One of the oldest religious communities in the Parramatta Diocese has met to decide its future, and to give thanks for the hundreds of members over the years who have dedicated their lives to help the less fortunate. Source: Catholic Outlook.
The Sisters of Mercy Parramatta have been ministering to the poor, sick and educating the young for almost 140 years.
During that time, they have responded to the changing needs of Church and society, establishing schools, orphanages, an aged care facility, child and family care centres, refuges and crisis accommodation for women and children at risk of homelessness.
Recently, the sisters “turned the sod” on a new venture – a senior women’s housing project to be managed by St VdeP Housing Australia.
But with few younger members, and the majority more than 80 years old, the sisters have gradually handed over control of their ministries, such as their schools, to other like-minded groups.
Now, with a diminishing pool of potential leaders, the sisters decided to make arrangements for the congregation’s future governance and the ongoing care of its members.
The Sisters of Mercy Parramatta have petitioned the Holy See to appoint a Canonical Delegate as an administrative representative of the Vatican to safeguard the interests and rights of the community and their status in the Church.
This decision to petition Rome to appoint a Canonical Delegate was taken at an “extraordinary chapter” or meeting, of the congregation on May 2, and was preceded by a Mass of the Holy Spirit in the Mercy Chapel in Parramatta, celebrated by Parramatta Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv.
Once the Canonical Delegate is appointed, the sisters will no longer meet in chapter to determine the congregation’s future direction, but will still retain autonomy over their day-to-day affairs through regular community gatherings.
“What we’ve done is taken steps to ensure that we can continue as a group, without an elected leader, by putting in place administrative and support mechanisms. These will provide for the needs of the group members and enable the continuation of our Mission of Mercy for as long as the sisters live,” Sr Catherine Ryan, one of the members of the community and a former Congregation Leader, said.
“All authority is still vested in the group, it’s not lost.”
Nevertheless, it was an emotional decision for a community that has such a long and deep history of involvement in the Parramatta Diocese and in wider Sydney.
FULL STORY
An ‘extraordinary chapter’ in the long life of Parramatta’s Sisters of Mercy (By Antony Lawes, Catholic Outlook)
