MAY | JUNE 2018 Bimonthly publication for sisters, associates and companions of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Haiti Through Our Eyes

also in this issue:

Literacy Opens Doors for Women and Girls

Sisters & Millennials, Kindred Souls

F E A T U R E S

4 HaitiThroughOurEyesBy the Members of Mercy Focus on Haiti

7 LiteracyOpensDoorsforWomenandGirlsBy Sister Helen Marie Burns

12 Sisters&Millennials,KindredSoulsBy Sister Judy Carle

C O L U M N S

11 VocationandIncorporation|Could You Say That Another Way? By Sister Cynthia Serjak

16 Justice|Mercy Stands in Solidarity with Dreamers in Civil Disobedience

By Maggie Conley, Institute Justice Team

D E P A R T M E N T S

2 CommunityUpdate Compiled by Mercy Communicators

17 SpiceofMercyLife|A Second Family in Mercy By Sister Mary Anne Weldon

M A Y | J U N E 2 0 1 8

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, Kathleen Erickson, Judith Frikker, Diane Guerin, Patricia Kenny and Pat Talone. Anne Boyle, Sue Carroll, 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.

page 7 page 12page 4

Beauty and poverty in Gros Morne, Haiti. Since their founding in 2011, Mercy Focus on Haiti members continue to walk with the people of this community in service and in solidarity. Read more on page 4.

M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18 ¡Viva! Mercy 1

DearSisters,Associates,CompanionsandMercyVolunteers,

Aswereadthisissueof¡Viva! Mercy,weareinthemidstofthegloriousEasterseasonandanticipatingPentecost!WeareremindedofthemanyandvariedresurrectionappearancesofJesusandlikelyhaveourownfavoriteScriptureaccountsthatreassureusofhowmucheachofusisdeeplylovedbyGod.

ThestoryofthegrouptravelingtoEmmausandtheirencounterwithJesusinvitesustolive,moveandhaveourbeinginanewnarrative.Likethedisciples,individuallyandcommunallywearecalledoutofdisappointment,sadnessandfrozennesstosomethingmuchmorehopeful,aliveandtransforming.ThelightofChristandthepresenceoftheHolySpiritinviteustobecomefiredupforactionandMercypresenceonbehalfofoursufferingworld.“Werenotourheartsburningwithinuswhilehewastalkingtous?”(Luke24:32).ThetimeswhenweareliterallycaughtbytheSpiritfrequentlyresultinamazing

accomplishmentsreflectingGospelandMercyspirituality.ThefeaturedarticlesinthisissueonMercyFocusonHaiti,MercyEducationProjectandtheNunsandtheNonesgatheringsarewitnesstoamazingstoriesthatunleashanewnarrativetobeexperiencedthroughcreativity,collaboration,networkingandencounterwiththeother.

ThefollowingaccountbySisterKarenSchneideraboutarecentvisittoHaitireflectsa“heartsburningwithinus”momentandthesheerjoyofexperiencingtheRisenChrist:

“Yesterday we did the ministry of visitation … went walking in the mountains and visited some women [in the Pathway to a Better Life program]. They were so happy to see us. One woman ran out of her house and hugged all of us. She started proclaiming while raising her arms: ‘For 19 years I did not have a roof, I did not have a door, I was hungry … now there is no rain in my house, and my belly is full, and I am getting fat, and it is all because of you! Thank you God, thank you God!’”

Hopefullyreadingthesestorieswillmake“ourheartsburnwithinus”andinspireustoembraceandmakerealourChapter 2017 Recommitment: Called to a New Consciousness.LetusbeopentocreatingthespacewithineachofustoallowanewnarrativetoemergegroundedinthegracetheEasterseasonoffers.OurbelovedCatherineMcAuleytellsus,“PrayforyourportionoftheEasterGrace…Donotgiveupuntilallisgivenyou.”KnowofourprayerandheartfeltaffectionforeachofyouinthisEasterseason.

InMercy,

From the Institute Leadership Team

The InsTITuTe LeadershIp Team (From left) Sisters Patricia Flynn, Judith

Frikker, Patricia McDermott, Anne Marie

Miller and Áine O'Connor.

Community Update

2 ¡Viva! Mercy M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18

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

CARIBBEAN, CENTRAL AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA

CCASA CONTINUES initscommitmenttotheAlternativestoViolenceProgramoriginallydevelopedbytheQuakersfortheirworkwithprisonpopula-tions.Theprogramconsistsofthreeworkshopsoffourdayseach.CCASAsistersandassociatesparticipated

inafourthworkshopthatenabledthemtobecomefacilitators.InJanuary,FebruaryandApril,variouslevelsoftheprogramwereofferedinPeru,Guyana,PanamaandArgentinaandopentosisters,associatesandthoseparticipatinginourvariousministries.ParticipantSisterCarmenRosaCcallomamaniseestheseworkshopsas“anindicationthatourMercycommunityhastakenveryseriouslythecalltoaddresstheissueofnonviolence.”

During2018fourCCASAsisterswillcelebrateJubilees—70years,SisterMagdalenaLeavy;60years,SistersMartaBarry,InésVillaniandGregoriaLizama.Youcanlearnabitmoreabouteachjubilariansisteratbit.ly/CCASAJubilarians.

Sister Magdalene Leavy, 70-year jubilarian.

SOUTH CENTRAL

SISTERS FROM ACROSS theSouthCentralCommunitygatheredinCharlotte,NorthCarolina,May4-6foraweekendofreflectiveexplorationoflifeasapostolicwomenreligiouswithinthecontextoftheJourneyofOneness.SisterCarolZinn,aSisterofSt.JosephandaformerpresidentoftheLeadershipConferenceofWomenReligious,ledthediscussionsduringthisgathering.

TheARISEministrycelebratedits30thanniversaryinNovember2017byhostingitssecondconference,“AdelanteARISE,30YearsMovingForward.”(“Adelante”isSpanishfor“forward.”)Some200communitymemberscametogetherinAlamo,Texas,tocelebrateandprayingratitudeforARISE.ARISEpromotespersonaldevelopmentandempowermentoftheimmigrantcommunityintheRioGrandeValleythrougheducationalprogramsandcivicengagement.Itisco-sponsoredbytheSouthCentralCommunityandtheSistersofCharityoftheIncarnateWordofHouston,Texas.

Sister Carol Zinn, SSJ

WEST MIDWEST

POPE FRANCIShasclearedthewayforslainSalvadoranArchbishopÓscarRomerotobemadeasaint.RomeroscholarSisterAnaMaríaPineda,atheologianatSantaClaraUniversityandauthorofRomero & Grande: Companions on the Journey, couldn’tbehappier.“Hiscanonizationaffirmstheimportanceofsocialjusticeinthechurchandhowit'simportantforusasChristiansandasCatholics

tobeonthesideofthepoor…despitethedifficulties,despitethechallengesthat(doingso)mightbringabout,”shesaid.

