Brother Rice High School's Mount Sion Program Named Special Honoree for the 2025 South Side Irish Parade.

Brother Rice High School is proud to announce that its Mount Sion Program has been named the Special Honoree of the 2025 South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade, recognizing the program’s commitment to inclusive Catholic education. Brother Rice is honored to receive this distinction alongside Big Shoulders Fund, which has been named the Grand Marshal for its dedication to providing access to quality Catholic education for students in underserved communities.

The South Side Irish Parade, a cherished tradition celebrating faith, family, and community, will take place on Sunday, March 16, 2025, beginning at noon from 103rd and Western in Chicago’s Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood.

The Mount Sion Program at Brother Rice High School is a transformative initiative designed to provide students with moderate cognitive disabilities or significant learning disabilities the opportunity to thrive in a supportive and inclusive high school environment. Through this program, students engage in academic, social, and extracurricular experiences alongside their peers, fostering a culture of acceptance, brotherhood, and excellence.

“We are deeply honored that the South Side Irish Parade Committee has chosen to recognize the Mount Sion Program alongside Big Shoulders Fund,” said Matthew Prunckle, Director of the Mount Sion Program. “This recognition affirms the importance of inclusive education and highlights the impact of our program on the lives of our students and the entire Brother Rice community. Like Big Shoulders Fund, we are committed to ensuring that more young people have access to a Catholic education that empowers them to succeed and make a difference in the world.”

Now in its inaugural year, the Mount Sion Program has already made a profound difference by allowing students of all abilities to be active participants in their high school experience. With the support of peer mentors, faculty, and staff, the program reflects Brother Rice High School’s mission of standing with the marginalized and ensuring that every student is valued, included, and empowered.

As the Parade Honoree, Mount Sion Program students, faculty, and supporters will proudly march in the 2025 South Side Irish Parade, celebrating the strength of community and the shared mission of expanding access to Catholic education.

The South Side Irish Parade is operated by the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Heritage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to preserving Irish heritage and celebrating the values of faith, family, and community.

For more information about the Mount Sion Program, visit BrotherRice.org/Mount-Sion-Program.

For details on the South Side Irish Parade, including the Pre-Parade Fundraiser on February 22, 2025, visit outhsideirishparade.org.