God calls everyone. Each of us is called to something, and every vocation—whether to religious life or to marriage or to a career—is a precious gift from God. When we allow ourselves to listen deeply to God’s voice within us, we are able to understand more fully where God is calling us to be.
Discerning a religious vocation is a gradual process; it requires prayerful consideration, a deepening of your relationship with God, learning about religious life, and conversations with spiritual directors and vocation ministers. Each person’s discernment is a personal journey.
Is God calling you to Mercy?
Part of the discernment process is exploring different types of religious life, and discovering which religious congregation best allows you to express your vocation in prayer, community and service to the people of God. Every religious order has its own particular character—what we in religious life call charism. The charism of each congregation is a unique gift of the Holy Spirit that guides the lives of their members in living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As Sisters of Mercy, we take the same three vows as all Catholic sisters: those of poverty, chastity and obedience. Our charism of Mercy is manifested through our fourth vow, unique to our Institute, of service to those who are poor, sick and lacking education. Our founder, the Venerable Catherine McAuley, opened the doors of the House of Mercy in 1827 to provide care, shelter and education to the poor in her native Dublin.
For the last 200 years, women have responded to the call of Mercy, serving the people of God in numerous ways across the globe. Today, Sisters of Mercy minister as teachers, professors and college presidents, as nurses, physicians, social workers and hospital administrators, as attorneys, spiritual directors and theologians. Together we work, pray and advocate to ease the suffering in our world, and to listen to, as Pope Francis wrote in Laudato Si’, “the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.”
As Sisters of Mercy, we also express our charism through our commitment to five areas of special importance: care for Earth, immigration, nonviolence, racism, and particular attention to the education, health care and spiritual needs of women and girls.
To learn more about the Sisters of Mercy, please click the box below and leave your contact information. We will reach out to you soon!
Learn more about becoming a Sister of Mercy!
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Contact usPlease note that we are able to accept inquiries from women living in Argentina, Belize, Chile, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, or the United States. If you are in a different country, please consult with a local sister or member of the clergy, or contact the office of your diocese, for information about religious congregations in your region.
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Learn about the process to become a Sister of Mercy.
It takes at least seven years to become a Sister of Mercy. During this time, a woman learns about prayer, lives in community, studies theology, and ministers alongside sisters. It is a time of deep reflection, growth, grace, and most importantly, joy!
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