SisterMarilynLaceysharedthelimelightwithotherextraordinarywomensuchasMichelleObama,HillaryClinton,andJusticeSoniaSotomayorasoneof20womencelebratedinTheCanalesProject’s“HearHerSong”program.ThismusicalcelebrationofremarkablewomenleaderspremieredinMarchatWashington,D.C.'sNationalGalleryofArtandwillbeperformedMay19attheHammerTheatreCenterinSanJosé,California.

In April, the Community elected its new leadership team. Seated, Sisters Susan Sanders, president; and Ana María Pineda, first counselor elected after president. Standing, Sisters Margaret Mary Hinz, Maria Klosowski and Peg Maloney, team members.

MID-ATLANTIC

SISTERS AND ASSOCIATES acrosstheMid-AtlanticCommunitygatheredforConsultativeGatheringsaroundthethemeof“Encuentro:CalledtoaNewConsciousness.”

Duringthegatherings,sistersengagedincontemplativedialogueandwereinvitedto“godeeper”inrelationshipwitheachother,withourworldandwithGod.TheagendawasbasedonasegmentofthekeynotepresentationattheReligiousFormationCongresspresentedbySisterTeresaMaya,the

presidentoftheSistersofCharityoftheIncarnateWordofSanAntonio,Texas,andthepresidentoftheLeadershipConferenceofWomenReligious.Apanelofsistersandstaffsharedtheirreflectionsonencuentrointheirownlives.TheafternoonincludedadiscussiononlifedevelopmentandanupdatefromtheCommunityLeadershipTeam.

Sister Eileen McGowan holds the microphone as Sisters Mary Pat Garvin and Marie Heenan prepare to ask questions of the Mid-Atlantic Community Life Development Committee at one of the four Consultative Gatherings.

3M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18 ¡Viva! Mercy

NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, PACIFIC WEST

IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK,SistersofMercycelebratedtheir160thanniversaryonFebruary10withaMassatMercyCenterandasharingofmemoriesonthefollowingday.

Sisterscommunity-wideparticipatedinCommunityConsultationCircles,sharingideasaboutministryandcommunalrelationships.

CommunitygatheringswithsistersareslatedforApril14inPittsburgh,Pennsylvania,andApril21inRochester,NewYork.InErie,Pennsylvania,MercyhurstPrephonoredSisterJoanMcCabewiththeDistinguishedAlumniAwardforService.Also,duringNationalCatholicSistersWeek,theEriereligiouscommunitiesandthedioceserecognizedSisterRitaBrockeforhersocialactivism.

AnewscholarshiphasbeenestablishedattheRochester’sEastmanSchoolofMusicinmemoryofSisterEdwinaButler,whodiedinDecemberattheageof102.

During National Catholic Sisters Week, Erie religious communities and the diocese recognized sisters for their social activism, among them Sister Rita Brocke (center), and Sisters Mary Claire Kennedy, SSJ (left), and Marlene Bertke, OSB.

PHILIPPINES

THE TROPICAL TYPHOON VINTAhittheTugaya(Dalama)VillageinthemunicipalityofTubod,LanaodelNorte,Mindanao,

onDecember22,2017.Itturnedthevillageinto“groundzero,”causinglossoflifeandmanymissingindividuals.

InJanuary,sistersorganizedanoutreachandmedicalmissionwithMercyschools,MercyCommunityHospitalandIliganMedicalSociety.Theresponsewasoverwhelming.

Thesisters,missionpartnersandvolunteersprovidedmedicalcareandpsycho-sociointerventionwhilealsodistributingnutritiousfoodsandsupplies.

Duringtheactivitiesoneoftheon-sitereliefworkerssaid,“ThisisonewayofraisingthevoiceofthepeopleofTugayaVillage.”

ThegrouplefttheplacefulfilledandgratefultoGodforthewitnessingdone.Everyonefeltthedesiretoconductafollow-upmission.Thankstoallsisters,missionpartnersandvolunteerswhohelped.

Sisters Rosalie Ruiz and Elsa Caberte distribute medicines to those affected by the typhoon.

NORTHEAST

MERCY HOSPITAL OF PORTLAND,Maine,foundedbytheSistersofMercyin1918,kickedoffayearlongcentennialcelebrationatitsJanuaryannualmeeting.Duetoinclementweather,SistersJacquelineMarieKieslich,MaureenMitchellandPattyMoriartyoftheCommunityLeadershipTeamspokeviaSkypefromRhodeIsland.JacquelineMarieannouncedthecompletionofa$5millionpledgebytheMercyEndowmentFoundation(MEF)tothehospital'scapitalcampaign.Attheevent,SisterMiriamThereseCallnan,MEFpresident,sharedthatthefoundationwilltransferitsbalanceof$1milliontotheEasternMaineHealthcareSystemsFoundationtoestablishapermanentendowmentforMercyHospital.NotedJacquelineMarie,“WebelieveMercy'shealthcaremissionisvitaltothegreaterPortlandcommunity.Thesegiftsunderscoreour…convictionthattheministryofcompassionatehealthcarefor

all…willcontinuetoflourishthrough[those]whocontinuetomakeMercy‘Mercy.’”

Onscreen are (from left) Sisters Maureen Mitchell, Jacqueline Marie Kieslich and Patty Moriarty.

4 ¡Viva! Mercy M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18

By Members of Mercy Focus on HaitiOne day in January 2014, several members of Mercy Focus on Haiti (MFOH) stood in the courtyard of Maison Bon Samaritain in Gros Morne, Haiti. MFOH helps to support the Maison financially and through service projects. We were saying goodbye to our friends, the men and women who live in this “House of the Good Samaritan,” a residence for infirm and otherwise homeless Haitians who have no family resources whatsoever.

Through Our Eyes

M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18 ¡Viva! Mercy 5

Thoughwereallydidnotknowhowtopaint,wehadjustfinishedthewallsoftwobedroomsandaroomthatwouldbecome a new, indoor kitchen. And though we were notexpertgardeners,wehadshoveleddirtandbuiltakeyholevegetablegardeninthebackyard.Thenwehadapartywiththe residents, complete with frosted cake and balloons.Papa,ourHaitiandriver,wasnowwaitingathisbustotakeusbacktoKayVizitewherewewouldre-groupforthenextday’sagronomywork.

Aswestoodinthecourtyard,oneofusfoundherschool-principal’s voice and prayed aloud for all the residents.Spontaneouslyweall raisedourdirty,paint-spottedarmsand began to sing Sister Cynthia Serjak’s lovely blessing:“Amen, we affirm. Amen, we encourage. Amen, we blessandwecelebrate.Amen.”

Suddenly,everyoneoftheresidentsseatedaroundthecourtyardstoodup,eventheblindandthosewithcrutchesandwheelchairs.Wecontinuedtosingtheblessing,againand again, now with cracked voices and rivulets goingdown our dusty cheeks. It was a sacramental moment ofaccompaniment,solidarityandempoweringlove.Wethenembracedeachresidentandheadedsilentlytothebus,itsname,“LeBonPasteur,”emblazonedacrossitsfront,abovethewindshield.

