2016 visio divina: the jubilee year of mercy year of in ... · visio divina: the jubilee year of...

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2016 Bimonthly publication for sisters, associates and companions of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

2016JubileeYear of Mercy

Visio Divina: The Jubilee Year of Mercy in Art

also in this issue:

Grains of Happiness: Good News from South Sudan

Carrying the Charism from Dublin to Rome: Pilgrims of Mercy in the Jubilee Year

F E A T U R E S

5 Visio Divina:TheJubileeYearofMercyinArt Introduction by Sister Marianne Hieb

13 GrainsofHappiness:GoodNewsfromSouthSudan By Sister Marilyn Lacey

16 CarryingtheCharismfromDublintoRome:PilgrimsofMercyintheJubileeYear

With contributions from Sisters Mary Kay Dobrovolny, Rayleen Giannotti, Mary Ellen McKenna and Maria Elena Anto and Associates Avis Clendenen and Marian Uba.

C O L U M N S

4 Justice|How Can Mercy Help Heal the United States?By the Extended Justice Team

20 Vocation&Incorporation|The Ins and Outs of Vocation MinistryBy Sister Cynthia Serjak, Institute New Membership Team

D E P A R T M E N T S

2 CommunityUpdateCompiled by Mercy Communicators

21 SpiceofMercyLife| When the Sisters Came CallingBy Sister Pat Kenny

N O V E M B E R | D E C E M 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 [email protected]

Editor Lauren Albright [email protected]

Design and Production RoundPeg

TranslationMany thanks to our translators!

Advisory BoardSisters Anne Curtis, Camille D’Arienzo, Kathleen Erickson, Diane Guerin, Patricia Kenny and Pat Talone. Anne Boyle, Sue Carroll, Liz Dossa, Elizabeth MacNeal, Beth Thompson and Cathy Walsh.

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.

“Radical Transformation,” by Sister Peggy Costa, is one of the 50 submissions received for the Jubilee Year of Mercy art gallery. Peggy writes, “Our Year of Jubilee and the Journey of Oneness invite us to radical transformation. Do we dare to ‘tear up’ what we have created … find beauty in our ‘ragged edges’ … and believe in the resurrection we can bring in our world?” Read more on page 5.

page 5 page 13 page 16

Correction: In the September | October 2016 issue, the email address for Associate Debora Murray was incorrect. Her email address is: [email protected].

N O V E M B E R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 16 ¡Viva! Mercy 1

DearSisters,MercyVolunteers,AssociatesandCompanions,

WerejoicethatPopeFrancisinvitedtheentireChurchtofocusonGod’sexcessivemercythroughtheJubileeYearofMercy!TheHolyDoorinRomewillbesealedonNovember20,butthedoorsofmercynevercloseforus.Our“mercy-ing”doesnotend.WearegiftedandcalledwithevenmoreurgencytolivetheaudacityofGod’slavishmercy.

AsweanticipateourDecember12feastofFoundation,howtimelytobeofferedaspaceandtimetofurtherreflectonboththegiftsandinvitationsoftheYearofMercyaswealsomarkour25thanniversaryasanInstitute!Howwasyourmercy-ing:whatgiftdidyoureceive;whatdidyouoffer;howdidyouexperienceGod’smercy?

TheYearofMercyisforallofus.ToshareGod’smercy,wemustfirstseektofullyexperienceitourselves.Mercyiswhatmakesusandkeepsusavailabletooneanother.Itenableshospitality.Itiswhatopensustostrangers.Itistheverytraitthatenablesusto

realizeourweaknessandopensustoothersstrugglingwiththeirown.Thisiswhatgivesustheabilitytounderstandthenecessityofmercy.Itisthefoundationoflovingtheself,another,allcreation.Mercytakesusoutsideourselvesandmakesusonewiththerestoftheworld.Thinkofallthewaysmercyisexpressed—tenderness,kindness,gracious-ness,compassion,self-giving.Butitisnota“soft”virtueorsheersentiment.PopeFrancisasserts,“Thereisnomercywithoutconcreteness.Mercyisnotdoingsomethinggoodwhilepassingby;itmeansinvolvingyourselftherewherethereisevil,wherethereissickness,wherethereishunger,wherethereishumanexploitation.”

Theplightofallwhosufferintheworldtodayisourmodern-dayCalvarythat,again,asPopeFrancistellsus,“spursusontoofferevernewsignsofmercy.”Inaddingthecareofcreationtothecorporalandspiritualworksofmercywehavearenewedopportunitytopracticemercyconcretely.Inthislight,ourownwordscanbefreshlyheardastheycontinuetocallustodeepenour“consciousnessoftheinterdependenceamongusandwithallcreation.”

WearesoawareofthemanyJubileeDoorsthatwereopened,themultitudeofmercyworksthatweredone,theprayersoffered,worksofartcreatedandstudyandreflectionthatoccurredasaresultofthisextraordinaryyear.Thewaysmercywasmaderealarecountless!Weareinspired,blessedandgratefulforsuchayearofGod’smercifulfavor.MayourheartsbeevenmoreopentoembracethewholewoundedandbeautifulworldmerciedbytheabundantloveofGod.

