Category: Sisters News

Foundation of Mercy in Newfoundland

Posted on by Diane Smyth

What must have gone through the heart and mind of Marianne Creedon when Bishop Fleming asked her if she would return to Ireland to train as a Sister of Mercy!  “Go back to Ireland; enter the convent? Come back to St. John’s and start up a convent here?”  What must the bishop be thinking!!

Life was fairly comfortable now in St. John’s and Marianne had settled in well.  Her family and friends were here and she was teaching and serving the sick and the poor in various ways.  At the age of 21 she had earlier faced the unknowns of life in her move to St. John’s in 1833: the loss of what was secure and familiar in her home with the Nugents in Waterford, the risk and suffering of crossing the ocean to a new land, the leaving of all that was familiar.

Now, what was Bishop Fleming asking of her?  What was God asking of her?

The thoughts of returning to Dublin may have been exciting for the young woman; but the long voyage over the north Atlantic ocean!  This would indeed be a challenge!  Then there was the excitement of a new challenge to join a certain Catherine McAuley in a brand new religious order, an order different from other orders in Ireland.  Weren’t the Sisters of Mercy called the “walking nuns” because they visited the poor and the sick in their homes and in the hospitals?  Is God calling her to something new,  again?

Bishop Fleming must have seen great potential and giftedness in Marianne.  He must have had great trust in her leadership, her ability and her faith.  He knew of her skill to nurture the spiritual, intellectual, artistic and social life of the Catholic population in St. John’s and beyond.  Catherine McAuley, too, must also have had deep trust in Marianne and guided her to completion of her novitiate at Baggot Street where she made religious profession as a sister of Mercy in August 1841.  There seems to have been an agreement with Catherine that Marianne, now Sister Mary Francis, would return to Newfoundland to found there the Sisters of Mercy.  Likely Catherine McAuley would have accompanied the founding group but she was too sick and died a few months later.  Catherine’s successor, Sister Mary dePazzi upheld the foundress’ commitment to Newfoundland.    Francis Creedon, Rose Lynch and Ursula arrived in St. John’s on June 3, 1842 to establish the first foundation outside of England and Ireland.

Marianne was home, now as a Sister of Mercy.  She, Rose Lynch and Ursula Frayne  immediately took up the works of Mercy.  The three founding sisters opened a school on Military Road in May, 1843 and continued to visit the sick poor in their homes.  By the middle of November that same year Sisters  Rose and Ursula had returned to Ireland leaving Francis and a newly professed Mary Joseph Nugent in St. John’s to carry on the mission.  So thanks to these two the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland continued to grow and to flourish.  This is our story!   June 3 is our foundation day!

The Forgotten Graveyard

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The first Sister to enter our Congregation in Newfoundland and also to be the first Sister to die in Newfoundland was buried in what has come to be known as “The Forgotten Graveyard.” A number of our Sisters gathered with members of the Benevolent Irish Society (BIS) and other community members on Saturday, May 28, 2016 to dedicate a plaque in memory of the first Catholic graveyard in St. John’s as well as to honour the memory of Sister Mary Joseph Nugent. This plaque has been installed on the stone wall near the bottom of Long’s Hill.

The Forgotten Graveyard, located on the grounds on which the Kirk now stands and extended to Queens Road and west to Long’s Hill, opened in 1811 but was no longer in use by 1849. In those years over 400 people were buried there.

A fire in 1846 caused extensive damage to the graveyard. Then the typhus epidemic, which broke out in June 1847, saw many Irish people buried there – including our Sister Mary Joseph Nugent who died on June 17, 1847 having contracted typhus as she ministered to the people who were sick and dying from this terrible epidemic.  Fear that the town’s water would be  tainted from the disease caused the graveyard to be closed and Catholics began to be buried in the recently opened Belvedere Cemetery.

