A Publication for Alumnae Parents and Friends Winter 2016
Connections_Winter_2016
Connections_Winter_2016
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From the President<br />
\<br />
A Year of Mercy<br />
APope Francis launched the Jubilee Year of Mercy<br />
on December 8. He asked Catholics to welcome<br />
God <strong>and</strong> his merciful grace <strong>and</strong> to bring mercy<br />
We are asked to help meet the physical needs of<br />
our neighbors by<br />
Feeding the hungry<br />
Giving drink to the thirsty<br />
Clothing the naked<br />
Sheltering the homeless<br />
Visiting the sick<br />
Visiting the imprisoned<br />
Burying the dead<br />
Additionally, we are called to meet the spiritual<br />
needs of others by<br />
Instructing the ignorant<br />
Counseling the doubtful<br />
Correcting sinners<br />
Bearing wrongs patiently<br />
Forgiving offenses willingly<br />
Com<strong>for</strong>ting the afflicted<br />
Praying <strong>for</strong> the living <strong>and</strong> the dead<br />
Jan Rhorer Breen ’69<br />
to others as we walk the different paths in our<br />
lives. He is inviting each of us to spend the next<br />
year with mercy as a focal point of our spirituality.<br />
“This extraordinary year is a gift of grace <strong>and</strong><br />
a way to rediscover the infinite mercy of the<br />
Father,” Pope Francis said. “Let us put mercy<br />
be<strong>for</strong>e judgment in our daily living.”<br />
As we are called to show mercy, we are reminded<br />
of the corporal <strong>and</strong> spiritual works of mercy that<br />
are a guide to help us grow <strong>and</strong> share God’s love.<br />
As we have been shown mercy by God, we<br />
are called to be merciful to each other – to be<br />
ministers of mercy. The Latin word <strong>for</strong> mercy,<br />
misericordia, means “a heart which gives itself to<br />
those in misery.” May we be ministers of mercy<br />
<strong>and</strong> never tire of extending mercy <strong>and</strong> offering<br />
compassion <strong>and</strong> com<strong>for</strong>t.<br />
In the Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare<br />
writes, “the quality of mercy is not strained …. is<br />
twice bless’d: it blesseth him who gives <strong>and</strong> him<br />
who takes.”<br />
We are blessed with many opportunities to give<br />
to others: to make s<strong>and</strong>wiches to feed the hungry<br />
each Tuesday, to volunteer our time at the soup<br />
kitchen, participate in food drives <strong>and</strong> to prepare<br />
a meal <strong>for</strong> someone who is sick or <strong>for</strong> a family<br />
who is suffering from loss, to name a few. These<br />
works of mercy are ways to live out God’s love.<br />
We show loving kindness <strong>and</strong> compassion to people.<br />
4 . SJA Connections
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