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 N O V E M B E R | D E C E M 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

MID-ATLANTIC

“MAY I LIVE GRATEFULLYandsimplytoday”isthedailymantraselectedbymembersoftheMid-AtlanticCommunityaspartoftheircommunalactiononconsumerism.Sistersusethesewordsasaprayertostarttheday,asalead-intoprayer,asachant,asarefraintorepeatwhiledriving,walking,etc.,andaspartoftheircommunalprayer.TheMid-AtlanticCommunityLeadershipTeaminscribedthesewordsontheindividualmis-sioningcardsthatsistersreceivedinhonorofMercyDay.Toaccompanythismantra,theCriticalConcernsCommitteeformulatedanexamen,atechniqueofprayerfulreflection,contemplationandmindfulness.Thecommitteeisalsodevel-opingaplantocontinueeducatingtheMid-AtlanticCommunityregardingconsumerismanditsnegativeeffectsbyprovidingeducationalresourcesoverthenextthreeyears.TheseactionsarearesultofthecommunalcommitmentsistersmadeattherecentMid-AtlanticCommunityAssemblyregardingtheirparticipationinconsumerismandthe“stuff”theyhaveorneed.

NORTHEAST

THE UNIVERSITY ofSaintJosephinWestHartford,Connecticut,hasreceived$930,000fromtheU.S.HealthResourcesandServicesAdministrationforscholarshipsforunderrepresentedstudentsseekingabachelorofsciencedegreeinnursing.ScholarshiprecipientswillreinforcethemissionoftheSistersofMercybyservingmedicallyunderservedcommunitiesduringtheirclinicalrotations.

Anewbook,Hugs for Sammy,writtenandillustratedbySisterEvaLallo,isavailableforpurchaseonAmazon.ProceedsfromthesaleswillsupportCasa Corazón de la Misericordia (HeartofMercyHouse),asponsoredministryoftheCCASACommunityinHondurasthatcaresfororphanedchildrenwho

areHIVpositive.Thestoryconcludeswithdiscussionquestionsaboutbeingdifferentandbullying,andisidealforchildrentoreadwithteachersorparents.“Theinspira-tion…camefrommymanyyearsinHondurasworkingwiththechildrenofCasa,”notesSisterEva.

NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, PACIFIC WEST (NyPPaW)

SISTERSNancyHoff,PatMcCann,MargaretPark,KathleenWayneandPatriciaWhalenwerenamedtotheDesigningWomenWorkGroup.AlongwithliaisonsSistersDeborahTroillett(InstituteLeadershipTeam)andNatalieRossi(CommunityLeadershipTeam),theywilldevelopcommunitystructuresandprocessesforfurtherconsultationwithNyPPaWsistersandapprovalbytheILT.ThestructuresandprocesseswilltakeeffectinNyPPaWonJanuary1,2017.

InthePhilippines,sistersdedicatedanewschoolbuildingatMercyJuniorCollege,Tubod,andbrokegroundforcomputerandsciencelaboratoriesatHolyCrossHighSchool,Kolambugan.

MercyhurstUniversityinErie,Pennsylvania,announcedarecordfallenrollmentof734freshmenandarecord$6.57millionraisedduringthelastfiscalyear.

SisterRitaLewis,whowillprofessfirstvowsonNovember13inRochester,NewYork,receivedtheReverendRaymondL.GravesSocialJusticeAwardfromtheUnitedChristianLeadershipMinistryofWesternNewYork.

MicheleWheatoninErieandMaryJaneLongoinPittsburgh,Pennsylvania,arenewMercyAssociatecoordinators.MarkVergaraisthenewNyPPaWinformationtechnologyspecialist.

The cover of Sister Eva’s new children’s book.

Critical Concerns

Committee chair-

person Sister Kathy

Nolan (right) with

leadership liaison

Sister Alicia Zapata

(center) and

communications

staff member Clara

Lombardi (left)

display the mantra

of the Mid-Atlantic

Community regarding

consumerism.

Photo by Sister

Marie Cook.

New Mercy Volunteers

working in Pittsburgh

are (photo, from

left) Aquiel Warner,

Amanda Carpenter,

Beth Bouwkamp and

Courtney Marlinski.

3N O V E M B E R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 16 ¡Viva! Mercy

SOUTH CENTRAL

THREE SISTERSwereelectedtoGuamLocalAdministrationinAugust.Thenewteamcomprises(photo, from left)SisterMariaRosarioGaite,assistantGuamadministrator;SisterMarianArroyo,Guamadministrator;andSisterElizabethAnnUncangco,teammember.

Initsannual“BestHospitals”edition,U.S.News&WorldReportrankedMercyMedicalCenterinBaltimore,Maryland,atophospitalinMarylandfor2016-17.Mercywasranked47thnationallyamongbesthospitalsfororthopedicsandwasnamed“highperforming”forsevenspecialtyprocedures.

SistersofMercyUrgentCareEastopenedinOctoberin

Asheville,NorthCarolina.It’sthefifthofthearea’sMercyurgent-carecenters,whichhaveprovidedfast,affordabletreatmentofnon-life-threateningillnessesandinjuriessince1985.SistersofMercyUrgent

CarewontheUrgentCareAssociationofAmerica’s2016HumanitarianAward.

WEST MIDWEST

AS THIS JUBILEE YearofMercycomestoaclose,eventswithintheWestMidwestCommunityincludeaclosingliturgywhichwillbeheldNovember20atMercyConventinBurlingame,California.

SisterRenéeKetteringrenewedhervowsinasimpleprayerserviceheldAugust4atSacredHeartChapelinFarmingtonHills,Michigan.AsspecifiedintheInstituteNewMembershipProgram’sFor the Love of Mercy,“renewalofvows(areto)takeplaceinaprayerserviceorliturgythatisattendedbyasmallgroup….”Severalsistersinthelocalareaattendedtherenewal,aswellasSistersJudithFrikkerandMariaKlosowskiwhowerethedelegatesofWestMidwestPresidentLauraReicks.

SisterBarbFreemyer(left)metwithSisterDaleJarvis(right),Northeast/NyPPaWvocationminister,inSilverSpring,Maryland,wheretheyworkedcloselywithSisterCynthiaSerjakintheInstituteNewMembershipOffice.BarbwasappointedaWestMidwestvocationministerinJuly.ShemovedtoOmahafromColoradoSprings,Colorado,whereshewasalicensedclinicalsocialworkerspecializinginissuesofaddictionanddomesticviolenceforthelast17years.

