INSTITUTE OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY OF THE AMERICAS News ISSUE NO. 11 Summer 2006 B R O O K L Y N D A L L A S M E R I O N N E W J E R S E Y N E W Y O R K Members of the Inaugural Leadership Team raise their hands in blessing. Pictured (left to right) are Sisters Honora Nicholson, Catherine McGroarty, Mary Waters, President Christine McCann, Sister Carol Conly, and Patricia Vetrano. Mid Atlantic Deliberative Members Elect New Team At the Inaugural Assembly in Parsippany, New Jersey, the 463 Deliberative Members of the Brooklyn, Dallas, Merion, New Jersey, and New York Regional Communities elected their new Leadership Team and set future direction and priorities for the Community. The newly elected Leadership Team consists of President Christine McCann, and team members Patricia Vetrano, Catherine McGroarty, Mary Waters, Honora Nicholson, and Carol Conly. The Deliberative Members at the Assembly elected President Christine McCann on the first ballot. Truly, it is our joy to be gifted with the charism of Mercy, said Sister Christine during her first address to the Assembly. We are moving to a new horizon we can call our own; touched by God s grace, we have journeyed to the epiphany of this new dawn.
PAGE 2 Mark your calendars for the Fall 2006 Consultation Meetings: Saturday, October 14 Gwynedd, PA Saturday, October 28 Syosset, NY Saturday, November 4 Dallas, PA Sunday, November 5 Lakewood, NJ Meet the New Team Members Sister Christine McCann, the current Regional President of the Sisters of Mercy in Merion, serves as the Board Chair for Mercy Health System and the Coordinator of the Catholic Health East Sponsor Council. In addition, she is active on the Boards of Catholic Health East and Gwynedd- Mercy College. One of the first things Sister Christine did after the Assembly was stop at McAuley Health Care Center in Watchung, New Jersey, to meet the sisters who live and work there. Sister Patricia Vetrano currently serves on the Leadership Team of the New York Regional Community. She holds a Masters in Counseling from Manhattan College, Riverdale, New York, and a Masters in Education from City College of New York City. Sister Patricia earned her Bachelors degree from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Currently, Sister Patricia is President of the Board of Mercy Center, Bronx, New York, and a member of the Mercy Secondary Education Board for Our Lady of Victory Academy and St. Catharine Academy. Sister Catherine McGroarty, the current President of the Dallas Regional Community, previously served in leadership capacities at Mercy Hospital, Port Huron, Michigan, and Mercy Hospital, Johnstown, Pennsylvania. She has also been a consultant for St. Joseph s Mercy Hospital, Guyana, on the faculty of College Misericordia, and Vice-President for Nursing at Mercy Hospital, Scranton. Sister Catherine has a Masters in Hospital Administration from the University of Michigan, a Masters in Nursing Administration from Boston University, and a Bachelors in Nursing from College Misericordia, Dallas, Pennsylvania. She is on the board of Catholic Health Partners and College Misericordia. (continued on page 3)
PAGE 3 This new team will take office on January 1, 2007, the date when the Community officially begins. Meet the New Team Members (continued from page 2) Sister Mary Waters, the current President of the Brooklyn Regional Community, is a licensed clinical social worker in the State of New York and a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers. Sister Mary holds a M.S.W. degree from Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, and a B.A. in Psychology from St. John s University, Jamaica, New York. Her previous ministries include service at Mercy Center Ministries, Patchogue, New York, parish outreach at Our Lady of the Snow Church, Blue Point, New York, and principal at Unity Catholic School in Brooklyn, New York. Sister Honora Nicholson currently serves on the Leadership Team for the Merion Regional Community. With a M.A. in Theology from the University of Dayton, and a B.A. in Education from Gwynedd-Mercy College, Sister Honora previously served as a Spiritual Director for the School of Applied Theology in Berkley, California, and a Pastoral Associate at St. Francis Xavier Church in New York City. Sister Honora is on the Board of Directors of Mercy Health System, Waldron Mercy Academy, Cranaleith Spirituality Center, and Mercy Spiritual Ministries. Sister Carol Conly currently serves as the Spiritual Director and Development Officer at Bayshore Senior Daycare Center in Keansburg, New Jersey. She holds a Masters in Moral Theology and Religious Education from LaSalle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in Sociology from Georgian Court University, Lakewood, New Jersey. In previous ministries, Sister Carol taught religion and history throughout New Jersey. She has also served in formation, at a house of prayer, and in the Diocese of Trenton, as Coordinator for High School Religion and Adult Education. Sister Carol also spent a year working in Nigeria.
