What's Been Happening at Mercy by the Sea
By By Eileen Dooling, RSM, Executive Director
Posted on
Dear Mercy Family,
I write to give you the good news of Mercy by the Sea from our past year and to thank you for your steadfast support. Every year I witness the transformational power of our mission and ministry.
This past year, we said god bless to Claire and Betty who both retired from their positions at the Center. I am pleased to say that both continue to be connected to our ministry work. We also welcomed Diane who, as our new hosting manager, will lead Mercy in hospitality to groups seeking renewal and growth.
We welcomed Dave as our facility manager who joins Robbie to fully staff the department and keep all in good shape. One of Dave’s first tasks was to develop and begin to implement an annual maintenance plan for our facilities and grounds. And, we welcomed Rose to our kitchen staff allowing for a full staff of three thereby providing more flexibility and responsiveness to guest needs in our dining room. All are enjoying Rose’s delicious cupcakes.
These staff additions were made possible because of your generous support — you made a difference in our ability to provide enhanced responsiveness to our guests. Thank you.
We also welcomed three new members of our Board of Trustees. Toni Iadarola, Lauragene Lyons and Tom Moebus join Tom Banisch, Maryann Boord, The Reverend George Couturier and Irene Holowesko, RSM, in serving as stewards of our good works.
Our conference facilities were upgraded to provide improved comfort. Over 80 ergonomic chairs were purchased and are now available to groups using Dempsey Auditorium. And 15 new mattresses were purchased for our guest rooms to help assure a restful night of sleep.
The year provided many moments of connection to Mercy for our guests who totaled over 9,000. Mercy has been extended to those who are living with addiction and, as part of our ever responsiveness to emerging areas of need, we now host several groups that provide solace, community and opportunities for healing.
I also wanted to share about an ongoing art installation at Mercy that inspired a retreat entitled The Mary Paintings: Expression of the Divine Feminine. The weekend led by Catherine Steinberg invited 14 attendees to meditate and reflect on the images of The Mary Paintings in order to connect with aspects of the Divine Feminine for themselves, and, in turn, for their work in the world today. The paintings remain on loan here at Mercy and I invite you to engage with them as you are able.
I thank you so much for your support of Mercy; your prayers, time, gifts and donations make a difference here. Our fall campaign was the most successful to date, and the funds raised not only sustain our ministry but they allow it to be open to all. Our Christmas Gathering was a joyful night of gratitude, festivities, music, art and fellowship and we are already planning for 2018.
Mercy by the Sea is guided by our values of hospitality, mercy, reflection, respect and stewardship and community. I invite you to continue on your journey to a new way of being that allows us all to bring forth a more just and compassionate world.
Today, and into the future, we are committed to the Mercy mission, vision and values in all our ministries. I thank you for being part of that and invite you always to contact me or visit anytime you are in the area. I can be reached at 203.245.0401 x.110 or edooling@mercyne.org
My warm regards,
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