Greetings from Peru

We (Sisters Charlotte and Diane) arrived in Chiclayo on Sunday, January 11 and on to Puerto Eten.  It is a privilege to be here, to experience life in Peru and to catch up with the Sisters.    We are receiving warm and attentive hospitality and enjoying our visit.

One of the highlights of our week was our pilgrimage to Monsefu where we stopped at the cemetery where Sisters Aquin and Dorothy are buried, a tour through the town with stops at the former convent, school, church, medical centre (now a convent for sisters of another order!), and the town plaza.

A couple of days later we briefly visited Dr. Jacinto Custodio in a clinic sponsored by our Congregation in the parish church space in Cuidad Reque.  Jacinto faithfully provides care to many of the poor every week. (Jacinto is rightly named a “Mercy boy” since he was educated by our first sisters who came to Monsefu in 1960.  He has not ever forgotten his early years in school! Nor the Sisters of Mercy!).  In honour of his class’s celebration of 50 years of graduation Jacinto presented the Congregation with a marble plaque.

Saludos desde Perú

Nosotras (Hermanas Charlotte y Diane) llegamos a Chiclayo el domingo 11 de enero y a Puerto Eten.  Es un privilegio estar aquí, experimentar la vida en Perú y ponernos al día con las Hermanas.    Estamos recibiendo una hospitalidad cálida y atenta y disfrutando de nuestra visita.

Uno de los momentos culminantes de nuestra semana fue nuestra peregrinación a Monsefú, donde nos detuvimos en el cementerio donde están enterradas las Hermanas Aquin y Dorothy, un recorrido por la ciudad con paradas en el antiguo convento, la escuela, la iglesia, el centro médico (¡ahora un convento para hermanas de otra orden!), y la plaza de la ciudad.

Un par de días más tarde visitamos brevemente al Dr. Jacinto Custodio en una clínica patrocinada por nuestra Congregación en el espacio de la iglesia parroquial de Cuidad Reque.  Jacinto atiende fielmente a muchos pobres cada semana. (Jacinto es llamado con razón “chico de la Misericordia”, ya que fue educado por nuestras primeras hermanas que llegaron a Monsefú en 1960.  Nunca ha olvidado sus primeros años en la escuela. Ni a las Hermanas de la Misericordia).  En honor a la celebración de los 50 años de graduación de su clase, Jacinto obsequió a la Congregación con una placa de mármol.

Christmas Greetings and Blessings to All

Christmas is a time to rejoice in the good news that God has become incarnate – in each one of us – human and other-than-human!

On this Christmas day, we are reminded that, just as our creating and sustaining God makes peace through justice and right relationships, so, too, we are expected to be bearers of the good news, makers of peace, bringers of justice, living embodiment of right relationships…

The Jesuit Philip Chircop has these wise words for us as we sing incarnation into birth: “In the coming days, simmering and basking in Christmas joy, try to intentionally walk softly … talk quietly … kneel reverently … rise eagerly … Spend some time reflecting on the radical beauty of these simple words: Walk … Talk … Kneel … Rise … Softly … Quietly … Reverently … Eagerly.”

Happy Christmas!

Read the rest of the reflection here

La Navidad es un tiempo para alegrarse de la buena noticia de que Dios se ha encarnado en cada uno de nosotros, humanos y no humanos.

En este día de Navidad, se nos recuerda que, al igual que nuestro Dios creador y sustentador hace la paz mediante la justicia y las relaciones justas, también se espera de nosotros que seamos portadores de la buena nueva, artífices de paz, portadores de justicia, encarnación viva de las relaciones justas….

El jesuita Philip Chircop tiene estas sabias palabras para nosotros mientras cantamos la encarnación en el nacimiento: “En los próximos días, hirviendo a fuego lento y disfrutando de la alegría de la Navidad, intentemos intencionadamente caminar suavemente… hablar en voz baja… arrodillarnos reverentemente… levantarnos ansiosamente… Dediquemos algún tiempo a reflexionar sobre la belleza radical de estas sencillas palabras: Camina … Habla … Arrodíllate … Levántate … Suavemente … Tranquilamente … Reverentemente … Ansiosamente”.

¡Feliz Navidad!

Lea el resto de la reflexión aquí

 

St. Joseph’s Convent Celebrating 100 Years

December 3, 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the foundation of St. Joseph’s Convent. 

An early photo of St Joseph’s Convent

Sisters of Mercy however, had been ministering in the area around Signal Hill, St. John’s,  as early as 1863, making the daily trek from Mercy Convent on Military Road.