PAGE 4 Reflective Moments from the Inaugural Assembly Photos by Assembly Communicators Micaela Young and Sue Carroll To see more photos from the Assembly, visit the Mercy webpage at www.mercymidatlantic.org
PAGE 5 Welcome to the New Membership Team members: Sister Theresa Condon Sister Marguerite Pessagno Sister Suzanne Thompson At the Inaugural Assembly, Sisters Mary Waters (right) and Christine McCann (far right) receive candidates Maureen King (left) and Cathy Manderfield (center left). Their witnesses Sister Theresa Condon (far left) and Sister Ellen Murray (center) give testimony to the candidates readiness to move forward in the incorporation process. Welcomes New Members This summer, in the emerging Community, two women professed perpetual vows and two candidates became novices. Fresia Toro-Fuenzalida professed perpetual vows on May 20 in the chapel of the Convent of Mercy in Brooklyn. Barbara McDermott professed perpetual vows on June 24 in Mt. St. Mary Chapel in Watchung, New Jersey. The Brooklyn and Merion Regional Communities, respectively, received Maureen King and Cathy Manderfield as novices on Friday, July 7 during Evening Prayer at the Inaugural Assembly. Cathy and Maureen will move to Laredo, Texas, on August 17, 2006, for an initial orientation phase as apostolic novices. In January 2007, they will begin the Canonical year of the Novitiate in Laredo. May God s wisdom and grace accompany them and strengthen them to live the mission of Mercy in the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy. Notes of congratulations may be sent to: Fresia Toro-Fuenzalida, RSM - Skelly53@att.net 45-30 195 th Street, Flushing, NY 11358 Barbara McDermott, RSM - bmcdermottrsm@aol.com St. Ann Convent, 281 Carr Avenue, Keansburg, NJ 07734 Maureen King - moeking826@yahoo.com 72-25 68 th Street, Glendale, NY 11358 Cathy Manderfield - cathy_manderfield@yahoo.com 405 Holstein Street, Bridgeport, PA 19405
PAGE 6 Participants in the Associates Conference surround a statue of Catherine McAuley at Georgian Court University. Associates Walk Together with Sisters in Mercy by Ellen Vopicka, Associate in Mercy Associates gathered with Sisters of Mercy at Georgian Court University on July 14 through 16, 2006, to explore Walking Together in Mercy and speak from their hearts about matters of faith that are expressions of their life together in Mercy. The Associates committed to walk forward into the future of Mercy as collaborators who wish to extend the vision of Mercy so that it may be lived out in families, parishes, workplaces, and society. May our call to Mercy and our acts of Mercy reflect global concern for poor and marginalized persons in our world, says Ellen Vopicka. We are proud to have been invited to walk with the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas as Associates of Mercy. At this tenth biennial meeting of Associates and Sisters of the, participants felt strong bonds of mutual support and learned to break open the Word of God and the Mercy charism in ways that strengthened their faith journeys as collaborators in Mercy. (continued on page 7)
PAGE 7 Participants in the Associates Conference gather at Georgian Court University. Associates Walk Together with Sisters in Mercy (continued from page 6) In her welcome, Sister Rosemary Jefferies, the President of Georgian Court University reflected that the Associates and Sisters have been coming together as since 1989 with their first gathering in Ventnor, New Jersey. Each gathering called Associates to learn more about the Mercy charism, to share our faith at deeper and deeper levels; and to listen to gospel messages which challenged us to grow spiritually as we walked humbly together to live Mercy, says Rosemary. Sister Judith Schubert, a Biblical Scholar at Georgian Court University, challenged the Associates to look at the faith of women who appear in the Gospel of John. She reflected on the stories of the Samaritan Woman, Martha, Mary and Mary Magdalene and spoke about the apostolic faith shown by these women. Sister Judith encouraged Associates to strengthen their faith and to continue to act courageously on the Gospel call received at baptism. Sister Marilee Howard and Associate Kathy Kelleher, of the Institute Justice Team educated Associates on the plight of immigrants in our nation. What are your family origins and when did members of your family arrive in the United States as immigrants? asked Kathy. No one in the room was without immigrant roots. Their presentation helped Associates to understand the need for compassionate legislation for our immigrant sisters and brothers; to appreciate Mercy s desire to welcome strangers in our midst; and to join collaborative efforts seeking Justice for Immigrants, to walk in solidarity with persons who are immigrants while remembering our roots as immigrants. Through art journaling, Sister Marianne Hieb encouraged Associates to express their hopes, dreams, and vision for Mercy Association. This colorful opportunity allowed Associates to see themselves as collaborators in Mercy walking with Sisters to be Mercy. The Associates listened to each other describe a very vibrant Mercy filled with heart and hope for a brilliant future.