The Great Fire of 1892, which destroyed most of St. John’s, did further damage to the Long’s Hill Graveyard since much of the debris from the fire was dumped on the site. At that time, many bodies were moved from there to Belvedere Cemetery.  In speaking to the gathered group at the BIS event on Saturday, Larry Dohey, from The Rooms, noted that not all of the bodies were removed from Long’s Hill. Later, one of us asked him if the bodies not moved were those who had died from the 1847 typhus epidemic. And he replied “yes”. 

Now that the BIS has brought forward the knowledge of the “Forgotten Graveyard” there is a further desire to re-establish the area as a sacred space. Mr. Bruce Templeton spoke during the ceremony on behalf of The Kirk. He told the gathering that he first heard of the Forgotten Graveyard from Sister Patricia March! He further explained that when you step out of the Kirk you are actually in the graveyard.  Mr. Templeton finished his remarks by saying that the people of The Kirk and the BIS are planning to go further in making the area a sacred space once again.

 

Opening of Our Holy Doors

Posted on by Diane Smyth

On Sunday, December 13, 2015 Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of the Cathedral of Rome. In Dublin on that same Day, during Foundation Day celebrations, the red Doors of Mercy International Centre were opened.

The Leadership Team Newfoundland invited every local community or Sister living alone and every place of ministry, on or near December 12, to name their Holy Door of Mercy, to celebrate its opening and to place on it a symbol. The Team made a composite of all our Holy Doors in Newfoundland and Peru as a reminder of the privilege we have in being doorkeepers and guardians of the in-between places of Mercy in our world.

Attached are the components (four panels) of our Collage for the Opening of our Holy Doors of Mercy. Sisters, Associates and Partners in Mercy have received the actual Collage which is in a larger size and which opens to be able to stand up on prayer tables or other special places.

An explanation of the doors on the panels can be found in the accompanying Notes here (PDF) . These Notes appear on the back panel of the collage.

FRONT of Collage

INSIDE of Collage

Will we as doorkeepers hold wide the door to invite those who are hungry, thirsty, imprisoned, sick, strange, or naked to come in to find Mercy? ¿Mantendrán ustedes como guardianas, la puerta abierta para invitar a quienes tienen hambre o sed, a las personas prisioneras, a quienes están enfermas, forasteras o desnudas, a entrar y encontrar Misericordia?

 

¿Vigilarán ustedes como guardianas de la puerta nuestras «salidas y regresos» (Salmo 121, 8) al arriesgarnos a esta nueva forma de ver Misericordia y ser Misericordia en tiempos que pueden ser tan aterradores y desalentadores?
Will we as doorkeepers guard our “going out and our coming in” (Ps 121:8) as we dare this new way of seeing Mercy and being Mercy in times that can be so fearful and discouraging?

SIDE PANELS

Since the making of this composite many other Associates and Partners in Mercy either as groups or as individuals continue to create symbolic doors for not only opening the Holy Doors but even more for living the Mercy that comes into and goes out through these doors.

Messages to: Elizabeth Marrie rsm – Leadership Team

Opening the Year of Mercy in St John’s

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The Holy Door of Mercy of the Archdiocese of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador was opened at the Eucharistic Liturgy celebrating Mary, December 8 at 7:00 p.m.

Archbishop Martin Currie knocked on the door with the request that it be opened. Many priests, Archbisbop Emeritus, Alphonsus Penney, men, women, youth and children participated in the celebration. Sister Rosemary Ryan was server and Elizabeth Marrie did the second reading.

The Holy Door faces the Gathering Place, a ministry of the Presentation and Mercy Sisters established for the poor, homeless and others seeking nourishment of body, mind and spirit, and those calling forth a response mandated by the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The Holy door also looks out over the entrance to St. John’s Harbour and the hills surrounding the city – the beauty of nature in its majesty and simplicity. It is through this harbour that the first three Sisters of Mercy, Ursula Frayne, Rose Lynch and Francis Creedon, arrived from Baggot Street on June 3, 1842.

Many Sisters of Mercy and their associates, family and friends participated in the historic event – the proclamation of the opening of the Jubilee Year of Mercy and the opening of the Holy Door of Mercy. This will indeed be a special year, rich in mercy.