In an address to the people of St. Joseph’s Parish, reported in  the September 10, 1918 issue of The Daily News, Archbishop Roche recalled the long history of the Sisters of Mercy in the area:

The people of St. Joseph’s have obligations of a special nature toward the Sisters of Mercy.  For more than half a century, they have been, practically without interruption, teaching the children of this end of town…    I hope that it may not be too much to expect that in the not- too- distant future the Sisters may have a home in this parish, so as to be near their work and to be able to do for the children what they cannot do under these conditions…

Four years later, the Archbishop’s hopes were realized when St. Joseph’s Convent (known in earlier years as Castle Rennie or Castle Lindberg) was formally blessed and opened.  The Sisters who formed the first community were: Sisters M. Benedicta Fitzgibbons, M. Michael Gillis, M. Ignatius Molloy and a postulant, Margaret Kent.

One hundred years later, six Sisters call St. Joseph’s their home.

Una foto antigua del convento de San José

Sin embargo, las Hermanas de la Misericordia ya ejercían su ministerio en los alrededores de Signal Hill, St. John’s, desde 1863, haciendo el trayecto diario desde el Convento de la Misericordia en Military Road.

En un discurso a los habitantes de la parroquia de St. Joseph, publicado en el número del 10 de septiembre de 1918 de The Daily News, el arzobispo Roche recordó la larga historia de las Hermanas de la Misericordia en la zona:

La gente de St. Joseph tiene obligaciones de naturaleza especial hacia las Hermanas de la Misericordia.  Durante más de medio siglo, han estado, prácticamente sin interrupción, enseñando a los niños de este extremo de la ciudad… Espero que no sea demasiado esperar que en un futuro no muy lejano las Hermanas puedan tener un hogar en esta parroquia, para estar cerca de su trabajo y poder hacer por los niños lo que ellas no pueden hacer en estas condiciones…”.

Cuatro años más tarde, las esperanzas del Arzobispo se hicieron realidad cuando el Convento de San José (conocido en los primeros años como Castillo Rennie o Castillo Lindberg) fue formalmente bendecido e inaugurado.  Las Hermanas que formaron la primera comunidad fueron: Las Hermanas M. Benedicta Fitzgibbons, M. Michael Gillis, M. Ignatius Molloy y una postulante, Margaret Kent.

Cien años más tarde, seis Hermanas llaman a San José su hogar.

Prayer/Reflection for 12 December, Foundation Day

Statue of Catherine McAuley in the grounds of Baggot Street

12 December 1831  marks the date on which Catherine McAuley and her companions, Anna Maria Doyle and Elizabeth Harley, returned to Baggot Street from the Presentation Convent at Georges Hill, having just professed their vows as the first Sisters of Mercy. And so began the story of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy,  brought to Newfoundland on 3 June 1842, the first foundation of the Sisters of Mercy in the New World.

Join us in celebrating this special date in the Mercy story using the prayer reflection prepared for the occasion.

El 12 de diciembre de 1831 marca la fecha en que Catalina McAuley y sus compañeras, Anna María Doyle y Elizabeth Harley, regresaron a Baggot Street desde el Convento de la Presentación en Georges Hill, tras haber profesado sus votos como las primeras Hermanas de la Misericordia. Así comenzó la historia de la Congregación de las Hermanas de la Misericordia, llevada a Terranova el 3 de junio de 1842, la primera fundación de las Hermanas de la Misericordia en el Nuevo Mundo.

Acompáñanos en la celebración de esta fecha especial en la historia de la Misericordia utilizando la reflexión de la oración preparada para la ocasión.

 

Sent-forth: Appreciation Gathering at Conception Harbour

On Sunday, September 18th, the people of Conception Harbour organized a sent-forth appreciation gathering for Sisters Geraldine Mason and Ellen Sullivan.

This day was an opportunity for the people to officially say ‘Thank you’ to these sisters who have impacted so much the life of the people.

The celebrations began with  Mass at 10:30am after which those present moved to the Marion Hall for the appreciation gathering.

Enjoy watching the celebration video.

El domingo 18 de septiembre, el pueblo de Conception Harbour organizó una reunión de agradecimiento a las hermanas Geraldine Mason y Ellen Sullivan.

Este día fue una oportunidad para que el pueblo dijera oficialmente “Gracias” a estas hermanas que tanto han impactado la vida del pueblo.

Las celebraciones comenzaron con la Misa a las 10:30am después de la cual los presentes se trasladaron al Marion Hall para la reunión de agradecimiento.

Disfruta viendo el vídeo de la celebración.

