Connect with Mercy

Water as Sacred Gift

July 10, 2020

By Sister Karen Donahue

This is part of an occasional blog series introducing each new season during the year-long Mercy Earth Challenge.

Water is absolutely essential for all life. In the very first lines of Genesis, we read that a mighty wind swept over the waters. (Genesis 1:2) Water is sacramental. Yet it is something we tend to take for granted.

Today, however, water is under assault. Millions of people lack access to clean drinking water and to clean water to wash their hands amidst a pandemic. Climate change is bringing drought to many areas, disrupting agriculture and food production, while other regions experience severe flooding. Dams built to generate electricity often divert water and deprive local populations of the water they need for their crops. Beverage companies extract huge quantities of water from springs and underground aquifers, leaving little or none for local farmers. Water has also become a commodity sold for profit rather than recognized as a basic human need.

Please consider joining the Sisters of Mercy in exploring water as sacred gift, in this second installment of our yearlong Mercy Earth Challenge. The Challenge began with Earth Day, followed by five weeks of deepening our understanding of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’.

Read More »

Leadership Matters

July 7, 2020

By Sister Joy Clough

A photo of a person holding a sign saying "Do not wait for leaders, become them.

Can you think of a leader who, in the last four-plus months, has not experienced an explosion of responsibility? Parents suddenly responsible for schooling their children and learning to work from home or cope with unemployment. Teachers suddenly required to transform their instructional methods and relationships with students to a virtual context. Public health officials suddenly “on” for managing a pandemic of a virus previously unknown and therefore not understood. Mayors and governors suddenly called upon to lay aside promised policy priorities in order to attend to unprecedented demands on their time, energy and commitment to the common good. Business owners and corporate executives suddenly strategizing new ways to conduct business and to keep employees on the payroll. Administrators at every level and in multiple contexts suddenly needing to think and operate in ways hardly imaginable in times past.  All of the above, suddenly face to face with racist realities in a nation seemingly bent on change.

Have you thought much about our Mercy leaders, who in the last four-plus months have experienced an explosion of responsibility? Learning to work from home with a scattered staff.  Transforming relationships to a virtual context. Managing health concerns across multiple states, or even nations. Directing uncounted time, energy and commitment to the Community’s common good. Finding ways to support fragile ministries. Responding to harried calls of “Can I …” and “Why must we …” Innovating new ways to celebrate the lives of our deceased sisters or visit one another technologically. Sending frequent, crisis-sensitive letters to encourage members, to inform and to urge reflection on the meaning of all that’s transpiring. Continuing, somehow, to attend to the multiple matters that were on their plates before COVID-19. Operating in ways still new for an ILT and delegated leaders in the midst of learning to be one Institute. Facing the intensifying call of our Critical Concern of racial equity in the varied ways it touches our lives and our ministries.

Read More »

El liderazgo importa

July 7, 2020

Por la Hermana Joy Clough

Piensa en líderes que, en los últimos cuatro meses, no hayan experimentado una explosión de responsabilidad. Los padres repentinamente son responsables de educar a sus hijos y aprender a trabajar desde casa o lidiar con el desempleo. Docentes que de repente requirieron transformar sus métodos de instrucción y su relación con sus estudiantes en un contexto virtual. Los funcionarios de salud pública repentinamente «iniciaron» la atención de la pandemia, un virus previamente desconocido y por lo tanto no entendido. Alcaldes y gobernadores de repente dejaron de lado promesas políticas para atender demandas sin precedentes del momento, de energía y compromiso con el bien común. Los dueños de negocios y ejecutivos corporativos de pronto crearon estrategias para hacer negocios y mantener a sus empleados en la nómina. Los administradores de todos los niveles y múltiples contextos necesitan repentinamente pensar y operar de formas que difícilmente se pudieron imaginar en tiempos pasados. Todo lo anterior, repentinamente frente a realidades racistas en una nación aparentemente inclinada al cambio.

