With comfortable September weather and clear skies overhead, it was a beautiful night to celebrate 180 years of Saint Xavier University.
Families, students, alumni and neighbors gathered on campus Sept. 10 for an evening of food, music and activities marking the university’s 180th anniversary.
Saint Xavier cheerleaders welcomed guests as they arrived, while the cougar mascot made its way through the crowd, stopping for photos with children and families.
There was no shortage of things for children to do. Bounce houses, face painting, games and a train ride kept them busy throughout the evening. Children also took turns swinging at a cougar-shaped piñata, hoping to break it open and send candy flying.
Food trucks served dinner, while ice cream and cake pops gave guests something sweet to enjoy. Two live bands provided the music, including Fish ’n Chips, the university’s own band.
Faculty members, the Sisters of Mercy and others spent the evening walking around campus, talking with students and visiting with neighbors.
University President Dr. Keith Elder said he was happy to welcome the community to Saint Xavier for the celebration.
The event marked 180 years since the Sisters of Mercy founded the university in 1846. It is Chicago’s oldest Catholic university and the first Mercy institution of higher learning in the United States.
The anniversary also brought back the spirit of community picnics once held on campus. For years, those gatherings gave neighbors, families, alumni and friends an opportunity to spend time together.
“Celebrating 180 years is about much more than looking back,” said Imelda Macías, Ed.D., assistant vice president for the Office of Family and Community Engagement. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable legacy of the Sisters of Mercy, whose commitment to education, hospitality, compassion, and service continues to inspire everything we do nearly two centuries later.”
Macías said the celebration also honored the generations of students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members who have helped shape the university.
“Our campus has always been more than a place where classes are held,” Macías said. “For 180 years, Saint Xavier has been part of the fabric of Chicago’s South Side.”
