Beginning October 6, Sisters of Mercy events will be held every Wednesday at Saint Xavier University until the end of the month.
All upcoming events include a lunch with the Sisters of Mercy. Lunch sessions are from noon to 1 p.m. on the fifth floor board room of Rubloff Hall.
Registration is required on The SXU Den, and there will be free food and admission for anyone who attends. Those who RSVP on The Den are invited to enjoy a talk and have the opportunity to meet the Sisters of Mercy.
There are limited seats available for each weekly event. Students and guests are welcome to participate once they reserve a spot.
In an email sent on September 30, Jenny Devivo, OblSB, Ph.D., the Executive Director of Mission and Heritage, stated, “These [events] are some great opportunities for people to become acquainted with our Mercy heritage in a deeper way.”
The first event begins with Sister (Sr.) Nancy Swanson on October 6, who DeVivo mentioned is a nurse and ‘all kinds of fun and friendliness.’
DeVivo will also have a showing of the film “Band of Sisters: the Remarkable Journey of Catholic Nuns in the United States” from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Butler Reception Room, following Swanson’s event. The Den sign-up requirement and free food perks will still apply.
By October 13, Sisters (Srs.) JoAnn Persch and Pat Murphy will visit on campus, but before they make an appearance, they will be ‘featured prominently’ in this film.
DeVivo claimed, “It shows a variety of ways that Catholic Sisters have been deeply committed to justice issues in their ministries,” adding, “Sr. JoAnn and Sr. Pat have been arrested repeatedly for their continued protests of legal policies regarding immigrants.”
Another lunch is planned for October 20, hosted by Srs. Kathleen McClelland and Carlotta Oberzut. DeVivo praises them as “wonderful, kind, and interesting people” that have done ministries through their careers.
Finally, on October 27 Sr. Rita Specht, who Devivo said is “fluent in Spanish,” will conclude the weekly sessions.
DeVivo implied that Persch, Murphy and Specht “have done–and still do–extensive work with immigration, detained immigrants, and have changed laws through their advocacy.”
She highly encourages people who are ‘particularly concerned’ with immigration rights, justice issues, law, and racism to attend the Oct 13 and 27 lunches if they would find these conversations relevant.
As an alumna of SXU, Devivo said that it took her ‘a little while to realize’ the gift she received in having the Sisters of Mercy present on campus when she was a student.
“While there is a lot we can learn about the Sisters of Mercy and their heritage, I have discovered that meeting the Sisters in person contributes to our understanding in a way that nothing else can.”
She continued: “Sadly, I am cognizant of the reality that we will not always have Sisters of Mercy who will be able to come to campus to share with us,” further noting that, “Some Sisters who were part of my formative experience of Mercy at SXU are either infirm at Mercy Circle and no longer able to participate or have gone to God.”
Devivo hopes that the SXU community would be able to join them for some, many, or all of the events, saying, “We have a fantastic roster of Sisters for these lunches.”
Peer Ministers and members of Campus Ministry are asked to please help spread the word around and invite people too.
For more information, attendees are to contact Jenny DeVivo at devivo@sxu.edu.
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