One of the joys of working at Mercy by the Sea is the staff’s appreciation of the creatures with whom we share the grounds. There’s "Ralphie," the woodchuck, who birthed two little ones this summer; a lean fox that makes frequent appearances; chipmunks; and rabbits, who graze in the courtyard outside our offices.
Let’s not forget the seagull who likes to sit on our assistant cook Adam's car; Harriet, the hawk; the bald-headed cardinal who turned up this year; and a host of crows, gulls, ospreys, sparrows, mourning doves and robins. One of our volunteer gardeners, Bob Bartusiak, recently put up bird feeders which are attracting imperial red cardinals, stunning gold finches, chickadees and squirrels, whose antics mesmerize us. Daily we’re entertained by two tenacious squirrels – one male, the other female – who hang upside by their claws while munching on black sunflower seeds.
In late June, I attended the Sisters of Mercy Institute Chapter in Buffalo, New York. About 300 Sisters of Mercy gathered to discuss current issues, set future direction and elect the Mercy leadership for the next six years. Among the 300 were Sisters of Mercy from Jamaica, Guam, the Philippines, Belize, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Guyana, Panama, Honduras and the United States. In reflecting on my experience, three basic themes emerge:
Years ago I read about the “butterfly effect,” the theory that the flap of a butterfly wing in Tokyo may affect a tornado in Texas. As I thought about it, I understood that small events in one place can have a much greater effect somewhere else, and small events now may impact events at a later time. Somehow this reverberates in my head lately as the environment continues to be under siege in our country.
After 30 years of facilitating programs at Mercy by the Sea, Mauryeen O’Brien, O.P., has made her last offering this spring. Over those many years, through her bereavement programs, Sister Mauryeen tended graciously and compassionately to the hearts and spirits of some the most vulnerable seekers crossing our threshold.