 

Invitation: Become a ‘Doorkeeper of Mercy’ in the Year of Mercy.

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Sisters of Mercy and partners-in-Mercy are invited ‘to be guardians of the Door of Mercy, keepers of the in-between place of Mercy’ in this coming year of Mercy (8 December 2015 – 20 November 2016).

‘Pope Francis says that, in this coming Year of Mercy, “the Holy Door will become a Door of Mercy through which anyone who enters will experience the love of God.” The logo for our Mercy International Reflection Process, unfolding during this Year, is centered on the red doors of Baggot Street. In a profoundly mystical way, these red doors connect all our doors of Mercy – in our convents and houses, in our places of ministry, in holy places around us, in Earth which nourishes us, in the cosmos which holds us in communion, and in the hearts of all Sisters of Mercy, Associates and Partners-in-Mercy…’

Doorkeepers of Mercy:       A4 Paper Size (PDF)                       US Letter Size (PDF)

‘El Papa Francisco dice que, en este Año de la Misericordia, «la Puerta Santa será una Puerta de la Misericordia, a través de la cual cualquiera que entre podrá experimentar el amor de Dios». El logotipo para nuestro proceso internacional de reflexión de misericordia, que se desarrollará durante este Año, se centra en las puertas rojas de la Calle Baggot. En una forma profundamente mística, estas puertas rojas conectan todas nuestras puertas de Misericordia – en nuestros conventos y casas, en nuestros sitios de ministerio, en lugares santos en derredor nuestro, en la Tierra que nos alimenta, en el cosmos que nos sostiene en comunión y en los corazones de todas las Hermanas de la Misericordia…’

Guardas de la Misericordia:    A4 Paper Size                                   US Letter Size

NB:This video and/or text are suggested for inclusion in the ‘Called to the Ministry of Mercy’ Ritual for Opening Doors of Mercy on (or around) 13 December. The Leader and Participants copy of the ritual in both English & Spanish, full colur & black and white are available for download here

 

Closing St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital Convent

Posted on by Diane Smyth

“Today, sadly, we mark the closing of St. Clare’s Convent and the departure of the Sisters of Mercy from their residence in the ‘white house’, the cornerstone building of what we now know as St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital.   The Sisters of Mercy may be leaving a building but they are not leaving healthcare or the ministry at St. Clare’s.”

On March 3 a brief ceremony in the hospital chapel marked the closing of St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital Convent on LeMarchant Road, St. John’s, NL.

St. Clare’s Mercy Convent

The grand, three-storey house on the corner of St. Clare Avenue and Lemarchant Road was purchased from the Honorable E.M. Jackman by Archbishop M. F. Howley in 1913 for five thousand dollars.  Bishop Howley’s plan was to open a hostel for women who came to St. John’s looking for work.

A Presentation Sister, M. Clare English, was a keen supporter of the project and began to raise money for it.  She donated the proceeds of a rosary made of gold nuggets given to her by a prospector relative.   In September 1913 St. Clare’s Home for Working Girls was opened.   Bishop Howley asked the Sisters of Mercy to administer the home since such ministry was more in keeping with the rule of their order; the operation of such an institution was one of the ministries for which they were founded.  Three Sisters of Mercy took up residence in the ‘white house’.

Within a year, Bishop Howley had considered turning the home into a Catholic hospital but he died before any action could be taken.  Archbishop E.P. Roche built on his predecessor’s dream to establish a Catholic hospital.  He arranged for Sister Mary Bernard Gladney, one of the three sisters at St. Clare’s Home, to go to a Sisters of Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg to train as a nurse and to eventually take the leadership of establishing and running the hospital.

St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital opened in May 1922. Katherine Bellamy writes in her history:  “The little hospital soon gained a superb reputation for its care of the sick, and within a short time it was functioning at full capacity.”  Bellamy, Weavers of the Tapestry, p. 390.

