Regional Community of New Jerseyk

I worked as a nurse until about 1980 when I left the medical profession to answer a call I had been struggling with for about five years. At the time, I felt there had to be more to life than what I was doing, even though I loved the medical field and saw no way I was going to give it up. That “something more” I needed centered around Church, and it just kept getting stronger.

I met the Sisters of Mercy at the Mount St. Mary House of Prayer in Watchung. I then decided to seek spiritual direction at The Upper Room in Neptune which is co-directed by a Sister of Mercy, and later on I took courses there. That’s where my spirituality awakened. As I became more involved, I realized that I couldn’t fight that “feeling” any more. I decided to leave nursing and follow my new calling.

Not long after, I attended a weeklong seminar on parish service and ultimately accepted a job in my parish, St. Luke’s, as Coordinator of Ministries. It’s been a hectic journey. As a nurse I really disliked working weekends.. I was married, raising children. I see God laughing at me because now I work every weekend!

As a Mercy Associate I do a variety of committee work, I give a yearly retreat for people at the House of Prayer. I also work part-time for the leadership team and I have worked on special events as well. I am co-director of the Mercy Associates program in New Jersey, which is a three-year appointment and I was also elected to a second term so I am now in my fourth year. I love it. It keeps me energized.

The Associates program has given me friendships that I would never have had otherwise. It’s given me an opportunity for community prayer and to serve in special ways. I would recommend becoming a Mercy Associate to anyone who is looking for “something more” in his or her life.