INSTITUTE OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY OF THE AMERICAS

Mid-Atlantic News

ISSUE NO. 13 October 2006

B R O O K L Y N

D A L L A S

Over 150 sisters from the Mid-Atlantic gathered at this year’s first Fall Consultation in Gwynedd, M E R I O N PA. Topics of discussion included Life Development, Housing, and Life and Ministry Facilitators. Three more consultations are scheduled this fall. Photo by Judy Ward, RSM

Members Gather to Discuss N E W J E R S E Y

Policies and Procedures

Approximately 155 sisters attended the first Fall Consultation held at N E W Y O R K Gwynedd Mercy Academy on Saturday, October 14, to discuss the changing realities of becoming the Mid-Atlantic Community. The opening ritual invited sisters to reflect on their blessings since the mingling of the waters at the Mid-Atlantic Assembly. Sisters Eileen Toole and Mary Ann Nolan from the Life Development Work Group and Sister Pat Kenny from the Housing Work Group presented their groups’ revised policies. Sister Christine McCann and Sister Mary Waters, representing the new Mid-Atlantic Leadership Team, reviewed the current thinking on Life and Ministry Facilitators as proposed by the Administrative Structure Group. Further discussion on this topic will occur at the November Mid-Atlantic Teams Meeting. The meeting concluded with a closing ritual and reflection on the future. “I was impressed by the ease of dialogue and sharing at our table. It made me realize at a deeper level how common our vision and life experiences are,” wrote one of the participants in her written evaluation.

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Loretta McLaughlin’s office is Loretta McLaughlin, the new Chief Financial located in the Officer for the Mid-Atlantic Community, started Mid-Atlantic her position on October 2, 2006. Administrative Offices in Merion, PA. Mid-Atlantic Welcomes Our New Chief Financial Officer Her phone number is Loretta McLaughlin, the new Chief Financial Officer for the Mid-Atlantic (610) 664-6650, Community, is no stranger to Mercy. extension 331. She first met the Sisters of Mercy at the age of four when her parents enrolled her in a Mercy summer camp on the grounds of Gwynedd Mercy College. Then she met many Sisters of Mercy in her elementary school, Her e-mail St. Raymond’s in Philadelphia, and her high school, Cardinal Dougherty. address is “I see this position as a chance to give back to the women who have lmclaughlin@ provided so much to me and others in our formative years,” says Loretta. “I sistersofmercy merion.org hope to approach this position and its challenges in a prayerful way.” For the past 11 years, Loretta served as the Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer for Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia. Prior to that she worked for a year as the Interim Chief Financial Officer for the North Philadelphia Health System during its reorganization. She also served as the Interim President for the Delaware Valley Hospital Council for nine years and as Vice-President for seven years. Loretta had a six-year career with Arco Chemical Company and seven years with FMC Corporation. Loretta, a certified public accountant, serves as the Chairperson of the Delaware Valley Stroke Council. She received her bachelor’s degree from Chestnut Hill College where she serves as a member of its Finance Committee. She received her M.B.A. from Drexel University. For the past 30 years, she has been a member of St. Isaac Jogues Parish in Wayne, PA. Loretta was named one of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Women of Distinction. She received the 181 Points of Light Award from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives because of her (continued on page 3) MID-ATLANTIC NEWS PAGE 3

Tree Commemorates Assembly

A tree grows in Merion to commemorate the Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Assembly. During the Assembly, participants spontaneously contributed to the purchase of a tree to remember that important moment in the history

of the Sisters of Mercy. The fast-growing tree, a tulip poplar, bears tulip-like flowers which are considered the largest flower to bloom on a tree. Its deep green leaves

turn gold, displaying brilliant fall color. Located in the same area as the five trees planted two years ago in honor of the five regional

communities forming the Mid-Atlantic, the tree will have a commemorative plaque marking the Assembly in July, 2006 at Parsippany, New Jersey.

Look for it the next time you visit the administrative offices.

Mid-Atlantic Community Welcomes Finance Officer (continued from page 2)

health care initiatives that benefited the community. Of her many and varied accomplishments, she is most proud of developing and implementing a Latino Health Improvement Project in North Philadelphia to identify healthcare barriers

for the Latino population. “My hope for the Mid-Atlantic Community is that we learn and grow together as we make a significant difference in the lives of others,” says Loretta.

“Together we can create a legacy for others to follow that is an outgrowth of the mission of Catherine McAuley.”

Please bring your own mug or cup to the Fall Consultations in order to help preserve Earth, one of the six Critical Concerns of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.

