Chancellor leaving for leadership team of Sisters of Mercy

At the end of June, Sister Kathleen Turley, RSM, will leave her position as chancellor for planning and pastoral services in the Albany Diocese, to become part of the six-person Leadership Team of the newly formed Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Northeast Community.

The new organizational structure unites what had been six separate regional communities with nearly 1,000 Sisters of Mercy across the Northeast: Albany, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Portland, Providence and Vermont. The new organization will also include more than 425 Mercy Associates.

More than 500 sisters met last weekend for the election that chose Sister Kathleen as one of the six members of the new leadership team.

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"To be elected by sisters from six different areas of the Northeast is a very humbling and overwhelming experience," Sister Kathleen said.

At the same time, she added, "this is a very bittersweet moment. I am excited about joining the team, but I am very sad to be leaving the Diocese. My 20 years there have been fruitful. What I bring to the team was honed there."

Prior to becoming chancellor in 1996, Sister Kathleen was director of the Diocese's Pastoral Planning Office.

Efficiency

The new Mercy Northeast Leadership Team, who will select a president from among themselves, will take office on July 1. While the governing structure is changing, the sisters and associates will continue to live and minister where they currently are.

The sisters believe that the changes will provide them with greater opportunities to focus on their commitment to service, and enable them to use their human and financial resources more efficiently.

"I am confident that we will be able to more effectively advocate for and serve those who are disenfranchised, especially women and children," Sister Kathleen said.

The Sisters of Mercy was founded by Catherine McAuley in Ireland in 1831. Frances Warde established the order in the U.S. in 1843.

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