MercyFocusonHaitiislikethat—momentsthatarenotforgotten, stories that remain. Children running to jumpinto the arms of Mercy high school and college studentswhocometoGrosMorneforMFOHimmersionexperiences.MembersofMFOHtryingtotakeseriouslytheparableofthe Good Samaritan and the wide, inclusive care of theGoodShepherd.

Mostofall,MercyFocusonHaitiisaboutpeoplestanding up on their own strength, empowered by God’s mercy—coming to them, perhaps clumsily, through unskilledwall-painters and wheelbarrow-pushers who hope theyhavecarriedintheirluggagetheonlytooltheyreallyneed:neighborlylove.

Thenextdaywevisitthetreenurseryandmodelvegetablegardens MFOH helps to support at the agronomy centerin Grepin. We listen carefully to Guy Marie Garcon, askilledHaitianagronomist,hopingtohealsomeofourownignoranceaboutthelaborinvolvedinreforestingdenudedmountains to prevent mudslides and the difficulties ofgrowingfoodforyourfamilyinatropicalclimatethatalter-nates between severe droughts and heavy rainy seasons.Inwardlywevowneveragaintosnubournosesatabruisedtomato or pepper, never to chop down a tree or waste asweetpotato,andtobegratefulforspinach.

AtLekol Jezi-Mari,or Jesus andMaryPrimarySchool,inFon Ibo—operatedby theReligiousof JesusandMarywith whom we collaborate—we hear the children shout“Blancs!Blancs!”aswegetoffthebus.Withadmirationand

understandingwelistentotheteachers,whosegovernmentsalariesareoftenmonthslate.Thenwe“assist”(aeuphemism)as third-graders, future Rembrandts and Van Goghs, usecrayonsandpilesofsilversprinklestomakegreetingcardsfortheireldersatMaisonBonSamaritain.Later,wewatch,humbly, as the children eat every bean and every speckof riceon the tinplates thatheld theirwarm,nourishinglunch, an annual expense to which MFOH contributes.Beforeweleavetheschool,wegazeinshameandprideatthesolarpanelsonthebuildingsandthecompostingtoiletsintheschoolyard;rarely,ifever,haveweseensuchcareforEarthatU.S.schools!

A year later, we’re back in Gros Morne with Mercystudents from the United States who are participating inan MFOH immersion experience. We meet the scores ofHaitian girls from mountain villages who live in the twofacilities of Mercy Beyond Borders (MBB) while they gotohigh school, their tuitioncompletelypaid forbyMBB.Weknow that our friend and the founderofMBB, SisterMarilyn Lacey, now back in California, is planning moreactivitiesfortheeducationofgirlsandwomen.

Withtheirhugemusicalrepertoire,theMBBscholarsout-shinetheMercystudents,whocanonlymanagearenditionof their alma mater, the only song whose words they allseem to know. And then the card games—in Creole, inEnglish—the language really doesn’t matter. The wholescene, even the jump-roping together, is one of respect,empowerment and the universality of human laughter.Deepdownit’salsoaboutMercyhospitality,mutuallearning,mutualgivingandreceiving.Duringthedancing,wethinkweseeCatherineMcAuleysmilingandclappinginacorner,andweofferherafoldingchair.

Another year passes. On July 13, 2017, five membersof Mercy Focus on Haiti—ordinary women who untilrecentlyhadn’tacluewhatthepopulationcategory“ultra-poverty”trulymeant—sitonthesidelineswithafewMercy

Left: Schoolchildren from Lekole Jazi-Mari gather at a roadside café in Gros Morne, Haiti. Credit: Mercy Beyond Borders

Right: Sister Jill Weber visits with staff at Maison Bon Samaritain. From left are Serge Beliad (Papa), MFOH driver; Widelande Auguste, nurse; Carmel Saurel Barthelo, administrator; and Jill.

Mercy Focus on Haiti is like that – moments that are not forgotten, stories that remain.

6 ¡Viva! Mercy M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18

friends in a large church in Gros Morne. Two hundredultra-poorHaitianwomenareseatedinthefront,andareabout tobegin their life-empowering journeyasmembersofChemenLaviMiyo(CLM)—their“PathwaytoaBetterLife.”Thewomenareshy,butdressedintheirbest,andsoaretheMercyfolksinattendance.

During the 18-month CLM program designed byFonkoze, a Haitian banking and educational institution,these200women, if theywork faithfullyeachweekwiththeirassignedHaitiancasemanager,willeventually“gradu-ate,” lifting themselves and their families out of extremepovertyonceandforall.Nomoretryingtoliveon$1.25adayorless;nomorepolluteddrinkingwater;nomoredayswithoutfood;nomoremal-orunder-nourishedchildren;nomore leakyroofspouringraindownonthematnight. Intime,they’llhavewaterfilters,outdoorlatrines,betterhuts,foodeveryday,regularschoolattendance,twoincome-pro-ducingmicro-businesses(goatsmaybe,orpigs)and,mostofall,personalprideandconfidenceintheirownandtheirfamilies’ future well-being. Next year another 200 ultra-poorHaitianwomenwillbeginthesameempoweringjourney.

TheMFOHmemberspresentthatdaycanonlybowtheirheadsinoverwhelminggratitudetoGod.Somehow—withChrist’s immensely merciful help and the unbelievablegenerosity of many donors bearing gifts large and small,includingthe“bigC,”MercyCommunities—MercyFocusonHaitiwasabletoraisethethousandsofdollarsneededto launch this sisterly CLM ministry of accompanyingsolidaritywithourdeeplyimpoverishedsistersinHaitiand

theirfamilies.Isitanywonderthatthefivegrownwomensitting there on the sidelines are simultaneously smilingandcrying?

Fast forward to January 2018, and a plane lands inPort-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, five hours south ofGrosMorne.SisterJillWeberhascometolivefull-timeinGros Morne, and Andrea (Andi) Healy has come to helpher get settled.Emails frommembersofMercyFocusonHaitiflyacrosstheinternet—ithashappened!Afull-timeMercypresenceisnowestablishedinHaiti,thebeginningof a House of Mercy is now founded there, in fidelity tothevisionofalltheSistersofMercywhoeverworkedandministeredinHaitiintimespast,womenwhosenamesweremember,womenwhosenamesGodremembers.

Again, we imagine that Catherine is smiling and clap-ping: “Hurra for foundations—makes the old young, andthe young merry.” Even from afar we feel the delightshe always felt in each new Mercy foundation: “Nothinglike Foundations for rousing us all” (Correspondence of Catherine McAuley,343,344).

So now, once more, we all raise our arms and sing:“Amen, we affirm. Amen, we encourage. Amen, we blessandwecelebrate.Amen.”