Additional sisters went to the United States to train as registered nurses.  Others trained for dietetics, radiography, anesthesia and laboratory.  The sisters continued to live in the hospital in a section of the building set aside for their community life.  Surely they were on call every day and every hour!  As the years passed and the hospital grew, with new modern extensions, more room became available in the “white house” for the sisters who themselves were increasing in numbers.  The lab was the last vestige of the hospital that shared the house with the sisters!  A modern large,  new lab was built into the 1970s extension and the sisters finally had the convent to themselves!

For the past 102 years, beginning in the former Jackman home, the Sisters of Mercy have reached out with competence and compassion to all who came through the doors seeking shelter, healing and care.  The sisters were pioneers of health care in the province and provided leadership in all facets of care of the sick.  They were pioneers of wholistic care long before it became part of medical terminology.  Over the years they lead the way in comprehensive hospital care, information technology, pastoral care, palliative care, detoxification and innovative mental health care.  We celebrate that great story!

Ceremony

The ceremony (repeated in the early evening) to mark the closing of the convent recognized the contribution of the ninety-two women who lived in the ‘white house’ over the 102 years.  The participants, graduates from St. Clare’s School of Nursing, staff and former staff, sisters, physicians, administrators and colleagues, celebrated in readings, prayer and song and gathered at the end for a “good cup of tea”.

In her reflection Sister Elizabeth Davis, Congregational Leader and former CEO of St. Clare’s said:  “The ninety-two Sisters of Mercy who have called the Convent home over more than one hundred years have been primarily involved in Mercy health and healing ministries – at St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital and at St. Patrick’s Mercy Home – and in education ministry at the St. Clare’s School of Nursing.  These women have made a difference in the lives of individuals who came to the hospital for healing, in the health and health care of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, in the education of women and men working within health care, and in the shape of our province’s health care system.  In a few moments we will hear the names of these ninety-two women, we will see the faces of the ones who loved us and influenced us and shaped who we are and what this hospital is.”

Sisters of Mercy will continue to be committed to the provision of medical, spiritual and pastoral care, to visitation of sick people in St. Clare’s and in other hospitals, private homes and long-term care homes, to support people on dialysis, to encourage and support educational, spiritual and leadership endeavours within health care, to advocate for justice for people with complex needs, and to the encouragement and support all with whom they collaborate.

Gratitude

We acknowledge the contribution of the sisters who lived in St. Clare’s Convent since 1913, a home and refuge for women; and later the foundation of a hospital that would grow to be a modern tertiary healthcare facility among the present-day comprehensive services of the Eastern Health Regional system.

May the Spirit of Mercy continue to inspire all of those who continue to walk in the footsteps of these Women of Mercy.

Note:  the ‘white house’ is now the property of the Eastern Health Regional Board.

Final Profession in Monsefu, Chiclayo, Peru

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Sister Felicita Alita Sánchez Sánchez is now a finally professed Sister of Mercy in the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland!

Alita made her profession of vows in a eucharistic celebration in the Church of San Pedro of Monsefu, Chiclayo, March 20, 2015.  The evening was a wonderful experience of faith, charism, community and ministry all held in the embrace of Mercy.

Attending the ceremony were: Alita’s family, her friends, people from her home in Monsefu, Sisters of Mercy and other women religious from across Peru and four priests (Fr. Lucho, Pedro and Emigdio who are long-time friends of our Sisters, Father Luther who is Parish Priest in Puerto Eten) and Bishop Robert Provost (who presided over the Eucharist).

A centerpiece held the Mercy cross, the candle, a copy of the Constitutions, a teacup, and the framed picture which the Congregation had given Alita as a gift.  A delicate flower was placed on the entrance to each pew. A talented choir from the parish led the singing.