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Sister Marie Michele Donnelly (left) and Sister Maureen King Sister Pat Hartigan Sister Cathy Manderfield (right) discuss the “Bridging the presents a day-long ponders her UN experience. Gap” in-service program. workshop. These two photos courtesy of Mercy Global Concern. Thursday, November 16, is the Mid-Atlantic Novices Visit International Day for Tolerance the United Nations Mid-Atlantic novices, Maureen King and Cathy Manderfield, recently participated in a two week in-service program at the United Nations in New York City sponsored by Mercy Global Concern, with 23 other Mercy sisters from around the world. The purpose of this “Bridging the Gap” program was to provide a glimpse of the world reality through the lens of the United Nations and to strengthen and encourage Mercies to interact globally and explore new ways to respond to the needs of our world. Sister Marie Michele Donnelly of the Mid-Atlantic led a theological reflection on the United Nations’ millennium development goals. Sister Pat Hartigan of the Mid-Atlantic, a lawyer on Elder Rights, led a day-long workshop on the plights of people who are poor. “The program gave us a global perspective on what Mercy is all about,” says Maureen. “When we were at the United Nations, I was impressed by the number of involved young people and their passion to bring about change in the world.” “It was an invitation to look beyond our Institute,” says Cathy. “We learned about our global identity and people living on the margins and the connectedness of one issue to another.” One of the culminating activities of the workshop was to visit Mercy Center in the Bronx because it is a living example of Mercy women, associates, and friends bridging the gap between policy and practice. “I felt a special connection with the

women at Mercy Center,” says Cathy. “They were empowering!”

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Former President Clinton and

Jon Bon Jovi Visit Project Home

On Thursday, October 5, Former President Bill Clinton and rock star Mark your Jon Bon Jovi attended a press conference with Sister Mary Scullion of the calendars Mid-Atlantic Community to announce a partnership to renovate 15 row

homes in the poverty-ridden neighborhood of North Central Philadelphia. for the Spring 2007 In 1989, Sister Mary Scullion co-founded Project HOME, a non-profit Consultative agency that empowers people to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty Gatherings: by providing a continuum of care that includes street outreach, supportive housing, and comprehensive services that focus on health care, education and Saturday, employment. March 10 - Jon Bon Jovi brokered this unique partnership between Project Merion, PA HOME, Habitat For Humanity, the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, and Saturn, a division of General Motors Corporation. "It is my sincere and

Sunday, heartfelt desire not to let neighborhoods deteriorate any further," said Jon March 11 - Bon Jovi. He asked his friend Bill Clinton to help promote these efforts. Brooklyn, NY The project focuses on two blocks of historically significant, deteriorated row houses in the 1800 and 1900 blocks of North 23rd Street. By employing “green building strategies,” these 15 existing structures will Saturday, become energy efficient homes containing Energy Star-rated appliances. By March 24 - Watchung, NJ adding side yards to these homes, the density of the block will be reduced. Lynne Collins, a once homeless Philadelphia resident and mother of Sunday, three, is among the 15 who will get new homes - "a blessing," as she put it. March 25 - "It is truly a gift from God," she said. The new eco-friendly home represents Dallas, PA not only a new beginning for her family but somewhere they can call their own. Saturday, This project represents an innovative public/private partnership with March 31 - funds coming in from both sectors. While Sister Mary’s committed staff has New York (continued on page 6)

The Mid-Atlantic Communication Office is in the process of planning and developing newsletter guidelines for this and other publications for the Mid-Atlantic Community. We will keep you posted of these developments...

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Did you know that in the emerging Mid-Atlantic Community 68 sisters work in social services, housing, or advocacy?

Mid-Atlantic News, the newsletter of the Mid-Atlantic Community, is distributed to sisters, Project HOME co-founder Sister Mary Scullion of the Mid-Atlantic Community (right) with former President Bill Clinton (left) and associates, rock musician Jon Bon Jovi (center) announce a partnership to volunteers, renovate 15 row homes in a poverty-stricken area of Philadelphia. and staff throughout Brooklyn, Former President Clinton and Jon Dallas, Merion, New Jersey, Bon Jovi Visit Project Home and New (continued from page 5) York. worked tirelessly to secure public funding, the organization’s relationship with Jon

Bon Jovi made securing private funding a possibility. Saturn – which has worked Editor closely with Bon Jovi on other initiatives – contributed the private sector financing needed for this project. Debbi “These organizations have both made ‘home ownership through hard work’ Della Porta a reality,” explained Jon Bon Jovi. “In working with Habitat and Project HOME, I’ve seen what a miraculous thing it is to hand someone the keys to a new home – not only a beautiful home that they can be proud to own, but a home in which they’ve invested their own time, sweat, and resources.” “Our collective talent and resources will expand our capacity and enable us to reach out to more families in need. This is another critical step forward for community revitalization in North Philadelphia,” says Mary Scullion. Watch the video of the press conference at http://cbs3.com/topstories/ local_story_278165223.html

MID-ATLANTIC NEWS