Sisters Silvana Arévalo and Erin Walsh received as novices

Sisters Silvana Arévalo and Erin Walsh were received as novices on Saturday, August 29, in the chapel of McAuley Convent in Merion, Pennsylvania. Erin entered the Sisters of Mercy on September 15, 2024, with a celebration in Philadelphia, and Silvana entered the following week, on September 22, with a celebration in Savannah, Georgia.

Sister Mary Kay Dobrovolny, the coordinator for New Membership, welcomed those assembled, including Silvana’s and Erin’s parents and siblings, Erin’s grandparents, Silvana’s nieces, and close relatives and friends. “We call this ceremony the novitiate ‘reception;’ Erin and Silvana are received more deeply into the life of the Community,” Mary Kay said. “It is at this time that Erin and Silvana receive the title ‘Sister,’ and they also receive the Mercy cross, the outward symbols of a public identity as Sisters of Mercy and women religious in the Catholic Church.”

Institute Leadership Team member Sister Judith Frikker presided over the Rite of Reception, which included readings and hymns selected by Silvana and Erin. Following the gathering song, “The Summons,“ Judith questioned the novices-elect, inquiring what they asked of the Sisters of Mercy, to which they responded, “We ask to be received into the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.”

Sister Eileen McDonnell, Erin’s and Silvana’s incorporation minister, joyfully attested to their readiness to move into the novitiate phase of the incorporation process, as did their respective welcoming communities. All the sisters present in the chapel then affirmed the “privilege and responsibility” of sharing their life in Mercy with Silvana and Erin.

The first reading from 1 Kings was proclaimed in Spanish by Sister Anne Connolly and the second reading from “The Familiar Instructions of Catherine McAuley” was proclaimed in English by Sister Liz Mwangi.

In her reflection for the ceremony, Sister Anna Marie Saltzman referenced the first reading: “Like Elijah, standing at the entrance of the cave, you’ve symbolically experienced the strong winds, earthquake and fire and it is only in sheer silence that God can be heard, asking again, ‘What are you doing here?’ ‘Why are you here?’ Here, standing on the threshold of novitiate, you are not alone … we stand with you, and God is in our midst.”

Anna Marie also reflected on the Mercy cross that Silvana and Erin would receive later in the Rite of Reception, both the original version of the cross, designed by Catherine McAuley herself, and the contemporary version that each Sister of Mercy wears today. “You’ll notice the cross doesn’t bear a corpus, a figure on it,” she said. “This was intentional, as Catherine believed that each Sister of Mercy places herself on the cross in order to be like Jesus in our love for and service of others.”

The Signing of the Senses followed the readings, during which both Erin and Silvana received the sign of the cross on their eyes, ears, lips, heart, hands and feet from Eileen, as Judith read prayers that they might experience God’s glory through each of their senses and become God’s mercy and compassion to others. Judith and Eileen then presented the novices with the Mercy cross, welcoming them into “deeper community with us.”

To watch the video of the Rite of Reception, please click here.

Please continue to pray for our newest sisters, Silvana and Erin, as they continue their journey in Mercy.