SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2016 Bimonthly publication for sisters, associates and companions of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Migrant Journey of Oneness

also in this issue:

We Are Mercy: Our Newest Voices Reflect on the Jubilee Year

Among Friends: Community as a Profound Blessing, Profound Responsibility

2016JubileeYear of Mercy

F E A T U R E S

5 WeAreMercy:OurNewestVoicesReflectontheJubileeYear

Contributions by Sisters Claudio Cano and Jacqueline Nedd; Associates Antony Girlando, Debora Murray and Gina Ruggieri; Mercy Volunteer Corps volunteer Lauren Mifsud; and Mercy Candidates Flordelina and Teresiah

8 MigrantJourneyofOneness By Sister Kathleen Erickson

13 AmongFriends:CommunityasaProfoundBlessing,ProfoundResponsibility

By Sister Renee Yann

C O L U M N S

4 Justice|Gifts of Justice – Packaged in EmailsBy Marianne Comfort, Institute Justice Team

16 Vocation&Incorporation|New Membership Ministry in the Countries of CCASABy Sister Patricia Mulderick

D E P A R T M E N T S

2 CommunityUpdateCompiled by Mercy Communicators

17 SpiceofMercyLife|All Aboard to Portland!By Sister Rita Parks

S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 6

Table of Contents

BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION FOR SISTERS, ASSOCIATES AND COMPANIONS OF THE INSTITUTE OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY OF THE AMERICAS

PublisherInstitute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas 8380 Colesville Road, #300 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-6264 tel 301.587.0423 vivamercy@sistersofmercy.org

Editor Lauren Albright lalbright@sistersofmercy.org

Design and Production RoundPeg

TranslationMany thanks to our translators!

Advisory BoardSisters Anne Curtis, Camille D’Arienzo, Kathleen Erickson, Diane Guerin and Patricia Kenny. Anne Boyle, Sue Carroll, Liz Dossa.

Articles or portions thereof are protected by copyright laws and therefore cannot be reproduced or reprinted without the permission of ¡Viva! Mercy and/or the author.

Visit www.sistersofmercy.org for highlighted articles from this publication.

¡Viva!Mercy is printed on acid free, elemental chlorine-free paper containing 50 percent recycled content including 15 percent post consumer waste.

“Dignidad Colonizada,” by Rev. Héctor J. Hernández, poylolo@gmail.com. In the United States, thousands of immigrant families are separated, and mothers and fathers fight despair in prisons, county jails and detention centers. Read more on page 8.

page 5 page 8 page 13

We Are Mercy

S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16 ¡Viva! Mercy 1

DearSisters,Associates,CompanionsandMercyVolunteers,

DavidWhyteinhispoem“Sometimes”invitesustoconsiderthequalityanddynamicenergyofourquestions.Hewrites:

questions that can make or unmake a life, questions that have patiently waited for you, questions that have no right to go away.

Onadailybasis,weengageoneanotherwithnumerousquestionsforinformation,curiosity,planningandevenamusement.Whilequestionsseemlikeverysimpleandnaturalpartsofourlives

theycanalsosignificantly“makeandunmake”ourlives.Thequestionthatwe,SistersofMercy,posedatour2011Chapter—God of mercy, wisdom and mystery: where do we need to be led now?—hascertainlygivenusadirectionandchallengetheselastfiveyears.Inoursecondroundofthepreparationprocessforour2017InstituteChapterwewereinvitedtoconsider:

What transformation has occurred in us because of the ways we have integrated the Chapter Declaration into our lives?

In the Chapter Declaration we acknowledged our complicity and asked for God’s mercy. As we look at this now, what complicity might we still need to acknowledge for continued transformation?

Inprobingthesesignificantquestions,wearedeeplyconsciousoftheincreasingviolenceandracisminourworld“unmaking”millionsoflivesandimpellingustoaskourselvesyetanotherquestion: How might we embody the mercy of God for a suffering world in more meaningful and impactful ways into the future?

TodayaswemoveclosertowardourSixthInstituteChapter,focusingonthemostsalientandtransformationalquestionsneedsourconstantengagement.SurelyweareclearthatasthisJubileeYearofMercydrawstoaclose,ourquestionsmustbecharacterizedbyhowwewillbringmercytoasufferingworldintangible,concreteways.Questioningwherewearecomplicitcanleadustobecoming“oasesofmercy”asPopeFrancisasksofus.

WeareintheseasonofmarkingMercydaysofsignificanceaswemovefromcelebratingourfirstHouseofMercyinDublinonSeptember24,1827,andleantowardouroriginalFoundationDayonDecember12,1831.Maytheseinspiredfeasts,richinmercypotential,encourageourprayerandengagementtowardnamingthosequestionsthat“havenorighttogoaway.”

InMercy,

From the Institute Leadership Team

The InsTITuTe LeadershIp Team (STANDING) SISTERS PAT MCDERMOTT,

MARY PAT GARVIN, EILEEN CAMPBELL;

(SEATED) SISTERS ANNE CURTIS AND

DEBORAH TROILLETT

Community Update

2 ¡Viva! Mercy S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16

C O M P I L E D B Y M E R C Y C O M M U N I C A T O R S

SOUTH CENTRAL

TWO YOUNG WOMENtooktheirnextstepsintheincorpo-rationprocessthissummer.KellyWilliamswasreceivedasanoviceJuly23inSt.Louis,Missouri,whereshehaslivedwiththeSophia

CommunitysinceAugust2014.SisterPhuongDongmadeherfirstprofessionofvowsAugust6inNewOrleans,Louisiana.Duringherapostolicyear,PhuongministeredatSt.AlphonsusCatholicSchoolinNewOrleans.

SisterPatCowardwasinductedintotheGreaterSavannahAthleticHallofFameatanawardsbanquetMay2inSavannah,Georgia.Thehonorispresentedannuallyto“individuals,groupsandorganizationswhohavecontributedtoathleticsbyleadership,sponsorshiporinstruction.”Pat’scitationsaysshe“becamesynonymouswithSt.Vincent’sAcademyathleticsduringacoachingandadministrativecareerthatspannedmorethan30years.”

TheArkansasWomen’sHallofFamehonoredtheSistersofMercy—theonlyorganization,alongwitheightwomeninArkansas,inductedthisyear.The2016inducteeswererecognizedataceremonyAugust25inLittleRock.

WEST MIDWEST

SISTERS, ASSOCIATES AND VOLUNTEERSdonnedhairnetsandapronstoassemblemealsforfoodpantriesandsheltersinChicago,Illinois,thusgivingadeepermeaningtothe2016WestMidwestGathering:TogetherattheDoorsofMercy.Cheersof“Go,Mercy,go!”filledtheroomwheneveraboxwascom-pleted.Inall,35,000mealswerepackagedwithintwohours.