Mercy Focus on Haiti (MFOH) is a ministry initiative of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. The members of MFOH share a desire to respond in an effective and empowering way to ongoing human needs in Haiti. Learn more about MFOH on their website: mercyfocusonhaiti.org. To contact MFOH members please email Sister Kathy Thornton, kthornton@mercywmw.org.

And then the card games —in Creole, in English — the language really doesn t matter. The whole

scene, even the jump-roping together, is one of respect, empowerment and the universality of human laughter.

Sister Karen Schneider snapped this photo of a child of one of the Chemen Lavi Miyo participants. The reddish tinge to her hair at the ends is a sign of malnutrition, but the black roots show that she is getting much better nutrition thanks to the program.

Literacy Opens Doors

Chemen Lavi Miyo (CLM) participants receive their official membership documents.

M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18 ¡Viva! Mercy 7

Literacy Opens Doorsfor Women and GirlsBy Sister Helen Marie Burns

8 ¡Viva! Mercy M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18

Youfind them inPeru,Panama,Argentina,Africa andtheUnitedStates.Theysitatsmalltables,orgatheroutsideinacircleofwornchairs,orworkaloneinthecornersofabusyrooms.Theywearhijabs,colorfulshawls,stockingcapsormulti-huedheadpieces.Thecitysignsaroundthemmay say Colón, Moreno, Sudan, Chicago, Omaha, Erie,CedarRapids,BentonHarbor,PhiladelphiaorDetroit.

Thesewomen,youngandold,seekmeaningandgrowththroughbasiceducation.EachoftheeducationalsettingsinwhichtheysitbeganthroughtheenergiesofSistersofMercy,wassustainedbythesupportofthecongregationandflour-ishes through the contributions of numerous volunteers.This article will focus on one country, the United States;ononecity,Detroit,Michigan;onecityarea,southwesternDetroit;andoneministry:MercyEducationProject.

Mercy Education Project (MEP)Although literacy rates throughout theworld continue torise, therearestill750millionilliterateadults, two-thirdsof whom are women (UNESCO). The Program for theInternational Assessment of Adult Competencies’ 2014study of 24 countries in the northern hemisphere foundthat,while13percentofU.S.adultsage16-65performedatthehighestproficiencylevelforliteracy(4/5),18percentofU.S.adultsperformedatthelowestlevel.Proficiencylevelsfor literacy in a city such as Detroit closely mirror thosefindings.AccordingtoDetroitFutureCity’s2017publica-tion139 Square Miles,while20percentof thepopulation25 years and older have an associate’s degree or higher,another22percentofresidents25yearsandolderhavenotcompletedhighschool.

Sister Canice Johnson was probably not thinkingof the Program for International Assessment of AdultCompetencies in 1992 when she established the Mercy

Education Project (MEP). Rather,likesomanyofherforemothersinMercy,shesawaneducationalneedin the city of Detroit and decidedtorespond.MEP,whichcelebratedits25thanniversaryin2017,istheresult—awonderfulworkofmercyaddressing concerns of educationandofwomen,racismandpoverty.

During the past 25 years, MEPhas seen many changes. KathyOjedaremembersa2006callfromtheexecutivedirectorofMEPask-inghertoconsidervolunteeringfor

“afewmonths.”Twelveyearslatershecontinuesasavalu-ablestaffmemberofMEP.Shetreasuresmemoriesof“theearlydays”whendecisionsweremadearoundasmalltable.Staff,volunteers, andstudentswere fewer innumberandtutoringwastheprimaryactivity.Throughherdecade-plusexperience at MEP, she has valued the consistent qualityinclassroomlearning,thecollaborationwithotherserviceorganizations and “a cultureof expectations for everyonetoseekmore.”

Seeking “more,”early staff and volunteers moved fromproviding tutoring for economically disadvantaged girls todevelopingaspectrumofeducationalprograms.Theorgani-zationhasmorphedfromaliteracyprogramtoacareerandcollegereadinessprogramforat-riskwomenandgirlsinoneofDetroit’spoorestareas.In25years,3,000womenandgirlshavebenefitedfromMEPprograms.In2016-2017alone:

• 130 women participated in 23,424 hours of adult educationandsupportservices;

• 130girlsreceived7,800hoursofprogramming;and• 145volunteerscontributedserviceworth$174,194.

“No work of charity can be more productive of good to society ... than the careful instruction of women.” – Venerable Catherine McAuley

The late Sister Canice Johnson, founder of Mercy Education Project. She used her talents to gather persons and resources to address unmet needs.

M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18 ¡Viva! Mercy 9

While MEP programs serve both young and adultwomeninclaimingtheireducationandtheirvoice,herewefocusonthestoryofadultwomenintheprogram.

Morning at MEPIt’s 10 a.m. MEP is buzzing with purposeful conversa-tion andmovement.Voices are soft.Laughter is sporadicand genuine. Students in a literature class discuss poetryandmeaning.Volunteersprepare the luncheonarea foramid-morning break. Around a table in an open area, thedirectorofeducationalservicesassistsseveralwomenwiththeir GED application forms. One-on-one tutoring takesplace in a small alcove. Staff members organize materialsfor fundraising efforts, curriculum reviews and strategicplanningsessions.

JackieZeff’sthird-levelbasicreadingclassisexaminingSandra Cisneros’ “You Called Me Corazón.” This retiredcollege educator wants students to enjoy the “wholemilk” experience of reading and writing skills. “Read thelines,”sheencourages,“andthenreadbetweenthelines.”Choicesarepurposeful: stories that inspireandrelate lifeexperiences,suchasMistyCopeland’sLife inMotionandCisneros’work.Courseworkisenhancedwithfieldtripstoart museums, opera housesandpubliclectures.Womenin her classes have heardTa-NehisiCoatesspeakandvisited Detroit’s BonstelleTheatre. Jackie’s enthusiasmforwordsisasinfectiousasherdesiretoopenthedoorsof the arts to women. Shehopestoconnecttheir livesto a world of imagination.She challengesher studentsand herself “to graduateevery four years.” In otherwords, learnandthenlearnsomemore.

Thisscenerepeatsdaily.Thirty-five to 70 womenattendclassesinAdultBasicEducation(ABE)and/orGen-eral Education Development(GED) four days a week,committing to 18 hours ofinstruction for 30 weeks.MEPremainstheonlyagencyin southwest Detroit pro-vidingaABE/GEDprogramexclusivelyforwomen.Mostof MEP’s students live far

below the poverty level in an area in which half of thefamiliesareheadedbysinglewomen.Theorganization iscommittedtohelpingwomenbreakthecycleofpovertyandtoincreasingthelikelihoodofacademicsuccess,whichleadstojobsuccessandcareerdevelopment.NinetypercentofthewomenwhocompleteMEP’sprogrampasstheirGEDand,onaverage,70percentoftheGEDgraduateshavegoneontocollege,employmentorjobtraining.

