Family sends nine children to Catholic school
Hailing from Bloomfield and actively engaged within the St. Columba Parish and Basilica of the Sacred Heart communities in Newark, the Merced family has displayed an extraordinary commitment to Catholic education by sending nine out of their 10 children to Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of Newark. Although some of their children have already graduated from the school system and embarked on their collegiate and career journeys, five of their children are currently enrolled in various Catholic grammar and high schools throughout the Archdiocese.
The Merced family is one of 1,500 families in the past year who have reaped the benefits of partial tuition scholarships from the Scholarship for Inner City Children (SFIC), a non-profit organization that extends financial aid to students attending private and parochial schools across Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties.
Angel Merced, a Puerto Rican American, and his wife Angela, a Columbian immigrant, have embraced Catholic education with help from SFIC to shape their family’s journey. The family, who attends Mass together every Saturday and often pray the rosary as a family, say they are grateful for the opportunities SFIC has provided for their children to pursue faith-based education.
Eight of the Merced children attended grammar school at Mother Seton School in Union City, where their father Angel volunteered as the girls’ basketball coach and was eventually offered a job as a gym teacher. As an employee and parent at the school for nearly a decade, Angel Merced witnessed firsthand the high level of care and attention that the school offers its students.
With the help of Mary P. McErlaine, the former principal at Mother Seton, the Merced family learned about the SFIC. Partial tuition scholarships provided by the SFIC enabled the couple to continue to provide a Catholic education for their children.
“Forget about it,” Angel Merced said. “If it wasn’t for the SFIC we wouldn’t be able to give them a Catholic education. We are very grateful.”
Their oldest child, Elina Merced, is a senior studying physical therapy at Montclair State University after attending Mother Seton and Benedictine Academy in Elizabeth. Deborah Merced, who also graduated from Mother Seton and Benedictine Academy, recently graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and is embarking on a career in civil engineering.
Angel Merced credits his eldest daughters’ successes to their Catholic upbringing and education.
“The way my two oldest daughters carry themselves, I see the respect that they have towards themselves and towards others,” he said.
After attending Mother Seton Grammar School on scholarship, the third child, Daniel Merced, attended school at the Morris-Union Jointure Commission Developmental Learning Center in Warren due to his special learning needs.
Angel Merced said that the family experienced a stark contrast between Catholic education and public-school education when circumstances led the family to choose public over private for their fourth son, Samuel Merced. He attended Bloomfield High School for his secondary education. “The level of attention is totally different” in Catholic schools, where small class sizes and dedicated staff create a tight-knit and supportive culture, Angel Merced said.
Their son Diego Merced, who graduated from St. Mary High School in Rutherford in 2020, is currently studying sports leadership and playing on the soccer team at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Saul, Mateo, and Gabriel Merced, the three middle boys, also went on to study at St. Mary’s after grammar school. The boys all share a passion for sports. Saul Merced, who is currently a senior at St. Mary’s, plans to play on the soccer team at Bloomfield College and will be pursuing studies in sports management. Mateo Merced is a current 11th grader and is a member of the soccer team at St. Mary’s, and Gabriel Merced is a rising freshman at the school with an already impressive boxing record.
Following the closure of Mother Seton School in 2020, the other school-age Merced children found a home at St. Peter School in Belleville and at Good Shephard Academy in Nutley. The two youngest children, Monica and Andres Merced, are currently in 7th and 4th grade respectively at Good Shephard Academy, and both have interests in basketball and soccer.
Through Catholic education, the couple said they have seen their children develop into compassionate, responsible individuals who willingly contribute to their school and church communities. The couple’s own involvement with the youth group at St. Columba Parish has also inspired their children to embrace volunteerism and actively engage in their communities.
“I always tell them they need to know what they want to do in life, and do it,” Angel Merced said. The SFIC scholarships his children received have enabled them to pursue their interests while receiving an education based in strong academics and faith, he said.
The family’s involvement in SFIC events, like the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, set this year for Sept. 16, has fostered a sense of community and belonging. The bond among families who share similar values and aspirations reinforces the message that they are not alone in their journey.
Angel Merced’s advice to families who are interested in Catholic education for their children but are concerned about the financial burden is “don’t hesitate; just do it. The Lord always provides.”
As the Merced children progress through their education, the couple’s hope for their children’s futures is anchored in the foundational values they have gained from Catholic education. The respect, empathy, and sense of purpose they’ve developed are qualities that will serve them well in their future pursuits and careers.
Featured image: The Merced Family. (Courtesy Merced Family)
