Sisters of Mercy celebrate anniversaries 70, 60 years

 By Sr. Deborah Kennedy, RSM
For The Catholic Week
Six Sisters of Mercy of the Americas commemorated the day of their entrance into Religious Life with a liturgy Sept. 4 at Corpus Christi Parish in Mobile.
The Eucharistic Liturgy was celebrated by Rev. James Zoghby, with Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi presiding. 
Founded by the Venerable Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland in 1831, the Sisters of Mercy are distinguished by a fourth Vow of Service to those who are poor, sick, and/or uneducated. The six Jubilarians embodied and modeled this throughout their Religious Life. 
Sr. Mary Juliane Carey, a native of New Orleans and now a resident of Convent of Mercy in Mobile, celebrated 70 years in Religious Life. Sr. Juliane has previously ministered in education, medical technology, community leadership, pastoral care and presently volunteers at Mercy LIFE of Alabama, a PACE program.
Sr. Regina Ann Hatton, Susan Harms, Deborah Kennedy, Paula Diann Marlin and Mary Ann Wilhelm celebrated 60 years of religious life.  Together these six Sisters represent 370 years of service to and with God’s people.
Sr. Deborah and Paula Diann are both natives of Mobile and graduates of Mercy High School. Sr. Deborah attended St. Mary Catholic School, while Sr. Paula Diann attended St. Catherine Catholic School.  Today Sr. Paula Diann lives in Belmont, N.C., where she has served as the community archivist, after devoting 31 years to teaching middle school children. Residing at Convent of Mercy in Mobile, Sr. Deborah ministers as a spiritual director and serves as Liaison with Religious in the Archdiocese of Mobile, as well as working with the St. Vincent de Paul Conference at Corpus Christi.
A native of Pensacola, Sr.  Regina Ann formerly taught at St. Ignatius Catholic School and served as principal of St. Pius Catholic School.  Sister also served at the Albert P. Brewer Center in Mobile and Searcy Hospital in Mt. Vernon, as a patient advocate. Today she ministers to and with those who suffer from addictions.
Also a native of Mobile, Sr. Mary Ann was educated at St. Catherine Catholic School and Mercy High School. Before entering the Sisters of Mercy, Sr.  graduated from Providence School of Nursing. Ministry wise, Sr. Mary Ann is best known and remembered for her 37 years of service at Mercy Medical in Daphne. Here she served as vice president of Nursing Services. Sr.  Mary Ann is most noted for her creative concept of a free-standing Memory Care facility.
Sr.  Susan Harms, a native of Savannah, Ga., has devoted 56 years to the education of young children. And 48 of those years have been spent at Nativity/St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School in Savannah. Sister also taught at St. Ignatius in Mobile for two years. 
The Sisters of Mercy came to Mobile from New Orleans in 1884 at the request of Bishop Dominic Manucy, the third Bishop of Mobile, to open St. Joseph School. The Sisters immediately began to care for those who were sick and poor, visited those imprisoned and instructed children. Over the years Sisters of Mercy have staffed numerous elementary and high schools throughout Alabama and northwest Florida.  In the field of health care, the former Blessed Martin de Porres Hospital and Mercy Medical were served by the Sisters. 
Today there are 17 Sisters of Mercy residing in Alabama. There are 15 in the Mobile area and two in Birmingham. 
Many reside at Convent of Mercy Retirement Residence, where they continue their ministries of Prayer and Good Works at Mercy LIFE, Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy, Alabama Arise, St. Mary, Corpus Christi and St. Dominic Parishes.