By Sister Sheila Stevenson —
Mercy and compassion are never more needed than at the time of death and all that surrounds this often unexpected period. To bury the dead is a call and gift extending beyond the act of burying. It can be cultivated over time; I know this from my own life.
By Sister Natalie Rossi — To find the genuine in oneself is to find God. Does one find God in prison? One could say one is overwhelmed with the Presence of God in prison. I have worked in prison ministry for about 20 years, not all at one time. The women I see or talk with open their hearts to God.
By Sister Rose A. Palacio
Medical Director, Mercy Community Hospital, Inc. — When COVID-19 hit Iligan City in 2020, the local government hospital was not equipped to handle COVID patients. Mercy Community Hospital, Inc., opened its doors to these patients.
By Sister Joanne Whitaker — Who do you picture as homeless when you hear these words, shelter the homeless? The image that readily comes to mind for most of us is men and women on the streets in our big cities. These are the pictures we see in the newspapers and on TV. These are the homeless most of us encounter.
By Sisters Corrine Connelly and Johneen Owens — In December of 2018, one of our sisters, Sister Kathleen Erickson, who was visiting women incarcerated in our local jail awaiting sentencing, asked for volunteers to help the families of these women at Christmastime. This invitation pulled us totally out of our comfort zone. We decided that we would do this.
By Sister Ana María Siufi — We know that more than half of the world’s population lacks potable water or safe sanitation, which kills more than 5 million people a year or causes serious diseases. “Give me a drink,” demand millions of women and children who have to walk many hours a day to get some water. “Give me a drink,” ask the migrants forced to walk in the desert.
By Catherine Walsh, Features Writer — When Sister Patricia “Pat” Coward was in the 7th grade, she never thought she’d become a sister. And she wasn’t sure what to tell her friends when her 18-year-old sister, Sister Donna Marie Coward, joined the Sister of Mercy. “Although I was proud of Donna, I had to be cool,” Sister Pat says. “It wasn’t cool to have a sister who was a sister!”
By Sister Caroline Tweedy — As a child I was always interested in the Bible stories about feeding the hungry. I grew up in a family where my grandmother owned a bakery/restaurant and what was left over every day was quietly distributed to those who were in need. This simple act of kindness continues to remind me of my obligation to help feed others.
By Liz Dossa — Clearly, Amy is called to this ministry of empathy. “I think of the Tenderloin as a space of hope and light. In the midst of such adversity, people are caring for the community and for one another.”
By Cynthia Sartor, Companion in Mercy — Lent is coming. A quiet, peaceful time of reflection. It begins with the sobering sound of ashes being gently rubbed onto our foreheads and ends with spring flowers filling the air with color and fragrance and surprise.
Mother McAuley’s very own Abbey Murphy ‘20 has made her mark at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics as a forward on the U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Team. After a terrific Olympic run, Abbey and TEAM USA will be bringing home a silver medal!
By Abigail McDonald, Mercy Associate — Growing up in Guyana I thought of myself as Guyanese and Catholic. To be Black and woman was fraught with too many stereotypes that I did not know how to deal with. Yet still, I could not escape how my black skin affected every aspect of my life.