Category: Sisters News

Sisters from Americas, Ireland and Newfoundland Gather in Peru for Formation Journey Retreat

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The Formation Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean sponsored a four-day retreat outside Lima, Peru, on February 16-19, 2012.

Led by Sister Mary Pat Garvin (Americas), 12 sisters from CCASA Community (Americas), Newfoundland and Ireland explored ways to strengthen their ministry in vocation promotion and the many phases of the formative journey.

Beginning with Catherine McAuley’s Suscipe as a means of enkindling and sustaining their own gift of self to God and others, they moved to “Centered in Mercy” and the process of formation. Their topics included the use of autobiography in discernment, indicators of human maturity across cultures, accompaniment in initial formation and developmental growth plans that build on the strengths of women discerning a life in Mercy. “I recognized once again,” observed Sister Mary Anto (CCASA/Peru), “that it is my own growth and development that helps me help others.” Sister Liz Brennan (Newfoundland) said, “Our days together reaffirmed my commitment to this ministry and opened new ways of understanding the formative process.”

Mercy on Mission in Monsefu, Peru

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Today, 1 November, marks 56 years (1961) since the Sisters of Mercy arrived in Monsefu, Peru to provide education for local children. We invited the Sisters to share with us from those beginnings and their present story…

Story of the Beginning of the Mission in Peru

In 1959, Pope John XX111 asked the Superior Generals of Religious Congregations and Bishops of the world to send missionaries to Latin America.  The church of Newfoundland, Canada was one of the first to respond to the call.

Bishop Patrick Skinner missioned Father Charles O’Neill Conroy from the Archdiocese of St John´s, Newfoundland, to the parish of Monsefu in the Diocese of Chiclayo, some 500 kilometers on the North coast of Peru.   He arrived in Monsefu for the first time on February 19, 1961.  The pueblo awaited with shouts of “Long live the Canadian Fathers” and “Long live Catholic Monsefu”.

It did not take Father Conroy long to see that there was a great need for a school which would provide education for the children of the poor families.  He immediately contacted The Sisters of Mercy in Newfoundland and in May 1961, Sisters Imelda Smith, Superior General, and Sister Dorothy Carroll arrived in Monsefu for a firsthand experience.  After much discernment it was decided that the Sisters would dedicate their full time to the desperate need for education in Monsefu.  On November 1, 1961 Sisters Mary Dorothy Carroll, Immacula O´Leary, Maura Mason, Marion Collins, Concepta Best and Gabriella Walsh arrived in Lima.  They made the first visit to Monsefu on November 7 and were royally welcomed with music, bands, and fireworks.  An article written on occasion of the Golden Jubilee in 2011 began with “On that day Light arrived to Monsefu¨…

While the convent was in construction the Sisters had many moves: an apartment in the Hacienda Pomalca, Dominican Sisters in Lambayeque, apartment in Chiclayo. During this time they were mastering the Spanish language and visiting Monsefu where they finally moved to live in Dr Miguel Custodio’s house on March 11, 1962. A few weeks later in April they began daily Primary classes in a small chapel next to church with night classes for young men and women who had to work by day.

They moved into Our Lady of Mercy Convent, on February 25, 1963 which was blessed during Mass celebrated in chapel by the Bishop of Chiclayo. As true Sisters of Mercy they quickly moved out to the periphery of many small villages offering catechetical programs. Two sisters devoted themselves full time with the same  programs in other public primary schools in Monsefu. A dream came true in April, 1964 when Our Lady of Mercy School was opened next to the convent.

An unfortunate car accident occurred on March 1, 1966 taking the lives of Father Conroy, Sister Dorothy and Sister Aquin who had joined the Sisters eleven months before.

Another dream came true with the opening of High School Carlos O’Neill Conroy in April, 1967. The following year The Christian Brothers joined the Sisters in this school. Both schools were passed over to the State in 1974 and Sisters present then began a new pastoral ministry.

In March 17, 1988 Sisters Lily Ferro, Carmelita Power, Mildred Brennan and Alice Mackey vacated the larger convent in Monsefu and moved to a smaller and simpler house in Puerto Eten, a couple of kilometers away. There and in Cuidad Eten and Reque they continued their ministry. Further expansion occurred in 1993 to the mountainous region of Peru. On May 3, 1993 Sisters Lily, Verna Aucoin, and Rosa Cumpa established a second Mercy community in Ichocan in the sprawling Diocese of Cajamarca in the Andes.

