Sister Geri Near began religious life teaching math in grade school, moved into bookkeeping at Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, Mich., and then became secretary to the Detroit Regional Community. After a total of 39 years in these ministries which demanded precision, she asked for a sabbatical. "The sabbatical moved me into my artistic period," she said. "On a retreat, art started to 'joggle' in my mind, so I asked Sister Cheryl Phillips, an artist, if she would teach me. If I make a fool of myself, it's just the two of us."

No such thing happened. After taking classes, Geri began to produce water color paintings and then cards, capturing flowers on paper. To balance her solitary time with paper and brushes, she works part time as site hostess at Meals on Wheels for the Novi area reaching 100 homebound seniors with food and conversation. "For most of these people we are the only ones they will see that day, so it is a hands-on corporal work of Mercy. I think of it as visiting the imprisoned as well as the sick and lonely. These people can't get out."