PAGE 8 Reflective Moments from the Mid Atlantic Associate Conference Photos by Associates Marge Koons and Regina Lyons
PAGE 9 Sign up for a Tending the Fire Retreat: Fall Dates October 13-15, 2006 Sea Isle October 20-23, 2006 Water Mill Spring Dates March 23-25, 2007 Water Mill March 30- April 1, 2007 Sea Isle Call Mary Harvey for Water Mill 631-726-6543 Call Kathleen Lyons for Sea Isle 610-664-6650 Mom Felix Martinez (left) and her son Kevin (center) talk with Associate Alba Torres (right), Parent Coordinator, about their recent family weekend experience sponsored by Mercy Center. Claudia Vidales (left), a student of Mercy Center s English as a Second Language program, gives flowers to Mercy Center volunteer Dolores Vernon (right). Mercy Center Provides A Peaceful Oasis in the Bronx Claudia Vidales, a single mom from Mexico, lost her baby and her kidney when her artery burst during her ninth month of pregnancy, but she found help and solace at Mercy Center in the Bronx. The staff supported me during this time of crisis, says Claudia with the help of a translator. They looked out for me. Mercy Center is my second home; the staff is my second family. I find peace, harmony and friendship here, says this young woman who is learning English at Mercy Center. God gave me a second chance, so now I want to help other mothers who find themselves in similar situations, says Claudia who became a Mercy Associate on June 12, 2006. I also plan to continue to learn English and find a job so I can support my eight-year-old daughter and provide for our future. Claudia is only one of 2,100 Bronx residents who find immigration, employment, parenting, and childrens services at Mercy Center. Associate Alba Torres, the center s Parent Coordinator and a staff member for the past 16 years, can relate to Claudia. Alba, the mother of four children, never finished high school. God gave me the gift to learn in another way. I could relate to the needs of the poor. The Sisters of Mercy saw my gifts and gave me a chance. I also learned from Catherine McAuley and her work at the first House of Mercy. I am who I am today because of the Sisters of Mercy, says Alba. They empowered me! (continued on page 10)
PAGE 10 Did you know that the Sisters of Mercy are the largest religious community of women in the United States? Sisters Mary Galeone (left), Director, and Peggy Costa, (right) Development Director, converse in Mercy Center s peaceful garden about funding opportunities. Mercy Center Provides Peace in the Bronx (continued from page nine) We try to provide a place where women can help each other to transform their lives, says Sister Mary Galeone, the Director of this neighborhood center with a 90% immigrant population. Poverty is their biggest problem. It totally impacts their lives, says Mary. Two Sisters of Mercy wanting to do something to break the cycle of poverty was the impetus for the origin of Mercy Center. In September 1990, Sister Mary Ann Dirr, of the New York Regional Community started Mercy Center in a classroom at the local Catholic elementary school, St. Pius V, with the help of the school s Principal, Sister Mary Ellen Fuhrman, of the Dallas Regional Community. They persuaded parent Alba Torres and another volunteer to visit families in their homes to determine their needs. From that humble beginning, this multi-faceted program now employs 15 full-time and seven part-time staff with support from 35 Mercy Associates and over 140 volunteers. For the past three years, Sister Breige Lavery of the Brooklyn Regional Community served as Mercy Center s Director of Volunteers and Immigration Services Coordinator. My goal is to put Mercy Center out of existence, says Mary Galeone. I want there to be no need for our services in this neighborhood and justice for immigrants and people who are poor. Then we can make the center a community garden. News, the newsletter of the Community, is distributed to sisters, associates, volunteers, and staff throughout Brooklyn, Dallas, Merion, New Jersey, and New York. Editor Debbi Della Porta