“AsweplannedtheGatheringagenda,wewantedservicetobeanimportantcomponent,”saidSisterJoyClough,chairoftheplanningcommittee.“ManypeopleinChicagofacehungereveryday.Thisisonewaywecanhelpthemand‘makemercyreal’inthisJubileeYearofMercy,”shesaid.

“Theprocesswaswell-organizedandalotoffun,”saidSisterTarynStark,whoco-chairedtheprojectwithSister

LuAnnHannasch.“Itwasthebestfeelingtoseestacksoffinishedboxeswaitingtobedeliveredtothoseinneed.”

OutreachInc.,Union,Iowa,buystheingredientsinbulk.Itprovidestrainingandoversightsoalargenumberofmealscanbepackagedquickly,efficientlyandcost-effectively.

Sisters Phuong Dong (left) and Kelly Williams

CARIBBEAN, CENTRAL AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA

SISTERS IN ARGENTINAdevotedonedayoftheirJunecom-munitymeetingsforaYearofMercyreflectionprocess.Sisters,associates,staffofColegioSantaEthneaandotherfriendsandcolleaguesjoinedinadayofstudyandprayer.SisterAnaSiufipresentedanoverviewoftheencyclicalLaudato Si’andledthe40participantsastheyengagedwiththedocument,deepenedtheirunderstandingoftheinterconnectednessofeverythinginouruniverseandritualizedtheircommitmenttoworktowardthechangeofattitudesandsystemsthatendangerourplanet.

CCASA’sVocationPromotionTeam—SistersDinaAltamiranda,LilianSilva,IsabelJovel,MaryAnto,MarielenaMcKennaandCLTliaison,PatriciaMulderick—recentlymadethedecisiontousetheSpanish“MisericordiaMercy”Facebookpageto“makeMercyreal”duringthisJubileeYearandpromoteanunderstandingofourlivesandministries.TheSpanishpageisavailableatwww.facebook.com/misericordia.mercy.

Aboutone-thirdofallCCASAsistersparticipatedintheJuly28-31“Mercy-ing:OneWorld,OneDream”gatheringinSt.Louis,Missouri.

Laudato Si’ reflection group in Bella Vista, Argentina. Sister Imelda Sullivan

is pictured in the center.

Sisters at the West

Midwest Gathering

packaged 35,000

meals!

3S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16 ¡Viva! Mercy

MID-ATLANTIC

SISTERS PATRICIA VETRANO(president),KathleenKeenan(vicepresident),PatriciaSmith,AliciaZapataandPatriciaLapczynskistartedtheirnewtermonJuly1,astheMid-AtlanticCommunityLeadershipTeam.

SistersLisaGambacortoandMaryKerwin,thecurrentandformerdirectressesofMountSaintMaryAcademyinWatchung,NewJersey,receivedthehighestpapalhonor,theCrossofHonour,fordistinguishedservicetothechurchandtheDioceseofMetuchen.SisterPatriciaMcCannreceivedtheCatherineMcAuleyMedalduringMisericordiaUniversitycommencementceremoniesforhersignificantservicetoothersinthespiritofCatherineMcAuley.SisterMariaCordisRichey,Ph.D.,professoremeritaofEnglishandformerGeorgianCourtpresident,receivedanhonoraryDoctorofLettersdegreeduringGeorgianCourtUniversity’sundergraduatecommencementceremony.SisterRoseMartin,Ph.D.,co-founderofHopePartnershipforEducation,amiddleschoolandadulteducationcenterinNorthPhiladelphia,wasawardedanhonoraryDoctorofEducationalAdministrationdegree.

NORTHEAST

A “TRAVELING DOOR OF MERCY”createdbyMaterChristiSchoolstudentsinVermont,andaspeciallydesignatedDoorofMercyintheMountSaintMaryAcademychapelinNewHampshire,areshiningexamplesofMercy-sponsoredinstitutionsembracingtheYearofMercy.

TheMaterChristiSchoolcommunityusedtheCriticalConcernsastheirthemeincreatingdoor-sizedplexiglasspanelsmodeledontheVatican’sDoorsofMercy.Becausethedoorsarelightweight,theschoolcommunitydecidedtocallthema“TravelingDoorofMercy”andtakethemtolocalchurchesandparishes.ThehighlightwaswhentheTravelingDoorofMercyjourneyedtotheBurlingtoncathedralforaspecialMasswiththebishoponMay22.

AtMountSaintMaryAcademy,theDoorofMercyinthechapeltookonalifeofitsownasschoolcommunitymembersheldthoughtfuldiscussionsaboutthedoor’smeaningwhiledecoratingit.“[Decoratingthedoor]…isasymbolicmessagetoshowthatourheartsarealwaysopentoGod.…OurpathtoMercyisthroughthis‘door,’”saidPrincipalTamiFrana.

NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, PACIFIC WEST (NyPPaW)

AS THE JOURNEY OF ONENESScontinuesintheNyPPaWCommunity,theInstituteLeadershipTeamplanstomeetwithallstaffandsistersinallU.S.NyPPaWareasandatgatheringsinBuffalo,NewYork,andErie,Pennsylvania.

SistersMelchoraAcaboandZaragozaAdlaonprofessedtem-poraryvowsinthePhilippinesonJune11,andSisterKristineMarieViolangorenewedhervowsonJune10.MercyAssociationinRochester,NewYork,welcomed11newmembers.

Inassignments,ElizabethEisenhauersucceededSisterJacquelineDeMarsascommunityarchivist,whilePaulClarkis

thenewMercyAssociationco-coordinatorinRochester.SisterNancyHoffwasre-electedtotheInstituteReconciliationBoard.

OurCommunityalsocelebratedseveralrecentrecognitions.MercyhurstUniversitynamedSisterBernadetteBellaDistinguishedAlumni,andOurLadyofMercySchoolforYoungWomennamedtheschool’snewBlackBoxTheaterinhonoroftheologyteachersSistersKarlienBachandJoanMcAteer.

Finally,MercyCommunityServices,aSistersofMercysocialserviceministry,closedattheendofMayduetofinancialdifficulties.

A child looks at the Traveling Door of Mercy. Credit: Sister Joanne LaFreniere.

Mid-Atlantic sisters

Dr. Martha Hanlon

(left), member of the

Misericordia University

Board of Trustees, and Dr.

Patricia McCann (center),

Catherine McAuley Medal

recipient, pose with The

Most Reverend Joseph

C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.,

Bishop, Diocese of

Scranton (right) at

commencement.

