Summer 2012 - South Central Community Sisters of Mercy

MercyMatters
Newsletter for the staff of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – South Central Community Summer 2012
What’s inside
2 Finding their
way in America
Hawa Sheriff and Seraphine Mbabazi
found employment in Cincinnati, Ohio,
through McAuley Convent and the
Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement
Program.
3 The last dairy farm in
Nashville, Tennessee
Mickey Strasser’s family has worked
the 240-acre farm for 30 years.
4 Mercy Care Center
in Guam
Sisters call this unique building home.
5 Celebrating Mercy
Significant dates in the history of the
Sisters of Mercy.
6 Employee reminders
8 A new look
A new logo will be rolled out on
Mercy Day, September 24, 2012.
Calendar
July 4
Independence Day
September 3
Labor Day
September 24
Mercy Day
November 22
Thanksgiving
December 24
Christmas Eve
December 25
Christmas
MercyMatters is a publication of the Human Resources
Department and the Communications Department.
M o d e l o f M e r c y : e M M a a d d i s o n
Co-minister embodies
the spirit of Mercy
Emma Addison’s (left) positive, caring manner has earned her the love and respect of the sisters and
staff at Marian House in Belmont, North Carolina. She comforts the sisters by talking or singing with
them, like Sister Mary Louise Wiesenforth, or takes them for walks around campus to smell the flowers.
For someone who was unfamiliar with
the Sisters of Mercy before working at
Marian Center in Belmont, North Carolina,
Emma Addison has certainly picked
up on the spirit of Mercy.
Emma, a caregiver at Marian Center,
once drove by the Mercy campus and
told her daughter, “I should work
there.” But it wasn’t until the aide caring
for Emma’s mother suggested Emma
apply to Marian Center that she took
the leap. “I said, ‘Sisters of Mercy?
Who are they?’” Seventeen years later,
Emma—as well as the sisters and coworkers
who enjoy her presence—feels
blessed to have found her way to Mercy.
“God is always looking at our hearts.
Sister Gertrude [Weldon] took my heart
the very first day I did the application,”
Emma recalls. “She told me if I proved
myself, I got the job. I guess I proved
myself.”
Emma has proven herself as someone
with boundless energy, a positive attitude
and unending concern for others.
Whether she’s singing to a sister who’s
uncomfortable or agitated, helping the
sisters in the shower or taking them
outside to smell the flowers, Emma has
Model of Mercy continued on page 3

Convent welcomes refugees who
are finding their way in America
Six years ago, Hawa Sheriff
moved to a new country to
escape the violent war in
her homeland. The native
of Liberia had fled to Sierra
Leone because of her country’s
violent war that claimed the
lives of both her parents before
she was selected as part of a
resettlement program in the
United States. Today, Hawa is
one of seven refugees who have
found employment in Cincinnati,
Ohio, thanks to McAuley
Convent and Catholic Charities
Refugee Resettlement Program.
Through the program, refugees
from countries including
Iran, Bhutan, Afghanistan
and Russia have been hired at
McAuley Convent. Whenever
the convent has an opening,
it notifies Catholic Charities,
which finds a person with the necessary
skills. Catholic Charities supports the
applicant, providing a translator, if necessary,
to assist with the application, job
interview and orientation. In addition,
the organization follows up with phone
calls to be sure everything is going well
for both the employee and the convent.
Each refugee placed in the convent has
stayed for at least 18 months, with most
staying much longer.
Hawa, a certified nursing assistant,
came to McAuley Convent six years ago.
“When the war broke out [in Liberia],
everyone fled for their lives,” she said.
Her father died when his house was
burned, and her mother was killed in
the war. Hawa was separated from her
family, and was “chosen by the grace of
God” as part of an agreement between
the United Nations and the United States
government to assist refugees impacted
by the war. Hawa is happy to be at
McAuley Convent: “The sisters are very
2 • MercyMatters
Hawa Sheriff (right), a certified nursing assistant, cares for Sister Alice Marie
Soete at McAuley Convent in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hawa immigrated from Sierra
Leone when she was selected as part of a resettlement program.
nice and grateful. I’m glad to be here.”
Seraphine Mbabazi came to the
United States last year with her husband
and three children. Seraphine, who left
Rwanda in 1994 and lived in Zambia
before coming to the United States, has
been grateful for the program’s help in
obtaining medical care and assistance
with food stamps while her husband
Seraphine Mbabazi, a nurse’s aide at McAuley
Convent, moved to Cincinnati from Zambia with
her husband and three children.
looks for employment. Seraphine
originally came to the
United States because she did
not feel safe in Zambia where
she was living. Seraphine, a
nurse’s aide, likes working at
McAuley Convent and living
in the United States.
“I like living here because I
feel like I’m safe,” she explains.
“I have security.”
McAuley Convent has welcomed
refugees for more than
10 years and developed a partnership
with Catholic Charities
after Sister Judy Gradel became
convent administrator in 2005.
Because of the positive experience
Sister Judy already had
with refugees working at the
convent, she welcomed the
opportunity to work with
Catholic Charities.
“They’re very careful about whom they
send us,” says Sister Judy. “They really
make sure they send someone appropriate
for the position.”
Despite some challenges, the staff
and sisters at McAuley Convent have
welcomed the refugees and formed
friendships with them. Sister Judy cites
the language barrier as the biggest
obstacle. While the refugees pick up the
English language over time, the language
barrier can cause confusion in the early
stages of employment.
“Sometimes it’s hard to orient them
because of the language,” Sister Judy says.
“They make innocent mistakes because we
haven’t explained things well enough.”
Still, Sister Judy is pleased with the opportunity
the program provides both for the
refugees and for the sisters and staff.
“They’re all really good workers,” she
says. “It’s a good place to work because
people are nice to each other. We have a
lot of respect for each other.”