CARIBBEAN, CENTRAL AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA

FROM SEPTEMBERthroughNovemberfourwomenpartici-patedinCCASA’sfirstvolunteerprograminPanama.Inpartnershipwithsistersandassociates,thesewomenenteredintoarelationshipwithpeoplewhoareimpoverished.Thevolunteers—SandraFerrero(Argentina),NeridaPlacencio(Peru),AnaCaligaris(Argentina)andAssociateKottyRamirez(Peru)—werewelcomedfirstbythesistersinPanamaCity.AccompaniedbySistersEstelaGomez(Argentina)andLilianSilva(Chile)theyparticipatedinatimeoforientation.Inaspiritofmutualitytheyembracedthistimeofcompassionateservice,socialjustice,spiritualityandasimplelifestyleincommunity.TheythenproceededtoColóntoworkwithSistersDinaAltamirandaandBarbaraOzelskiandMercyAssociatesandstaffatMUCEC,aMercyministryrespondingtotheneedsofwomenandchildrenlivinginsituationsofgreatpoverty.

CCASAsistersareinvolvedinthenominationprocesspriortoAssemblyandelectionofleadershipinFebruary2017.NomineeswillparticipateinadiscernmentretreatthefirstweekofJanuary.

CCASA volunteers prepare for their three-month service in Colón, Panama.


How Can Mercy Help Heal the United States?

J U S T I C E

In letters Catherine McAuleywroteinearlymonthsof1841,sherecountswhytheSistersofMercywereinvitedtomakeafoundationinBirr,Ireland.For15years,aformalschismhadafflictedtheCatholicChurchinBirr.ThebishopandtheparishpriestwereatoddswithaboutathirdoftheCatholicpopulationwhowerefollowingtwopriestssuspendedforteachingdoctrinalerrorsandgivingtheChurch’smoneytotheirfollowers.Nothingseemedtohealthishostilerift(Sullivan,The Path of Mercy,pp.317-21).Thentheparishpriestwastold:“InvitetheSistersofMercy.Thatmayhelp.”

SoinlateDecember1840,CatherineandthreesisterswenttoBirr.Walkingthroughsnowandmud,theydailyvisitedthefamiliesofthoseinvolvedintheschism,lis-teningtotheirstories,sympathizingwiththeirfeelingsofhavingbeenledastray,gentlyremindingthemthatJesusrefusedtostealinordertohelpthepoor,andconsolingthemwhenaccidentaldeathsoccurred.Somehowoverthefollowingyearstheschismwasveryslowlyhealed,andthetwomisguidedpriestsdepartedfromBirr.

AMercyAssociaterecalledthatstorywhenrespondingtoarequestfromtheInstituteJusticeTeamforreflectionsontherolethatMercycouldhelpplayinhealingtheUnitedStates—andourworld—afteranelectionthatunleashedracism,xenophobiaandIslamophobiaandpolicyideasthatwouldmarginalizeimmigrantsandMuslims.Weknowthatthesameangerand

fearisbeingfannedthroughouttheworld,fromanti-refugeesentimentinEuropetothe“warondrugs”inthePhilippinesthathasledtomorethan2,000deathsbypoliceandvigilantes.

SomethoughtsfromarandomsamplingofsistersandassociatesonwhatMercy’suniqueroleinthishealingprocessmightinclude:

• Promoting Catholic Social Teaching on the God-given human dignity of everyone, including those with whom we disagree.

• Bringing together diverse people around a good cause to break down fear built upon misunderstandings and a lack of contact with those not like one’s self, in an attempt to learn to live together in our diversity.

• Providing historical context for current challenges in the United States and the world, such as the rise of ISIS and the rise of the politics of hate embodied in the popularity of Donald Trump. These developments didn’t come out of nowhere, but have been fostered by a string of policies over time.

• Promoting the development of critical thinking skills to help people separate facts from half-truths and falsehoods and think through the consequences of actions and proposals.

• Engaging people with questions rather than arguing with them, in order to come to deeper under-standings of their fears and anxieties and create openings for conversion.

• Raising up the moral voice to counter divisive public policies and rhetoric.

• Surfacing stories of the victims of harmful political, social and eco-nomic systems and lifting up hope for alternative, life-giving systems.

• Critiquing media coverage of key issues and officials’ statements and pushing the media to hold candidates and officials accountable for half-truths and falsehoods.

Yearsago,atheologianfromCentralAmericahadcometotheUnitedStatestoaddressareligiousgatheringandwonderedaloudwhypeopleintheUnitedStatesseemsopreoccupiedbythequestion“whatisgoodforourcountry?”insteadof“whatisgoodforallGod’speople?”

Letusprayforthestrengthinthispost-electionseasontolook

beyondtheneedsofourownfamilies,communitiesandcoun-tryandtofindopportunitiestoinjectmercywheretherehasbeendivision,andtoinjectaconcernforthecommongoodwheretherehasbeenprotectivefearandanger.

— By the Extended Justice Team



In our communal and ministerial lives, we are privileged to catch glimpses of the work of our Creator. Through this gathering of visual art, we encounter graced glimpses of Mercy experiences of the Holy Year in yet another way.

How might we approach viewing these offerings?

Stated simply, we are invited to utilize the attitudes we employ every day in our prayer and service:

Gaze, receive, notice, appreciate, see what stirs, be grateful.

Gazing, one of the tools of contemplative prayer, is a spiritual practice we are engaged in all the time. Through this invitation to visio divina we gaze in an open, receptive way, allowing the image to speak to us, to our intellect, to our emotions and ultimately to that meditative space beyond thinking and feeling.