4 ¡Viva! Mercy S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 164 ¡Viva! Mercy S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16

Gifts of Justice – Packaged in Emails

J U S T I C E

Sometimes the cryofEarthandthecryofthepoor,whichPopeFrancisinhisencyclicalLaudato Si’ urgesustopayattentionto,comesintheformofanemailmessage.

ThathasbeenthecasewithMercy’sresponsetothestrugglesofindigenouspeoplesthroughouttheAmericasandthePhilippines.

EmailmessageshavearrivedfromasisterinPanama,forinstance,alert-ingustoviolenceagainsttheNgäbepeoplewithwhomsheministers,duetotheirprotestofahydro-electricdamthatwillfloodtheirlandandculturalheritage.AstheInstituteJusticeTeam,wehaverespondedwithemailstoU.S.officialswithpleastousetheirinfluencetofindapeacefulresolutiontothebrewingconflict.

ManyMercysisters,associates,students,volunteers,co-workersandfriendswhohadsigneduptoreceivejusticeemailsfromusthenjoininthiselectronicchainofeducationandadvocacy.Theyopenamessage,learnaboutthesituationandwithaclickofabuttonexpressconcerntoPanamanianorU.S.government

officialsandbanksinvestinginthedamproject.

Morerecently,anexchangeofemailswithasisterinthePhilippinesilluminatedtheurgentstruggleoftheLumadpeopleagainstthedevasta-tionofminingandviolence.Justafewweekspreviously,MercyFilipinosistershadpresentedinamovingdanceattheNyPPaWAssemblytheimpactofextractiveindustriesoncommunities,landandwater.SowhenanemailfromahumanrightsorganizationinthePhilippinescamerequestinglettersofsolidarityforaparticularcommunitythathadbeendisplacedafewtimesoverthepastyearduetoharassmentbymilitaryandparamilitaryforces,wehadabitofcontext.BackandforthwenttheemailexchangeswiththeFilipinosistertoclarifythesituationandthesisters’engagementwiththeissue,aswellaswithamemberoftheNyPPaWCommunityLeadershipTeamwhowaseagertorespond.TheelectronicconversationscontinuedaswedraftedalettertoengageU.Sgovernmentofficialsinspeakingoutforhumanrights.

WehopethatourMercyadvocatesrecognizethatpackagedineveryemailactionalertisagift:anopportunitytolearnaboutandsupportthestrugglesofhumanrightsdefenders,immigrantfamilies,victimsofhumantrafficking,communitiesdevastatedbymassincar-cerationandmore.

Wealsohopetheyappreciatethegiftofhavingthetechnologytorespondinwaysthatinmanycasescanliterallysavelives.Sinceactivistsoftenaretargetedforrepressionbystatesecurityforcesordeathsquads,showingthattheinternationalcom-munitycaresandismonitoringdevelopments—eventhroughthesimpleformofanemailmessage—offersalayerofprotection,atypeofadvocacyaccompanimentfromafar.

Wethankallofthosewhohavehandledthesegiftswithsuchcareandcommitment.AndweinviteotherstodothesamebysigningupforjusticeemailsfromtheSistersofMercyhere:sistersofmercy.org/takeaction.

— By Marianne Comfort, Institute Justice Team

Our Newest Voices Reflect on the Jubilee Year

We Are Mercy:

S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16 ¡Viva! Mercy 5

2016JubileeYear of Mercy

Sister Claudia Cano Antony Girlando, Mercy Associate

Lauren Mifsud, Mercy Volunteer Corps volunteer

Debora Murray, Mercy Associate and new participant in the Collaborative Leadership Development Program (CLDP)

Sister Jacqueline Nedd

Flordelina, Mercy candidate in the Philippines

Gina Ruggieri, Mercy Associate

Teresiah (Terry), Mercy candidate in Guyana

6 ¡Viva! Mercy S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16

ANTONYIhaveandcontinuetotrytolookwithintoseeifthereareinstances where I can overlook pride and mend relation-ships.Ihavelookedtobroadenmyvolunteeringworkwithanorganizationthatworkswithpeoplewithdisabilities.IalsomadeanextraeffortatthefarmwhereIvolunteertomaintainthecleanlinessoftheanimalstalls.

GINAAsasocialworkerIamgiventhegiftofbeingabletoservethe community every day. I was called to be a MercyAssociate in this Jubilee year so that I can expand uponthisgiftwithotherassociates,broadenmyperspectiveonmercy, and broaden my scope in order to serve more ofthoseinneed.

FLORDELINAAsMercycandidateIampracticingmercybydailyprayingthe Divine Mercy for peace, conversion of sinners, poorsouls in purgatory, victims of disasters, etc. … The bestthingIcandoistopraythatthosewhohavemuch,maybegenerousenoughtosharetheirblessings.

JACQUELINEIhavealwaysfeltcalledtobeaninstrumentofGod’sloveandmercyinourworld.SoIstrivetoexpressthelovingandcompassionatepresenceofGodtothosearoundmebymywordsandactions.NowIamespeciallyconsciousofhow,whereandwhenIcanbemoremercifulduringthisJubileeYearofMercyandprayforthegracetobemerciful.

LAURENDuringthispastyear,Ihavecometofindthatbeing“merciful”haseverythingtodowithbeingpresent.Tome,thismeansdoingyourbesttoshowupeveryday,nomatterhowchal-lengingthatmaybe,andmeetpeoplewheretheyare.Inaworldwherewehavetheabilitytobeconstantlyconnected,Ibelieve thatbeing fullypresent toanotherperson is thebestwaytoshowcompassionandlove.

TERRYThisJubileeyearofMercyhasbeenapersonalreminderof God’s providence and mercy. I have experienced thetenderness of God in my life. I have been challenged toreachouttothosewhoaredeeplywoundedanddiscrimi-nated against through my ministry with those who haveHansen’sdisease(leprosy).Ihavebeencalledtobeavoiceforthemandtotryinlittlewaystobeanagentofchange.

CLAUDIAIhavebeencalledtomercyinthisJubileeYeareverytimeI pray these words, “Thy will be done.” As I pray thesewords,IamsurrenderingtoGod’smovementinmylife,andembracingafreedomthatsummonsmetobeGod’smercytoallwhomGodplacesinmylife.Forme,thiscalltomercyisthecatalysttobeabouttheworkofGod,andtodothisworkwithacompassionateheart.

2016JubileeYear of Mercy

How gifted we are to be named Mercy during this extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy—and how challenged, too!

Pope Francis defines mercy as “the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us.” For many members in our Mercy family, God has come to meet them through a call to deepen their commitment to Mercy within this Jubilee Year. How have we experienced the call to mercy in this Jubilee Year? How can we harness its momentum for the future? We asked several individuals who celebrated recent commitments to the Sisters of Mercy to share their reflections on these questions.