Model of Mercy continued from page 1
a patience and calmness that has earned
her the love and respect of the sisters and
staff. She credits her positive attitude and
endless energy to her strong relationship
with God. When she needed to work
a second job, she asked God for help,
praying on Matthew 4:16 in the Bible. “I
prayed to God to help me get through it.
It just never left.”
“The staff just can’t understand how
she’s so darn happy all the time,” laughs
Renee Darity, administrator of Marian
Center. “She has a great spirit, a lot of
energy and really a lot of compassion for
everyone, especially the sisters.”
Emma, who previously worked in an
assisted living facility and as an in-home
caregiver, is simply a people person by
nature. “I just love taking care of people. I
love to see everyone happy and smiling.”
She spends her free time visiting those
in hospitals and rest homes or driving others
to doctor appointments. “I might need
someone to take care of me someday. What
goes around comes around.”
When there’s an open shift, Emma will
work it without complaint because “we
have to take care of our sisters.”
“She always comes in to work when
asked, even if it’s just to cover for a couple
of hours,” says Renee. While Emma mostly
works at night, she also works first and
second shifts. “I look forward to going to
work, no matter what shift I’m working,”
she explains.
Emma recognizes her time with the
sisters and staff at Marian Center as a
blessing. She admires the sisters’ attitudes
and how they reach out to other people.
“All people are special but they [the
sisters] are the most special,” she says.
“They have such peacefulness and such
joyfulness.”
During Nurses’ Week this year, Marian
Center staff took a bus tour of the
Mercy campus in Belmont. For Emma,
learning more about the history of
the sisters’ ministries gave her a new
appreciation for her place in Mercy.
“It gives me even more reason to
work here,” she says.
Nashville family’s love
of farming preserves
county’s last dairy farm
When Mickey Strasser
leaves work at
Mercy Convent in
Nashville, Tennessee,
the receptionist’s
short commute home
brings her to the last
operating dairy farm
in Davidson County,
Tennessee.
Mickey’s husband,
Jim, and her
father-in-law and
brother-in-law operate
Strasser Farms,
where they and their
families also live.
The farm’s next-door
neighbor: Mercy Convent.
Mickey’s family
has welcomed the
neighbor-sisters for
tours of the farm, and
she enjoys showing her Mercy Convent
family the Strasser family’s passion.
The Strassers have operated the
240-acre farm for 30 years, although it’s
been in existence since 1952. The farm
currently has 60 cows, which are milked by
a machine twice a day, and seven calves.
The family also grows corn and hay for
the cows, as well as soybeans, which they
sell. Raising feed for the animals helps
the Strassers manage costs on the farm.
Mickey cites the rising production costs
as a reason why Strasser Farms is the last
of its kind in the area.
“Even though the price of milk is up
in the stores, the farmers who produce it
don’t get more,” she notes.
Mickey attributes the longevity of
Strasser Farms to the family’s dedication
and hard work: “It’s all my husband and
his brother have ever done. They love to
One of Mickey Strasser’s responsibilities at Strasser Farms is to
bottle feed the calves every night.
do it, and they’ll do it as long as they can
make it work.”
Even though the price of
milk is up in the stores,
the farmers who produce
it don’t get more.
Mickey Strasser
The farm is run almost entirely by
family members, with only one employee
outside of the family. Even though she
works full time at Mercy Convent, Mickey
pitches in after work and on weekends. She
bottle feeds the calves every night, helps
feed the cows with corn from the silo and
Family’s love continued on page 5
MercyMatters • 3