“My Time is Now”Annette is the divorced mom of three children, one ofwhomisafreshmanatMichiganStateUniversity.Annetteleft home in 10th grade, became pregnant and neverreturned to high school. Although she enrolled in GEDclassesinherearly20s,herconfidencefailedherandshenever took the tests.Nearingher40thbirthday,shesays,“Mytimeisnow!IwillearnmyGED,andthengoontocollege—Idon’twanttotakeanytimeoff.”

FeliciareflectsonthesuccessofMEP’scommitmenttosmall classes and individualized instruction: “The experi-enceatMEPwaswonderfulforme.Ilovedtheindividualizedattentiononmultiplesubjectsas Ionlyhadasixthgradeeducation.”Withinsixmonths,FeliciahadpassedherGED

exams and had begun anassociate degree program atWayne County CommunityCollege. Today she is com-pletingherbachelor’sdegreeincriminaljustice/correctionsat Marygrove College andpreparingtoworkwithyoungwomenwhoarestrugglingassheoncewas.

Maria was born intoa family of 13 children inGuanajuato, Mexico. Sheandhersisterenduredhard-ship and danger in theirjourney from Mexico to theUnitedStates.Todayeachisa U.S. citizen and a gradu-ate of MEP’s GED program.Maria is currently studyingfor a bachelor’s degree inthe College of Education,Children and Families atMadonna University, Livonia,Michigan. Her goal is to bea lead teacher in the HeadStart program where she isemployed: “I see the impactteachers have had on my

The Women’s Program Class of 2017 graduates.

Diversity is a Strength MEP Celebrates Across All Programs

10 ¡Viva! Mercy M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18

four children. I see myself working in my owncommunity in southwestDetroit, givingkids agood start.” Her sister, Aurora, observed, “AtMEPtheyfindawaytohelpeachstudentlearn…MEPfeelslikehome.”

Suchindividualizedinstructionrequirescare-fulrecord-keeping,opencommunicationamongand between instructors and volunteers andfrequent testing. The director of educationalservices collects data on each woman’s priorknowledgeandlifeexperienceandmonitorshermovementfromoneeducationalleveltoanother.Testingoccursquarterlysothateachwomancanmove ahead as she is ready todo so.Thepro-gramemphasizesanindividual’sgrowthtowardcomprehensiveeducationandlifelonglearning:whatisthenextstepforthiswoman?

Education Beyond the BasicsProfessional development opportunities complement theeducationalprogram.EmergingProfessionals, afive-weekpilot program in which GED-ready women learned moreabout the skills necessary to succeed in the professionalworld,launchedwith24enrollees.Theculminationofthisprogram was a day of networking in which local profes-sional women shared their stories and experiences. The

programreceivedhighpraisefrommentorsandparticipantsandwillcontinue.

Consistentattendanceisrequired,but,asoneMEPstaffmemberremarked,“Thisisnotaproblem.Thewomenarehighly motivated and, having learned what is beneficialto adult learners, we deliberately keep our setting small,familial and inclusive.” MEP provides door-to-door busserviceand,forthoseoutsideofMEP’stransportationarea,monthlypublictransportationbuscards.Inaddition,nutri-tiousmealsareprovidedforthewomenandgirlsaswellaschildcareassistance.

AgrowthedgeforMEPisthedevelopmentofanonlineprogramthatwillallowwomenneedingabreakfromon-siteclassestokeepuptheiracademicmomentumathome.Dave Parr, long-time board chair, also sees “potential forthiswork,whichfollowssocloselyCatherine’searlyworkin Dublin, to be replicated and/or partnered with otherlocaleswhereSistersofMercyliveandwork.”

Literacyisthekeytoopeningdoorsandenrichinglife.ThatisthewisdomreflectedinCatherineMcAuley’sassertionregarding the “careful instructionofwomen.”That is theimpetus of new Mercy educational ventures in the 20thand21stcenturieswhichbringvoicetonewgenerationsofyoungwomen.

LearnmoreaboutMercyEducationProjectatmercyed.net.

Sister Helen Marie Burns does part-time project work with Trinity Health. She served in secondary and higher education and congregational leadership. Her board work includes St. Joseph Hospital in Syracuse, New York, and Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa; Carlow University and the Governance

Committee of Mercy Investment Services. You can reach Helen Marie at hmburns@mercywmw.org.

Jackie Zeff, enthusiastic volunteer and instructor for MEP, finds her work a fulfilling retirement activity and loves the dreams she hears every day.

An eager student engages with a listening professional in the speed-networking session of Emerging Professionals Day.

M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18 ¡Viva! Mercy 11

ourwordsshapehowwethinkaboutourselvesandourfuture.

RecentlyIwasinadiscussionthatbegan,“Givenourcurrentdemographicsandtherealitythatmoreofusarehavingissuesreadingsmallprint….”Yes,that’salltrue.Butcouldn’twealsosay,“Inanefforttocontinuetomakeourmaterialsaccessibletoallouraudiences...”?Adjustingourlanguagemighttakealittlemoretimeandeffort,butitenablesustoframeourchoiceasacreativeresponserather

thanaconcessionwemaketoourrumoreddiminish-

ments.TofollowuponMaryJoNelson’s

statementabove,wemightsay:“Ifwewanttochangeourconversation,weneedtochangeourlanguage.”Wecanaskourselvesandoneanothertobemorecarefulabout

howwesaythingsifwewanttochangethenarrative

thatothersspeakaboutus.Givenwhereweare(demo-

graphicallyandotherwise)wecontinuetohaveamazingoppor-tunitiestodogoodintheworld,andsomeoftheeldestamongus

How oftenhaveyoubeeninaconversationwithsisters,associatesorco-partnersinministrythatbegins,“Givenourdemographics…”?Thereisanarrativeouttherethatsaysreli-giousordersaredyingoffandsistersaredisappearing.Aswegrapplewiththisnarrativeaboutusthatmaybefactuallytruebutreallynothelpful,wecaneasilyslipintothelanguageofdiminishmentandletitbecomeourdominantconversationstyle.Beforeweknowit,weareletting

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

Could You Say That Another Way?

arethemostcreativeaboutit.Theyfocusonwhattheycando,ratherthanwhattheycan’tdo.Whilewedon’twanttoburyourheadsinthesandofthedemographicquestionsthatfaceus,wedon’tneedtoenlargethembyallowingthemtobeouronlyframeforconversation.Ratherwecanfocusonwhatisstillpossible,whatisstillcourageous,whatisstillmerciful.

Changingourlanguagemayalsomakeitpossibleforouryoungermemberstofindtheirownvoiceinourdiscussions.Ifourself-descrip-torsexcludethem(“becauseweareanaginggroup…”)thentheymaywelllookelsewheretoparticipate.Butifwelookaroundthetable,seewho’sthereandadaptourlanguagetobeinclusive,thenanyonemighthaveanewideaabouthowtopro-ceed,andeveryonemightfindaplaceintheconversation.

Solet’schallengeeachother.Let’sfocusonchoosingsomethingbecauseit’sgoodforeveryone.(Whodoesn’tloveadoorthatwillopenautomaticallywhenyou’recarryingabundle?Thankstotechnologycreatedforpeoplewithdisabilities,weallcanenjoythebenefits!)Andwhenweheardiminishingwordsspoken,let’saskeachother,“Couldyousaythatanotherway?”

