donate

St. Hildegard of Bingen: A Visionary

byRoz Parr

The records we have of the long life of Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) defy the term “dark ages.” This German Benedictine abbess lived to be 81, despite many illnesses. According to well-preserved records, she was a visionary, a theologian, architect, artist, musician, scientist, environmentalist, homilist, letter writer, feminist and activist. She was acclaimed a saint in the years after her death, but was not formally canonized and declared a Doctor of the Church until 2012, by the German-born Pope Benedict XVI, formerly Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

Why Do Our Schools Celebrate Mercy Day?

byRoz Parr

By Sister Regina Ward, Associate Director for Mission Integration, Mercy Education — Mercy Day is the anniversary of the opening of the first House of Mercy by Catherine McAuley and her two companions, Anna Maria Doyle and Catherine Byrn, on September 24, 1827. Many sisters who attended Mercy schools remember having a day off on September 24, most likely because the sisters who worked in the school considered it a feast day and would take the day to celebrate Catherine and her legacy.

Celebrate Mercy in Ministry

byRoz Parr

By Sister Mary Waskowiak — We celebrate our call to ministry, and we say AMEN! So, what called each of us —sister, associates or companion—to Mercy? Who and what continues to call us, individually and as a community? To what does our fourth vow of service call us at this time in our individual and Institute lives?

Dancing, Singing, Circling

byRoz Parr

We celebrate Mercy in music with “Dancing, Singing, Circling.” Composed by Sister Claudette Schiratti, the song rejoices in Mercy and the ways joy can ease life’s burdens.