’t crafted by the Mercyhurst staff were donated by Sister Patricia Whalen, Sister Maria O’Connor and English Professor Heidi Hosey.

The All-University Mission committee made the effort to bring in the crosses because they felt that the building that the sisters of Mercy built, Old Main, needed a visual representation of the heritage provided by the sisters of Mercy.

On Sept. 23, Chaplain The Rev. Jim Piszker conducted a blessing for the crosses before placing them in their on the walls of Old Main.
Taylor Rollins photo
Each cross was given a name on a plaque beneath them which also listed the name of the donor or artist, accompanied by a short caption listing its relevance to the school.

The crosses have a variety of designs, such as the Mercy Rosary cross, which is a simple wooden cross with metal on the surface.

Other crosses feature more traditional artwork, like the penal cross depicting Jesus’s figure at the crucifixion, or Saint Bridgid’s Cross, which is rush woven into the shape of a star.