—By Sister Cynthia Serjak

“So, if we want to change our communities, we need to change the conversation.” –Sister Mary Jo Nelson, OLVM, in “Tending the Heart of Our Life” (LCWR Occasional Papers, Winter 2018, p. 5)

There are two ways to see this picture—can you see both? Just as we challenge ourselves to see the different meanings of this picture, we can also challenge ourselves to see different ways of approaching questions about our present and future realities.

12 ¡Viva! Mercy M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18

&Kindred Souls

Sisters & Millennials,

By Sister Judy Carle

A reflective space at a Nuns and Nones gathering in Mission San Jose, California, January 2018.

M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18 ¡Viva! Mercy 13

Rev. Wayne Muller (a Unitarian Minister, author andpsychotherapist)andAdamHorowitz(founderoftheU.S.DepartmentofArtsandCulture,anon-governmentagency)are the creators of the Nuns and Nones gatherings. BothhaveledmeetingsfullofenergizedmillennialsatHarvard.Meanwhile,asWaynewasgivingretreatsand listeningtosistersfromdifferentreligiouscommunities,heenvisionednewpossiblesynergiesbetweenthese twogroups.WaynesharedhisinsightwithAdam,andtheymused,“Thesetwocommunitieshavetogettogether.Theywilllovebeinginthecompanyoftheother.Theyjustdon’tknowityet!”

TheyarrangedforthefirstgatheringofNunsandNonesatHarvardDivinitySchoolinNovember2016.ThreepastLCWRPresidentswereamongrepresentativesfromthesixcongregationsthatparticipated.

Many Mercy sisters first learned about the Nuns andNones gatherings on the first day of our 2017 Chapter,whenattendeesenthusiasticallytunedintovideoreflectionson our Chapter question: “God of Mercy, Wisdom andMystery,whodoyoudesireus tobe foroneanotherandforoursufferingworld inorder tocontinueour transfor-mationtowardgreaterintegrityofwordanddeed?”OneofthesereflectionscamefromAngieThurstonandCasperterKuile.TheworkofthesetwoMinistryInnovationFellowsatHarvardDivinitySchoolservesasabridgebetweeninsti-tutional religion and the emerging landscape of spiritualcommunity, innovation and creativity. They had helpedWayneandAdamtoarrangethefirstNunsandNonesgath-ering.SisterAnneCurtis,theMercypresenceatthegathering,had theopportunity tomeetAngieand Casper and later arranged for theirpresentationatChapter.

Both Angie and Casper are reli-giously unaffiliated millennials, or“Nones”—a population that hasnot left religion behind, but is nolonger being nourished by institu-tionsofreligion.TheyreflectedonthatmajorquestionofourChapter.Theyspokeoftheirownhungerforbuilding communities of meaning

and longing, theirdesire for spiritual formationand theirinterest in the skills, wisdom and practices necessary tolead spiritual communities.You can watch their video pre-sentation—as well as other presentations from the first day of Chapter—at bit.ly/ChapterDay1.

The Nuns and the NonesSince the first gathering at Harvard Divinity School,regional gatherings of Nuns and Nones have happenedacross thecountry, coincidentallyatmanyMercyproper-ties:MercyCenterinBurlingame,California,inMay2017;TransformationsSpiritualCenterinKalamazoo,Michigan,inJune2017;CranaleithSpiritualityCenterinPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,inNovember2017;andMercyCenterinSt.Louis,Missouri,inDecember2017.Mercysistershavepar-ticipatedinalmosteverygathering.

Gatherings of Nuns and Nones open with a questionsuchas,“Istheresomethinginyou(aknowingunease)thatcallsforchange,lettinggo,wantingyourattention?”Thusbeginsthebreakingdownofboundaries,therecognitionofcommonground.IfyouimagineacircleofChurch,womenreligiousor“nuns”areseenasbeingonthepropheticinsideedgeofthecircle,and“nones”asleadingthesearchontheoutsideedgeofthecircle.Thenonesassumeresponsibilityforusheringthemselvesintothisnewerabybridgingfaith,artandactivismintheirsearchforintentionalcommunity.Thetwogroups’positionsontheedgesofbothsidesofthecircleprovideanaturaleaseintheircommunication—the

meeting-placeofdifferencewherecreativityhappens.Followingasharingwhichtendstogodeepquickly, sisters from different congrega-

tionsthenspeakabouttheircalls,hopes,uncertainties and challenges. Though

thesistersacknowledgethattheyareaging and have fewer numbers anddecreasingfinancial resources, theyapproach the future with a hopefulrealism.TheyareaboutthemissionofJesus.Overtheyearstheyhavegrad-ually learned the balance of action

and contemplation. Challenged to

You may have heard about the gatherings of “Nuns and Nones” that have been happening across the United States. Sisters who celebrate many years of vowed life in community are meeting up with millennials who mark “none” on questionnaires inquiring about their religion.

Kindred Souls

Sisters & Millennials,

The nones assume responsibility for ushering themselves into this new

era by bridging faith, art and activism in their

search for intentional community.

14 ¡Viva! Mercy M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18

imagine new, unexpected manifesta-tionsofGod’spresenceandgraceintheworld,theycanofferhopetothemillennials.

At the Harvard meeting, LCWRleaderspoignantlysharedtheirwres-tling with Church leaders throughthe doctrinal assessment of LCWRandtheapostolicvisitationofwomenreligiouscommunities.Theseexperiences,they said, brought about a heightenedrealization of the power of community andthepracticeoffiercefidelitytoguidingpreceptsofnonviolence. Many viewed this experience—risk-takingwithin the context of Deep Mystery—as having powerfulramificationsfordiscussionswithinthewiderChurch.

In consequent gatherings, many of the sisters’ ministrieswere somewhat familiar to the religiously unaffiliatedNones, who seemed to be fascinated by the experience,leadership, wisdom and chutzpah of the sisters. Newlyimpressed by the remarkable and unknown ministry ofsisterslivingandworkingnearby,onesurprisedmillennialspontaneouslyexclaimed,“Youneedtochangeyourbranding!”

Theinitialcuriosityofthesistersgavewaytonewappre-ciationandevenadmirationofthemillennials.Sistersfoundthem to be smart, natural leaders and innovators. Manyhavefoundedprograms—twohavefoundedanalternativedivinity school—and have crafted ingenious solutions tosystemic, long-term community problems in varied set-tings.Theyshareacommonethoswhichoftenbendstra-ditionalrulesandtraditions.Theywelcomepeopleacrossculture,race,religion,sexualorientationandsocialstatus.Theirgifts,talentsandpassionsradiateintheirimaginativeendeavors.Theyarepassionatelydevotedtocreatingnewgroupsandorganizationstosupportadeep,genuineyearn-ing forshared,authenticcommunity. InaFebruary2018New York Timescolumn,DavidBrooksnamesthemillen-

nials “amphibians,” people who canthriveinradicallydifferentenviron-ments. “Amphibians make E pluri-bus unum theirlifemission”(bit.ly/BrooksAmphibians).