How have you been called to mercy in this Jubilee Year?

Sister Claudia Cano took perpetual vows in August 2015. She is currently studying to become a registered nurse. You can contact her at ccano@mercysc.org.

Antony Girlando, a Mercy Associate, is an associate professor at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine and the director of the Faculty Center for Innovation. You can contact Antony at agirland@sjcme.edu.

Lauren Mifsud just completed her year of service as a Mercy Volunteer Corps volunteer at St. Peter’s School in San Francisco, California. She currently lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and teaches math at Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School.

Debora Murray, a Mercy Associate, is a former hospital Mission leader and the chief compliance officer for the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan. Her email address is dmurray@hfhs.org.

S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16 ¡Viva! Mercy 7

DEBORAOnethingthathasalwaysstoodoutformeaboutCatherineMcAuleyisthatsheembodiedtheseeminglyopposingval-uesofhumilityandaudacity.Catherinesawthesituationinher“world”ofDublin,Ireland,throughtheeyesofthepooranddestitute.Andshehad theaudacity to take all ofher imaginationandresources, indeedher life, tomakeitdifferentandchangeitforthebetter.SoIthinkeachofusneedstorespond,stepupandparticipatewherewefeelwearecalled,todosomethingpositiveintheworld.IseetheMercycharismasawebofrelationships,andourroleistomake it stronger, demonstrating the web of love for eachotherandforthoseweserve.Wecanonlydothisbystep-pingupandofferingourselvesinwhateverwayswecan.InthiswaywebuilduponthelegacyoftheMercycharism,andintheprocess,createsomethingnew.

FLORDELINA This Year of Mercy invites each one of us to be mercifultowardseachother;therefore,everybodyinthecommunitycan experience mercy. If mercy is being lived out in oursmall communities, it will outflow to the bigger, outsidecommunity.Wearethenlikelampsthatgivelightthroughour merciful examples. It will be the fulfillment of whatJesussaid,“Blessedarethemerciful;theirsisthekingdomofheaven.”Boththereligiousandlayfaithfulcommunitieswalkhand-in-handtowardthatpromisedheavenlykingdom.

TERRY This year calls us to be in right relationships with oneanotherandwithallcreation.Itmovesustobemoreinten-tional about our gift of Mercy to our Church and world.We are invited to deepen our response to those who areoppressedandtoworkagainstsystemsthatcontinuetoholdourpeopleinpoverty.

JACQUELINEI believe that we could spread the spirit of mercy in ourministriesbywitnessingtomercyandjusticethroughourcorporalandspiritualworksofmercy.Wecouldalsohostbookclubs,faith-sharingorgroupdiscussionswithpersonsin our ministries using books and reflections written onMercy.

CLAUDIA We, joinedby theMercycharism,havedone tremendousworksofmercyinourministries,inourresponseforjustice,and throughourprayer life, and for thatwe are grateful.Ourworldisascaryplaceforanyone,butmoresotothepersonwhofeelsnoonehastheirback.Wecancontinuetoencourageoneanothertostepoutofourcomfortzoneinordertobefullypresentmind,body,andspirittothepeopleinthemargins.

Sister Jacqueline Nedd professed her perpetual vows in October 2015. A native of Guyana, she attended St. Mary’s primary school, a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy. She graduated from Gwynedd Mercy University with her BSN and presently ministers as a nurse. You can contact her at jnedd@mercymidatlantic.org.

Gina Ruggieri, a Mercy Associate since May 2016, is a program director at Open Hearth, Inc., in Spring City, Pennsylvania. You can contact her at gina.ruggieri@gmail.com.

Flordelina is a Mercy candidate in the Philippines. She is currently in the Kolambugan community, helping catechists, and she also works in the library at Holy Cross High School.

Teresiah (Terry) is a Mercy candidate in Guyana. She currently works in pastoral ministry, caring for those who are sick and elderly both at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and Mahaica.

2016JubileeYear of Mercy

How can we, who are joined by the Mercy charism, use the momentum of the

Jubilee Year to guide us into the future?

10 Words or Less: How can we make mercy real every day?

LAUREN Just love – everyone, everything, always.

ANTONYBe happy, be

humble, be wise— this is Mercy.

GINABy listening, feeling,

and responding.

TERRYBy being grateful and

a compassionate merciful presence.

JACQUELINEWe can make

Mercy real by living merciful lives.

CLAUDIAFree your heart, extend

your hand, and lift your neighbor up.

8 ¡Viva! Mercy S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16

By Sister Kathleen Erickson

“I believe the people of North America have a great role to play in the survival of the world. They have a capacity for

passion when they realize the truth, but are stuck right now in a big cloud of disinformation. It will take super-human effort to

break through … so many things separate us from being one.”

-Michelle Najlis, Nicaraguan poet, to a Witness for Peace group from the United States, 1985

Oneness

Migrant Journey of

S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16 ¡Viva! Mercy 9

Border fence between Sunland Park, New Mexico, and Juárez, Mexico. Credit: Sister Kathleen Erickson

10 ¡Viva! Mercy S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16

Wheninvitedtosubmitanarticleto ¡Viva! Mercy on immigration, I accepted immediately. I hadworkedattheU.S.-Mexicoborderfor18years,

spenttimeinLatinAmerica,servedtwomonthsasinterimchaplain in the South Texas “Family Residential Center”and visited hundreds of detained immigrants in a federaldetention center and a county jail. I thoughtwriting thisarticlewouldcomeeasily.Iwassowrong.

As you read this, millions of people have no home onEarth.Refugeesarefleeingwar, living incamps,drowningas they try toget toanycountry thatwill stillaccept them.Violenceisescalating,andfeargrows.Doyousometimesfeelsorrowinyourverybeing,asIdo?Doyougrapplewithyourown comfort, realize guilt is not the answer, and wonderwhatis?

IntheUnitedStates,thousandsofimmigrantfamiliesareseparated,andmothersandfathersfightdespairinprisons,countyjailsanddetentioncenters.Morethanonce,sittingacross fromsomeonewhocannotstopcryinghasfloodedmy soul with the realization: their despair is my despair.Immigrantsareus.Thejourneyofrefugeeshauntsus.Yet,asMichelleNajlis said, “somany things separateus frombeingone.”

OnJune23theU.S.SupremeCourtannouncedasplitdecision(4-4)onUnitedStatesvs.Texas.Thecaseisaboutwhether Deferred Action for Parents of Americans andLawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and the expansionofDeferredAction forChildhoodArrivals (DACA)willgointoeffect,allowingpeoplewhohavelivedhereforyearstocontinuetheirstudiesandworkwithoutfearofdeportation.Thesplitdecisionmeansthecasewillreturntolowercourts,where itcouldbeheldup indefinitely.Eventhe futuresofhighschoolgraduateswithscholarshipsarenowonhold.

