I recently had the privilege of celebrating with the newest members of the Mercy Associates, a group of lay faithful leaders who formally partner with the mission, spirituality, and charism of the Sisters of Mercy.
For those who don’t know this beautiful order of women religious, here is a description of the Sisters of Mercy: We, the Sisters of Mercy, are an international community of Roman Catholic women who dedicate our lives to the Gospel of Jesus and take lifelong vows. Inspired by the life of Jesus and by our founder Catherine McAuley, we envision a just world for people who are economically poor, sick, and uneducated. We commit our lives to God and our resources to serve, advocate, and pray for those in need around the world.
In addition to the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience that all Catholic sisters take, the Sisters of Mercy also take a fourth vow of service.
This celebration was a rare and deeply meaningful experience. At one point, I was so overcome by the beauty and depth of what I was experiencing that tears of hope and gratitude came pouring out.
It reminded me of what a healthy and holy faith community can look and feel like. Diverse and connected. Steeped in tradition and open to change. At peace with what is, yet continually challenged to learn and grow.
The duality of what I experienced was rich and meaningful. It was healing.
The Archbishop joined us to share about synodality, something all Catholics will continue to hear more about. It is a way of being. A way of walking together, listening to one another, and discerning what the Holy Spirit is telling us.
It requires the deeply human acts of encountering God and accompanying one another. Something our world has forgotten how to do and so desperately needs right now.
During our time and with his guidance, we practiced Conversation in the Spirit and explored the question: “Where do you see the spirit of mercy calling us today?”
This style of reflection, prayer, and sharing creates space for multiple perspectives and new ways of thinking to emerge. It challenges us to move beyond individualism, our initial reactions, and our own ideas to listen for what the Holy Spirit is speaking.
It asks us to practice thoughtful speaking and intentional listening.
And it can be uncomfortable. It is a very different way of engaging than we are used to. We are accustomed to sharing our thoughts, defending our perspectives, and working toward an answer. This practice asks something different of us. It asks us to slow down, make space, and truly listen.
Yet every time I participate, I am moved.
I feel more deeply connected to God and to the people I am in conversation with. My heart and mind are opened to new ways of thinking and seeing. I am reminded that, in the midst of our real differences, there are still so many commonalities between us as humans.
When we make space for one another, we begin to see one another differently.
This practice literally breaks down walls and barriers. It invites us to remember the truth of who we are as humans and as the people of God. It helps us recognize the difference between our personal preferences, our egoic voice, and the voice of the Divine.
That distinction matters. Because what we want, what we prefer, and what we believe to be right is not always what God is asking of us.
Yes, synodality is a helpful and effective framework for important decision-making. But it is so much more than that.
It is an opportunity for a heart conversion. For a real encounter with God. For practicing what it means to become more like Jesus.
It is not simply a process for finding the right answer. It is a practice that changes who we are.
So, as we practice synodality, let’s not stay fixated on the answer or the destination. Let’s settle into the journey and be present to the people along the way.
“Live the questions,” as one of my favorite poets, Rainer Maria Rilke, encouraged us. It is in the questions and the journey that light and life are found.
We must allow ourselves to be fully immersed in the process and open to being changed before we can find the answer God has for us. It is not transactional. It is deeply relational.
In my own sitting and praying with the question, “Where do you see the spirit of mercy calling us today?” and then exploring it with my small group, so many beautiful ideas emerged. Ideas I never would have considered or come up with on my own.
The spirit of mercy is calling us to:
- Compassion and companionship. To come close to everyone we encounter, especially those on the margins. To be present, to accompany, and to walk alongside one another.
- Be God’s love reaching out. To comfort, pray, listen, and love one another. To make the first move. To notice and intentionally include another.
- Keep mercy alive. To immerse ourselves in the spirit of mercy and the teachings of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy.
- Continue learning and embodying hope. To remain open to change, to challenge our assumptions, and to see possibility where others may see only obstacles.
- Focus on our own healing so we can be healers. To recognize the work God is doing within us and allow that healing to shape how we show up for others.
- Remember that our being is just as important as our doing. Spirit and works. Heart and service. Who we are becoming matters just as much as what we accomplish.
Our time together was a powerful reminder that when we feel disconnected or divided, we need to make space and time to truly encounter God and accompany one another.
In times of great change, when fear, uncertainty, and doubt fill our hearts and minds (like right now), we must create space for meaningful connection. We must practice intentional speaking and deep listening. We must find ways to move beyond our own perspectives and make room for the experiences, hopes, and struggles of others.
We cannot build unity without first making space for one another.
My time with the Sisters of Mercy and Mercy Associates reminded me that there are pockets of people who have devoted themselves across time to unity, peace, and courageous leadership.
We have role models who can help us remember what real and true leadership looks and feels like. People who are doing the inside-out work of becoming the kind of leaders our world needs. People who are committed to healing themselves, accompanying others, and bringing love and unity into the places where they live and serve.
That is what we need most right now.
Not more people fighting to be heard. Not more certainty, division, or answers offered before we have truly listened.
Instead, people willing to encounter one another. To make space. To walk together. To allow God to work in and through us. People who understand that lasting change begins within and that the work of leadership is deeply relational.
Thank you, Sisters and Associates, for doing the inside-out work of lasting leadership. For healing and being healers. For embodying mercy and reminding us what it means to lead with love.
We ask for your prayers, and we invite your guidance now.
May we continue to learn from you, walk alongside one another, and become the people God is calling us to be. May we keep making space for the spirit of mercy to move among us. And may we have the courage to be changed.