Millennials ache for authenticcommunity. Some are more con-

nected globally than locally. Theyseekandhelptocreateplacestogather

where they can discover meaning andpurpose.Theyseekplaceswheretheycan

safely explore difficult questions about lifeanddeath,ethicsand idealism,withspaciousness,

understandingandmercy.

A Common SynergyNuns and Nones gatherings bring together two widelydivergent groups—different in age, background, religiousorientationandmanyotherways.Yettheyenjoyamutualfascination with each other, and they find a surprisingstreamofcommonality.Astheysharestories,theydiscovertheirlikenessinastrongdevotiontoservice,toasenseofmeaning and purpose, which can only be called sacred.Theyshareacommitmenttodoingwhatisright,goodandlife-affirming in the community and in the world. Fromdifferentperspectives,bothseemto“feelintheirbones”aradicalshifttakingplace.Theyquestionhowtohonortherhythmsandcommunicate from their respectiveedgesofthecircle.

As Wayne and Adam predicted, “They love beingtogether.” They click. A common synergy fills the room.Astheylaugh,cry,listen,speak,pray,singandtelljokes,theysensetheenergyanddevotiontheyalreadysharewithoneanother.Theyrecognizetogetherhowmuchtheysharein common: an authentic hope, a shared belief in socialchange.Theyacknowledgethattheyareintouchwithsimi-larlygroundedgroups,organizationsandmovementsintheworld.Twowildlydifferentgroupsofexplicitlynon-religiousyoung persons and of lifelong Catholic women religiousdelightintheenergy,fiercehonestyandenrichmenttheydiscover when together. “Elder-types” and “thirty-some-things”—theyareindeedkindredsouls!

In a follow-up weekend to the highly diversifiedBurlingame gathering, millennial Masumi Hayashi-Smithwrote,“Thankyou—Ifoundanewlightnessandjoyinmethisweek—largely fromall thewarmth and rejuvenationfrom this weekend.” Sister Joan Marie O’Donnell shared,“Whatemerged formeyetagain is the thirst for touchingand nourishing the deep spirit in ourselves and in oneanotheraswecreatevibrantcommunity—aleaveninourworld.”SisterDeeMyers,BVM, spoke to themillennials:“Youseektheancientanddeepestdesireweallhavetobe

“These two communities have to

get together. They will love being in the company

of the other. They just don’t know

it yet!”

Group photos from the gathering of Nuns and Nones at Cranaleith Spirituality Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 2017.

M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18 ¡Viva! Mercy 15

ourbesthumanselves.Youacheforthefinestgifts:con-nection in community with others who enjoy and needyou;aplacetodefineyourselvesinloveandservice;personaldiscoveryof theUniversalOnewhobidsus toreachoutbeyondourselvesandgroundsusinpeace.”

What the Future HoldsOrganizersareplanningfutureregionalgatheringsofNunsandNones.Someregionalgroupshavemet twoor threetimesindifferentsettings.Othershavemetupinsmallerinterest groups. Follow-up happens in various ways—video calls, field trips to one another’s work and livingspaces;weekendvisitstoameditationcenter;andone-on-onementoringorspiritualdirection.

Wayne Muller envisions an enormous menu of pos-sibilities.Sincetheoutsetofgatheringnunsandnones,hehas imagined possible forms of stability for establishingintentional community. Witnessing a number of religiouscommunitiesofsisterssellingpropertiesinordertocarefortheir sisters, he has responded, “But wait, there’s anotherway.What’sthepossibilityofsisterssellingtheirproperties,remaininglivinginsomepartofthebuilding,andinvitingmillennialstoformintentionalcommunities,tohaveworkspaces?” Wayne is aware of some experiments in Europewhere the young assist the elderly in exchange forhousing.Through a research proposal, persons are looking intofinancingpossibilitieswherebyacommunitytrustorimpactinvestorwouldpurchasethepropertyandmanageit.Sisterscouldgainadditionalsourceofincome,couldcontinuetoliveon the property and could welcome millennials, perhapsformingathirdcommunityinsearchofradicalhopeandhealing.

ImpressedbyIsaiah43:19,“See, Iamdoingsomethingnew,”Waynesupportspeopletakingactionsinresponsetoadeepspiritualcallsharedincommon—“aforwardleaning,notanythingatalllikediminishment.”Throughthistangible,alternative thrust, religious communities could bring thelegacyoftheircharismsandmissionintotheworld.

QuotingthewordsofPierreTeilharddeChardin,“Thefuturebelongstothosewhogivethenextgenerationreasonforhope.”

Sister Judy Carle has ministered in secondary education, formation/incorporation, elected leadership and Mercy Housing. Presently, she serves on the board of Dignity Health and on the Sponsorship Council for St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Guyana; is an Ambassador to a

residential program for formerly incarcerated women; and relates to two programs serving the homeless in San Francisco, California. She is a support person for the Mercy Volunteer Corps in the San Francisco Bay Area and enjoys interacting with millennials who participate in Nuns and Nones.

Casper ter Kuile and Angie Thurston, “The Hunger for Depth and Meaning among Millennials” in LCWR Occasional Papers, Summer 2017.

Sister Judy Cannon, “Nuns, ‘nones’ find commonalities” in Global Sisters Report (bit.ly/GSR-nuns-nones).

Want to learn more about getting involved? Visit www.nunsandnones.org/take-action.

For Further Reading

Gatherings of Nuns and Nones open with a question such as, “Is there something in you (a knowing

unease) that calls for change, letting go, wanting your attention?” Photo from a

second gathering of the Burlingame Nuns and Nones in Mission San

Jose, California, January 2018.

16 ¡Viva! Mercy M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18

Mercy Stands in Solidarity with Dreamers in Civil Disobedience

J U S T I C E

The voices rang outinunison,echoingintheRotundaoftheU.S.Senateofficebuilding,singing,“We'restandingonholyground.”The40menandwomenwhowalkedprayerfullyandintentionallyintotheinnercircleofthelargecrowdgath-eredincludedeightSistersofMercyandaSistersofMercyJusticeTeamMember.TheyworepurpleMercy for JusticeT-shirts,makingtheirMercyconnectionalmostasobviousastheircommitmenttotheDreamersintheU.S.AstheCapitolpolicewarnedforthethirdtimethatfailuretodispersewouldresultinarrest,theinnercirclestoodstronginprayerandinaction.

