The Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan is a
religious institute
A religious institute is a type of institute of consecrated life in the Catholic Church whose members take religious vows and lead a life in community with fellow members. Religious institutes are one of the two types of institutes of consecrate ...
of pontifical right dedicated to the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. It was established in 1973 in response to the renewal called for in the
Second Vatican Council
The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the , or , was the 21st Catholic ecumenical councils, ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church. The council met in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome for four periods (or sessions) ...
. The Institute's Motherhouse is located in
Alma, Michigan
Alma is the largest city in Gratiot County, Michigan, Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,383 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. It was incorporated as the Village of Alma in 1872 and became a city in 1905 ...
. It recognizes the Venerable
Catherine McAuley
Catherine McAuley, RSM (29 September 1778 – 11 November 1841) was an Irish Catholic religious sister who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831.Austin, Mary Stanislas"Sisters of Mercy."''The Catholic Encyclopedia''. Vol. 10. New York: Robert App ...
as its original foundress.
History
In 1966, four Sisters of Mercy of the faculty of the
Mercy College in Detroit studied Mercy Spirituality and identified ten constituent elements. In 1970, seven Sisters of Mercy formed an experimental community in Grand Rapids, Michigan, implementing these elements. On September 1, 1973 the group became a distinct Institute of Pontifical Right.
Description
The Sisters profess the vows of
poverty, chastity, and obedience, as well as a fourth vow of service. They work predominantly in the apostolates of education and health care. As of 2015 the community numbers about 100 members and has houses in several states as well as Germany, Australia and Italy.
Sacred Heart Mercy Health Care Center (SHMHCC) is a non-profit Michigan corporation founded by the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan.
Sister Mary
Prudence Allen R.S.M. was among the 40 theologians and philosophers
Pope Francis
Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...
named to the International Theological Commission on Sept. 23, 2014. She is one of five women, and two Americans named to the commission that was set up in 1969 to advise the pope and Vatican on doctrinal issues.
Salai, Sean. "A Feminist Voice on the Theological Commission", ''America'', October 29, 2014
/ref>
See also
*Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy is a religious institute of Catholic women founded in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland, by Catherine McAuley. As of 2019, the institute had about 6200 sisters worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations. They a ...
References
{{portal bar, Catholicism, Michigan
External links
Official site
Catholic female orders and societies
Institutes of consecrated life
Christian organizations established in 1973