A friend recently said shehadn’theardofDACA.Myresolve to inform collides with my frustration that theplightofthose“dreamers”isnotnightlynews,nothead-linesandprobablynotconversationinmostofthehomesinthiscountry.Noristheplightofmothersandchildren,including babies in cribs in detention. Am I wrong inthinkingthatevensome¡Viva! Mercy readersdonotknowabouttheserealities?

It is a discouraging time for people who care aboutimmigrantsandrefugees.Continuedeffortsdon’tseemtopenetratetheoblivionofoursociety.Fearandxenophobiablockthetruththatmostimmigrantsandrefugeesareflee-ing uncontrollable levels of war, murder, rape, domesticabuse and gang-related violence that should serve as thebasisforlegalprotectionunderU.S.asylumandrefugeelaw.

IvisitSandrainjailandshepoursoutherworryabouther nieces in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. They are reach-ing theagewhengangsbegin to takenotice.Herbrotherdoesn’t have money to get them out of the country. ThenextweekshetellsmeTeri, the13-year-old,wasbrutallygang-raped and beaten. The parents are devastated, Terineedspsychologicalhelp,andher12-year-oldsisteristrau-matized.Sandracries.

Presentations,actionalerts,lobbying,protestsandprayervigilsseemineffectiveinthefaceofrelentlessdemonizingofimmigrantsandrefugees.Whereareempathyandtheabilitytoseesomeoneelse’sperspectiveandwonder,“WhatwouldIdoifmyfamilywereindanger?”Letterstotheeditordecryimmi-grants for “breaking the law” but don’t question corporategreedorunfairstructureswhichgenerateinequality.Seriousreflection on root causes of immigration demonstrates howthingsareconnectedandwillalsoleadusbacktoourselves.

HowcanwesupporttheMercycommunityinHonduras,

These items were found in dangerous desert crossing areas, discarded by immigrants risking their lives to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. These and other

“found items” were displayed at a 2014 Bishops’ Mass for immigration reform.

S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16 ¡Viva! Mercy 1111

whereresisterswhospeakoutagainstgovernmentoppres-sion and destructive corporate mining practices are mur-dered? Violence with impunity epitomizes a governmentoutofcontrol,yetitstillreceivesU.S.funding.Howcanweresistourgovernment’scomplicityinthatsituation?

“When the people of the United States realize the power they have, change will happen.”

- Honduran Mercy Associate to Election International Observers, 2014

Thejourneyofonenessofhumanity—andoftheMercycommunity—reflectstheamazingtimeinwhichwelive.Itisatimeofgreatpotentialandevenurgency,ofrapid and extreme change. Technology allowshumans toknowwhat ishappening as ithap-pens.ImagesonradioandTVenterouraware-ness,andphrasessuchas“vineandbranches,”“commongood”and“whatyoudototheleastof these…” come to mind. An evolving scien-tificandspiritualunderstandingofanintercon-nected universe demonstrates that weareonajourneyofevolutionaryconsciousness.

I tell detained immigrants “You are notalone.Manyofusareworkingonyourbehalf.Yourstrengthiswithin.YoufindGodwithin.”Thedesperationofpeoplewhohavelostevery-thingcalls eachofus to considerwhoweare,wherewefindinnerstrength,whatwebelieve.Recognizingthatwhateachpersondoeshasanimpactonthewhole,howmightweshareoureffortsandourfaithjourneymorewidely?Thecomplexityofissueslikeimmigrationcallsustowitnessbyour response and to focusonwhatwomenreligiousandtheirbroadercommunitieshavetoofferinatleasttwoareas.

Thefirstistoexplorewhatscientists,spiritu-alwritersandtheologiansarearticulatingaboutoneness; toaskourselveshowwecanembodyTeresaofAvila’scounselthatgoingdeepenoughwithin,onediscovers thewholeworld; to rec-ognize that in our time all human beings, notjust exceptional “holy” ones, are called to bemystics. In his book, Untethered Soul, MichaelSinger reminds us, “There is an ocean of lovebehind all the fear and pain.”1 Humanity willlearn that truth together or not at all. As we

evolve,weneedtograpplewithchangesinspiritualityandfaithsystemswhichseparateus.Wemaybecalledtobecome“sacredactivists,”asthemysticAndrewHarveysuggests.

Secondly,believingthatbecauseeacheffortaddstothewhole,let’sgetveryspecificaboutactions.Fromourplaceof relative privilege, comfort and safety, we have greatwords,strongstatements,CriticalConcernsandmarvelousministryexperience.The2011 Chapter Declarationremindsusthatweareled“toliberateandredistributeourhumanand financial resources across the Institute and developcreativesolutionstounmetneeds,actinginsolidaritywithimpoverished peoples.” Does that translate to sponsoringrefugee families or providing sanctuary for immigrants?Weneedtotalkwithoneanotherabouthowdifficultandcomplexthoseactionswouldbe,andyethowneeded!

Individually we need to clarify what we are willing togiveupsothatothershaveenough,andhowinvolvedwe

“La Niña Semilla,” by Rev. Héctor Hernández, poylolo@gmail.com

12 ¡Viva! Mercy S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16

wrotedaily letters, some to localnewspapersandTVsta-tions,aboutourconcerns,suchasthedetentionofwomenand children, would it have an effect? Why not try andsee?Takingactionisempoweringandleadstomoreaction.Whateachofusdoesmatters.

As a community on our Journey of Oneness, we mustmakeourpassionforalleviatingthesufferingofimpoverishedpeoplethebeginningandtheendofourconversationsaboutfinances,retirement,propertyandourownsecurity.Wewhohave some visibility and credibility in the wider world cangivewitnesstoonenessthatincludestheneedsofimmigrants,refugeesandothersinourdecisionsandaction.Wecanmodellisteningtooneanotherwithoutrancoranddefensivenessaswerealizethatthisisamigrantjourneyweareallon.

“For a new world, we need new mass feelings, and the feelings of the masses do not evolve except under worldwide reactions. Either the world is absurd … Or the world is going somewhere.”

-Teihard de Chardin, 19402

Read more about the Sisters of Mercy’s commitment to immigration reform at www.sistersofmercy.org/immigration.

The Sisters of Mercy have been responding to human rights concerns in Honduras, a country in which we live and minister, since 2009. Learn more at www.sistersofmercy.org/Honduras.

Read the report from Mercy delegation to Honduras in December 2015 at bit.ly/2015HondurasReport.

