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If we wish to enter deeply into the prayer of Catherine McAuley, as a place where she and Christ may teach us, we may enter the ordinary scenes of her praying that have been recorded for us by those who lived with her. Whether we…

The history of the Sisters of Mercy is a history of radiant public symbols: living persons, objects, events, and actions that by their symbolic character and presence proclaim the enduring and gracious mercy of God. Some of these symbols have remained constant in their vitality…

Spiritual leadership involves at least three efforts on the part of a religious or ecclesial leader.

Mary C. Sullivan, RSM, was a prolific writer about the life and mission of Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy. These writings continue to shape and inspire all who are called to the Mercy charism. Her writings also include a number of…

Welcome to the first issue of The MAST Journal to be published online! After thirty years of publishing in the traditional format of a printed hard copy, we are reaching out to you, our readers, from this new platform. Yes, the articles can be downloaded and…

Gathering for communal prayer, especially morning and evening, in the spirit of the prayer of the church, assists us to grow in responsiveness to the conflicts and sufferings of the world. (Mercy Constitutions §17) The conflicts and sufferings of our world today call us to…

Consider this epistolary essay subtitled, “A Macaronic Letter,” as a somewhat sardonic reflection on my relationship with Merton—an attempt to grapple with its complexity and my own place in it. 

This issue, “Foundations of Spirituality,” comes in the midst of the flow of The MAST Journal toward online publication. The theme of this issue expresses our conviction that accommodation to the “signs of the times,” reveals that the foundations for our lives and ministries haven’t…

You may have had this experience. You come across a book that you have ignored, and it is very helpful. As I was preparing this reflection, I reached for such a treasure: Jesus and the Gospels by Denis McBride. Not only is it an approachable…

In this paper, I examine the root of the word courage before using Catherine McAuley's writings to offer a different model for courageous leadership, focusing on Catherine’s courage to encourage.

As we bring this sacred day to closure, may the peace and blessings of God be with us. I’d like to begin with a memory from my days as a young teacher. I introduced my students to working with salt ceramic. It was an experience…

Reflecting on more than 70 years of knowing Lorita—as a schoolmate, fellow Sister of Mercy, and friend, I struggled to know what to say today in this reflection. Though I was especially close to her during the last years of her life, I was keenly…

“Let those whom Jesus Christ has graciously invited to assist Him in His suffering poor, have their hearts animated with gratitude and love.” — Catherine McAuley Always there is spiritual direction because God is always directing us. Every day is new, and we find ourselves…

I was first introduced to the phrase “thin places” during a lecture on religious life by Sister Marie McKenna.1 A “thin place” is a sacred space where the distance between heaven and earth seem to collapse, and we’re able to catch a glimpse of the…

Dear Sisters, Associates, Companions and Friends of Mercy, The inspiration for this issue of The MAST Journal, “Synod and Synodality,” was inspired by the opening of the Synod by Pope Francis almost three years ago. As this issue goes to press, the Synod on Synodality…