Present Story in Peru…2017

Today there are eight Mercy Sisters – four Peruvians: Sisters Lily Ferrero Butters, Rosa Silva Cumpa, Alita Sanchez Sanchez, Rosali Vargas Mendoza and four Canadians: Sisters Marion Collins, Alice Mackey , Mildred Brennan, Veronica Aucoin. After ministering in Ichocan, Cajamarca for 22 years as Administrators of the Parish and working in religious education area and after prayerful discernment, Sisters Lily, Marion, Rosa, Veronica and Alita moved to the coast in February, 2015 to the town of Huarmey, Chimbote. There they work in the area of religious education but continue serving in the area of parish work in three shanty towns on the edge of the city of Huarmey.

Sisters Alice, Mildred, Alita and Rosali form the Community in Puerto Eten, Chiclayo. Their ministries are lived out with a special Pastoral Care of the sick, Diocesan and Parish formation with accompaniment of lay leaders in a base Christian Community who in turn form other base Christian communities. They are also engaged in education and accompaniment of women in arts and crafts, study and sharing social, political and ecological issues with lay community groups. Mildred frequently attends planning meetings of the Peruvian Mercy Formation team for discernment of Religious Vocation.

At the present moment Alita is studying Law in the Catholic University in Lima. Rosali is studying Initial Education in a Chiclayo University and presently has taken time from study for an intense preparation in Lima to make Perpetual Vows in 2018.

The Body Holds the Story

Posted on by Diane Smyth

I wrote this poem to describe the journey of a girl who had been a victim of human trafficking

The body holds the story

Tag or word cloud human trafficking awareness day related in shape of hand or palm

Chapter 1: Birth Until 11 Years

a tiny bud so fresh so new
nurtured by sunbeams
watered by dew drops
rooted in soil rich and deep
blossomed in the garden
blew carefree in the wind
danced vibrantly amidst others
pulsating with life

chapter 2: ages 12 years-14 

but chaos and confusion penetrated the garden
climaxing in violence and upheaval
thrusting the bud into a place of fertile emptiness
the bud-
now plucked from its stem
torn and tossed by foreign elements
displaced from the warmth and security of her home
no longer aroused by sunbeams and dewdrops
no longer shaded from destructive forces
no longer tended by gentler spirits

perceived now as a prized trophy
lured and groomed into a heinous crime
one that wrenched through my body
tore through my soul
pierced through the chasms of my heart
and the body continued to hold the story…

Messages to: Margie Taylor rsm 

Sisters of Mercy Newfoundland Recognised as ‘a Blue Community’

Posted on by Diane Smyth

On Friday, 19 October, Ms. Andrea Furlong, Interim Chief Executive of the Council of Canadians, presented the Congregation with a certificate as a Blue Community, the 20th group in Canada to commit to the honoring and protection of water, and one of only 47 groups yet to do so worldwide.

The presentation took place at McAuley Convent, St John’s, where a number of Sisters had gathered for this event. A brief ritual which included a blessing of water was prepared and led by Sr. Mona.

A ‘Blue Community’ adopts a water commons framework by taking three actions:

1.       Recognizing water and sanitation as human rights.

2.       Banning or phasing out the sale of bottled water in municipal facilities and at municipal events.

3.       Promoting publicly financed, owned, and operated water and wastewater services.

In May the Congregation prepared its Statement of Commitment outlining its dedication to implementing water and sanitation as human rights.

Commitment Statement in EnglishCommitment Statement in Spanish

‘We make this commitment for the good of all in keeping with the integrity of all creation and in a spirit of humility and gratitude for water and the many gifts lavished on us by the Creator of all.’

A guide prepared by the Council of Canadians, providing information and resources to help a group become a blue community, can be downloaded
here (28pps, PDF)

Images: Used with permission . Sam McLeish, The Telegram

180 Years of Mercy Ministry in Newfoundland

Posted on by Diane Smyth

180 years ago today, 3 June, three Sisters of Mercy from the Baggot Street Community —Francis Creedon, Ursula Frayne and Rose Lynch— arrived in St John’s to commence the Works of Mercy there.

This date marks both the establishment of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland and of the first community of the Sisters of Mercy in the New World. Read more about those first Mercy Sisters (and the 57 young Irish women who went from Ireland to join the Newfoundland Congregation between 1842 and 1907) in the book “Standing on Their Shoulders” (PDF) by Charlotte Fitzpatrick rsm.

Among the ministries the Mercies in Newfoundland are engaged in today is The Gathering Place, established in 1994 as a joint project with the Presentation Sisters. This Centre is frequented by people who are displaced – those struggling with hunger, abuse, mental illness, physical disabilities and addiction, and is for many their only safe place to go. The programs and services are offered through a volunteer-driven operation by more than 2000 people committed to ‘building community, promoting equality and providing nurture and nourishment for those seeking respite from isolation and loneliness’.

Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland Chapter

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The 22nd General Chapter of the Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland will commence on 3 June and close on 6 August.

Our prayer card with our Chapter theme and logo Mercying: Imaging the Face of God in All Creation, Misericordiando: Siendo Imagen del Rostro de Dias en toda la Creación can be downloaded here

We invite you to pray with us as we take the next steps in our Mercy journey.