Sometimes a visual work speaks immediately; sometimes it unfolds; sometimes it is silent. Notice what you are attracted to, and what seems shrouded in unknowing. As you gaze receptively and notice what stirs, perhaps you might add your own journaling as a continuation of the creative process.

These works are offered through the spirit of prayer and parable, as a leading, a path into a deeper appreciation of both giftedness and of a universal call to mercy. Each of us filters graces through our experiences: these works are glimpses into that tangible work of the Creator at work in individuals, but through our communal reality.

May these pages continue our practice of “the Merciful Gaze,” so integral to the Jubilee Year of Mercy and beyond.

Visio Divina: The Jubilee Year of Mercy in

TA r

Introduction by Sister Marianne Hieb Sister Marianne Hieb discusses visio divina in more depth in a video available at bit.ly/MercyVisioDivinaEn. This video was first used as part of Year 3 of the Women of Mercy, Women of Hope member engagement process.

These past 12 months, we have shared special content in each issue of ¡Viva! Mercy to help explore the themes of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Now, we invite you into yet another point of entry for exploring the meaning of, reflecting and praying during the Jubilee Year: visio divina—meaning “divine seeing” or praying with images.

Mercy sisters, associates, staff and friends have shared artwork celebrating the Jubilee Year of Mercy, accompanied by brief reflections on their work. In addition to the pieces featured in our magazine, please visit www.sistersofmercy.org/artgallery to view, pray with and reflect upon all the diverse and powerful expressions of art shared by our Mercy family.

Compassionate Heart of Creation By Sister Corlita BonnarensWatercolor

From the inner temple of one’s heart, love and mercy radiate out to all in need.



Faith-Hope-Love-Mercy By Sister Margaret Mary McTwigganWood carving

This sculpture was worked on for quite awhile; the figures grew personal contact that would show a mutual respect framed by the spirit of Mercy—the service of the poor, sick and ignorant.

I had attended Catholic schools from first grade and had two aunts who were from another community. I registered at Holy Trinity School in Washington, D.C., on a Sunday afternoon in August, accompanied by my mother. The two sisters who introduced us to the high school were not only efficient: I met Mercy that day. Thank you, Sisters Mary Austin and Sister Mary Berchmans.

Peace Angel By Bronna Butler, Mercy Associate Three painted, kiln-fired, stained-glass panels with a mirror base

Peace is one of the greatest mercies.


Dynamic of Mercy By Sister Celeste NuttmanMixed Medium (paper, ink, gold and silver leaf, acrylic on tempered Masonite)

The silver and gold leafed hand stretching down into the human story represents our God who became one of us in order to manifest Merciful Love. The violet hand patterned with silver leaf against its darkness represents us, bright with the pattern of Godliness in our very being and colored in the violet of Jesus’ passion (and ours) and in such need of mercy in our reaching out to God.

My Playground By Jean Santopatre, director of campus ministry at Lauralton HallDigital photography

Pine Ridge Reservation is located in the Badlands of South Dakota. This photo shows the vastness of the reservation and also the landscape that is utterly devoid of fertile ground to plant crops. Despite the terrain, a child rides her tricycle in what is her “backyard” in total delight. God’s mercy is at work here, reminding us to live simply and in solidarity with others.

God’s Mercy is Forever By Sister Larretta Rivera-WilliamsBlack gel pen and Scripto markers

The three crosses are symbolic of those on the Hill of Golgotha, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The bright colors remind us that the light of the Lord is ever present and God’s Mercy is forever!




The Mercy-full Heart (left) By Sister Donna Marie VaillancourtPaste paper (a process of applying acrylic paints mixed with art paste to wet water color paper)

In Misericordiae Vultus Pope Francis writes that Mercy is “the beating heart of the Gospel.” I think this piece of art depicts the many seasons of the mercy-full heart.

Each Person is a Gift (top) By Sister Joyce OgdenAcrylic

We strive to witness to Mercy when we reverence the dignity of each person. In Mercy, we create spaces of peace and welcome in which persons may grow into their full potential as human beings cherished by God.



Life-Gazing By Sister Marianne HiebOil paint on canvas

“Life-Gazing” speaks to our eighth Spiritual and Corporal Work of Mercy: “Care of our Common Home,” Pope Francis’ extraordinary Jubilee proclamation. In the creative gaze that passes between the Child and the Seedling, we witness both the call to contemplate beauty and the call to care for all created things—the Child for the Seedling, the Seedling for the Child.

Welcome By Sister Mary Eloise HirlemannDigital Art

The art expresses the light and life that can be a part of a merciful approach to others. Open arms and open hands are showing mercy.

Spring at Huntsville Dam By Sister Mary Fellin Photography

The early spring photo expresses coming to a life of mercy from the past of latent period of sameness.

Mary, Mother of Mercy (left) By Janet McKenzie, commissioned artistOil painting, commissioned by Carlow University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in anticipation of the Church’s celebration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy

Beloved mother Mary protectively and lovingly holds humanity within her mantle. As she loved Jesus so she loves each one of us. The love I have for my son and my role as a daughter undeniably thread throughout this painting as an emotional undercurrent. Mary, the unifying force, rises up with outstretched arms holding us within her love—her hands gripping her mantle with strength. Mary’s concern for us is reflected on her face through her inward expression and closed eyes.

Seeking the Root Causes of our Critical Concerns By Sister Maria Juanita van BommelWatercolor

As we expand our horizons in becoming one, we discover new calls for mercy and seek to find the root causes of our Critical Concerns.

So Uniquely Human (top) By Associate Jean FrancoisSoft sculpture

The sculpture is a constant reminder to me of Jesus’ original mercy to us to accept all of our mistakes, our flaws and our misgivings and make them into a happy day of celebration and creation.




