Throughout the pandemic and quarantine, members of the Mercy family have been reminded that though we may be socially distanced, we are spiritually connected.
"The essentials, and prayer" —Sister Catherine Marie Glyn-Williams, Georgetown, Guyana
Since we cannot go out to our ministries, we discussed how we could help the poor, and we pooled our money. We purchased food items, filled bags, put on masks and distributed the bags to the elderly, who were unable to or afraid to go shopping. Some were our Mercy Associates. They were very grateful. One creative lady at her window let down her basket on a long rope. We placed a bag of essentials into the basket and she pulled it up. She laughed and thanked us!
What can Mercy do to relieve the suffering world? We are praying constantly the Pope’s prayer for protection and healing of the virus. I pray especially for the thousands dying that they ask for forgiveness and prepare for heaven. I repeat the mantra, “God forgive them, God heal them, God Save them, God protect us, God heal us, God save us.”
"Being attentive to the Spirit" —Sister Nancy Donovan, Hartford, Connecticut
I’m an ICU chaplain at St. Francis, a trauma 1 hospital. The past two months have been very busy, with high emotion, and many deaths each day. It is heartbreaking because people just want to see their family member; in response, I put my phone in a baggie and give it to the nurse to allow some visual interaction between patient and family.
It is important for me to be in touch with God and the movement of God’s Spirit. A question I ask myself is, “Am I aligned with where God wants me to be today?” My rounding is to go door to door and pause to pray for each patient and his or her family. In my office, I will call family members to let them know I am keeping them in prayer.
I stopped at one patient’s door. Later, near the end of the day, a small part of me said, you can make this call tomorrow; but I called and got the man’s son. He said they had just returned from burying their mother, who died of COVID-19 at this hospital. The patient had not been able to go to his wife’s funeral, as he is now fighting it. I asked if there was anything significant that I could help facilitate for them. The son mentioned that at 7 o’clock, they would pray the Kaddish and wondered about a candle. I brought a battery-powered tea light and arranged with the nurse that she would light it when the family was gathering for prayer that night.
It is a difficult story. I felt that I cooperated with God’s grace to try to bring some comfort to this family.
"The ministry of presence" —Sister Libby Fernandez, Sacramento, California
It’s so important to connect with the homeless through Mercy Pedalers, especially now.
They don’t have the opportunity to watch tv or access to newspapers, so when they see us, it’s good we can share what’s going on, how to stay safe, where to get food and showers. They’re anxious and concerned about their health.
I’m wondering, because I’m a hugger—that one-on-one contact is so important to the homeless, because they’re deprived of that social contact—how will that change? Will I be able to go back to that? Is there another way of connecting without hugging? That’s very serious. It’s easy to adjust for the time being, but I don’t want to do it permanently. I like that human connection, so I pray we’ll be able to do that and not worry we’ll catch something.
It really has affected me with this ministry, because Mercy Pedalers is about the ministry of presence. It’s about entering someone’s space and feeling safe, and the closer you get in that space, the closer the relationship is. It really is about being present to the moment and allowing God to work internally with you that gives a sense of hope. That has helped me not get too anxious, but to ask God, where are you in the midst of this? I find it hope filled.
"God and mercy and hope will abound!" —Sister Eileen Sizer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
During the pandemic, when I hear “stay home,” my heart breaks for my companions who remain street homeless or who stay in shelters that are open only at night. Their experience is “stay out,” magnified by the closing of a myriad of services. Even at the Hub of Hope in Philadelphia, we have had to scale back.
But a small group of men and women gather in what’s called “The Living Room.” They are amazingly grateful and have renamed it “Our Sanctuary.” When I look back to these challenging days, it is the faces of these men and women, whom I affectionately call “My Corona Companions,” that will be embedded in my heart.
Even though the lightsomeness and joy formerly felt in this program are missing, gratitude, respect, resiliency and sense of community have all emerged. One humbling experience after another! These are the faces of Mercy. These are God’s blessed poor. These are the men and women who teach me every day. Yes, how grateful I am for my Corona Companions!
Prior to COVID-19, many other formerly homeless persons frequented The Living Room. We had formed close-knit bonds, and most days included a celebration of some part of life. These members have been asked to “stay home.” When we return to some type of normalcy, will the former members return? What will The Living Room look like? What will Our Sanctuary feel like? What will the new experience be? One thing for sure … God and Mercy and Hope will abound!