TheuncertaintythatyoungDreamersintheU.S.havebeenfeelingsincetheannouncementoftheterminationoftheDeferredActionforChildhoodArrivalsprogramwasannouncedinSeptemberisunacceptable.ThemessagefromMercy’sparticipationintheCatholicDayofActionforDreamersinFebruarywasclear:ProtecttheDreamerswithacleanDreamAct.Participantssharedbriefreflectionsontheexperience:

“WhileIwasinhandcuffsandexpe-riencingonlytheveryleastbitofdiscomfort,IwasthinkingabouttheimmigrantsIseeinthedetentioncentersandwhatdiscomfort—bothphysicalandemotional—thattheyexperience.AndIwasthinkingofthoseIseeonthebusgoingtotheairportwithchainsontheirhandsandfeetandaroundtheirwaist,andItriedtooffermyverybriefdiscomfortinsolidaritywiththem.NotsureifouractionmadeanydentinCongress,butIknowitmeantagreatdealtoDreamersandimmigrantsingeneral.”

—Sister JoAnn Persch, Chicago, Illinois

“Itismyconvictionthatouractofcivildisobediencewasdoneforarightreasonattherighttimeintherightmanner.Wefeltstronglythatthoseyoungmenandwomen,theDreamers,haddonenothingwrongandsomuchright.ForthemselvesandfortheUnitedStates.Personally,IwasverymovedbythegratitudeoftheDreamersforwhatwedidontheirbehalf.Theycouldnothavedoneitforthemselveswithoutbeingdeported.Itrulybelievethatwehonored‘HolyObedience’bywhatwedid.”

—Sister Janet Korn, Rochester, New York

“DuringtheapproximatelyfourhoursthatwewereinthecustodyoftheCapitolPolice,Ineverfeltthatwewereindangerofharm.Theofficerswerecordialandhelpful.Theymadesurewehadwaterandthatourhand-cuffswerenottootight.Nevertheless,IcouldnothelpbutthinkofthehundredsofimmigrantspickedupbyICEthatday.Howweretheytreated?Wehadallmadeaconsciousdecisiontoriskarrest.Theyhadnosayinthecircumstancessurroundingtheirarrest.”

—Sister Karen Donahue, Detroit, Michigan

“OursistersinsendingcountriesknowintimatelytherealityofwhypeoplehavetomaketheveryharddecisiontoleavetheirhomesandimmigratetotheU.S.Knowingthehumanface,whatDreamersexperiencecompelsmetodowhatIcan.TheCongressandAdministrationstillhavenotbeenmovedenoughtoworktogetherforahumaneandsensibleresolution.IfeltthiswaswhatIneededtodoandcoulddohereandnow,withotherCatholicsandmyMercyfamilytoperhapshelpsoftenheartstodowhatneedstobedone.”

—Sister Anne Curtis, Silver Spring, Maryland

Left: Sister JoAnn Persch speaks at a gathering outside the Senate building prior to arrest.

Right: Sisters Pat Murphy, Karen Donahue, Janet Korn, Eileen Campbell, Rita Specht, Anne Cur-tis and Anne Marie Miller joined Institute Justice Team member Jean Stokan and Sister JoAnne Persch (both not pictured) being arrested in support of Dreamers.

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

About forty years ago,IwaslivingatFrancesWardeConventinOrchardPark,NewYork.Duringthoseyears,manychangesweretakingplacewithinourMercycommunityasweandotherwomenreligiouswithinthediocesesoughttorespondtothemandatesofVaticanII.OurCommunityhadexpandedFrancesWardeConventinordertohousea“RenewalTeam”offoursisters(1977-1980).ThisspacebecameavailableasthesisterswhohadformedtheRenewalTeamreturnedtotheirformerministries.

TheSistersofSt.MaryofNamurhadestablishedaministrytoaidrefugeesfromLatinAmerica.ThesefamilieswerefleeingacivilwarinElSalvador.TheSt.MaryofNamursisterssoughttemporarysafehousingtoshelterthesefamilies.Weofferedourvacatedspacetooneoftherefugeefamilies,theEscobars:Nicolas,Margaritaandtheirthreechildren.

Asfate(ortheHolySpirit)wouldhaveit,oneofthesisterslivingattheconventhadafamilyreunionwhiletheEscobarswerelivingthere.Whenweexplainedtheirsituationtovisitingfamily,Bill,thebrotherofthatsister,andhiswifeArleneaskedwhattheyneededtogettoCanada.NicolasandMargaritasaidthattheyneededhousing.Throughtheircon-nections,BillandArlenewereabletofindhousingforthefamily.

RecentlytheEscobarshavere-enteredourlives.MargaritaandNicolashavejustretiredfromtheirfirstandonlyjobsinCanada.Margaritawasanurse’saidatawomen’sandchildren’shospital;Nicholasworkedforaninternationalhotelchain.Theirchildren,

M A Y | J U N E 2 0 18 ¡Viva! Mercy 17

Claudia,IndiraandRobin,were12,10and5,respectively,whentheylivedwithusattheconvent.Claudiaisnowmarriedandhastwodaugh-tersincollege.Indira,alsomarried,hasayoungdaughter;sheworksforabankandisapropertyrealtor.Robinmarriedaswell,andheandhiswifejusthadadaughter.ThefamiliesallliveclosetooneanotherandbelongtothesameparishtheyjoinedaftertheyhadsettlednearToronto.

Whentheyvisitedrecently,wewatchedwithjoyasNicolas,nowaproudgrandparent,chasedhistwo-year-oldgranddaughterdownalongcorridoratMercyCenter.TheyareproudtobeCanadiancitizens,thoughElSalvadorwillalwaysbetheirnativecountryandtheirhomeland.Theywillneverforgetthedaythey

A Second Family in Mercy

stoodoutsidetheCathedralandwit-nessedthemartyrdomofArchbishopOscarRomero.AndtheEscobarswillalwaysbeasecondfamilytomeandtoanumberofMercysistershere.

Thisadventuretookplaceabout40yearsago,longbeforewehadnamedourCriticalConcerns.Ibelieveatthetimeweweresimplyofferinghospitalitytoahomelessfamily.TheirpresenceinourlifehelpedustosailthesevenC’s—col-laboration,cooperation,compassion,companionship,credibility,challengeandrespondingtothecriesofpeoplewhoarepoor.

— Sister Mary Anne Weldon

The Escobar family on New Year’s Eve 2016. From the left is Jasmine (one of Claudia’s daughters), Nicolas, Margarita, Claudia with her husband John behind her, Angie (Robin’s wife) with Robin behind her, and Indira. In the front are Claudia’s other daughter, also named Claudia, and Madeleine, Indira’s daughter. In this photo Angie is pregnant with the Escobars’ youngest grandchild!

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Calendar

“Peacefulness,” by Sister Michelle Aronica

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

MAY 17-18National Days of Prayer and Action for HondurasContact: Jean Stokanjstokan@sistersofmercy.org

JUNE 7-10Transition Retreat for Mercy VolunteersNorth Wales, PennsylvaniaContact: Elizabeth MacNealelizabethmacneal@mercyvolunteers.org

JULY 31-AUGUST 03Young Mercy Leaders PilgrimageDublin, IrelandContact: Sister Anna Nichollsheritage@mercyinternational.ie

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