Mercy Care Center in Guam
Sisters call this unique building home
The bright and colorful décor of Mercy
Care Center reflects the cheerful spirit
that makes this unique building home for
the retired Sisters of Mercy on the island
of Guam, a U.S. territory.
Recognizing the need for a convent
that could provide care for the special
needs of retired sisters, the former North
Carolina Regional Community provided
funds for the construction of the convent
as a gift to the sisters in Guam. The sisters
broke ground on the new convent
in 1999. In May 2000, a special blessing
was held, and sisters moved into Mercy
Care Center in June 2000. The convent has
11 bedrooms. Currently, three sisters
receive skilled care, three are in assisted
living, and three live independently.
The unique construction of Mercy Care
4 • MercyMatters
Center allows three Mercy ministries to
share one space. Mercy Care Center is
built on top of Mercy Heights Nursery
and Kindergarten and is connected to
Mercy Heights Convent. One end of the
building is a direct, ground-floor entrance
to Mercy Care Center; the other end of the
building leads to Mercy Heights Convent,
with a stairway and elevator to take you
to the first floor, the chapel and the dining
room. Due to the island’s susceptibility
to typhoons and super typhoons, Mercy
Care Center is equipped with a generator
and a potable water supply to ensure
continuous care and operation in case of
a natural disaster.
Since its opening, Mercy Care Center
has evolved from two caregivers working
eight-hour shifts to nurses and caregivers
providing 24-hour care to ensure the
health and safety of the sisters. Other
co-workers serve in housekeeping, maintenance,
finance and as a gardener and
a cook. An administrator, nursing director,
spiritual life director, and program
coordinator oversee the daily operations
of the convent. Activities for the sisters
include daily Mass, rosaries, scriptural
reading and sharing; daily exercise with
the staff and weekly exercise with an
outside professional; special outings in
a van that accommodates wheelchairs;
games, puzzles and singalongs.
“We are blessed with dedicated
workers at Mercy Care Center who have
tremendous love and great respect for
the sisters,” says Sister Cecilia Camacho,
administrator.

Family’s love continued from page 3
works more during harvest time. A selfdescribed
country girl raised on a farm that
included cows, horses, pigs and a variety
of crops, Mickey realizes that most people
don’t understand all that goes into a farm.
“A dairy farm is routine,” she explains,
noting that the same chores must be
completed every day to keep the farm
running. “It’s seven days a week. No days
off, no Christmas off, no weekends off.
You have to be totally committed to it.”
Mickey and her family welcome the
opportunity to educate people about
farming and the source of their food.
“Food doesn’t come from Kroger,” she
says. “It has to come from farmers.”
The Strassers have 60 cows and seven calves
on the 240-acre farm.
Test your knowledge, and win a gift card!
Answer these items correctly and your name will go into a drawing for a $50 gift card. You’ll find the answers in this newsletter.
Good luck! (You are eligible to win once every 12 months. By entering, you are agreeing to having your photo taken for the next issue of MercyMatters.)
How many years has Emma Addison been working at Marian Center in Belmont, North Carolina?
From what country did Seraphine Mbabazi immigrate?
How many years have the Strassers operated their farm?
In what U.S. territory is Mercy Care Center located?
When is Mercy Day?
Celebrating the
beginning of Mercy
As September approaches, you’re sure
to hear about Mercy Day celebrations
throughout the South Central Community.
Mercy Day—September 24—marks
the date in 1827 when Catherine McAuley
welcomed the first residents to the House
of Mercy, a school for poor girls and a
residence for homeless girls and women
on Baggot Street in Dublin, Ireland. The
House of Mercy still stands today, now as
a place of hospitality and heritage for the
Sisters of Mercy around the world.
Mercy Day is just one of the significant
dates in the history of the Sisters of Mercy.
On December 12, 1831, Catherine McAuley
and two other women professed their
religious vows of poverty, chastity and
obedience as the first Sisters of Mercy.
Known as Foundation Day, December
12 marks the beginning of the Sisters of
Mercy as a religious community.
The Sisters of Mercy also observe
November 11, 1841, which is the day of
Catherine McAuley’s death. Despite being
gravely ill and bedridden, Catherine was
The original House of Mercy on Baggot Street
in Dublin, Ireland, was restored in 1994 and is
now Mercy International Centre.
still concerned with the well-being of the
sisters, saying, “Tell the sisters to get a
good cup of tea when I am gone.”
Name: Work location: Work phone:
Please copy this completed questionnaire and send it to: Patricia Manzi, Mercy Administration Center, 101 Mercy Drive,
Belmont, N.C. 28012-2898 or fax it to 704.829.5267. The gift card is considered income and will be included on the W-2 Wage
and Tax Statement you receive in January. deadline for entries is friday, July 20, 2012.
MercyMatters • 5