Sister Rosa Gumpa served as Guide for the ceremony.  Sister Elizabeth Davis, Congregational Leader, gave a welcome at the beginning.  The Bishop blessed the water, and four friends of Alita blessed the people in the sprinkling rite.   The readings were taken from Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ps 24, Heb 5:7-9 and John 12:20-33.  The Bishop’s homily included references to the place of religious life today, the Year of Consecrated Life and the readings. The Rite of Profession was led in Spanish by Elizabeth. The questions of intent addressed to her allowed Alita the opportunity to show to the People of God assembled the depth of her commitment.

The litany of saints that followed included invocation to our founders, two of our sisters who died in an accident in Peru and deceased priests of Monsefu and region who worked with our sisters over the years.  Representatives of Alita’s family, the Sisters of Mercy, the Bishop, the priests and the people (the holy ones of today) surrounded Alita – forming, with those whose names were sung, the communion of saints.

Alita read her vows aloud clearly and convincingly, the witnesses (Sheila and Mildred) and Elizabeth signed them with her, she received her ring (engraved with the words of her invitation – “attentive, delicate, patient and faithful God”), she was blessed by the Bishop and embraced by the Sisters of Mercy present.

After the Mass, everyone moved to the reception in a special space near the church.  The space was beautifully prepared with white coverings on the tables and on the chairs, round tables with a bouquet of flowers in the centre, cakes arranged in a central table, and touches of lights and gold in decorations around the room. Toasts were given at the beginning.  Many photographs were taken.  A lovely meal was served.  Guests were treated to traditional songs as well as traditional dances with the dancers in beautiful costumes.  Then the energetic dancing of all the rest began!  All were home by ten o’clock – exhausted, happy and grateful.

What a beautiful moment in the life of our Congregation!

 

                   Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland living in Huarmey and Puerto Eten, Peru

                                                                                

L – R Verna Aucoin, Rosa Silva Cumpa, Marion Collins, Mildred Brennan, Alita Sanchez Sanchez, Alice Mackey, Lily Ferrero, Rosali Vargas Mendoza

Contact:  Alita  falitas@hotmail.com    Diane  dsmyth@sistersofmercynf.org

 

Celebrations of Two Great Ministries

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Two special events were held in St. John’s – both to honor the ministries of the Sisters of Mercy.

It is coincidental that in the formalities of both events the song Standing on The Shoulders was sung.  The song reflects on the strength and courage of those whom we followed in life and ministry and recognized that we are the shoulders upon which others will stand as they go forward.

St. Patrick’s Mercy Home

The Most Reverend Martin Currie, Archbishop of St. John’s, presided at a Mass at St. Patrick’s Mercy Home in the morning of this Week of Elder Care.  The celebration recognized the commitment of the Sisters of Mercy at the home for the past fifty-six years.

In her speech Sister Elizabeth Davis, Congregational Leader, described how the Sisters of Mercy responded to a vision of a former archbishop, P.J. Skinner, to establish a home for the elderly population by taking on the staffing and administration of the home.  She commended the dedicated staff and volunteers who worked with the sisters to provide the warmth and care that makes St. Patrick’s a “home”.

The music in the liturgy was lead by a group of women who were former students of the sisters at Holy Heart of Mary High School.

All were invited then to a lovely lunch and a celebration cake.

 

The Gathering Place

This is also big week for The Gathering Place.  The Gathering Place is a newly renovated and redeveloped community centre initiated by both the Presentation and Mercy Sisters in 1994 in response to the needs of the poor in the downtown area of the city.  In the beginning The Gathering Place was based in a vacant school building of the Sisters of Mercy and provided meals and time and space for social activities for the guests.  Various programs like literacy education, art, music, health and social services were added.  The Presentation Sisters were partners in the administration and coordination of this project.  The volunteer corps came from the various churches in the centre city area.

In 2012 a major financial campaign to renovate the building and to enhance the programs of the Gathering Place was undertaken with a goal of 7 million dollars.  At this date 6 million dollars have been raised through the hard work of the gift team and the generosity of people – thousands of dollars from  large multinational companies and a five dollar bill from a passer-by!

