Welcome, Associates,
of the Mid-Atlantic Community!

Mercy associates are women and men who are Christian, 21 years of age or older, who:

• desire to strengthen their commitment to Gospel values
• want to deepen their prayer lives
• seek to share in the mission of mercy as envisioned by Catherine McAuley
• remain financially independent from the Sisters of Mercy
• possess emotional stability and an ability to relate comfortably with others.

They come from different races or cultures and are married, single, lay, or cleric. Each associate enters into an agreement with the Sisters of Mercy to share in their life and mission. This formal covenant describes how the individual will extend the mission of Mercy through prayer, community, and service in her or his own life. Associates maintain their own lifestyle participating in community activities as interests, talents, and time allow.

 People become associates because they:

• experience a call from God to be a person of compassion and service
• are attracted to Mercy life and mission
• want to formalize a connection with others – sisters and associates – in prayer, community and service

To become an associate, a person meets with the local coordinator of association, becomes acquainted with other Sisters and Associates, and enters into a year-long discernment process.

For more information on becoming an associate, contact Bette Gallagher, RSM, in Merion, Kathy Schiro in New Jersey, Terry Agliardi, RSM or Mary Harvey, RSM, in Brooklyn, Marie Noel Keller, RSM, in Dallas, and Sharon Donohue, RSM, in New York.