¿Has pensado mucho en nuestras líderes de la Misericordia, que en los últimos cuatro meses han experimentado una explosión de responsabilidad? Aprender a trabajar desde casa con un personal disperso. Transformando relaciones a un contexto virtual. La gestión de problemas de salud en múltiples estados, o incluso naciones. Dirigir tiempo, energía y compromiso incontables al bien común de la Comunidad. Encontrar maneras de apoyar servicios frágiles. Respondiendo a las llamadas hostiles de «¿Puedo…» y «¿Por qué debemos…?». Innovar nuevas formas de celebrar la vida de nuestras hermanas fallecidas o visitarnos a través de la tecnología. Enviar cartas frecuentes y sensibles a la crisis para alentar a la pertenencia, informar e instar a la reflexión sobre el significado de todo lo que está ocurriendo. Continuar, de alguna manera, atendiendo los múltiples asuntos que tenían sobre la mesa antes del COVID-19. Operar de maneras aún nuevas para el ELI y las líderes delegadas aprendiendo todavía a ser un solo Instituto. Enfrentando la llamada cada vez más intensa de nuestro Asunto Crítico de la igualdad racial en las diversas formas que tocan nuestras vidas y servicios.

Read More »

Called to a New Consciousness: The Importance of Being an LGBTQ+ Ally

June 25, 2020

This blog reflection is part of an ongoing series, Pride with Mercy, that began during Pride Month 2019. These reflections grew out of the Sisters of Mercy’s Chapter 2017 Declaration challenging each of us to respond to those who suffer from oppressive systems and to “become better educated and to participate in engaged dialogue on issues of gender identity and sexual orientation.” We encourage you to forward these posts to someone who might need to read them. Together, may we grow in our tolerance, acceptance and understanding, and extend a hand of welcome to the LGBTQ+ community.

By Sister Michelle Gorman

As Sisters of Mercy, associates and companions, we continue to envision ways to live more deeply into our Recommitment Statement: Called to a New Consciousness. Given our tradition of solidarity with those relegated to the margins of society, it seems appropriate, in this Pride Month 2020, to consider how we can be an ally to LGBTQ+ persons.

An ally is generally defined as an individual from a dominant group who recognizes that their privilege is unearned and who advocates for those who don’t possess that privilege. Allyship with any marginated group is vital to their being seen and heard in the integrity of their personhood, created and loved by God (First Principle of Catholic Social Teaching). In the case of the LGBTQ+ community, the dominant heterosexual community in whose favor society is arranged—socially, economically and religiously—has the opportunity to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community so that they can more easily live with greater integrity without fear for their physical and psychological lives. There are several steps one can take toward a deep and full allyship:

Read More »

Llamadas a una nueva consciencia: La importancia de aliarnos a la comunidad LGBTQ+

June 25, 2020

Esta reflexión blog es parte de una serie continua, Orgullo en la Misericordia que comenzó durante el Mes del Orgullo 2019. Estas reflexiones brotaron de la Declaración del Capítulo 2017 de las Hermanas de la Misericordia desafiándonos a cada una/o, a responder a las personas que sufren por sistemas opresivos y para «educarnos mejor y participar en comprometidos diálogos sobre asuntos de identidad de género y orientación sexual». Les animamos a ustedes a enviar estas publicaciones a alguien que podría tener necesidad de leerlas. Que en unidad, crezcamos en nuestra tolerancia, aceptación y comprensión, y extendamos una mano de acogida a la comunidad LGBTQ+

Por la Hermana Michelle Gorman

Como Hermanas, Asociados y Compañeras de la Misericordia, continuamos imaginando formas de vivir más profundamente hacia nuestro Renovado Compromiso: Llamadas a una Nueva Consciencia. Dada nuestra tradición de solidaridad con las personas relegadas al margen de la sociedad, parece apropiado, en este Mes del Orgullo 2020, considerar cómo podemos aliarnos a las personas LGBTQ+.