Messages to: Elizabeth Marrie rsm – Chair of the Chapter Coordinating Committee

In Memory of Padre Victor

Posted on by Diane Smyth

On September 29, 2010 Feast of the Archangels Michael, Raphael and Gabriel and birthday of Venerable Catherine McAuley, Padre Victor was buried in the garden of his parish church in Reque, Peru.

Three days earlier, after weeks of serious illness and hospitalization, Padre Victor made his final life’s journey surrounded by loving prayer, song and attentiveness, hope and patient waiting of his people. Victor was much loved. He dedicated his life to being the padre to his parishioners and their families. He loved his life, his faith and his church and his God. He lived the joy of the gospel and stood strong in the face of injustice- he was fierce advocate for his people and cared not only for their souls but also for their dignity and rights. Padre Victor was a strong man yet sickness was stronger and defeated him, in body, but not in spirit nor in the legacy that he leaves to those who knew him. Padre Victor will not be forgotten.

Padres Emigido and Lucho have shared so much of life with Victor from their young days. The three were lovingly known as the three amigos. In speaking of Victor throughout the days before the funeral they stressed over and over his gift of love of life, his “Alegria” which he passed on to all, his total dedication to the people especially the “más pobres”, his untiring service not only to his parish, but nationally, to the whole diocese. There was lots of great singing led by Reque Parish choir, lots of clapping in the midst of the reflection, etc.

The funeral was an especially blessed moment. There were crowds in the thousands in the plaza where the funeral took place. The altar was set in the door of the church facing the plaza. The Bishop officiated with fifty-two priests attending. Among the priests were Eugene Roy from Ontario and Jose Alverez Calderon, a great liberation Theologian based in Lima. There was extensive lay participation in the Mass. After Mass, the body of Padre Victor was brought in procession around the plaza with a special ceremony in front of the Municipal building. His body was then taken to the garden in front of the church where Victor is now buried. There is a small plaque marking his burial place, but a bigger monument is being planned for. Words used to describe Victor were “the saint of Reque,” “our joyful, happy saint in heaven,” and “the alma (spirit) of catechesis familiar. ”Victor was known and loved by many Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland and by some of the priests who worked with him in Peru. He is sorely missed.

Tu nos has muerto; viveras en nuestros corozones y te recordaremos

 

Documentary: “The Incredible Vanishing Sisters”

Posted on by Diane Smyth

This CBC GEM one hour documentary about the Presentation and Mercy Sisters of Newfoundland and Labrador was produced by Kenneth Harvey, a Canadian novelist, journalist and film-maker. It premiered on CBC Gem on 15 March 2022.

“The Presentation Sisters and Sisters of Mercy have stopped accepting new nuns into their orders in Newfoundland and Labrador. In the years to come, both orders will disappear as we know them. Their orders have transformed into vehicles for social justice and environmental issues but now there are no longer young women who have the calling.”

Mercy Global Presence Report

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The Report on Mercy Global Presence ‘Weaving a New Fabric of Mercy Through Global Contemplation and Ecological Conversion’ is available for download in English and Spanish.

This report summarises the foundational steps which led to the Mercy Global Presence process – the Mercy International Research Conference, the Theological Advisory Commission proposal, and the Mercy International Reflection Process. It then outlines the process which unfolded. It contains details of each of the four segments and sixteen themes. It includes reflections from the participants on their experience and learnings from their active engagement in the process. It summarises the fruits of the six sets of regional gatherings. It also acknowledges the impact of the global pandemic on our world and, therefore, on Mercy Global Presence.

May your reading of this report be for you a catalyst in your own lived experience of mercying flowing from contemplative presence and flowing into contemplative presence. May it give you deeper insight into the beauty, the depth, the global reach, and the blessed moment in time that was Mercy International Association’s Mercy Global Presence process.

Download the report: English: A4, US Letter. Spanish: A4, US Letter

Mercy Documentary Screened on CBC Television

Posted on by Diane Smyth

On 25 May, Up Sky Down Films documentary Mercy was screened on CBC tv. The programme was filmed at Mercy Convent, Military Road, Newfoundland, now closed after 180 years and which will become part of The Gathering Place community health centre, enabling it to expand its services to vulnerable members of St John’s population.

Featuring Sr Rosemary Ryan, the impact of the Sisters of Mercy is told by some of our former students, including former St. John’s mayor, Shannon Duff, the CBC’s own Mary Walsh, and  Susan Quinn,  the founder and Artistic Director of QVE (Quintessential Vocal Ensemble).

Susan’s long-time desire to pay tribute to “Mercy” and to get back into the convent chapel, where she sang so often as a child, one last time before it closed, led to this documentary (15:44), filmed two weeks before the convent closed.