At a covenant ceremony during Mass on Saturday, October 19, 2024, our Head of School Dr. Jacqueline Coccia was officially recognized as a Mercy Associate. Mercy Associates are lay women and men who formally partner themselves with the Sisters of Mercy, and “respond to the Gospel invitation of Jesus, and the example of Catherine McAuley, to minister to God’s children who are experiencing poverty, illness, or lack of education by living out the spiritual and corporal works of Mercy.”
According to the Sisters of Mercy website, Mercy Associates engage in the “spiritual and corporal works of Mercy, deepening their spirituality, partnering in prayer and action with the sisters and responding in their own personal lives to the critical needs of our time: care of Earth, anti-racism advocacy, justice for women, justice for immigrants and nonviolence.”
Dr. Coccia (shown above with her mentor Mary Callan) joins more than 3,000 Mercy Associates throughout the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, Guam and the Philippines. In contemplation of her experience, she said “I wanted to become a Mercy Associate because the values of compassion, mercy, hospitality, and hope that are central to the Mercy tradition deeply resonate with me. In a world that often feels divided and challenging, I believe that embodying compassion is essential to fostering understanding and healing. My commitment to mercy reflects my desire to extend kindness and support to those who are suffering, ensuring that no one feels alone in their struggles.”
As she reflected on her decision to become a Mercy Associate, Dr. Coccia said “I believe in the power of hope to transform lives and communities, and I want to be a source of encouragement for others as we navigate life's challenges together. By making this covenant, I commit to living out these values in my daily actions, fostering a spirit of mercy in all that I do.”
Throughout the years, several Waldron Mercy faculty and staff members have been made Mercy Associates, including Marguerite Flynn, Mary Augustine, Anne Wellman and Angela McKelvey, and Eileen Flanagan, all of whom are pictured above with Dr. Coccia. Former faculty member Eileen Aurand (not pictured) is also a Mercy Associate.
If you would like to learn more about becoming a Mercy Associate, please visit the Sisters of Mercy website.
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