In the reconstruction phase basic services continued and were available through a nearby spirituality centre owned by the Presentation Sisters, The Lantern.  The life and the spirit of The Gathering Place continued in its temporary home until they moved home to the completely renovated space in late September.

Events of this week honored the guests, the founders, the volunteers, the donors, the media and the general public – all who are associated with The Gathering Place.

What a blessing for the poor and isolated of downtown St. John’s!

 

 

Mercy E-news Right from Newfoundland

Posted on by Diane Smyth

We welcome among us Ms. Anne Walsh from Australia via Dublin. Anne was instrumental along with Adele Howard rsm for broadcasting the celebrations of the 20th Anniversary of Mercy International across the world through the mercyworld website.

Anne is the editor of Mercy e-news each week and will continue to produce that from right here in Newfoundland! Anne will be among us for two weeks until October 23 when she will return to her home in Melbourne. Anne has come to assist us in learning more about the world wide web and specifically about the Mercy world including our own website. We will have sessions that might have general appeal and provide basic information, as well as more technical workshops to help those who would like to learn how develop and to add articles to our website

We are delighted that Anne will be able to experience our beautiful history, culture and landscape and get to know the Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland and Labrador. We know that we will gain more expertise in working in cyberspace and within the mercyworld website.

 

        Anne at Cape Spear, the most easterly point in North America

       Anne at Blackhead 

Celebrating MIA 20th Anniversary

Posted on by Diane Smyth

In Newfoundland we began the week of celebration of the 20th anniverary of the Mercy International Association on Sunday September 21.

We began with the video Circle of Mercy thus bringing Sisters of Mercy from around the world into our gathering.   Sister Elizabeth Davis, congregational leader, welcomed the group giving a backdrop for the celebrations.  We enjoyed a slideshow of The Face of Mercy which included photos of many of the people in the room and which had been sent to Ireland to be part of the photo display during this week of celebration.

Sister Sheila O’Dea then led us through the liturgy that a committee had prepared for the celebrations at Baggot Street, Dublin on September 26.  The prayer was beautifully woven with readings, images, reflection and chants.  The refrains were written by some of our own sisters.  Bill Brennan, a well known local musician, had composed a piano piece, Country Rose, that was listened to as part of our reflection time.

The theme of our liturgy was Caring for our Environment.  The opening action invited all of life from the four corners of creation to the centre of our room as we turned to each of the directions.  Various symbols were brought to the centre of the room.  Water was one of the key symbols, which was later blessed.  Each of us asked to approach the water prayerfully and playfully to bless ourself or others with the water.  At the end of the liturgy we each turned to the various directions to bless all people and creatures in our cosmos.

Of course we all enjoyed wonderful refreshments following the liturgy.

Since many of our sisters could not attend this gathering we celebrated the event at McAuley Convent on September 22.  We began in the chapel with the liturgy as prepared for the worldwide celebration.  It was so moving to see so many of the sister residents and staff of McAuley Convent participate in the various components of the service and to participate in the refrains.  We then had a “good cup of tea” before watching the slide show “the Face of Mercy”.

As the week continued many of our sisters joined in the worldwide celebrations as

they were livestreamed from BaggotStreet chapel.  We were so pleased to be able to join in the celebrations “live”  through the world wide web, even thought some of them were in the early hours of the mornign for us.  We were so delighted that Sisters Patricia March and Monical Hickey as well as Anne Curtis, one of our colleagues, could be present among the group in Dublin for the celebrations and to represent us there.  We were so pleased to contribute to the celebrations on September 23 and to contribute to the liturgical celebration used on September 26.  We were especially pleased and excited when Patricia told the story of the formal opening of Mercy International Centre and are grateful to her deep love and commitment to Mercy.

We thank the committee who met often to prepare the litugical format and to carry out the various local celebrations.  We thank the sisters who worked to prepare to celebrate at home and to manage the technology that brought us into the chapel at Baggot Street!  We are especially grateful for the group who planned this international celebration of the twenty years of world wide Mercy.