Mercy Associates are Christian men and women inspired by the life of Venerable Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, and by the mission and ministry of the Sisters of Mercy.
Mercy Associates desire to contribute to and to share in the mission of the Mercy community in carrying out the Gospel message.
A Mercy Associate is any man or woman who desires to deepen his/her baptismal commitment to live more fully the values of the gospel.
Current Program
In 2005 a large room on the street level of Mercy Convent, Military Road in St. John’s was renovated to accommodate the Associate program. It was called the Fleming Room after Bishop Michael Francis Fleming, the Irish Franciscan, who was Bishop of Newfoundland and who requested of Catherine McAuley that she send Sisters of Mercy to Newfoundland. This room served as a meeting room for the different Associate groups and as a centre where Associates could go to read and retreat. It also had office facilities for the Associate Program Coordinator and a kitchenette.
In 2021 the Mercy Convent was closed in preparation for its conversion to low-barrier shelter and transitional housing for those who are homeless. This meant the loss of the Fleming Room. In 2022 there are over 100 associates who have made commitment. There are associates in St. John’s, Bell Island, Marystown, Baie Verte and in Conception Harbour.
Emphasis in the program is placed on the charism of Mercy which is the bond that draws sisters and associates together, the life of our foundress and our own story in Newfoundland and Labrador. A number of our sisters offer input in these areas or in another relative to their own expertise. Facilitators of Associate Groups serve in two aspects of the program: the pre-Associate Program and/or Associate Program and are under the direction of the Coordinator of the Program. Each sponsoring community has a coordinator of the group whose responsibility it is to call the meetings and with the assistance of the associates to plan each meeting. Sisters of Mercy and associates serve as group facilitators.
The Associate Program is now coordinated by an Associate Ms. Barbara Hawley in cooperation with an advisory group of sisters and associates.
Barbara may be contacted by enail or mail
Associate Coordinator: Barbara Hawley
bhawley@sistersofmercynf.org
Mailing Address:
The Mercy Associate Office
230 Waterford Bridge Road
St. John’s NL
A1E 1E2
