January | February 2008
Bimonthly publication for sisters, associates and companions of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Citizens of Faith A Catholic Call to the Common Good Finding new meaning in an old concept Discovering Ourselves in Scripture Reading the Bible with new eyes Shareholder Advocacy Using investment power to affect social change
Table of Contents january| february 2008
page 5
page 8
page 13
F E AT U R E S
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Discovering Ourselves in Scripture By William O’ Brien
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A Catholic Call to the Common Good By Alexia Kelley and John Gehring
In this issue, Alexia Kelley and John Gehring of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good explore the concept of the common good as the foundation of moral leadership. See story on page 8.
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Shareholder Advocacy: Strategy for Socially Responsible Investing By Sister Valerie Heinonen, osu
COLUMNS Bimonthly publication for Sisters, Associates and Companions of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
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Spotlight | Blessed By Community By Sister Rita Valade (Detroit)
Publisher The Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas 8380 Colesville Road, #300 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-6264 tel 301.587.0423 vivamercy@sistersofmercy.org Features Editor Sister Patricia Kenny pkenny@sistersofmercy.org
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By Sister Susan Severin (Institute Justice Team)
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Columns Editor Sue Carroll scarroll@sistersofmercy.org Design and Production Sue Carroll Translation Elsa Valdiviezo Advisory Board Sisters Eileen Campbell, Joy Clough, Camille D’Arienzo, Kathleen Erickson, Diane Guerin, Patricia Kenny, Patricia McDermott, Larretta Rivera-Williams and Ellen Smith. Associates Kris Reich and Kathleen Wade. Anne Boyle, Sue Carroll, Will O’Brien and Trish Vanni. Manuscripts may be submitted electronically. For detailed writer’s guidelines, e-mail vivamercy@sistersofmercy.org. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit submitted materials. Articles or portions thereof are protected by copyright laws and therefore cannot be reproduced or reprinted without the permission of ¡Viva! Mercy and/or the author.
Justice | On Practicing Faithful Citizenship Vocation and Incorporation | Roles of Novices and Professed Sisters By Sister Carol Mucha (Institute New Membership Office)
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Ministry | Silent Motion: The Story of Mime-Ink By Sister Gloria Heese (Omaha)
DEPARTMENTS
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Community Update Submitted by Mercy Communicators
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Newsmakers Compiled by Sister Patricia Kenny (Institute Communications Office)
Visit www.sistersofmercy.org for highlighted articles from this publication. ¡Viva! Mercy is printed on acid free, elemental chlorine free paper containing 50 percent recycled content including 15 percent post consumer waste.
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Spice of Mercy Life By Sister Patricia Kenny (Institute Communications Office)
spice of mercy life
Winning Hearts and Minds in Kansas hen the Sisters of Mercy came to Fort Scott, Kansas, from Big Rapids, Michigan, in 1886, they found a busy hub for four railroads. Accidents were frequent, fatalities not uncommon and a new hospital, staffed by sisters with a reputation as able nurses, was badly needed. The early days were quite prosperous but difficulties of many kinds tried the courage and patience of the growing community. As so often happened however, their perseverance prompted the interest of neighboring towns also anxious to provide quality healthcare for their citizens. In Independence, Kansas, a hospital was purchased in 1917 by a group of physicians. Within 10 years they found that hospital management and medical practice did not mix well and offered the facility for sale. The Sisters of Mercy from Fort Scott agreed to purchase it but, from their very first days, they realized that, in addition to management problems, they were the targets of considerable prejudice. The Ku Klux Klan had settled in Sycamore, a town not far away, and held regular meetings on a nearby hillside where a burning cross could be seen for miles around. One morning one of the doctors came to the hospital admission office to admit a patient who had been struck by a car not far from Sycamore. He was badly injured but the doctor felt he had to explain the circumstances to Sister Mary Madeline. “Sister, if I were to bring one of the worst KuKluxers into the hospital, what would you say?” With a twinkle in her eye she replied, “Bring him in; I’ll give him a pill.” The doctor said that was just what this man was afraid of. Nonetheless after much resistance and finally conditional consent, the man was admitted but he steadfastly refused any medication from the hospital drug supply, sure he would be “done away with.” His resistance melted away however as he was treated well and kindly. Sister Madeline visited daily and
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Artwork by Sister Joyce Jacobs (Mid-Atlantic)
even joked with him about his fear of being poisoned. At one point she said, “I would rather have poured the water of Baptism over your head, you know.” As he left the hospital, he turned to Sister Madeline and admitted he had been “a big fool” but he would now make things right. And so he did: for the next 30 years he brought his family, friends and himself as well several times to Mercy Hospital.—PK Source: “Mercy in the Heartland,” by Sister Annrene Brau (St. Louis)
november | december 2007
¡Viva! Mercy
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Calendar
2008 JANUARY 30–FEBRUARY 3 Institute Leadership Conference Burlingame, California Contact: Sister Rita Parks 301.587.0423 FEBRUARY 14–18 CCASA Assembly Casa McAuley, Buenos Aires Contact: Sister Estela Gomez 54.237.4.68.5143
MARCH 2–6 Mercy Conference of New Membership Personnel Burlingame, California Contact: New Membership Office 314.909.4664 APRIL 17-19 Mercy Action Board Meeting Silver Spring, Maryland Contact: Clara Callahan 301.587.0423 APRIL 23–27 Institute Leadership Conference Detroit, Michigan Contact: Sister Rita Parks 301.587.0423 APRIL 28-MAY 2 Mercy Regional Archivists Network (MRAN) 8th Conference Washington, D.C. Contact: Sister Susan Nowalis 301.587.0423 JUNE 9–14 Candidate Connection Mexican American Cultural Center San Antonio, Texas Contact: New Membership Office 314.909.4664
Artwork by Sister Estelle Martin (NyPPaW).
Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas 8380 Colesville Road, Suite 300 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-6264
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