Sister Kathleen Erickson works on immigration and environmental issues through various ministries, including serving as facilitator of the AwakeningtheDreamer symposium and visiting undocumented immigrants as part of the Immigrant Detainee Accompaniment Program in Omaha, Nebraska. She

served as an international observer at the Honduran presidential election in November 2013. Kathleen can be reached at kerickson@mercywmw.org.

1. Singer, Michael. The Untethered Soul. New Harbinger Publications, Inc. Oakland, California. 2007. 2. Teilhard, Pierre. Letters to Two Friends. The New American Library, Inc. 1968.

FortheImmigrant

This excerpted poem was written by Menya (last name withheld), an asylum seeker from Kenya who is being held in detention in the United States. Read Menya’s poem in its entirety at bit.ly/ForTheImmigrant

To immigration I am just

another file to be closed quickly

To immigration I am just

an alien number to be tossed away

How I wish and pray you could

look deeper on who I am

I am a human being like you

A human being born into love

Look deeper and maybe you might

Learn something about me

If you look deeper I can teach

you love. I can teach you kindness

Look deeper and if you took time

to listen to me, I am a human being just like you.

Join an online discussion about immigration and oneness at bit.ly/MigrantJourneyofOneness

canbe.Let’sstrategizehowtogetmediatotakeourcon-cernsmoreseriously;howtoencouragefriends,family,alumniandco-workers todosoaswell.Withourcom-municationsofficesandwidenetworkofcontacts,couldwe connect with one or more media figures (Oprah?MichelleObama?MegynKelly?)andgettheirattention?If we launched a well-planned effort to raise awareness,

By Sister Renee Yann

We offer this reflection, originally published in Spiritual Life (Summer 1992),

to reflect on the vulnerabilities so many in Mercy may feel as we continue on

our Journey of Oneness. Among friends, we embrace the liberty to express

hopes and doubts; to share fears and dreams; to comfort and be comforted.

Community as a Profound Blessing, Profound Responsibility

S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16 ¡Viva! Mercy 13

ItallstartedatJohn’sfuneral,ayoungmanIhadtaughtinthelate1970s.

Now,10yearslater,hehaddiedinacaraccident,only22yearsold.Arriving early for his funeral Mass, I sat in the parish

churchastorrentsofraincrashedovertheroof,andIletmymanyyearsofministrytherefloodthoughmymemory.Formorethanadecade,IhadbeenincorporatedintothelivesoffamilieslikeJohn’s,thewayinksoaksintoablotter.Forasliceoftime,theirstoriesandmineweresocloselyknitthatithadbeenpossibleformetosay,doorbesomethingthatcouldinfluencetheirentirelives.

Even as I engaged this overwhelming thought, it tookflesh as Sister Beth Flannery, another of my former stu-dents,cameintochurchandsatbesideme—Beth,whohadbecomeaSisterofMercy;Beth,whohadenteredcommu-nitywithme.

See,that’swhatthisstoryisreallyabout—community—andafewamazinglysimpleincidentsthatbroughtitsmean-inghometomeinawaythatIhadneverexperiencedbefore.

ForthewholeweekafterJohn’sfuneral,windsandrainsfromthefringeofHurricaneHugoinundatedus.Aheavy,sunlessfeelingbegantoinvadepeople,atleastitbegantoinvade me, already primed for “the shadows” by havingwitnessed and internalized the noble grief of John’s veryfaithful,Catholicfamily.

Aboutaweek-and-a-halfafterIhadsatinthatrain-buffet-edchurch,IwenttovolunteeratMcAuley,ourcommunityretirementhome.ItwasstilldarkandchillywhenIleftthehousethatmorning,ratherdisgruntled.Itseemedlikeanewchapterwasfallingoverrecentevents,butatthathourandtemperature,itdidn’tseemaparticularlyinvitingchapter!

Afterinitialmorningtasks,thethreeothermembersofourcrewwenttojointheMcAuleycommunityatMass,butIdecidedtoforegothat,sinceIhadbeentoalateSaturdayeveningMass.Besides,IknewIneededalittlespacetoletthisrathersignificantstrainofnegativitysurfaceinmeandbetestedforitscause.Isatquietlyinalight-soakedwindowasthelaterisingsunnearlyblindedme.Fromashortdis-tanceaway,themelodyofhymnswaftedtowardme,mix-ingyoungandagedvoicesinanindistinguishableinterplayIhadalways loved.Wordlessly,butnoteasily, Ibegantouncurlbeforethiswarming,melodiousGodallthecurledcirclesofpainthathadgatheredinmesinceJohn’sfuneral:prematuredeath,undeservedsuffering,theimpermanenceofourefforts,theburdenofaging,thesmallnessofmyownhearttoengagelifewiththenobilityIwouldlike.

Still,Iknewthatsomewhereinthisdayjustbeginning,therewouldbe signsofgrace forme toenter thatwouldhelpmecometopeacearoundalltheimperceptiblecauses

ofmyunrest.Forthenext10hoursadelugeofthosesignswashedoverme,disguisedininsignificance,butmiraculouslyrevealedtomethroughtheenergyofthatmorningreflection.

ThefirstsigncamefromSisterDoloresDrislane,thesisterwhohadbeeninourcommunitylongerthananybodyelse.ShehadbeenmyteacheryearsbeforewhenIcrammedinaBachelor’sdegree inEnglish.Approaching literarythemeswithanesotericintellectualism,shehadseemedremovedinawayfromtherealworldasIperceivedit.WhenIfinishedmyundergraduatework,Ihadleftherinthatdistantdefinition.The ensuing years in community had never provided thechancetocometoknowherasaperson.Now,hermindstillsharpandfine,shewasverystooped,andmaneuveredthroughMcAuleywiththeaidofawalker.

Dolores always wore the full habit—actually, a designtwice removed from the current one—complete with capandveil.Recently,inherlaterretirement,shehadtakentowearingasmockoverherhabit,almostasiftopreservethatwhichwasindangerofextinction.Itwastothatsmockthatshedrewmyattentionasshewalkeduptome.

“Ijusthadaverybeautifulexperience,”shesaid.“Iwasstandingthereforamomentinthesunlightbythatwindow,andthelightthroughthetreesmadealovelydelicatepatternagainstme.Rightherenearthehemofmysmock.”Ilookedtherewhere shepointed,nowa singleblockof thinbluematerial in the shade of the walls. She continued, “Thewind through the leaves and grass made the light danceagainstme.”

Suddenlyshewasextremelyhuman,revealingtomethesamewordlessentertainmentsofhermindthat Isooftenhadmyself.Poetryranthroughher.Godranthroughher,longingforexpression,justthewayGodranthroughme.Stunned,Irespondedwithsomethingpedantic,butthought,“Yes,nowIcanseethelightdancingagainstyoutoo!”