St. Clare’s Celebrates 100 Years

In May of this year St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of its founding.

In this special year of celebration, the Congregational Leadership Team and the members of St. Clare’s Advisory Council made plans to celebrate Mercy Day at the hospital.

On September 27 we met for a special morning prayer in St. Clare’s chapel, along with a number of managers from the hospital. Following the prayer, members of both groups went through every unit and work- place in St. Clare’s, distributing the specially-designed anniversary pins, along with a package of Lindt chocolates for each staff member, a total of nearly 1300.

Managers and staff were most appreciative of the gesture, and were especially delighted to have the opportunity of meeting members of the Advisory Council and seeing the sisters around the units.

Mercy Day Reflection – September 24, 2022

The great feast that unites the Mercy world is Mercy Day, 24 September.La gran fiesta que une al mundo de la Misericordia es el Día de la Misericordia, el 24 de septiembre.

Catherine McAuley, Foundress

Many blessings as we remember and celebrate Mercy Day!
¡Muchas bendiciones al recordar y celebrar el Día de la Misericordia!

A Reflection has been prepared for this day which you may wish to use to celebrate with us.
Se ha preparado una Reflexión para este día que puede utilizar para celebrar con nosotros.

 

 

Developments for The Gathering Place

For the past couple of weeks work has begun in the interior of Mercy Convent to prepare for the construction of the shelter and transition accommodations for the homeless that will be administered by The Gathering Place.

We currently have a 30-bed shelter operating daily out of the auditorium of the former Mercy School. The interior of the convent will be totally re-constructed to a design suited to the program of care of those who have no home that will eventually see them settled in a permanent housing arrangement.
The majority of the funding for this project comes from the Federal and Provincial housing strategies.
We have been fortunate to have a generous donor who has already given two million dollars along with other corporate and individual donors.
The chapel of Mercy will not be renovated and will serve as part of the Gathering Place project and other possible use yet to be defined.

Celebrating 421 Years of Life and Ministry!

Six Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland have celebrated 70 years of life and ministry.

On August 15, 2022 the Eucharistic Liturgy was celebrated in the chapel at The Residence at Littledale in St. John’s. In the afternoon a gathering of all the Sisters who could attend was filled with music and song and good food. A special anniversary cake was cut and shared and gifts were presented.

This was the first time that the Congregation celebrated 70 years (platinum jubilee)! Sister Loretta Dower had reached her 70th Jubilee in 2021 and was included with the group of this year.

Sr Annette Hawco

Over the next 10 years we will have about 45 sisters who will reach the platinum jubilee!

In 2023 year Sister Annette Hawco will reach her 80th anniversary of reception and her 100th birthday!

Opening of Our Holy Doors (Newfoundland)

On Sunday, December 13, 2015 Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of the Cathedral of Rome. In Dublin on that same Day, during Foundation Day celebrations, the red Doors of Mercy International Centre were opened.

The Leadership Team Newfoundland invited every local community or Sister living alone and every place of ministry, on or near December 12, to name their Holy Door of Mercy, to celebrate its opening and to place on it a symbol. The Team made a composite of all our Holy Doors in Newfoundland and Peru as a reminder of the privilege we have in being doorkeepers and guardians of the in-between places of Mercy in our world.

Attached are the components (four panels) of our Collage for the Opening of our Holy Doors of Mercy. Sisters, Associates and Partners in Mercy have received the actual Collage which is in a larger size and which opens to be able to stand up on prayer tables or other special places.

FRONT of Collage

 

INSIDE of Collage

Will we as doorkeepers hold wide the door to invite those who are hungry, thirsty, imprisoned, sick, strange, or naked to come in to find Mercy?
¿Mantendrán ustedes como guardianas, la puerta abierta para invitar a quienes tienen hambre o sed, a las personas prisioneras, a quienes están enfermas, forasteras o desnudas, a entrar y encontrar Misericordia?

 

¿Vigilarán ustedes como guardianas de la puerta nuestras «salidas y regresos» (Salmo 121, 8) al arriesgarnos a esta nueva forma de ver Misericordia y ser Misericordia en tiempos que pueden ser tan aterradores y desalentadores?
Will we as doorkeepers guard our “going out and our coming in” (Ps 121:8) as we dare this new way of seeing Mercy and being Mercy in times that can be so fearful and discouraging?

SIDE PANELS

Since the making of this composite many other Associates and Partners in Mercy either as groups or as individuals continue to create symbolic doors for not only opening the Holy Doors but even more for living the Mercy that comes into and goes out through these doors.

Messages to: Elizabeth Marrie rsm – Leadership Team