The Poor Call to Us 1 & 2 By Sarah Zulawski, Anna Anderson, Kaylee Bauer, Victoria Brown, Jacqueline

Welch—students at Mount Mercy Academy in Buffalo, New York Acrylic on canvas

This artwork expresses how people who are poor call out to us for our concern and care. People of other cultures, particularly women and

mothers with children, look to us as advocates.


Darkness Within Light By Sister Judith NiemetMedium: Oil pastel with collage

These words of Pope Francis from his book The Name of God is Mercy express my thoughts in creating the painting: “We need to enter the darkness, the night in which so many of our brothers (and sisters) live. We need to be able to make contact with them and let them feel our closeness, without letting ourselves be wrapped up in that darkness and influenced by it.”

An accompanying poem for this piece is included in the online gallery.

Thank you to all artists who submitted

to our Jubilee Year of Mercy art gallery!

Because the number of submissions

far exceeded our space to print them

in the magazine, we invite you visit

www.sistersofmercy.org/artgallery

to view the complete gallery.



By Sister Marilyn Lacey


Sometimesthedarknesscanseemtobewinning.IfyouGoogle“SouthSudan”youwillfindplentyofdiscouraging,evenappalling,news:vicioustribalconflicts,spreadingfamine,massivedisplacements,horrificrapesofwomen,extrajudicialkillings,hyperinflation,anationwhosegovernmenthassplinteredandwhereU.N.peacekeeperscannotkeepcivilianssafeevenwithintheirownprotectioncamps.

Buthere’stheunexpectedandlargelyunreportedtruth:despiteallof theabove, there isalsogoodnews inSouthSudan.Andgoodnews,ofcourse,needstobeproclaimed,especiallyinthisJubileeYearofMercy.

Through thenonprofitMercyBeyondBorders (MBB) IhavetheprivilegeofworkinginSouthSudanwithwomenandgirlsinextremepoverty.Togetherwe’reforgingwaysforthemtolearn,connectandlead.Frommyin-the-trenchesperspective,IcanattesttothetruthofwhatthecontemporarypoetJaneHirshfieldwrotein“TheWeighing”:

SofewgrainsofhappinessMeasuredagainstallthedark;Andstillthescalesbalance.

Theworkisnoteasy.SouthSudanremainsawarzone,but there truly are “grainsofhappiness” that signaldeepgoodnessandrealhope.Letmesharejustthree.

GIRLS’EDUCATION

South Sudan has only one all-girl elementary school: St.Bakhita’s.Whyonlyoneinacountryof12millionpeople?Because,untilveryrecently,femaleswereneverconsideredworthyofbeingeducated.ThroughweeklyradiobroadcastsMBBencouragesfamiliestosendtheirdaughterstoschool.By funding the annual operating budget of St. Bakhita’s,weenable700girlsperyeartolearnandgrow.Shanaswasoneofthem.

TodayShanasisanewlymintedteacher:talented,ener-geticintheclassroom,alwayssmiling.AsayoungchildintheNubaMountains,however,shesurvivedagrislyaerialbombardmentthatkilledherfriendsandfamily.Thelocalbishop later airlifted Shanas and dozens of others to St.BakhitaSchool,hundredsofmilestothesouth,whichwasconsideredasaferplace.AfewyearslaterSt.BakhitaSchoolwasbombed.Shesurvivedthat,too.Shestudiedwellandshegraduatedfromeighthgrade.Lackingfamily,shehadnoprospectsforhighschooluntilMBBprovidedherwithascholarship.

Shanascanvividlydescribetheterrorsofwar,theominousdroneoftheAntonovbombers, thepanicofrunningpastdismembered bodies to hide in caves, the shock-inducednumbnessanddisorientation.ButwhenyoumeetShanas,you’dneverguessanyofthat.Allyouseeistheradianceofherfaceandherenthusiasmforteaching.She’smorethanasurvivor.She’saneducatedyoungwomannow—onegrainofhappinessmeasuredagainstthedark.

Top: Mercy Beyond Borders scholars strike a pose during Leadership Week.

Right: Mercy Beyond Borders graduate Shanas is now a teacher.


YOUNGWOMENLEADERS

Education is thefirststep forgirls inSouthSudan,but itisn’tenough.Havinglongbeenmarginalized,femalesmuststruggle toclaimtheirownvoiceandchange thesystemsthatoppress them.To thatendMBB involves its scholarseach year in a week of leadership training. Part summercamp(withouttheswimmingpoolorthes’mores)andpartworkshop (on themes such as dealing with gender-basedviolence,workingeffectivelyas teamsand initiatingcom-munity volunteering), the annual experience is designedto encourage the development of cross-tribal friendships.After theygraduate fromuniversities theseyoungwomenwill form an Alumnae Advocacy Network, demonstratingthattheirsharedcausecantrumptraditionaldivisionsandrivalries. As the first generation of educated females inSouthSudantheywillspeakoutforpeaceandleadthewaytowardgovernmentpoliciesandpracticesthatcreatebetteropportunitiesfortheirsisters,mothersanddaughters.

Aliceisoneofthesefutureleaders.Sheistheonlygirlinhervillageevertogotoschoolandthefirstpersoninhervillage,maleor female, toreachuniversity.Shewill soonbeacivilengineer:“Iwanttohelpbuildmycountry.”Herstoryisanothergrainofhappinessmeasuredagainstthedark.