Thenextsigncamewhendinnerstarted,alightmealofhomemadesoupandsandwiches.Iwentfromtabletotabletakingtheordersofa fewsisterswhowere incapacitated.AsIturnedtowardthekitchentopreparesomeone’smenuchoice,IglancedovertowardSisterAlmaReginaMcGrail,thelastofmychargeswhomIhadnotyetinventoriedforherselection.

Icould tellby theexpressiononher face that shewasuncharacteristically upset. She was tremulous and dis-tracted.Ileanedovertotrytogethereyestoconnectwithmine,butshestaredpastme,asifgropingforsomethingtosettleher.Onlyoneothersister,LeonaKennedy,wasatthe

14 ¡Viva! Mercy S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16

ì

S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16 ¡Viva! Mercy 15

table.Shetoowasawarethatthingswerenotquiteright.Afterashortsilence,Almasaid,”Idon’tknowwhat’sthe

matter.I’msoconfused.”Itbecameapparent,assheofferedus aborted phrases, that she could not orient herself totimeorplace.Itseemed,asIlookedintoherface,thatherwholelifewasswimmingbeforeherandshecouldnotdropanchor in thepresentreality. Iplacedmyhandoverhersand said, “Alma, don’t work too hard at this. Everythingwillclearinafewminutes.”Thiscalmedheronlyslightly.It was then that Leona, only recently come to McAuley,herselfmovingrapidlyintotheominousjourneyofoldage,leanedover toAlmaandsaid,“It’sall right,Alma.You’reamongfriends.”

Thosewordsfellonmelikeaflood,whichatonceoblit-eratesandre-seedsitsbanksfornewlife.“Amongfriends.”There it was—all the day’s revelations captured in a fewwords.Afterallourelaboratetheologicalanalysesandstrat-egies,thiswaswhatcommunityallboileddownto:beingamong friends.Thiswaswhat thewholewitnessvalueofcommunitylifewastobetothechurch:whatitmeanstobe“amongfriends.”

AsIgatheredAlma’sfood,IaskedtheotherthreeserverstocomesitwithusatAlmaandLeona’stablesothatwecouldhelplayouttheboundariesofrealityandgentlyencourageAlma back to them. That happened without the slightestvestige of manipulation, because Alma herself said, “I’mhaving a hard time. I had fallen asleep in my room andwhentheywokemefordinner,Icouldn’tquitegetholdofthetimeorwhatwashappening.”Rightoutinthecenterofusgatheredaroundthetablewasthisdearsister’svulnerability.

Wecherisheditasapreciousgift,andwetalkeddeliber-atelyabouttheday’seventssothatwemightofferAlmaafocusofre-engagement.Someofussharedourownexperi-ences of confusion and disorientation, generated by verydifferent causes but nonetheless real. Leona talked abouthowsurprisingitistorealizeyouaregettingold;howmuchsoonerthanexpectedoldagecomes.Shetalkedtooabouthowitreallyseemedanimpossibility“topreparefor”oldage.We teaseda little, laugheda little, said someseriousthings that were concerns to us, and slowly through theconversation, Alma came back to us, camebacktobe“amongfriends.”

That night I drove home to ourhouseinWestPhilly,where,aftera weekend of varied commit-ments, our small communityre-gathered to be with oneanother. In my heart, I wasbringingtothatgatheringtheclear and grace-filled lesson

of that day: community is a balance of vulnerabilities,whichweenterintoinfaithandlove.Itrequirestheoffer-ingofstrengthinstrength,andtheacceptingofstrengthinweakness.Itrequiresatrustandanhonoringoftrustthatis impossiblewithoutGod’senergyinus.It is theuniquesigninthechurchandintheworldthatwearetolivewithoneanother,allofus,asthosewhoare“amongfriends”—aprofoundblessingandaprofoundresponsibility.

As Iwalked intoour livingroom, thesmellof freshly-bakedbrownies lingered in the air.On the table rested anoteaddressedtomefromAnne,theyoungestofJohn’ssixbrothersandsisterswhomIhadtaught.Addressedtomyreligiousname,thenotesaid:

“Dearest Sister Nathaniel, You will never know what itmeanttoourfamilytohaveyouwithusonourdayofsor-row. You played such an instrumental part in so many ofourlives.YourpresenceremindedusofourbeginningsatSt.Margaret’sasyoungCatholics.OurgriefiseasedbyknowingthatJohnisinamuchbetterplacenow.Lovingly,Anne”

Inmyheart,Ianswered,“DearestAnne,YouwillneverknowwhatJohn’sfuneralmeanttome.”

Sister Renee Yann, D.Min, is a writer and speaker on topics of spirituality, mission and ethical business practice. After 20 years in teaching and social justice ministry, she served for over 30 years in various mission-related roles in Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania. She can be reached at renee.yann@gmail.com.

ì

Right: Mercy Day Mass 2015 at Santa Barbara Church in Guam. After the

sisters recited the Act of Consecration to Our Lady of Mercy, the entire

Santa Barbara Catholic School community sang a special blessing for them.

The sisters pictured here are past teachers and principals at the school.

Photo shared by Sister Maria Rosario Gaite.

Left: Sisters Nancy Conley and Jacqueline Marie Kieslich share a laugh during

a Community Day at Mercy by the Sea in Connecticut. Credit: Catherine Walsh.

16 ¡Viva! Mercy S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16

weekstosixmonths(ofteninthree-monthintervalstoallowforongoingdiscernment).Dependingonhersitu-ation,shewilleithercontinueinherpresentemploymentorenterintoaministrywiththesisters.

Asforthenovitiateexperience,CCASAhasanEnglish-speakingsite,Guyana,andaSpanish-speakingsite,Peru.OurnewermembersbringmanygiftstoourCCASACommunityandtotheInstitute!Adeepdesiretoservethosewhoareimpoverishedwouldcometomindfirst,aswellasarootednessinGod.Iwouldsaythatdesireforserviceorientswhatoursistersdecidetostudy,wheretheychoosetoministerandhowwetrytolive.Agifteachoffers,too,isacommitmenttocommunitylifeandprayer,aswellastakingleadershipandresponsibilityforourlifetogether.Weareveryblessedinournewermembers!

— By Sister Patricia Mulderick, CCASA liaison

page,MisericordiaMercy,isanotherwaywemakeourselvesknownandconnectwithyoungpeopleandotherswhowishtoknowmoreaboutourlife.