Por lo general, se define a un aliado como una persona de un grupo dominante que reconoce que no se ha ganado su privilegio y que aboga por aquellos que no poseen ese privilegio. La alianza con cualquier grupo marginado es vital para que ellos sean vistos y escuchados en la integridad de su persona, creada y amada por Dios (primer principio de la Doctrina Social Católica). En el caso de la comunidad LGBTQ+, la comunidad heterosexual dominante en cuyo favor se organiza la sociedad —social, económica y religiosamente— tiene la oportunidad de abogar por la comunidad LGBTQ+ para que puedan vivir más fácilmente con mayor integridad sin temer por su vida física y psicológica. Hay varios pasos que podemos dar para ser aliados profundos y completos:

Read More »

Expectations and Acceptance

June 23, 2020

By Sister Pat Kenny

Many years ago, when I was in what was at the time called “first fervor,” I wrote in my little journal, Accept everything, expect nothing. When I read that, years later, I wondered where I was and what was happening or had happened to prompt that entry. Acceptance of everything, I realize now, was far more inclusive than good judgment and mental health would endorse. Good citizenship sometimes demands non-acceptance of many things. Good spirituality always demands careful consideration of new and, very often, old ideas.

The other half of that entry was just as problematic. One doesn’t make big decisions like entering the convent at 17 expecting nothing. Expectations are the basis for choices: Is this new book, written by an author I don’t know, worth my time? Will this computer, while priced attractively, prove a good buy?

I should have expectations, especially of myself. In those days, when a young sister was assigned to teach subjects she had never studied, there was seldom room for questioning. But if she was not totally petrified of trying to explain a scientific principle to a class far more advanced than she in science, she prepared as best she could and walked into the class with an air of confidence expecting she really could do this.

Read More »

Expectativas y aceptación

June 23, 2020

Por la Hermana Pat Kenny

Hace muchos años, cuando estaba en lo que en ese entonces se llamaba «primer fervor», escribí en mi pequeño diario, «Acepta todo, espera nada». Cuando lo leí, después de años, me pregunté dónde estaba y qué estaba sucediendo o había sucedido para provocar tal entrada. La aceptación de todo, ahora me doy cuenta, era mucho más inclusiva de lo que el buen juicio y la salud mental respaldarían. La buena ciudadanía a veces exige la no aceptación de muchas cosas. La buena espiritualidad siempre exige la consideración cuidadosa de las nuevas y, con mucha frecuencia, viejas ideas.

La otra mitad de esa entrada fue igual de problemática. Una no toma decisiones grandes como ingresar al convento a los 17 años sin esperar nada. Las expectativas son la base de las decisiones: ¿Vale la pena dedicar mi tiempo a este nuevo libro, escrito por un autor que no conozco? ¿Será esta computadora, aunque tenga un precio tentador, una buena compra?

Debería tener expectativas, en especial de mí misma. En aquellos días, cuando a una hermana joven se le asignaba enseñar materias que nunca había estudiado, rara vez lo cuestionaba. Pero si ella no estaba completamente petrificada de tratar de explicar un principio científico a una clase mucho más avanzada que ella en ciencias, se preparaba lo mejor que podía y entraba en la clase con un espíritu de confianza esperando que realmente pudiera hacerlo.

Read More »

Comparing Gold, and Spiritualities

June 21, 2020

By Cynthia Sartor, Companion in Mercy

Several of my friends and I were talking about life in general and our many experiences when the conversation shifted to spiritual matters. One of our group was so eloquent, another so descriptive and yet another so determined to delve deeper into the mysteries of the Divine. A friend sat quietly then simply shared with us the fact that she thought her spirituality was quite simple and not up to the level of the group. I thought this an oddly disturbing comment. I did not want my friend to feel bad and yet, I thought to myself, how can we compare spiritualties?

