BRIGHTON — A brightly colored sign on a sandwich board welcomed second-graders from Penfield’s St. Joseph School to the Mercy Center on a mid-June morning. The children were excited about their field trip to see the Sisters of Mercy, according to their teacher, Jana Jackle.
“I’ve never seen a sister before. That’s why I was super excited to come here,” remarked second-grader Graham Huntley.
The second-graders were looking forward to meeting the Sisters of Mercy who had been their pen pals for the last few weeks. Over the course of several weeks, the students and sisters had gotten to know each other through cards, letters and hand-drawn pictures, and on June 12, they met each other in person at the Mercy Center before attending Mass in the center’s chapel and enjoying lunch together.
Catholic-school students tour Mercy Center
The students’ visit began with a tour of the Mercy Center. Mary Austin, an advocate for the sisters, led the students past the rooms where Sisters of Mercy reside when they need nursing care and assistance. The group stopped to greet several sisters in their rooms before touring the dining room and wellness center located adjacent to the sisters’ rooms.
“We have our own doctors here, so we have doctors’ offices and waiting rooms,” Austin said as the group walked through the wellness center.
In another area of the Mercy Center, the students walked past more sisters’ rooms, pausing occasionally to talk with the women inside. When they reached a large sitting room and noticed the women inside were praying the rosary out loud, the students joined in unprompted, reciting the familiar prayers with the sisters for several minutes before continuing on their tour.
The next stop on the tour was the balcony above the rear of the Mercy Center’s chapel. This balcony is frequently used by sisters who wish to participate in Mass but are unable to come downstairs to sit in the chapel’s pews, Austin explained.
Students bond with Mercy Sisters
After taking in the view from the chapel’s balcony, the students headed downstairs to a gathering space with couches, chairs and tables. This space, dubbed Kate’s Cafe in memory of the Sisters of Mercy’s foundress, Catherine McAuley, is frequently used for meetings and celebrations, Austin said.
After checking out Kate’s Cafe, the students visited with several of the Sisters of Mercy, including Sister Raymond Joseph Griffin, who taught music for many years at Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Rochester.
“Your faces make me so happy today,” Sister Griffin exclaimed as the students gathered around her wheelchair.
The students were impressed to learn Sister Griffin is a big fan of the Buffalo Bills.
“Sister Raymond Joseph’s room is filled with Buffalo Bills things, and the general manager sent her a message on her birthday,” remarked Jana Wintish, activities assistant at the Mercy Center and Jackle’s mother.
The students were equally impressed to learn Sister Griffin is 102. Sister Griffin encouraged the children to be grateful for the blessings in their lives.
“God has been good to give you this day. Enjoy every minute of it. And when you get to be over 100 like me, you can thank God for a lot of days,” Sister Griffin said.
Interactions benefit both students, sisters
Sister Griffin’s pen pal, Cecilia Maclaren, said she enjoyed corresponding with Sister Griffin and was grateful for the opportunity to meet her in person.
“She’s funny, and she’s nice, and she’s kind,” Cecilia said.
Sister Griffin, for her part, said she had enjoyed her time corresponding with Cecilia and was happy to meet the second-graders.
“It keeps me in touch with the rest of the world. The little ones, they’re the face of God,” she said before turning her attention back to the students.
“Your smiling faces made me feel good all over,” she told the children. “Thank you so much for sharing with me. Keep smiling.”
Tags: Catholic Schools, Monroe County East, Sisters of Mercy