Vocationpromotionistheworkofallofus!Thisisthemessagewetrytoconvey.ItisaboutbeinghappyinourlivesasSistersofMercy,feelingprivilegedtobecalledto“uniteour-selvestoGodandservethepoor”(todaywewouldsaythosewhoareimpoverished),andtoextendtheinvitationtootherswhomayfeelcalledtothesame.

Mostofthewomenweareincontactwithareintheir20sand30s.Wehavegonefromyoungertoolderandnowthetrendseemstobeabityoungeronceagain.Whensomeoneexpressesamoreseriousinterestindiscerninghercallandcontinuingwithaprocessofaccompaniment,sheisinvitedtoamoreprolongedlive-inexperienceincommunity.Thiscanbeanywherefromsix

V O C A T I O N & I N C O R P O R A T I O N

New Membership Ministry in the Countries of CCASAIn the Caribbean,CentralAmerica,SouthAmerica(CCASA)Community,wehaverecentlyformedanewVocationPromotionTeamcomprisedofSistersLilianSilva(Chile),DinaAltamiranda(Panama),IsabelJovel(Honduras),MaryAnto(Peru),andMarielenaMcKenna(Peru).InPeru,vocationpromo-tioniscarriedoutinconjunctionwiththeSistersofMercyfromtheCongregationofNewfoundlandandfromtheIrishCongregation,sowetrytomakeourmaterialsinclusiveofthatreality.WealsohaveaFormationCommissioninCCASAwhichiscomprisedofsisterswithparticularinterestinpromotingvocationsinourCommunity.

Atthemoment,weareaccom-panyingwomenindiscernmentinPanama,GuyanaandPeru.ThewaymostwomenhaveconnectedwithMercyisbypersonalcontactwithusinourplacesofministryandcom-munitylife.Fromthere,wehavehadparticularsuccessinoureffortstohelpwomencometoknowusandourlifemorebyinvitingthemtoparticipatewithusinserviceandcommunitylife.InJuly,twoofoursisterswentwithsixuniversitystu-dentstoPacaipampa,aruralparishintheAndesMountainsinPeru.ThesewerewomenwhohadalreadyexpressedsomeinterestindiscerningavocationtoreligiouslifeinMercy.Thewomenlivedandworkedalongwithoursistersasanopportunitytogiveofthemselvesandtoliveandprayincommunity.OurFacebook

From left, the CCASA Vocation Promotion Team: Sisters Marielena McKenna, Patricia Mulderick

(standing), Mary Anto, Lilian Silva and Dina Altamiranda. (Isabel Jovel, absent.)

Visit us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/misericordia.mercy

All Aboard to Portland!

S P I C E O F M E R C Y L I F E

This is a story toldbythewomanwholivedit.Shetolditnottoolongbeforeherdeathmanyyearsago,yetitremainsadelightful—andabitastonishing—taleofhow,asthewriterofPaulconsoledthefledglingChristiancommunityinRome,“allthingsworktogetheruntogood.”Moreover,itspeaksonceagainoftheremindertotheHebrewsofhowoftenwe“entertainangelsunawares.”

Ithappenedalmostacenturyago.Consistentwiththehistoryofthisimmigrantnation,twoSistersofMercywereamongthosejourneyingfromIrelandtotheUnitedStates;theirintentwastorecruityoungwomentojointheminexpandingtheministryofmercyinthecomparativelyyoungcountry.TravelingtoaPennsylvaniatown,theywerewelcomedintothehomeofanIrishfamilywhoseyoungdaughterseemedtobejustthekindofpersontheywerelookingfor.Whileenjoyingthehospitality,theyofferedthisyoungwomantheoppor-tunitytojointheSistersofMercycommunityinPortland.

Therewasabitofacatch,however.Thesistersweremovingoninthreedaysandneededadefiniteanswerpriortotheirdeparture.Thatgavetheyoungwomanonlythebriefestoftimetomakeabigdecision.Butdecideshedid.Inhergenerosityandpietysheputasideotherconsiderationsand,biddingfarewelltoherparents,shesetoffbytrainwiththesisterstobeginhertimeofnovitiateinhernewhome.

Withwhatmusthavebeenbothexcitementandapprehension,shegazedoutthewindowasthetrainpassedeachstopthatcarriedherfartherandfartherawayfromthefamiliarscenesofheryounglifeandtowardanunknownyetadventuresomefuture.Shehadmadethecommit-ment;herquesthadbegun.

Butthefarthershetraveled,themoreshenoticedthatthenamesofthetownsthroughwhichthetrainwaspassingwereunfamiliartoher.Puzzled,sheturnedtothesistersforsomeexplanation,notingthatthesenameswerenotthosemarkingtheroutetoPortland.Whentheyrealized

theiryoungcompanion’sconfusion,thesisterscouldonlyexplaintoherthatshehadmisunderstoodtheirdestination.ItwasnotPortland,Maine,towardwhichtheyweretraveling;itwasPortland,Oregon.

Andasshetoldthestoryasanelderlysistermanyyearslater,sheadmittedthatshewouldhavebeenreadytoexitthetrainatthatmoment.

Butshedidnot.Instead,shetravelednearly2,500

milesacrossthecontinenttojoinasmallcommunityofSistersofMercywhostruggledinthoseearlydaystosupportahospital,aresidenceforworkingwomen,ahomeforinfants,andahomefortheaged.Throughtheyears,andtogetherwithhersisters,shebroughtmercifulservicetothepeopleofPortlandand,infact,becameoneoftheleadersandstabilizersofthoseonceendangeredministries.

SheneverreturnedtoministerinPennsylvania.HerhomewasPortland,Oregon.

— By Sister Rita Parks

S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 16 ¡Viva! Mercy 17

SEPTEMBER 29-30Leadership Finance Committee MeetingSilver Spring, MarylandContact: Sister Pat McDermottpat@sistersofmercy.org

SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 2Institute Chapter Planning Team MeetingSilver Spring, MarylandContact: Sister Mary Stantonmstanton@mercysc.org

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“Woman,” art by Sister Corlita Bonnarens

Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas8380 Colesville Road, Suite 300Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-6264

Follow the Sisters of Mercy:

www.sistersofmercy.org/social

OCTOBER 2-3Mercy, the Principal Path – Third biennial mission formation program for leaders in Mercy higher educationBaltimore, MarylandContact: Moya Dittmeiermkdittmeier@gmail.com

OCTOBER 13-16Mercy Associate Leadership Council (MALC)Scottsdale, ArizonaContact: Carole Lucectluce@prodigy.net

OCTOBER 15-19Extended Justice Team MeetingBelmont, North CarolinaContact: Jean Stokanjstokan@sistersofmercy.org

OCTOBER 24-29Institute Leadership ConferenceLutz, FloridaContact: Sister Karen Dunvillekdunville@sistersofmercy.org