here - The Religious Sisters of Mercy

The
Charism
of
Mercy
A religious community’s Charism is the unique
gift of the Holy Spirit given to the founder or
foundress for the sake of the life of the Church.
Mother Catherine McAuley received from the Holy
Spirit the Charism of Mercy. It is the vocation of the
Religious Sisters of Mercy
to extend the healing of the
redemption through the
Corporal and Spiritual
Works of Mercy. This call
is symbolized by the Mercy
Cross worn by the Sisters. The black exterior
represents the Misery of Mankind and the white
interior represents the Mercy of God. The
Sister of Mercy herself becomes the
convergence point between the two.
Mother Catherine also left to
the Sisters a challenging and
treasured inheritance: the legacy of
Union and Charity. The vocation to Mercy is a call to
first love one another sincerely in Christ and then,
from this mutual affection and union among the
Sisters, to enter into the works of the apostolate.
Suscipe of Venerable
Catherine McAuley
Foundress of the
Sisters of Mercy
My God,
I am Thine, for time
and eternity. Teach me
to cast myself entirely into the arms of Thy loving
providence. With the most lively, unlimited
confidence, in Thy compassionate tender pity.
Grant me, O most merciful Redeemer that
whatever Thou dost ordain or permit, may be
acceptable to me. Take from my heart all painful
anxiety. Suffer nothing to sadden me but sin.
Nothing to delight me, but the hope of coming to
the possession of Thee, My God and my all, in
Thy everlasting Kingdom. Amen.
Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma
Motherhouse:
1965 Michigan Ave
Alma, MI 48801
Website: www.rsmofalma.org
Sr. Mary Hanah Doak, RSM
Vocation Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 507-840-1163
Religious Sisters
of Mercy
of Alma, Michigan
Those who let themselves
be seized by this love
cannot help abandoning
everything to follow Him.
Vita Consecrata, para. 18
A Sister of Mercy
…is one who vows to God poverty,
chastity, and obedience. She also takes a
fourth vow of service to the poor, sick, and
ignorant. To better fulfill this vow, she
undertakes higher studies at the graduate or
doctoral level and the additional
professional formation needed to give
herself in service to the Church.
As a Spouse of Christ she is privileged to
attract and call to things of heaven.
Mindful that we have here no lasting home,
she strives to view all in light of Eternity.
She seeks to embrace the world and its
suffering, for her way is Mercy…
Some Signs of a Call to Religious Life
 Desire to live simply
 Persistent prodding of the Holy Spirit
to discern the will of God for your
life.
 Desire to love expansively rather than
feeling fully satisfied in an intimate
relationship with one person
 Strong desire to grow in union with
God in prayer
 Desire to give all to Christ with the
feeling that life as a lay person is
"not enough"
We were founded in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland, by
Venerable Catherine McAuley. Responding to the
renewal called for by Vatican II, a group of seven
Sisters established a new foundation. The Religious
Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan, a Religious
Institute of Pontifical Rite, was approved by the Holy
See in 1973.
We have convents located in Colorado, Maryland,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Louisiana, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington D.C.,
Washington State, England, Australia, Germany, and
Italy.
Our prayers begin each morning with the Liturgy of
the Hours, Meditation and the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass. In the evening, we come together for a
Eucharistic Holy Hour which includes Evening Prayer,
communal recitation of the Rosary, and Adoration and
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The day
concludes, after dinner and recreation, with Night
Prayer .
Our apostolate is founded upon the Spiritual and
Corporal Works of Mercy in professional disciplines
that include service as physicians, nurses,
psychologists, social workers, canon lawyers, primary
and secondary school teachers, college and seminary
professors, and other related professions.
Vocation Discernment Retreats
“By profession of the evangelical counsels
the characteristic features of Jesus—the chaste, poor and obedient
one—are made constantly visible in the midst of the world and the
eyes of the faithful are directed toward the
mystery of the Kingdom of God already at work in history.”
Vita Consecrata, para. 1.
are normally held in
February, March, April, May,
October, and November
at our Motherhouse in Alma, Michigan.
Please refer to the retreat schedule posted on our
website: www.rsmofalma.org