I have several gold rings. One ring is my dad’s wedding ring that I wear as a sign of my Mercy Companion commitment. Another is a ring that I had designed for a small cameo, the first gift my dad gave my mother. I have always loved that ring. Then there is the signature ring that once belonged to the old man who lived across the street from me when I was growing up. He was very much like a grandfather to me. It is old and worn and the “W” can hardly be seen any longer. Each one of these rings means something to me. No two are alike in shape or size, yet each one is special because of its meaning and the relationship I had with the person who gave me the ring.

Read More »

Comparar el oro y la espiritualidad

June 21, 2020


Por Cynthia Sartor, Compañera en Misericordia

En una charla con un grupo de mis compañeras sobre temas de la vida en general y sobre muchas de nuestras experiencias, la conversación se derivó de pronto hacia asuntos espirituales. Una de las presentes fue muy elocuente, otra más descriptiva y una más decidió profundizar en los misterios de Dios. Otra de las compañeras que hasta ese momento había permanecido en silencio, compartió con nosotras su convicción de que su espiritualidad era tan sencilla que ella suponía imposible que pudiera ser comparada con la nuestra. Me pareció un comentario curiosamente perturbador. Como no quise que mi compañera se sintiera mal, pensé para mis adentros, ¿cómo podríamos comparar nuestra espiritualidad?

Poseo varios anillos de oro. Uno de ellos es el anillo de matrimonio de mi padre que ahora llevo conmigo como signo de mi compromiso como Compañera en Misericordia. Otro es un anillo que yo utilicé para un camafeo y que fue el primer regalo que mi padre le dio a mi madre. Siempre he amado este anillo. También está el anillo de sello que perteneció a un anciano que vivía frente a mi casa cuando era pequeña y que fue como un abuelo para mí. Es un anillo antiguo y tiene una «W» que ya casi no se alcanza a ver. Cada uno de estos objetos significa algo para mí. Ninguno se parece al otro en su forma o tamaño, pero cada uno es especial por su significado y por la relación que yo tuve con la persona que me lo dio.

Read More »

Love and Courage in East Harlem: Then and Now

June 19, 2020

By Catherine Walsh, communications specialist

Before the coronavirus devastated New York City, I spent several days with Sister Suzanne Deliee in East Harlem. I went with her to Little Sisters of the Assumption (LSA) Family Health Service, a social service agency where she works, and CREA (Centro de Recursos Educativos para Adultos), an adult learning center on whose board of directors she serves.

Since then, I have kept in touch with Sister Suzanne and the people she works with, receiving updates on their creative responses to the coronavirus. My hope is that the photos below—taken before social distancing—speak to the ongoing love, courage and resilience of East Harlem’s Spanish-speaking immigrant people, and to Sister Suzanne’s commitment to them. We share this story in honor of World Refugee Day, as the people portrayed here are refugees from hunger, instability and violence in their home countries, and they seek new beginnings.

LSA Family Health Service: Where individuals and families receive holistic care

CAPTION: “Like a mom” is how Yolanda Otero (left) describes Sister Suzanne Deliee. They met 21 years ago when Sister Suzanne, an LSA Family Health Service nurse, made a house call to Yolanda, then an expectant mother and a new immigrant from Mexico. “Sister Suzanne is an angel of East Harlem,” said Yolanda. “I will never forget how she showed me love and patience. I saw her as a mom, as I didn’t have my mom in this country.” Sister Suzanne and Yolanda, an LSA teacher earning a degree in early childhood education, support families during the pandemic through phone calls and Zoom video classes and meetings. (Catherine Walsh photo)
“Like a mom” is how Yolanda Otero (left) describes Sister Suzanne Deliee. They met 21 years ago when Sister Suzanne, an LSA Family Health Service nurse, made a house call to Yolanda, then an expectant mother and a new immigrant from Mexico. “Sister Suzanne is an angel of East Harlem,” said Yolanda. “I will never forget how she showed me love and patience. I saw her as a mom, as I didn’t have my mom in this country.” Sister Suzanne and Yolanda, an LSA teacher earning a degree in early childhood education, support families during the pandemic through phone calls and Zoom video classes and meetings. (Catherine Walsh photo)
Read More »
  • Older Stories