Sister Barbara McDermott signs her vows in the presence of Sister Diane Szubrowski, president, Sisters of Mercy regional community of New Jersey.

Sister of Mercy Professes First Vows as Religious

WATCHUNG, NJ – Sister Barbara McDermott professed her first vows as a Sister of Mercy of the Americas, Regional Community of New Jersey, on July 20 in the Immaculate Conception Chapel at Mount Saint Mary. Reverend Edward W. Edwards, chaplain, and Passionist Father James Kelly concelebrated the afternoon Eucharistic Liturgy.

Sister Barbara is the daughter of Thomas and Mary Hughes McDermott of Toms River, NJ. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in August, 1999, from St. Luke Parish, Toms River, where she ministered as a catechist and Eucharistic Minister of the Sick and also served on the parish Renew team. Currently she resides with the Sisters in St. Joseph Community at Mount Saint Mary and teaches in McAuley School for Exceptional Children, Watchung.

First vows begins the process of committing one’s life fully to the ideals of Mercy and Venerable Catherine McAulay, foundress. Women take vows of chastity, poverty, obedience, and service to the poor, sick and ignorant and then participate fully in Mercy ministry and prayer life. The public profession of final or perpetual vows takes place after a three to six year period.

The Sisters of Mercy, founded in Ireland in 1831 by Venerable Catherine McAuley, have been traditionally dedicated to the education and advancement of women and the poor. They have worked in many cities and towns throughout the State of New Jersey since 1873. The Sisters of Mercy Regional Community of New Jersey numbers 271 sisters and 148 Mercy associates serving in schools, parishes, social service agencies and other ministries. They joined 24 other regional communities of Mercy on July 20, 1991, to found the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, an organization of 5,000 sisters and over 2,250 lay associates.