WOMENENTREPRENEURS

Being a woman in South Sudan means relentless manuallabor, with pregnancies that carry a high risk of earlydeath:oneineverysevenpregnanciesleadstothedeathofthemother.Beingawidowisevenworse.Uponthedeathofherhusband(whichhappensalotinacountryatwar)thewidowlosesherhouseandallherproperty—evenhercooking pots—to the husband’s family. The culture alsoallows the Levirate practice whereby the dead husband’sbrothersmay “take” thewidow to themselves to raiseupchildreninhishonor.Thusthewidowisbothdispossessedandviolated,andmayendupwithHIVorAIDS.

MBB works with widows in South Sudan who desiretostartsmallbusinesses.Givensometrainingandasmallloan,thewomencreatesimpleenterprisesthatdramaticallyincrease theirstandardof living.MBB’sfirstgroupwasof12 women, all living with AIDS. One died, one had herloan stolenbyherdeadhusband’sbrother, and theother10startedbusinesses.

MaryKapiliisoneofthem,nowtheownerofabakeryinNimuletown.Sheusedherloantopurchase79poundsofflour,severallargepotsandsomeoil.Cookingonanopenfire, sheproduceshundredsofdonuts everyday,haulingthem in a wheelbarrow to the market a mile away. Shemakesgoodmoney,enough toput foodon the tableandsendherchildrentoschool.Justasimportant,shesays,isthechangeinhersocialstatus.“Myrelativesusedtoshunmebecauseofmysickness,butnowtheycometovisitallthetime.Theyask for loans fromme,andIamhappytosharewhatIhave.Irecentlybuiltanewhutformyfather.Iamveryproud.”Maryisagreatgrainofhappinessmea-suredagainstthedark.

CONNECTIONS

Mercy Beyond Borders gives me not only a platform forconnectingwithwomenandgirlsinplacesofextremepoverty,butalsoawaytoinviteotherstorespondtotheirsuffering.WhenIsharethesestories,IknowtheyresonateinMercy.They resonate because God’s mercy has swept away ourillusionofseparateness.Werecognizethatweareallcon-nected.Noneofuscanrestuntilallofuscanrest.Noneofus cancling toourownblessingswhileothers remainbereftofblessings.

MaryOliversaiditwell:“Exceptwelove,allnewscomesasfromadistantland.”ExceptweexperienceGod’smercy,wemightbecontenttoforgetaboutpeoplesuffering“overthere.”ThecharismofMercythatwe’veallreceivedeasesanyanxietywemayfeelaboutsteppingbeyondourcomfortzone.Therearenodistantlands.Godiswithusall.Despitethedarkness,GodisalwaysinvitingustoreachoutafreshinMercy, tobeagrainofhappiness ina troubledworld.Thescaleswillbalance.

Sister Marilyn Lacey is executive director of Mercy Beyond Borders, working with women and girls in South Sudan and in Haiti to alleviate their extreme poverty. Her memoir, This Flowing Toward Me: A Story of God Arriving in Strangers, was published by Ave Maria Press in 2009. She can be contacted at [email protected].

Mary Kapili works at her bakery, started with a loan from Mercy

Beyond Borders.

In April 2016, 39 Mercy sisters, associates and partners-in-Mercy from each of the 12 Mercy Congregations and Institutes worldwide joined together for a sacred pilgrimage. Their first stop on Baggot Street in Dublin, Ireland, connected them to the beating heart of our Mercy charism—the House of Mercy. The second leg of their journey took them to Rome, Italy, to be present for Divine Mercy Sunday, one of the events celebrated by the Vatican as part of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Among the pilgrims were six representatives from the Americas: Sisters Mary Kay Dobrovolny, Rayleen Giannotti, Mary Ellen McKenna and Maria Elena Anto and Associates Avis Clendenen and Marian Uba. They shared this reflection on their experience of pilgrimage during this Jubilee Year.


Left: Holy Door Group: Mercy pilgrims from around the world gather in St. Peter’s Square.Right: Pope Francis on Divine Mercy Sunday in St. Peter’s Square. Credit: Lisa Eastment, Mercy Associate (Australia)

We came from Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, Kenya, Newfoundland, Peru, Philippines, New Zealand/Aotearoa, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and the United States.

EarlyApril2016wasindeedanexperienceof the global Mercy community, assembledto honor the Jubilee Year of Mercy as onecommunity sealed in Catherine. As SisterJulie Upton recently wrote in The MAST Journal, “SistersofMercyaround theworlddonothavetobecomeonetobeone.Insomany ways we already are one—daughtersof Catherine McAuley, steeped in thecharism of Mercy” (“Vincent Whitty: VisittoQueensland,”The MAST Journal, Vol.23,No.2,2016,p.25).

Thoseofus from theSistersofMercyof theAmericasfirstgatheredattheMercyInternationalCentreonBaggotStreetonMarch30beforeembarkingontheRomanodys-sey.Wegatheredintheroomthatoriginallyservedasthesingle classroom during Catherine’s time and then as thecommunityroomat thetimeofCatherine’sdeath.Weallsat in a circle. SisterMaryReynolds joinedus, eyedeachone, and in her Irish accent, smiled and said, “Welcomehome.”Inthatinstant,therewasafeltembraceofaonenessalreadyknownamongusindepth.

Itseemstruetosaythatnoonecanremainastheyoncewere after they have been underneath Catherine’s roof,walking her Dublin streets, moving about the originalHouse of Mercy. You cannot help but be changed by living underneath her roof, even if only for a few days.Thisexperi-ence set the stage for our continued shared journey thatwouldtakeusfromtheholyreddooronBaggotStreettotheholybronzedooratSt.Peter’sinRome,fromApril1-5.

WewereMercypilgrimsembarkingonpilgrimageintheExtraordinaryJubileeYearofMercy.PopeFrancisinaugu-ratedthisspecialyearonDecember8,2015,inordertocallthe church universal and the human community itself toignitemercyasacompassionateforcethatisthemostpow-erfulantidotetowhatailsourwoundedworld.AndsowewalkedtheMercystoryinrealtimeinIrelandandinRomeaslivingguardiansofthedoorstomercythatisCatherine’sclaimuponusandourcallingasgospelwomen.

