When you have spent most of your life trying to be faithful to a charism, it can begin to stagnate. The traditions become second nature and may begin to lose their shine and colour. Patty Fawkner SGS warns of the need for a charism to ‘evolve, develop and flourish’.
On a personal level, my recent pilgrimage to our founder’s homeland allowed me to rejuvenate my passion for Mercy and to discover new charism insights.
I had spent most of my life focussing on Catherine McAuley as founder. It is often said of Catherine ‘that she broke through the impossibility of her day’, although I was reminded that she was not alone on this journey. My pilgrimage opened a whole new awareness of the importance to the charism of two of her fellow Sisters and good friends, Mary Ann Doyle and Vincent Ellen Whitty.
I learnt that both women were so different in talents, skills and personality to Catherine. In summary, Mary Ann Doyle was known to be quiet, timid and cautious while having a vivid story-telling ability; and Ellen Vincent Whitty is remembered for her initiative, organisational ability and advocacy skills. Catherine is said to have had a ‘sharp mind’ and a practical and optimistic fun-loving disposition. These women’s personal attributes were complementary and supported the flourishing of the early stages of the Congregation as the expression of its charism developed. Of course, they also shared a deep Catholic faith-based spirituality and a strong compassion for the poor.
This knowledge deepened my understanding of Catherine’s immediate support network. I understood more about the women who empowered her to go beyond her circumstances and also shared the physical and spiritual journey with her.
Catherine’s work in Mercy was not a lone pursuit but also a lesson in the importance of a shared journey. There is much to be learnt from our charism of the importance of sharing the sense of belonging. My recent Mercy pilgrimage was not a journey for one, but a communal experience. I was blessed to share my journey with an outstanding group of Mercy folk. We forged strong bonds and shared a strong sense of belonging to the wider Mercy family. My fellow pilgrims not only shared the physical and emotional journey but also the opportunity for spiritual renewal.
Sharing prayers, reflections, experiences and insights with such an inspirational group was a true joy. There was a sense that we were not alone in our Mercy roles as we face many current challenges. There is strength in the knowledge that my fellow pilgrims also share a renewed passion for the Mercy charism. I left Catherine’s Ireland with a strong sense of ongoing support from my fellow pilgrims. Like Catherine and her support network, I believe we will work with our varied talents, skills, and personalities to ensure that the charism does not stagnate but evolves and flourishes into the future.
Iyla Davies, Trustee Director