• We have one solid comfort amidst this little tripping about, our hearts can always be in the same place, centered in God, for whom alone we go forward or stay back.

    - Catherine McAuley

 
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Mission and Critical Concerns

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Responding to the needs of the poor and suffering, particularly women and children, is the special call of the Sisters of Mercy. Following the example of Jesus, the Sisters move in the midst of the world teaching, healing, and comforting those in need.

Our Mission


Sisters of Mercy are women who commit their lives to serving God's people, especially those who are sick, poor and uneducated. In the spirit of the Gospel, our mission is to help to overcome the obstacles that keep them from living full and dignified lives. A life of prayer and community animates and supports us in our mission.

Direction Statement

Animated by the Gospel and Catherine McAuley’s passion for the poor, we, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, are impelled to commit our lives and resources to act in solidarity with:

  • the economically poor of the world, especially women and children;
  • women seeking fullness of life and equality in church and society;
  • one another as we embrace our multicultural and international reality.

This commitment will impel us to develop and act from a multicultural and international perspective;

  • speak with a corporate voice;
  • work for systemic change; practice non-violence;
  • act in harmony and interdependence with all creation;
  • and call ourselves to continual conversion in our lifestyle and ministries.
1991, 2001, 2005.

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

 
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Mercy Story

  • Sister Recycler
    Sr__Rita_Marie_Brennan_long-time_recycler__2“I’ve been collecting cans for 20 years!” said Sister Rita Marie Brennan, a resident of Mercy Convent in Chicago. While it is true that recycling helps the environment, Rita Marie started her can collecting for a different reason: to help a young man in need. Rita Marie’s sister-in-law had a family tragedy. The son of a family member was paralyzed from the neck down after an accident in a swimming pool. Rita Marie’s sister-in-law let her know that the family needed help paying for the young man’s treatment, so Rita Marie offered to help out by collecting cans. “I told the sisters what the young man needed, and asked how we could help. They were happy to help out. So every week I collected all the pop cans, and took them to be weighed and recycled. I’d get maybe $10 or $15, and I would give it to my sister-in-law.” That was 20 years ago, and Rita Marie still collects the cans. Now at 85 years-old she can’t haul the cans to the recycler herself, but she makes sure it is done.