Ourenduringsenseofthepilgrimageexperienceisbestsummedup in thewisdomthatSnoopyonce imparted toCharlieBrowninthefamousPeanutscomicstrip:“Inlife,it’snotwhereyougo—it’swhoyoutravelwith.”Mostofusdidnotreallyknoweachotherasweconvenedtoexpe-rienceourpilgrimwayinIrelandandRome.Inreflectingabout our hours of walking we became aware that ourlinkinguptwo-by-tworemindedusofflowinginthesamestreamasCatherine’s“walkingnuns.”Welistenedtooneanother’s dedication to service as we each spoke of ourministerial lives; the larger worlds our personal worldsrepresented; the wonders and worries each of us carried.We knew by the time we were maneuvering the narrow,cobbledstreetsofRomethatwewerewalkinginandwithholiness. Those days and hours of walking were actuallylike living an excerpt from poet David Whyte’s poem,“Camino,”whenhewrote:

But your loss brought you here to walkunder one name and one name only,and to find the guise under which all loss can live;remember, you were given that name every dayalong the way, remember, you were greeted as such,and you needed no other name, other peopleseemed to know you…even before you sat down with them,broke bread and drank wine,wiped the wind-tears from your eyes:pilgrim they called you again. Pilgrim. (Pilgrim,Langley,Washington:ManyRiversPress,2012,p.11)



“As we walked and shared, I had the profound experience of our shared humanity, of our interconnectedness, of our oneness. The depth and breath of life are in both the laughter and the tears, our ‘joys and sorrows mingled.’ My hope is to walk into the future by walking into all of life, becoming more and more an embodiment of God’s mercy in the midst of all.” —SisterRayleenGiannotti

“This pilgrimage has brought home to me why it might be that

Catherine, who carried the wounded within her heart and whose

response was to say that the spiritual and corporal works of

mercy were the business of our lives, also knew that such practice

of compassion required that one ‘dance every evening.’”—AssociateAvisClendenen

Ourlittlebandofpilgrimsmakingourwayeachdaywasmore thanwhat itappeared tobe. Thishintsat theverydefinition of sacrament, whereby something that seemsto be one thing is transformed into the More by grace.Historically, the word “sacrament” developed from theGreekword“mysterion”andtheLatinword“sacramentum.”“Mysterion”meanssomethingaboutwhichthereisalwaysmoretoknow—ourword“mystery.”Thedailybreadthatweatewasmorethanbread;thewineorcoffeesharedwasmorethanwhatitappearedtobe.Ourpilgrimdayscarriedasacramentalqualitythatbroughtustoplacesdeeperthanourindividuality.

Thepilgrimagebroughthometouswhyit might be that Catherine—who carriedthe wounded within her heart and whoseresponse was to say that the spiritual andcorporalworksofmercywerethebusinessof

ourlives—alsoknewthatlaughterbrightenedanysadness.There was much laughter in the frequent losing our waywhile beingon theway. In the ebb andflowof laughingwith each other we heard her warrant never to forget to“danceeveryevening.”Ourpilgrimagewasabeautifullong“walk,”andeacheveningofrevelinginthediscoveriesofthedaywasa“dance!”

“When I recognize the tremendous gift of building community that enriched [us] beyond telling, I see that it has a wonderful message of hope for us in the pilgrimage [and all of us on the] Journey of Oneness. Although we were from different geographical places, different ages and cultures and different ways of belonging (sisters and associates), community was created because we had a shared mission—the trust in the ever-abundant mercy of God.” —SisterMaryEllenMcKenna

“I experienced our walking as not only walking

as Mercy and in Mercy, but [also] towards

Mercy where the diversities of cultures and

spiritualities find a oneness in Mercy.”

—SisterMariaElenaAnto

“I surely felt the reality that we are already one. No matter

all the logistical pieces, although meaningful and important,

we are one: single in purpose, in spirit, in heart, dedication

to Catherine’s legacy, the Mercy charism, the Critical

Concerns and service.”

—AssociateMarianUba

“These days for us in

Rome have been pil-

grimage for me. I have

been so grateful for the

meaningful way we have

moved through these

days and our many miles

of walking. There has

been prayer, storytelling,

laughter, fun, community

building … I know that I

have been transformed in

the midst of our journeying

together, and I sense that

others have been as well.”

—SisterMaryKayDobrovolny


This photo was taken in May in Louisville, Kentucky, when the New Membership Team took a break

from meetings to enjoy time with several Mercy Academy students who are members of the Alive

In Mercy (AIM) program. The AIM program helps students learn more about the Mercy mission and

connect with sisters. With the students are, clockwise from left: team members Sister Patricia Ann Pepitone,

Sister Carolyn Mary Coll, Sister Jill Weber, Sister Carol Ann Wenning, Sister Sue Weetenkamp, and Sister

Priscilla Moreno with Sister Paulanne Diebold (center), coordinator of the AIM program in Louisville.

culturesaresomewhatambivalentaboutpermanentcommitmentsofanykind.Andsothe“out”ofourworkbecomesevenmoreimportant.Externalanimationasksustobecon-sciouslyvisiblebywhatwesayandwhatwedo.Itprodsustogowherewemightnotfeelcomfortableandtospeakwithpeoplewithwhomwemightnotordinarilyengage.IfwereallybelievethattheChurchandtheworldneedthepropheticpresenceofreligiouswomen,thenwearetheoneswhomustnegotiatetheinsandoutsoftheworldinwhichwefindourselves.Thiswedowithcreativity,courageandanunboundedconfi-denceinGod’sever-flowingMercy.