Employee reminders
Life insurance, a free benefit
The South Central Community pays
100 percent of your life insurance
premiums—a valuable benefit provided
through MetLife that’s worth twice your
annual salary up to $250,000.
When you reach age 65 the benefit
Saving money on lab benefits
Using a Quest Laboratory or Lab Card for your diagnostic lab work is the most
cost-effective way to keep up with important screenings, while saving money.
Laboratory/Diagnostic Insurance Member
Screening Facility Usually Pays Usually Pays
QUEST LAB/LAB CARD 100% 0
In-network lab 80% after 20% after
$500 deductible $500 deductible
Out-of-network lab 60% after 40% after
$500 deductible $500 deductible
To find a Quest Lab/Lab Card in your area visit www.labcard.com or call
1.800.646.7788.
It’s well worth the time to research and use this preferred lab. Ask your physicians to
use Quest and let them know that doing so will save you significant out-of-pocket
costs. (Please note: This is not a guarantee of payment.)
6 • MercyMatters
amount decreases to 67 percent; at age
70, it decreases to 43 percent; and at age
75 and above, it’s 33 percent.
Life insurance is one way to ensure
that in the event of your death, money
is available to help maintain the financial
health and security of your loved ones.
Be sure your beneficiary forms are kept
up to date. Your business office manager
or the Human Resources Department is
happy to check those for you and make
any changes you request.
Holiday recognizes
workers contributions
In the United States, people associate the
first Monday in September, Labor Day,
as the official end of the summer season,
but its history signifies much more than
that. First celebrated in 1882 in New York
City, Labor Day celebrates the contributions
of American workers. Organized by
the Central Labor Union, which encouraged
other organizations throughout the
country to adopt the holiday, Labor Day
became a legal federal holiday when
President Grover Cleveland signed it into
law on June 28, 1894. While the American
workforce has changed throughout the
years, Labor Day remained as a day to
recognize and celebrate the achievements
of American workers.
We’re grateful for the hard work and
dedication of all our co-workers in the
South Central Community.
Congrats to Freweini
Congratulations to Freweini Teclu, the
winner of the contest in the spring issue
of MercyMatters. Freweini, who has
worked as a nurse’s aide at Catherine’s
Residence in St. Louis, Missouri, since
2009, won a $50 gift card. Sister Barbara
Wheeley randomly selected Freweini’s
entry from the 23 submissions.

Is your life in balance?
Work/life balance is important to all of
us. Here are some tips to help you build
more into your daily routine:
1. Build downtime into your schedule
When you plan your week, make it a
point to schedule time with your family
and friends and activities that help
you recharge.
2. drop activities that sap your time
or energy
Sometimes we may find that we get
“stuck” on certain tasks and spend
excessive time on activities that add
no value.
3. rethink your errands
Can you outsource any of your
time-consuming household chores or
errands? For example, consider ordering
groceries online, hiring someone
to mow your grass, exchanging tasks
such as babysitting for gift-wrapping;
or carpooling to save time.
4. Get moving
Even if your activity is as simple as
taking the stairs or parking further
away from the entrance, the extra
activity will give you more energy.
5. a little relaxation goes a long way
Slowly build in time for a hobby that
you’ve put on the back burner, listen to
music, and go for a short walk. Even
small things can make a difference.
Benefits survey results in
The results of the benefits survey that our Human Resources Department conducted
last winter are in, and they show that overall, most participants are happy with Christian
Brothers and its service.
In all, 126 employees responded, which is 57 percent of our staff who are enrolled in
our medical plan. HR is using the results to help explore benefits options for employees
and their families for 2013, a process that began earlier this year.
How Well Is The Current Plan Meeting Your Healthcare Needs?
70%
60%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
24%
Very Good or Good Fair Poor
How Responsive Is Christian Brothers?
70%
60%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
How Important Are Multiple Plan Options?
90%
83%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
24%
Very Good or Good Fair Poor
Very Important or Important Not Important One plan only
7%
4%
10% 7%
MercyMatters • 7

Coming soon,
a new look
One of the best known symbols in the world is the Red
Cross, which represents an organization recognized for its
disaster relief efforts. Consistent and frequent use of the Red
Cross—known as a logo—instantly brings to mind the good
works of that agency.
That same idea applies to the new logo of the Sisters
of Mercy that you’ll begin seeing on Mercy Day, Monday,
September 24. Inspired by the Mercy cross our sisters wear,
it’s designed to represent the Sisters of Mercy to people
who may not know them well, such as potential donors
and volunteers. It’s important to note, however, that the new
logo will not replace the Mercy cross our sisters now wear,
which is a personal and significant symbol to them.
Some of the personality traits of the Sisters of Mercy that
are reflected in the logo include: compassionate, spiritual,
spirited, joyful, determined and thoughtful.
As old materials are phased out, the new logo will appear
on new ones, such as letterhead, envelopes, newsletters
and forms.
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
South Central Community
101 Mercy Drive
Belmont, N.C. 28012-2898
8 • MercyMatters
Old logo
New logo