Renovations at Mercy Center

May 2011

In April, the Sisters of Mercy Northeast Community leadership team accepted a bid from the Aresco Construction Company of Middletown, Connecticut to complete the Mercy Center at Madison renovation project. Work began on May 1, 2011 with asbestos removal and the deconstruction of the two buildings identified for demolition. Then the interior renovations will begin. Programs continue at SeaScape during the construction phase and the “Mercy on the Road” programs continue as well.  The whole process should take a year to complete.
_______________________________________________________________________________

September 2010

“See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
Isaiah Chapter 43

A Blessing for Transformation took place in Lyons Chapel on Saturday, September 18, 2010 from 1:00pm - 3:00pm.  More than 100 people joined staff and members of the board of trustees in a ritual of song and prayer celebrating the move from the present Mercy Center to the new Mercy Center.

It was an afternoon of reflection, remembering, and blessing for the new Mercy Center to come. Tea was served in the Grant Living Rooms following the blessing.

To view a pdf of the flyer advertising the event, please click here.
_______________________________________________________________________________

June 8, 2010

The architectural plans for renovating Mercy Center at Madison were unveiled at this year's Dancing by the Sea gala on Saturday, June 5.  Applause broke out when project architect George Fellner revealed renderings of his design, which he explained, were guided by the idea of “re-birth and renewal.”  From the entryway, with its tapered ramp and hip roof that welcome guests like the open petals of a flower, to the balconies reminiscent of climbing vines, George’s design successfully captured the essence of Mercy Center and honored its commitment to simplicity and environmental sustainability.

When renovations are complete, Mercy Centers' main building will consist of 27 rooms (including a renovated Tower Room).  All rooms will have private baths.  There will be increased disabled access, an elevator, air conditioning, and many rooms will have private balconies.  Overall, Mercy Center will be slimmed down from 70,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet to become a more comfortable, energy efficient and eco friendly facility.

To complete this wonderful transformation, Mercy Center will temporarily suspend operations as of mid-September 2010 and will re-open in the Fall of 2011.  Programs will continue "on the road".  See our home page for information on programs coming to a town near you.

Renewed.  Transformed.  Peaceful.  Whole.

These are just a few of the powerful words that guests of Mercy Center at Madison use over and over to describe their visit to this uniquely tranquil space. 

Mercy Center of Madison, a sponsored work of the Sisters of Mercy of the Northeast is about to undergo its own period of renewal and transformation as firm plans are laid out for the next step in its own journey as a non-profit retreat and conference center. 

Earlier this year, Mercy Center announced its plans to extensively renovate its existing buildings to create a more comfortable, convenient and energy-efficient space.  As architectural planning nears completion, the center moves towards commencing construction in early Fall 2010. 

Over the past several weeks, the Mercy Center’s Board of Trustees has given a great deal of thought to the impact of construction on current programs and group functions.  We determined that it is in our guests’ best interests to temporarily suspend programs and visits to the Center from Labor Day 2010 until late Fall 2011.  “During the construction phase, it will be very difficult to ensure that our guests will not be disturbed,” explains Hank Baum, chair of Mercy Center’s Board of Trustees.

Baum notes that, “Mercy Center is all about providing a peaceful, contemplative setting that offers a retreat from the noisy, outside world.  While it is a difficult decision, we feel that it is in the best interests of those who come here to experience this extraordinary place, that they are not disturbed.”  Onsite programs and hosted group functions will continue through Labor Day 2010.

While Mercy Center is undergoing changes, our continued commitment to our constituents remains unwavering.   During the renovations process, we hope to take Mercy Center “on the road” so watch for information on special programs, including the School of Spirituality and the Spiritual Direction Practicum.  We are very excited about the future of Mercy Center and encourage everyone to visit our web site regularly for updates on our progress.  A much anticipated annual event, Mercy Center’s “Dancing by the Sea” gala is scheduled for June 5, 2010.  This will be a great opportunity for friends and neighbors to see the plans for the new center while enjoying the gorgeous seaside setting.  For more information on the gala, please contact the Center at 203-245-0401.

_______________________________________________________________________________

First Draft of Plans Being Considered - November 2009

In October, the Northeast Community Leadership Team, as well as Mercy Center Board of Trustees and staff were presented with preliminary plans for the renovation.

 We look forward to sharing the plans once the design is more concrete. Right now, the board, staff, and Leadership Team are in dialogue with the architect regarding any modifications to the plan. Once the plans are agreed upon they will need to go through the Town of Madison's necessary channels for approval.  

In the meantime, the Sisters of Mercy have hired a capital campaign manager, and we are in the planning stages of a capital campaign.  Sarah Nikkel would love to meet you and talk about your interest in Mercy Center. Her office is located at Mercy Center.

This is an important and exciting time for us - time to consider the long term future of Mercy Center.

We are committed to keeping you updated on our progress.  And you can help us on our journey.  Continue sharing your love and excitement for Mercy Center. Continue coming here and participating in our programs and retreats.  We may be operating on a smaller scale, but our offerings are as enriching as ever.

Thank you for your prayers and support!

You can contact Sarah Nikkel, Capital Campaign Manager for the Mercy Center project by calling Mercy Center at (203) 245 0401 or email snikkel@mercyne.org

______________________________________________________________________________

Architect for Mercy Center renovation announced - July 2009

We are commited to keeping all our friends and supporters up to date with what's happening at Mercy Center. Here's the latest news:
 
In June, Sr. Michele Aronica, Vice-President of the Sisters of Mercy Northeast Community Leadership Team announced that, after a bid process, the architectural firm of Fellner Associates of Higganum, CT have  been selected to design the renovations for Mercy Center.  This is the same firm currently working on Emmanuel House.
 
The Sisters of Mercy are also in the final phases of selecting a Capital Campaign Director to raise funds for the renovation of Mercy Center. 
 
The Architects are meeting with town officials and renovations of Emmanuel House will start very soon.
 
Continue to check our progress on this website.
 
Thank you for continuing to support Mercy Center during this time of transition!  Donations are always needed to help us continue to preserve this sacred space.