— By Sister Cynthia Serjak (Institute New Membership Team)

ExternalanimationturnsusoutwardtopromotethelifeandworksofMercytoabroaderpublic.Manyofusenteredindayswhentheculturearoundussupportedreligiousvocations;whenyoungmenandwomencamefromlargeparishesandschools;andwhenreligiouspeoplewererecognizedaspartofsociety.Evenifreligiouslifewasn’treallyunderstoodtherewasanenvironmentofopennesstoitsvalidity.Insomeplaces,particularlyintheUnitedStates,thatculturehasshiftedsignificantly.ManyparishesandschoolshavenoreligiouspersoninthemandyoungCatholicpeoplegrowupwithnopersonalknowledgeofsomethingcalled“religiouslife”orthepeoplewholiveit.Some

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

The Ins and Outs of Vocation Ministry

“While leaders andvocationministershaveparticularrolesinfacilitatingvocationanimationthataredescribedintheirrolesandresponsibilities,eachSisterofMercyhasaroleinbothinternalandexternalvocationanimation.”-For the Love of Mercy, 2-12

OurInstitutevocationministryhastwoimportantfacets:oneistheinternalanimationofourmembers,associates,companionsandotherpartnersinMercy,andtheotheristheexternaloutreachtoaudienceswhomaynurturevocationsandyoungwomenwhoarebeingcalledtoreligiouslifebyGod.Whileourvocationministershaveparticularrolesinthiswork,ourConstitutionsclearlysaythateachofusalso“hasaroleinbothinternalandexternalvocationanimation.”Whatdoesthatlooklikeforus?

InternalanimationmeansthatwelooktoeachotherforencouragementinseekingoutyoungwomenwhomGodiscallingtobevowedreligious.Thismaymeanremindingeachothertoreflectonourowncallinordertobeabletoarticulateourstory,orlearningfromeachotherhowtoinviteyoungwomen.Italsomeansputtingourselvesinplaceswherewecanmeetandtalkwithyoungwomen,includinginvitingthemintoourhomesforprayer,ameal,aserviceprojectoraneveningofdis-cernment.Formostofusitmeanslearningaboutotherculturessothatwecanbeopenandauthenticinourwelcome,readytolearnnewwaysofpraying,thinking,serving,eveneatingandspeaking.


When the Sisters Came Calling

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

While Catherine McAuleyprobablyneverusedthephrase“preferentialoptionforthepoor”herself,shecertainlyintendedpreciselythatwhenshebeganherworksofmercyinDublin.ThepoorinIrelandintheearlynineteenthcenturysuffereddreadfuldeprivationandtheCatholicpoorweresingledoutfortheworstofit.AtragicironywastheimageofGodthatCatholicsweretaughttobelieveinthenwasastrange,unsympatheticfatherwhospentmoretimetotingupsinsthanlisteningtopoorsinners.

ImaginethefirstSistersofMercyset-tingoutwithfullbasketsovertheirarmsforthepitifuldwellingsofthelocalpeopleonatypicalIrishmorning.Themistdoeslittletolifttheirspiritsastheywonderwhattodofirstwhentheyenterthedoor.Hungerisalwaysthegreatestneed;hopefuleyesofthechildrenprobablymeetthemastheyarrive,andlittleunwashedhandsreachoutforbreadandwhateverthesistersbroughttogowithit.Thesistersdistributeitallwithasmuchfairnessaspossiblewhileglancingabout,listeningandsniffingtheairforcluesastowhatmustbedonenext.

ThepenandinkdrawingsdoneatthetimebySisterClareAgnewgiveusasenseofit,andwestudythemtryingtocapturewhattheyweresayingastheysatbythesickbed,gatheredthechildrenaroundthemandlistenedtothesadstoryofapoormaninprison.Ifweforgetwheretheywereandwhotheywere,wemightbe

inclinedtoseeitallasterriblysad.Itwassad,ofcourse,buttheywereIrishandseeingtheironyandthehumorineventheworsttimeswasoneoftheirmostamazinggifts.SometimesItrytoimagineaconversationatthebedside;maybeitwentsomethinglikethis:

“AndwasgoodFatherFlynnheretobringyoucommunion,mydear?”asksSisterClare.

“Hewas,”saysMrs.Cassidy,“butallhebroughtwascomplaintsthattheteapoorNelliemadehimwascoldandthechildrencouldn’tevensaytheirprayersyet.Now

Sister,howcanIbeteachingthechildrentheirprayerswhenIcan’tevenrememberthemmyself?”

“Ahnow,”saysSister,“alittlecoldteadidhimnoharmtobesure,andwe’reheretoteachthechildrennow.”

SisterMargaretinthenextroomhasthechildrenseatedaroundherandshesaystothemall,

“Let’sseewhatyourememberofyourprayers.”

LittleMick,lickinghisfingersvigorouslyresponds,

“Wedon’tsayprayers,Sister,ourMuminthebedthere,shedoesalltheprayin’here.”

“You’llnotbegettingawaywiththatnow,Mick,”saysSister.“I’mgoingtosaythefirstthreewordsoftheOurFatherandyou’regoingtosaythenextthree.OurFatherwho...”

“...artinheaven!”chorusthechildren.“Whyisn’thehere?”askslittleMick.

— Sister Pat Kenny

One of the pen and ink drawings by Sister Clare Agnew.

DECEMBER 9-11Institute Governance Work Group MeetingFarmington Hills, MichiganContact: Sister Linda [email protected]

DECEMBER 10-11Institute Chapter Planning Team MeetingSilver Spring, MarylandContact: Sister Mary [email protected]

DECEMBER 12Foundation Day and Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

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

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